Patient monitor and method of using same
First Claim
1. A patient monitoring apparatus, comprising:
- a first patient interface adapted to be located at a first orifice of a patient such that substantially all gas passing through the first orifice passes through the first user interface;
at least one vent element associated with the first patient interface to communicate a portion of gas passing through the first patient interface with an ambient atmosphere, thereby creating a pressure differential between a pressure within the first patient interface and a pressure of the ambient atmosphere;
a first conduit having a first end coupled to the first patient interface and a second end;
a first sensor coupled to the second end of the conduit, wherein the first sensor measures a fluid characteristic resulting from the pressure differential and outputs a first signal indicative of the fluid characteristic; and
a processing unit, receiving the first signal, and determining a quantitative value for a physiological characteristic of the patient based on the first signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A patient monitoring apparatus for quantatively measuring a physiological characteristic of a patient. A first patient interface communicates with an airway of a patient such that substantially all gas inhaled and exhaled by the patient passes through the first patient interface. One or more vent elements associated with the first patient interface communicate the first patient interface with an ambient atmosphere so that a pressure differential is created between the pressure in the first patient interface and the pressure of the ambient atmosphere. A sensor communicates with the first patient interface and measures a fluid characteristic resulting from this pressure differential and outputs a first signal indicative of that characteristic. The output from the sensor is used alone, or in combination with the output from other sensors that detect other physiological characteristics, to provide a variety of information about the patient.
147 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A patient monitoring apparatus, comprising:
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a first patient interface adapted to be located at a first orifice of a patient such that substantially all gas passing through the first orifice passes through the first user interface;
at least one vent element associated with the first patient interface to communicate a portion of gas passing through the first patient interface with an ambient atmosphere, thereby creating a pressure differential between a pressure within the first patient interface and a pressure of the ambient atmosphere;
a first conduit having a first end coupled to the first patient interface and a second end;
a first sensor coupled to the second end of the conduit, wherein the first sensor measures a fluid characteristic resulting from the pressure differential and outputs a first signal indicative of the fluid characteristic; and
a processing unit, receiving the first signal, and determining a quantitative value for a physiological characteristic of the patient based on the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26)
a second patient interface adapted to be located at a second orifice of a patient such that substantially all gas passing through the second orifice passes through the second user interface;
at least one vent element associated with the second patient interface to communicate a portion of gas passing through the second patient interface with an ambient atmosphere, thereby creating a pressure differential between a pressure within the second patient interface and a pressure of the ambient atmosphere;
a second conduit having a first end coupled to the second patient interface and a second end; and
a second sensor coupled to the second end of the conduit, wherein the second sensor measures a fluid characteristic resulting from the pressure differential and outputs a second signal indicative of the fluid characteristic, wherein the processing unit, receiving the first signal and the second signal, and determines quantitative values for a first physiological characteristic of the patient and a second physiological characteristic of the patient based on the first signal and the second signal respectively.
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13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first patient interface is a mask that covers a patient'"'"'s nose, and wherein the second patient interface is a mask that covers such a patient'"'"'s mouth.
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14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first patient interface and the second patient interface are coupled to one another.
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15. An apparatus according, to claim 12, wherein the first patient interface is nasal canula including a first prong adapted to insert into a first nare of the patient, and wherein the second patient interface is nasal canula having a second prong adapted to insert into a second nare of the patient.
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16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first patient interface and the second patient interface are coupled to one another.
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17. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a breathing gas supply or a medication delivery device coupled in fluid communication with an airway of a patient.
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25. A method according to claim 14, wherein locating the first patient interface at the first orifice includes covering a patient'"'"'s nose with a mask, and wherein wherein locating the second patient interface at the second orifice includes covering a patient'"'"'s mouth with a mask.
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26. A method according to claim 14, wherein locating the first patient interface at the first orifice includes disposing a first prong in a first nare of the patient, and wherein locating the second patient interface at the second orifice includes disposing a second prong in a second nare of the patient.
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18. A patient monitoring method, comprising the steps of:
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locating a first patient interface at a first orifice of a patient such that substantially all gas passing through the first orifice passes through the first user interface, wherein the first patient interface includes at least one vent element associated therewith that communicates a portion of gas passing through the first patient interface with an ambient atmosphere thereby creating a first pressure differential between a pressure within the first patient interface and a pressure of the ambient atmosphere;
passing a gas through the first patient interface to create the first pressure differential;
measuring a first fluid characteristic resulting from the pressure differential; and
determining a first quantitative value for a physiological characteristic of the patient based on the first fluid characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
locating a second patient interface at a second orifice of a patient such that substantially all gas passing through the second orifice passes through the second user interface, wherein the second patient interface includes at least one vent element associated therewith that communicates a portion of gas passing through the second patient interface with an ambient atmosphere thereby creating a second pressure differential between a pressure within the second patient interface and a pressure of the ambient atmosphere;
passing a gas through the second patient interface to create the second pressure differential;
measuring a second fluid characteristic resulting from the pressure differential; and
determining a second quantitative value for a physiological characteristic of the patient based on the second fluid characteristic.
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Specification