Respiration detecting means

• US 7,967,760 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MAP Medizin-Technologie GMBH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lang, Bernd, Schatzl, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mallari; Patricia C
• Application Number:
  US11/919,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20090024048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 600/534
• US Class Current: 600/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

The present application is directed to a detector to detect or generate measuring signals that are indicative of the respiration of a person, wherein said detector can be used advantageously in view of hygiene and stands out due to a simple and robust configuration. According to a first aspect, the detector detects a signal that is indicative of the activity of the respiratory muscles of a person to be examined, the detector comprising a band which, in the application position, is passed around a torso region which widens and narrows when the person to be examined breathes, as well as a structure that is included in the band and loaded in accordance with the narrowing or widening of the torso region. The structure is configured such that it causes a change in the volume of a measuring space device depending on a tensile force. It is thus advantageously possible to detect or measure the forces acting on the band in a non-electric manner and, on the basis of this detection or measurement, draw conclusions relating to the widening or narrowing of the torso.

Claims

1. A detecting means for detecting a signal that is indicative of the activity of the respiratory muscles of a person to be examined, said detecting means comprising:

a band means for widening and narrowing in response to the respiration of the person to be examined, the band means being passable around a torso region of the person to be examined; and

a structure which is included in the band means and is loaded by said band means in accordance with narrowing and widening of the torso region caused by the respiration of the person to be examined,

wherein said structure is configured such that it causes a change in the volume of a measuring space means for receiving the load,

wherein the change in the volume is caused by squeezing or widening an elastically deformable chamber at a tube portion thereof,

wherein said tube portion is squeezed or widened by the structure in accordance with tensile force applied to the band means caused by the respiration of the person to be examined, and

wherein walls surrounding the tube portion have a geometry such that deformation conditions are obtained which, in turn, cause the squeezing or widening of the tube portion depending on the tensile force applied to the band means.

2. The detecting means according to claim 1, wherein the structure is configured as a buckle.

3. The detecting means according to claim 2, wherein the buckle is located adjacent to the tube portion.

4. The detecting means according to claim 2, wherein the buckle directly causes the squeezing or widening of the tube portion in accordance with the tensile force applied to the band means.

5. The detecting means according to claim 1, further comprising first and second straps adapted to fit over the person'"'"'s shoulders.

6. The detecting means according claim 2, wherein the buckle is divided into two segments, the two segments surrounding the tube portion for squeezing or widening it depending on tensile force applied to the band means.

7. A measuring arrangement comprising the detecting means according to claim 1, the detecting means being configured to measure tensile force signals, said measuring arrangement further comprising:

a measuring tube and a measuring device which is coupled to the detecting means via the measuring tube for recording the tensile force signals measured by the detecting means.

8. The detecting means according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means forms part of a multi-channel measuring system.

9. The detecting means according to claim 1, wherein a change in the volume depending on tensile force applied to the band means is passed on to a measuring device via a measuring tube arrangement.

10. The detecting means according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises a signal recording device.

11. The measuring arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the measuring device is configured such that its signal recording capacity extends over a pressure signal range which also comprises the dynamic pressure signals that are measurable using a nasal cannula.

12. A device for detecting a signal indicative of the activity of the respiratory muscles of a person to be examined, the device comprising:

a band that is passable around a torso region of the person to be examined, the band widening and narrowing in response to the respiration of the person to be examined; and

a structure included in the band that is loaded by the band in accordance with narrowing and widening of the torso region due to the respiration of the person to be examined,

wherein the structure is configured such that it causes a change in the volume of a measuring space,

wherein the change in the volume is caused by squeezing or widening an elastically deformable chamber at a tube portion thereof,

wherein the tube portion is squeezed or widened by the structure in accordance with tensile force applied to the band caused by the respiration of the person to be examined, and

wherein walls surrounding the tube portion have a geometry such that deformation conditions are obtained which, in turn, cause the squeezing or widening of the tube portion depending on the tensile force applied to the band.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the structure is configured as a buckle.

14. A multi-channel measuring system, comprising the device according to claim 12.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein a change in the volume depending on tensile force applied to the band is passed on to a measuring device via a measuring tube arrangement.

16. The measuring arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the measuring device is configured such that its signal recording capacity extends over a pressure signal range that also comprises the dynamic pressure signals that are measurable using a nasal cannula.

17. The device according to claim 12, wherein the measuring device comprises a signal recording device.

18. The device according to claim 12, further comprising first and second straps adapted to fit over the person'"'"'s shoulders.

19. The device according to claim 13, wherein the buckle is divided into two segments, the two segments surrounding the tube portion for squeezing or widening it depending on the tensile force.

20. The device according to claim 13, wherein the buckle is located adjacent to the tube portion.

21. The device according to claim 13, wherein the buckle directly causes the squeezing or widening of the tube portion in accordance with the tensile force applied to the band.

22. A measuring arrangement comprising a device according to claim 12, said measuring arrangement further comprising

a measuring tube;

and

a measuring device that is coupled to the device of claim 12, the measuring device being configured to record tensile force applied to the band.