Portable single patient use carbon dioxide detector

• US 6,502,573 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mercury Enterprises Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mercury Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Ratner, Jeffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDOZA, MICHAEL G
• Application Number:
  US10/001,487
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 128/205.27, 128/205.28, 128/201.25, 128/202.22, 128/202.28, 128/202.29, 128/204.22, 128/205.23, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 600/532, 600/353
• US Class Current: 128/207.17
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0084 self-reinflatable by elasticity, e.g. resuscitation squeeze bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0413 with detectors of CO2 in exhaled gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 CO or CO2

Abstract

The CO₂ detector has a bottom housing attached to a top housing. The bottom housing contains a rotatable port engageable to an intubation tube and multiple parallel integral filter support ridges on a top surface of a floor. A filter pad overlies the integral filter support ridges and a baffle overlies the filter pad. The baffle has multiple parallel filter support ridges on a bottom surface cooperating with the filter support ridges integral with the bottom housing to maintain the filter pad in position. The baffle has an air flow guide on a top surface and air passages. The top housing has a port connected to a CPR bag and a clear plastic disc overlying a CO₂ calorimetric indicator paper. The colorimetric indicator paper is shown through a clear plastic cover after removing backing on the indicator paper through a sealable slot.

Claims

1. A carbon dioxide (CO₂) detector for use with a cardiopulmonary resuscitator (CPR) device, the CO₂ detector comprising:

a top housing containing an inhale/exhale port connected to a CPR device, the top housing having a bore for receipt of a support for a clear plastic disc overlaying a chemically treated calorimetric indicator paper;

the indicator paper being partially covered with a backing paper prior to use, the backing paper protruding through a slot in the support and being removed by pulling on the protruding backing paper to fully expose the indicator paper;

a sealing ring juxtaposed to a bottom outer surface of the disc to seal the slot after removal of the backing paper; and

a bottom housing attached to the top housing, the bottom housing having a port for connection by a tube to a patient'"'"'s trachea.

2. The CO₂detector according to claim 1 wherein the a bottom housing port is engageable to an intubation tube, the bottom housing enclosing integral multiple filter support ridges, a filter pad overlying the filter support ridges and a baffle overlying the filter pad, the baffle having multiple filter support ridges on a bottom surface cooperating with the filter support ridges integral with the bottom housing to maintain the filter pad in position.

3. The CO₂ detector according to claim 1 wherein the top housing bore is an opening proximal to the inhale/exhale port, an inner circumference of the opening containing locking slots, for receipt of multiple snap legs downwardly directed from the support, the snap legs engaging and locking to the locking slots to retain the disc on the top housing.

4. The CO₂ detector according to claim 2 wherein the baffle has an air flow guide on a top surface and air passages located below the indicator paper.

5. The CO₂ detector according to claim 2 wherein the port in the bottom housing is rotatable.

6. A carbon dioxide (CO₂) detector for use with a cardio-pulmonary resuscitator (CPR) device, the CO₂ indicator comprising:

a bottom housing containing an air flow port engageable to an intubation tube, the port descending from a floor of the bottom housing with a wall ascending from an outer edge of the floor, means for supporting an air filter on a top surface of the floor, an air filter mounted over the floor and a baffle mounted over the air filter;

a top housing attached to an upper edge of the ascending wall, the top housing having an air flow port ascending from a top surface, the air flow port engageable to a CPR bag, a clear plastic disc mounted on a support engaging a bore in the top housing, the support containing a slot below the disc for receipt of protruding backing paper so that color changes on a calorimetric indicator paper covered by the backing paper can be viewed through the clear plastic disc after the backing paper is removed from the slot.

7. The CO₂ detector according to claim 6 wherein the means for supporting the air filter on a top surface of the bottom housing floor are multiple parallel ridges.

8. The CO₂ detector according to claim 7 wherein a bottom surface of the baffle contains ridges conforming to the multiple parallel ridges on the bottom housing floor to retain the air filter in position within the CO₂ detector.

9. The CO₂ detector according to claim 6 wherein the wall ascending from an outer edge of the bottom housing flow is elliptical in shape.

10. The CO₂ detector according to claim 6 wherein the clear plastic disc support is mounted to the top housing by multiple descending legs engaging slots along an inner edge of the bore in the top housing proximal to the air flow port.

11. The CO₂ detector according to claim 6 wherein the bottom housing air flow port is rotatable.

12. The CO₂ detector according to claim 6 wherein the baffle has air passages for conducting the flow of air from the CPR bag or breath from a patient.

13. A carbon dioxide (CO₂) detector for use with a cardiopulmonary resuscitator (CPR) device, the CO₂ detector comprising:

a top housing containing an inhale/exhale port connected to a CPR device, the top housing having a bore containing locking slots on an inner circumference, multiple legs descending from a support integral with a transparent disc, the multiple legs engaging and attaching to the locking slots to support the transparent disc on the top housing;

a slot below the disc in the support for receipt of a protruding backing paper, the pulling of the backing paper out of the slot causing an exposure of a calorimetric indicator paper;

a sealing ring juxtaposed to a bottom outer surface of the disc to seal the slot after removal of the backing paper; and

a bottom housing attached to the top housing for receipt of a filter and a port extending from the bottom housing for connection to a patient'"'"'s intubation tube.

14. The CO₂ detector according to claim 13 wherein the port extending from the bottom housing is rotatable.

15. The CO₂ detector according to claim 13 wherein the filter is maintained between a bottom housing floor and a baffle.