Device and method for monitoring respiration
First Claim
1. A respiration sensor apparatus comprising:
- a sensor capable of sensing relative high frequency acoustic signals with a frequency of at least 2 Khz, including an inflatable body having an outside surface and an interior volume, disposable between the mouth and nose of a patient;
at least one tube having two ends, one end being in communication with said interior volume and extending from said sensor; and
a monitor, connected to said second end of said tube, detecting respiration of the patient by detecting variations in at least one of a) pressure within said interior volume, and b) sound waves generated by the patient'"'"'s respiration flowing over said sensor.
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Abstract
A system and method are provided to monitor a patient'"'"'s respiration during and after medical/surgical procedures, as well as in clinical situations wherein the patient is at increased risk for developing central or obstructive respiratory depression and/or apnea. A sensor attached to the patient'"'"'s face, which monitors nasal and oral air-flows. An electronic monitor analyzes patient respiratory patterns and initiates bedside and/or remote nursing station alarms in real time if and when a clinically significant respiratory event is detected. Respiration is measured by monitoring changes in the acoustic signature of the patient'"'"'s breath passing over a corrugated or uneven surface, changes in the pressure of an inflatable closed volume of a sensor caused by the changes in temperature of the interior volume caused by the patient breathing over the sensor, or both.
51 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A respiration sensor apparatus comprising:
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a sensor capable of sensing relative high frequency acoustic signals with a frequency of at least 2 Khz, including an inflatable body having an outside surface and an interior volume, disposable between the mouth and nose of a patient;
at least one tube having two ends, one end being in communication with said interior volume and extending from said sensor; and
a monitor, connected to said second end of said tube, detecting respiration of the patient by detecting variations in at least one of a) pressure within said interior volume, and b) sound waves generated by the patient'"'"'s respiration flowing over said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A sensor for detecting a person'"'"'s respiration, comprising:
- an inflatable body having an outside surface and an interior volume, dimensioned to be disposable between the mouth and nose of a patient; and
corrugations disposed on said outside surface, wherein when the patient breathes over said sensor, said corrugations serving to sense a change in turbulence of the respiratory airflow over said outer surface to thereby amplify the sound generated by respiration. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- an inflatable body having an outside surface and an interior volume, dimensioned to be disposable between the mouth and nose of a patient; and
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32. A method for monitoring a person'"'"'s respiration comprising the steps of:
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passing a patient'"'"'s breath over a corrugated surface of a sensor to create air turbulence;
generating a measurable acoustic signature with varying frequency and intensity proportional to respiratory air flow and volume; and
monitoring the acoustic signature with an appropriate pickup. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification