Neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector

• US 8,402,964 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2012
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mercury Enterprises Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mercury Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Ratner, Jeffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Whisenant, Ethan C
• Application Number:
  US13/566,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20120296229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 235 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.23, 128/200.24, 128/205.23, 128/207.17, 422/86
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/06 Children, e.g. for attention deficit diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices

Abstract

A neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector has a colorimetric carbon dioxide detector membrane having a pH-sensitive chemical indicator that undergoes colorimetric change in the presence of carbon dioxide. The detector has a patient orifice in fluid communication with the baby'"'"'s airway and a respiration equipment orifice connected to a breathing system. The patient orifice is connected to a breathing tube and when the breathing tube is inserted correctly into the trachea, as the baby exhales, carbon dioxide interacts with the colorimetric membrane which changes color based upon the concentration of carbon dioxide. The internal volume of the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector is reduced to properly function with low-birth-weight (neonatal) infants.

Claims

1. A neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector, the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector formed to insert into an airway circuit, the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector comprising:

an enclosure having a patient orifice in fluid communication with a patient'"'"'s airway and a respiration equipment orifice, the respiration equipment orifice in fluid communication with the patient orifice, the respiration equipment orifice being partially occluded thereby reducing an internal volume of the respiration equipment orifice, the patient orifice overlaps and is offset with respect to the respiration equipment orifice; and

a colorimetric membrane held within the enclosure and visible from outside of the enclosure, the colorimetric membrane in fluid communication with the patient orifice such that the colorimetric membrane is exposed to exhalation gas from the patient orifice before the exhalation gas exits through the respiration equipment orifice.

2. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 1, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color in response to exposure to carbon dioxide gas.

3. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 1, wherein the total internal volume of the enclosure is approximately 3.8 mL and insertion of the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector into the airway circuit increases the total internal volume of the airway circuit by approximately 1 mL.

4. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 2, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color from blue to green in response to exposure to exhalation gas having 1% to 2% of carbon dioxide gas.

5. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 2, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color to yellow/green in response to exposure to exhalation gas having 2% to 5% of carbon dioxide gas.

6. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 2, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color to yellow in response to exposure to exhalation gas having greater than 5% of carbon dioxide gas.

7. A neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector with carbon dioxide detection, the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector formed to insert into an airway circuit, the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector comprising:

an enclosure having a patient orifice in communication with a patient'"'"'s airway and a respiration equipment orifice, the respiration equipment orifice in fluid communication with the patient orifice, the respiration equipment orifice connected to the patient orifice by two pegs on a bottom surface of the respiration equipment orifice mating with two holes on a top surface of the patient orifice, the respiration equipment orifice is partially occluded thereby reducing an internal volume of the respiration equipment orifice, the patient orifice overlaps and is offset with respect to the respiration equipment orifice; and

a colorimetric membrane held within the enclosure and visible through the enclosure, the colorimetric membrane in fluid communication with the patient orifice such that the colorimetric membrane is exposed to exhalation gas from the patient orifice before the exhalation gas exits through the respiration equipment orifice.

8. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 7, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color in response to exposure to carbon dioxide gas.

9. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 8, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color from blue to green in response to exposure to exhalation gas having 1% to 2% of carbon dioxide gas.

10. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 8, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color to yellow/green in response to exposure to exhalation gas having 2% to 5% of carbon dioxide gas.

11. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 8, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color to yellow in response to exposure to exhalation gas having greater than 5% of carbon dioxide gas.

12. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 7, whereas a total internal volume of the enclosure is approximately 3.8 mL before the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector is inserted into the airway circuit and the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector adds less than or equal to approximately 1 mL to the airway circuit after the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector is inserted into the airway circuit.

13. A neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector with carbon dioxide detection, the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector formed to insert into an airway circuit, the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector comprising:

a patient orifice in fluid communication with a patient'"'"'s airway;

a respiration equipment orifice in fluid communication with the patient orifice, a bottom circumferential edge of the respiration equipment orifice interfaced to and overlapping a top circumferential edge of the patient orifice, the patient orifice overlaps and is offset with respect to the respiration equipment orifice; and

a colorimetric membrane held between the respiration equipment orifice and the patient orifice, the colorimetric membrane is visible through the respiration equipment orifice, the colorimetric membrane in fluid communication with the patient orifice such that the colorimetric membrane is exposed to exhalation gas from the patient orifice before the exhalation gas exits through the respiration equipment orifice, the respiration equipment orifice being partially occluded thereby reducing an internal volume of the respiration equipment orifice.

14. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 13, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color in response to exposure to carbon dioxide gas.

15. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 14, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color from blue to green in response to exposure to exhalation gas having 1% to 2% of carbon dioxide gas.

16. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 14, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color to yellow/green in response to exposure to exhalation gas having 2% to 5% of carbon dioxide gas.

17. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 14, wherein the colorimetric membrane changes color to yellow in response to exposure to exhalation gas having greater than 5% of carbon dioxide gas.

18. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 13, whereas a total internal volume of the respiration equipment orifice and the patient orifice is less than or equal to approximately 3.8 mL before the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector is inserted into the airway circuit and the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector adds less than or equal to approximately 1 mL after the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector is inserted into the airway circuit.

19. The neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector of claim 13, whereas the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector adds less than or equal to approximately 1 mL after the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector is inserted into the airway circuit.