Sensor adaptor, apparatus, and method for monitoring end-tidal carbon dioxide

A method for manufacturing an apparatus for coupling to a device detecting at least one of the presence and absence of end-tidal carbon dioxide, comprising:

• providing a face mask including a mask outer surface and a mask inner surface presenting an inner volume, the face mask including a generally flat side portion extending in a generally common plane and defining a plurality of exit ports for allowing carbon dioxide to exit the inner volume, each of the exit ports presenting an exit port diameter;
• disposing a sensor adaptor in one of the exit ports of the face mask in a tight frictional press fit engagement, the sensor adaptor including a shaft extending from a first end to a second end, the shaft including a shaft outer surface presenting a smooth cylindrical shape with a shaft outside diameter being approximately equal to the exit port diameter of the face mask for providing the tight frictional press fit engagement between said shaft outer surface and said exit port, the shaft including an inner surface presenting a channel extending continuously from the first end to the second end, and the shaft including an adaptor tip adjacent the first end, the sensor adaptor including a connector adjacent the second end, with said smooth cylindrical outer surface of said shaft outer surface extending substantially the entire length from the connector to the first end for providing the tight frictional press fit engagement within the exit port of the face mask:
• wherein the step of disposing the sensor adaptor in one of the exit ports of the face mask in the tight frictional press fit engagement includes inserting the adaptor tip into the exit port until a stopper end extending radially outwardly beyond the shaft outer surface and facing the first end engages the mask outer surface;
• and further including
• the step of coupling the connector of the sensor adaptor to a gas sampling tube connected to the device detecting the end-tidal carbon dioxide.

A method for manufacturing an apparatus for coupling to a device detecting at least one of the presence and absence of end-tidal carbon dioxide, comprising:

• providing a face mask including a mask outer surface and a mask inner surface presenting an inner volume, the face mask including a generally flat side portion extending in a generally common plane and defining a plurality of exit ports for allowing carbon dioxide to exit the inner volume, each of the exit ports presenting an exit port diameter;
• disposing a sensor adaptor in one of the exit ports of the face mask in a tight frictional press fit engagement, the sensor adaptor including a shaft extending from a first end to a second end, the shaft including a shaft outer surface presenting a smooth cylindrical shape with a shaft outside diameter being approximately equal to the exit port diameter of the face mask for providing the tight frictional press fit engagement between said shaft outer surface and said exit port, the shaft including an inner surface presenting a channel extending continuously from the first end to the second end, and the shaft including an adaptor tip adjacent the first end, the sensor adaptor including a connector adjacent the second end, with said smooth cylindrical outer surface of said shaft outer surface extending substantially the entire length from the connector to the first end for providing the tight frictional press fit engagement within the exit port of the face mask;
• wherein the step of disposing the sensor adaptor in one of the exit ports of the face mask in the tight frictional press fit engagement includes inserting the adaptor tip into the exit port until a stopper end extending radially outwardly beyond the shaft outer surface and facing the first end engages the mask outer surface;
• and
• wherein the sensor adaptor includes a gripper including a gripper inner surface presenting a gripper opening for surrounding the shaft, with the gripper spaced apart from the first end to define the stopper end and presenting the adaptor tip between the gripper and the first end of the shaft;
• and
• wherein the step of disposing the sensor adaptor in one of the exit ports of the face mask in the tight frictional press fit engagement includes inserting the adaptor tip into the exit port until the gripper engages the mask outer surface.

An apparatus for coupling to a gas sampling tube connected to a device detecting at least one of the presence and absence of end-tidal carbon dioxide, comprising:

• a face mask for disposing over a nose and mouth of a patient, said face mask including a generally flat side portion having a generally uniform thickness and defining an exit port including a circular hole therethrough;
• wherein said generally flat side portion immediately surrounding said circular hole has a generally uniform thickness;
• a sensor adaptor for coupling said face mask to the gas sampling tube and including a shaft extending from a first end to a second end, said shaft including a shaft outer surface presenting a smooth cylindrical shape with a shaft outside diameter providing a tight frictional press fit engagement within said circular hole of said exit port of said face mask, said shaft including a shaft inner surface presenting a channel extending continuously from said first end to said second end for providing a continuous pathway from said face mask toward the gas sampling tube, said shaft including an adaptor tip adjacent said first end for being disposed in the exit port of the face mask and defining an adaptor length being a portion of said shaft length;
• a connector attached to said second end of said shaft for coupling said channel of said shaft to the gas sampling tube;
• said smooth cylindrical outer surface of said shaft outer surface extending substantially the entire length from said connector to said first end for providing the tight frictional press fit engagement within said circular hole of said exit port of said face mask;
• said generally flat side portion of said face mask having said generally uniform thickness extending in a generally parasagittal plane with said face mask disposed over the nose and mouth of the patient;
• wherein said face mask includes a nose portion with a nasal opening for receiving an oxygen delivery tube;
• wherein said exit port includes a plurality of circular holes, with said shaft extending through one of said circular holes of said exit port transverse to said generally flat side portion of said face mask;
• wherein said connector includes a connector inner surface presenting a connector opening in fluid communication with said channel of said shaft, and said connector includes female Luer lock having at least one thread extending radially outwardly for coupling to the gas sampling tube;
• wherein said connector includes a pair of wings extending longitudinally and radially outwardly;
• and
• wherein said sensor adaptor and said face mask are formed of a plastic material integral with one another and comprise a single component.