Method and apparatus for triggering an event at a desired point in the breathing cycle
First Claim
1. A device for improving the efficacy of the taking of a chest image, comprising:
- a means for receiving a signal which indicates a degree of insufflation of a patient; and
a means for effecting the taking of a chest image with respect to said patient based on said degree of insufflation, wherein said device improves the efficacy of the taking of a chest image by coordinating the taking of a chest image with the patient'"'"'s degree of insufflation. wherein said means for effecting the taking of a chest image causes said chest image to be taken when said signal indicates a desired degree of insufflation, wherein said signal which indicates the degree of insufflation of a patient is received from a ventilator, wherein the desired degree of insufflation is not minimum insufflation or maximum insufflation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The subject invention pertains to a novel method and apparatus for improving the efficacy of a medical treatment or diagnostic procedure by coordinating such treatment or procedure with a patient'"'"'s breathing cycle. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention pertains to a novel method of coordinating a chest x-ray with a patient'"'"'s ventilatory cycle. In a specific example, this invention concerns a novel device for interfacing a ventilator and an x-ray machine to ensure that an x-ray chest image can be taken at peak insufflation of the patient. The subject invention also relates to other medical procedures including, but not limited to, cardiac output measurement, chest imaging, inhalation therapy, oxygen delivery, blood pressure measurement, and pulse oximeter optoplethysmograms. By coordinating certain medical treatments and diagnostic procedures with a patient'"'"'s breathing cycle, the subject invention improves the quality of medical care received by the patient.
44 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A device for improving the efficacy of the taking of a chest image, comprising:
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a means for receiving a signal which indicates a degree of insufflation of a patient; and
a means for effecting the taking of a chest image with respect to said patient based on said degree of insufflation, wherein said device improves the efficacy of the taking of a chest image by coordinating the taking of a chest image with the patient'"'"'s degree of insufflation. wherein said means for effecting the taking of a chest image causes said chest image to be taken when said signal indicates a desired degree of insufflation, wherein said signal which indicates the degree of insufflation of a patient is received from a ventilator, wherein the desired degree of insufflation is not minimum insufflation or maximum insufflation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
a ventilator model switch comprising settings corresponding to specific ventilators such that said device can interpret the signal indicating the patient'"'"'s degree of insufflation received from a selected ventilator.
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4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a switch which indicates the degree of insufflation of the patient at which the taking of a chest image is to be effected.
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5. A device for improving the efficacy of the taking of a chest image, comprising:
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a means for receiving a signal which indicates a degree of insufflation of a patient; and
a means for effecting the taking of a chest image with respect to said patient based on said degree of insufflation, wherein said device improves the efficacy of the taking of a chest image by coordinating the taking of a chest image with the patient'"'"'s degree of insufflation, wherein said means for effecting the taking of a chest image causes said chest image to be taken when said signal indicates a desired degree of insufflation, wherein said signal which indicates the degree of insufflation of a patient is received from a ventilator, further comprising;
a means for causing said ventilator to ventilate the patient with a sigh breath, wherein said chest image of the patient is taken during the sigh breath.
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6. The device for improving the efficacy of the taking of a chest image, comprising:
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a means for receiving a signal which indicates a degree of insufflation of a patient; and
a means for effecting the taking of a chest image with respect to said patient based on said degree of insufflation, wherein said device improves the efficacy of the taking of a chest image by coordinating the taking of a chest image with the patient'"'"'s degree of insufflation, wherein said means for effecting the taking of a chest image causes said chest image to be taken when said signal indicates a desired degree of insufflation such that said chest image is taken at the desired degree of insufflation, wherein said device effects the taking of a chest image by sending an output signal to an x-ray machine, further comprising;
a means for emulating an x-ray machine firing handle, said means for emulating an x-ray machine firing handle comprising a means for selecting a fire command, wherein a caregiver can select the fire command such that, after a predetermined delay period, said device will send the output signal to the x-ray machine when said signal indicates the desired degree of insufflation. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device for improving the efficacy of the taking of a chest image, comprising:
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a means for receiving a signal which indicates a degree of insufflation of a patient; and
a means for effecting the taking of a chest image with respect to said patient based on said degree of insufflation, wherein said device improves the efficacy of the taking of a chest image by coordinating the taking of a chest image with the patient'"'"'s degree of insufflation, wherein said means for effecting the taking of a chest image causes said chest image to be taken when said signal indicates a desired degree of insufflation such that said chest image is taken at the desired degree of insufflation, wherein said device effects the taking of a chest image by sending an output signal to an x-ray machine, wherein said device sends the output signal to the x-ray machine when said signal indicates the desired degree of insufflation, wherein said signal which indicates the degree of insufflation of a patient is received from a flowmeter. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for imaging a chest of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring a signal outputted from a patient'"'"'s ventilator, wherein said signal indicates the patient'"'"'s degree of insufflation;
(b) receiving an indication from a caregiver to effect the taking of an x-ray image; and
(c) sending an output signal to an x-ray machine to effect the taking of an x-ray image of the patient when said signal indicates a desired degree of insufflation such that the x-ray image of the patient is taken at the desired degree of insufflation, wherein the x-ray image is taken only after receipt of said indication from the caregiver to effect an x-ray image and the signal indicates the desired degree of insufflation, wherein the caregiver indicates to effect the taking of an x-ray image by selecting a fire command on a user interface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A device for improving the efficacy of the taking of a chest image, comprising:
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a means for receiving a signal which indicates a degree of insufflation of a patient; and
a means for effecting the taking of a chest image with respect to said patient based on said degree of insufflation, wherein said device improves the efficacy of the taking of a chest image by coordinating the taking of a chest image with the patient'"'"'s degree of insufflation, wherein said means for effecting the taking of a chest image causes said chest image to be taken at a desired degree of insufflation such that said chest image is taken at the desired degree of insufflation, wherein said device effects the taking of a chest image by sending an output signal to an x-ray machine, further comprising;
a means for emulating an x-ray machine firing handle, wherein a caregiver can select a fire command such that, after a predetermined delay period, said device will send the output signal to the x-ray machine when said signal indicates the desired degree of insufflation, wherein a caregiver can select a rotor-up command which initiates the charging of the x-ray machine'"'"'s capacitor to prepare for firing, and wherein when the caregiver selects the fire command after selection of the rotor-up command the predetermined delay period is measured from selection of the rotor-up command such that, after the predetermined delay period, said device will send the output signal to the x-ray machine when said signal indicates the desired degree of insufflation.
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23. A device for improving the efficacy of the taking of a chest image, comprising:
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a means for receiving a signal which indicates a degree of insufflation of a patient; and
a means for effecting the taking of a chest image with respect to said patient based on said degree of insufflation, wherein said device improves the efficacy of the taking of a chest image by coordinating the taking of a chest image with the patient'"'"'s degree of insufflation, wherein said means for effecting the taking of a chest image causes said chest image to be taken when said signal indicates a desired degree of insufflation such that said chest image is taken at the desired degree of insufflation, wherein said device effects the taking of a chest image by sending an output signal to an x-ray machine, further comprising;
a user interface, wherein a caregiver can select a fire command such that, after a predetermined delay period, said device will effect the taking of a chest image when said signal indicates the desired degree of insufflation by sending the output signal to the x-ray machine when said signal indicates the desired degree of insufflation.
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Specification