Method and apparatus for monitoring respiration
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring respiration in a subject comprising looping an extensible electrical conductor about the subject'"'"'s torso;
- holding said conductor in close encircling relation with said torso during respiration; and
measuring the inductance of said conductor, said measured inductance providing an indication of said subject'"'"'s respiration.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are shown for monitoring respiration volumes by continuously measuring, while the patient breathes, variations in the patient'"'"'s chest cross sectional area, or preferably, variations in both chest and abdomen areas. Each area is measured by measuring the inductance of an extensible electrical conductor closely looped around the body, by connecting the loop as the inductance in a variable frequency LC oscillator followed by a frequency-to-voltage converter and a voltage display. Calibration is made by measuring the area variations for a few breaths while directly measuring corresponding volumes of breath, preferably while the patient assumes at least two body positions, for example sitting and supine. The method and apparatus may also be used to monitor changes in area of any non-magnetic object.
133 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring respiration in a subject comprising looping an extensible electrical conductor about the subject'"'"'s torso;
- holding said conductor in close encircling relation with said torso during respiration; and
measuring the inductance of said conductor, said measured inductance providing an indication of said subject'"'"'s respiration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- holding said conductor in close encircling relation with said torso during respiration; and
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5. Apparatus for monitoring respiration in a subject comprising:
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an extensible electrical conductor; means for supporting said conductor in close encircling relation with said subject'"'"'s torso during respiration; means for measuring the inductance of said conductor; and means for correlating said measured inductance with said subject'"'"'s respiration. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for monitoring respiration in a subject comprising:
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looping a first extensible electrical conductor about said subject'"'"'s rib cage; looping a second extensible conductor about said subject'"'"'s abdomen; holding said first and second conductors in close encircling relation about said torso during respiration; and separately measuring the inductances of each of said conductors during respiration, said measured inductances being indicative of said subject'"'"'s respiration. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for monitoring respiration in a subject comprising;
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a first extensible electrical conductor adapted to be extended circumferentially about said subject'"'"'s rib cage; a second extensible electrical conductor adapted to be extended circumferentially about said subject'"'"'s abdomen; means for supporting said conductors in close encircling relation about said subject during respiration; means for separately measuring the inductances of said conductors; and means for correlating said measured inductances with said subject'"'"'s respiration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification