Extracorporeal aspirant detection systems and methods
AssigneeFox Medical Systems, LLC
InventorsSteven Fox, Gino Morello, David Leak, Robert Orlean, Bryan Lynch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An extracorporeal aspirant prediction and detection system and methods for same are disclosed in which an external sensor assembly, such as a collar-like structure, is placed or worn on the neck and comprises a plurality of integral sensors and/or sensor types for detection of a foreign substance, such as aspirant. Electronic signal conditioning and processing systems, a power source, and communication elements are provided for alerting the user or clinician of any aspiration events.
Claims30
A system for detecting aspirant, comprising:
- a body having an inner surface conforming to at least an anterior portion of a human neck;
- a capacitive sensor operably associated with the body and oriented to establish a capacitive trachea detection zone for at least a portion of the trachea lumen when the body is placed about at least the anterior portion of the neck, and comprising an RC circuit operative at a frequency or frequencies between 3 kHz and 3 GHz, inclusive;
- an infrared sensor operably associated with the body and oriented to establish an infrared trachea detection zone for at least a portion of the trachea lumen when the body is placed about at least the anterior portion of the neck, and comprising at least one infrared emitter and at least one infrared receiver operative at a wavelength or wavelengths of between 626 nm and 940 nm, inclusive;
- a data processor having an input section to receive signals from the capacitive and infrared sensors and operative to determine the presence or absence of aspirant in the capacitive trachea detection zone and/or the infrared trachea detection zone;
- and
- a human interface device visually, audibly, and/or physically operative to indicate the presence of aspirant in the trachea.
A method of detecting the presence of aspirant, comprising:
- providing a body having an inner surface shaped to conform to at least an anterior portion of a human neck;
- locating a first sensor in the body so that an operative surface of the first sensor contacts a first portion of the neck when the body is placed on the neck;
- locating a second sensor in the body so that an operative surface of the second sensor contacts a second portion of the neck when the body is placed on the neck;
- orienting the first and second sensors so that a field of detection of each sensor encompasses at least a portion of a trachea within the neck;
- energizing the first and second sensors to generate the first sensor detection field and the second sensor detection field;
- processing data from the first and second sensors to detect the presence or absence of aspirant in the trachea without the use of a sensor contrast agent;
- and automatically indicating the presence of aspirant by one or more of:
- a visual indication, an audible indication, and a physical indication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.