Respiratory monitor

• US 6,383,143 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald A. Rost
• Original Assignee: Gerald A. Rost
• Inventors: Rost, Gerald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MALLARI, PATRICIA C
• Application Number:
  US09/672,871
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 600/529, 600/534
• US Class Current: 600/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

This invention relates to respiratory sensors having a more favorable construction and method of attachment to the human body than analogous devices found in the prior art. Through use of the present invention, the gathering of accurate data over the passage of a greater time span than was previously possible may be readily achieved. Such higher quality data may be used by medical and other professionals to more accurately assess, study, and diagnose particular medical conditions, as well as body function and response to applied stress.

Claims

1. A process for attaching a transducer to the body which comprises the steps of:

a) providing a transducer having an upper face and a lower face;

b) providing a first adhesive tape having a first face and a second face, and having an adhesive substance disposed on each of said faces;

c) contacting the adhesive on said first face of said adhesive tape to said upper face on said transducer;

d) contacting the adhesive on said second face of said adhesive tape to a human subject so as to cause said transducer to be affixed to said subject.

2. A process according to claim 1 further comprising:

e) providing a second adhesive tape having a greater surface area than said first adhesive tape, and having a first face and a second face, and having an adhesive substance disposed on one of said first face or second face of said second adhesive tape;

f) placing said second adhesive tape over said transducer so that said adhesive substance disposed on said second adhesive tape contacts said subject.

3. In the use of a piezoelectric sensor useful for measuring respiration of a human subject, wherein the improvement comprises:

providing a single device comprising a piezoelectric film in cooperative electrical and physical contact with a filtering circuit, wherein such article may be affixed to said human subject with adhesive tape.

4. A substantially planar device useful for measuring respiration of a human subject and which may be directly attached to a human subject, comprising in a single construction:

a) a transducer capable of generating a voltage signal output in response to the motion of the torso during human respiration, wherein said transducer comprises output signal leads;

b) a filtering circuit, having means for receiving an input signal, and comprising output signal leads,

wherein said output signal leads of said transducer are connected to said means for receiving an input signal of said filtering circuit, wherein said transducer is a piezoelectric film, and wherein said filtering circuit is mounted directly to said piezoelectric film.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said piezoelectric film comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of:

polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, poiyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyphenylene oxide, polysulfone, polyphenylsulfone, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetherimide, polyetheretherketone, polyacetals, or polyethylene terephthalate.

6. A device according to claim 4 wherein said piezoelectric film generates a voltage of at least 50,000 microvolts, peak to peak, in response to a human breathing cycle.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said filtering circuit reduces the signal voltage to a value less than 500 microvolts, peak to peak, in response to said breathing cycle.

8. A device according to claim 6 wherein said filtering circuit reduces the signal voltage to a value of about 150 microvolts, peak to peak, in response to said breathing cycle.

9. A process for measuring human respiration comprising the steps of:

a) providing a device according to claim 6, wherein said device has an upper face and a lower face; and

b) attaching said device to a human subject by steps comprising;

i) providing a first adhesive tape having a first face and a second face, and having an adhesive substance disposed on each of said faces;

ii) contacting the adhesive on said first face of said adhesive tape to said upper face on said transducer;

iii) contacting the adhesive on said second face of said adhesive tape to a human subject so as to cause said transducer to be affixed to said subject; and

c) monitoring the variations in the voltage output of said device.

10. A device according to claim 4 wherein the signal leads of the transducer which are connected to the means for receiving an input signal of the filtering circuit are no greater than ten feet long.

11. A device according to claim 4 wherein the signal leads of the transducer which are connected to the means for receiving an input signal of the filtering circuit are no greater than one inch long.

12. A device according to claim 4 further comprising:

c) a signal processor having input leads, wherein said output signal leads of said filtering circuit are connected to the input leads of said signal processor.

13. A device according to claim 4 wherein said filtering circuit attenuates all signals above 15 Hz.

14. A process for measuring human respiration comprising the steps of:

a) providing a device according to claim 4; and

b) monitoring the variations in the voltage output of said device.

15. A process for measuring human respiration comprising the steps of:

a) providing a device according to claim 4, wherein said device has an upper face and a lower face; and

b) attaching said device to a human subject by steps comprising;

i) providing a first adhesive tape having a first face and a second face, and having an adhesive substance disposed on each of said faces;

ii) contacting the adhesive on said first face of said adhesive tape to said upper face on said transducer;

iii) contacting the adhesive on said second face of said adhesive tape to a human subject so as to cause said transducer to be affixed to said subject; and

;

c) monitoring the variations in the voltage output of said device.

16. A process according to claim 15 wherein said attaching step further comprises the steps of:

iv) providing a second adhesive tape having a greater surface area than said first adhesive tape, and having a first face and a second face, and having an adhesive substance disposed on one of said first face or second face of said second adhesive tape; and

v) placing said second adhesive tape over said transducer so that said adhesive substance disposed on said second adhesive tape contacts said subject.

17. A substantially planar device useful for measuring respiration of a human subject which comprises:

a) a transducer capable of generating a voltage signal output in response to the motion of the torso during human respiration, wherein said transducer has a bottom surface and a top surface, and wherein said transducer comprises output signal leads;

b) filtering circuit, having means for receiving an input signal, and comprising output signal leads, wherein said output signal leads of said transducer are connected to said means for receiving an input signal of said filtering circuit;

c) at least one strip of adhesive tape having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said adhesive tape comprises adhesive on both of said surfaces, wherein said first surface of said tape is in contact with said top surface of said transducer.

18. A device according to claim 17 further comprising:

d) a signal processor having input leads, wherein said output signal leads of said filtering circuit are connected to the input leads of said signal processor.