System and method for monitoring breathing
First Claim
1. A breathing monitoring system, comprising:
- a) a first temperature sensor arranged to measure a patient'"'"'s breathing-gas temperature;
b) a second temperature sensor arranged to measure an ambient temperature; and
c) a controller programmed to;
i) determine a plurality of breathing-gas temperatures over a time interval using a first set of signals received from the first temperature sensor;
ii) determine at least one ambient temperature during said time interval using a second signal received from the second temperature sensor;
iii) compute a maximum breathing-gas temperature and a minimum breathing-gas temperature from said first set of signals;
iv) calculate a difference between said maximum and minimum breathing-gas temperatures (“
Δ
Tm”
);
v) compute a temperature threshold difference (“
threshold Δ
Tm”
) as a function of the ambient temperature; and
vi) compare the threshold Δ
Tm to said Δ
Tm to determine a breathing status of said patient.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring the breathing status of a patient comprises a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor. The first temperature sensor is arranged to measure the temperature of the breathing gas of a patient. The second temperature sensor is arranged to measure an ambient temperature of the patient'"'"'s surroundings. A controller is included, wherein the controller is programmed to determine a plurality of breathing-gas temperatures over time by way of a first signal received from the first temperature sensor and at least one ambient temperature using a second signal received from the second temperature sensor. The controller is programmed to analyze the plurality of breathing-gas temperatures and the at least one ambient temperature to determine a breathing status of the patient. The present invention may be embodied as a method for monitoring the breathing status of a patient.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A breathing monitoring system, comprising:
-
a) a first temperature sensor arranged to measure a patient'"'"'s breathing-gas temperature; b) a second temperature sensor arranged to measure an ambient temperature; and c) a controller programmed to; i) determine a plurality of breathing-gas temperatures over a time interval using a first set of signals received from the first temperature sensor; ii) determine at least one ambient temperature during said time interval using a second signal received from the second temperature sensor; iii) compute a maximum breathing-gas temperature and a minimum breathing-gas temperature from said first set of signals; iv) calculate a difference between said maximum and minimum breathing-gas temperatures (“
Δ
Tm”
);v) compute a temperature threshold difference (“
threshold Δ
Tm”
) as a function of the ambient temperature; andvi) compare the threshold Δ
Tm to said Δ
Tm to determine a breathing status of said patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for monitoring the breathing of a patient, comprising the steps of:
-
a) using a first temperature sensor to measure the patient'"'"'s breathing-gas temperature during a time interval; b) using a second temperature sensor to measure an ambient temperature; and c) providing a controller programmed for; i) determining a plurality of breathing-gas temperatures over said time interval using a first set of signals received from the first temperature sensor; ii) determining at least one ambient temperature using a second signal received from the second temperature sensor; and iii) computing a maximum breathing-gas temperature and a minimum breathing-gas temperature from said first set of signals; iv) calculating a difference between said maximum and minimum breathing-gas temperatures (“
Δ
Tm”
);v) computing a temperature threshold difference (“
threshold Δ
Tm”
) as a function of the ambient temperature; andvi) comparing the threshold Δ
Tm to said Δ
Tm to determine a breathing status of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
Specification