Method and apparatus for prevention of apnea
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- monitoring by an apparatus an individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration, wherein the apparatus comprises a pulse oximeter and/or respiratory monitor coupled to at least one stimulus delivery device;
delivering by the at least one stimulus delivery device a first stimulus to the individual if the individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration falls within a first predefined range and is sustained within the first predefined range for a first predefined duration;
delivering by the at least one stimulus delivery device a second stimulus to the individual if the individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration falls within a second predefined range and is sustained within the second predefined range for a second predefined duration, wherein the second predefined range is indicative of more severe hypoxia or respiration than the first predefined range;
delivering by the at least one stimulus delivery device a third stimulus to the individual if the second stimulus fails to increase the individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration to a level above the second predefined range; and
wherein the first stimulus comprises one or more audible stimuli, the second stimulus comprises one or more tactile stimuli, and wherein the third stimulus comprises the administration of one or more doses of a narcotic antagonist.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments provide a continuous monitor of a patient'"'"'s oxygenation and/or respiration coupled to a device configured to stimulate the patient'"'"'s respiratory drive and/or summon medical assistance. In embodiments, there are provided systems, devices, and methods to assist in preventing patients from overdosing themselves with narcotics post-surgery. In embodiments, an apnea prevention device (APD) may utilize a commercially available pulse oximeter and/or a respiratory monitor to continuously monitor a patient'"'"'s level of oxygenation/respiration. Should a patient develop respiratory depression or apnea and begin to desaturate, an APD may, using a proprietary method, trigger a sequence of staged responses to reverse worsening hypoxia.
36 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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monitoring by an apparatus an individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration, wherein the apparatus comprises a pulse oximeter and/or respiratory monitor coupled to at least one stimulus delivery device; delivering by the at least one stimulus delivery device a first stimulus to the individual if the individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration falls within a first predefined range and is sustained within the first predefined range for a first predefined duration; delivering by the at least one stimulus delivery device a second stimulus to the individual if the individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration falls within a second predefined range and is sustained within the second predefined range for a second predefined duration, wherein the second predefined range is indicative of more severe hypoxia or respiration than the first predefined range; delivering by the at least one stimulus delivery device a third stimulus to the individual if the second stimulus fails to increase the individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration to a level above the second predefined range; and wherein the first stimulus comprises one or more audible stimuli, the second stimulus comprises one or more tactile stimuli, and wherein the third stimulus comprises the administration of one or more doses of a narcotic antagonist. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification