Measuring flow in a respiratory therapy device
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsWILLIAM ANTHONY TRUSCHEL, BERNARD F. HETE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system (10) for measuring subject flow in a respiratory therapy device. The system may include a primary pressure generator (12) connected to a subject circuit (18), and a secondary pressure generator (30) connected to a sensor circuit (36). The sensor circuit and subject circuit may be in fluid communication such that gas form the sensor circuit is introduced into the subject circuit. A measurement of flow parameters of gas through the sensor circuit may convey information related to flow parameters of gas in the subject circuit. The system may be configured such that contaminates from subject flow in the subject circuit do not flow into the sensor circuit.
Claims15
A system for measuring subject flow in a respiratory therapy device, the system comprising:
- a primary pressure generator configured to generate a first pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to a subject through a subject circuit, the subject circuit including a first flow restriction, the first flow restriction causing a pressure difference to occur between a first side and a second of the first flow restriction if gas is flowing through the subject circuit, the second side being opposite the first side;
- a secondary pressure generator configured to generate a second pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to a sensor circuit, the sensor circuit being in fluid communication with the subject circuit such that gas from the second pressurized flow of breathable gas is introduced into the subject circuit at:
- a first interface on the first side of the first flow restriction, and
- a second interface on the second side of the first flow restriction;
- and
- a sensor in fluid communication with gas in the sensor circuit, the sensor being configured to generate output signals conveying information related to flow parameters of gas through the first flow restriction in the subject circuit.
A method of measuring subject flow in a respiratory therapy device, the method comprising:
- providing a primary pressure generator configured to generate a first pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to a subject through a subject circuit, the subject circuit including a first flow restriction, the first flow restriction causing a pressure difference to occur between a first side and a second side of the first flow restriction if gas is flowing through the subject circuit, the second side being opposite the first side;
- providing a secondary pressure generator configured to generate a second pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to a sensor circuit;
- fluidly communicating gas from the second pressurized flow of breathable gas into the subject circuit at:
- a first interface on the first side of the first flow restriction, and
- a second interface on the second side of the first flow restriction;
- and
- providing a sensor in fluid communication with gas in the sensor circuit, the sensor being configured to generate output signals conveying information related to flow parameters of gas through the first flow restriction in the subject circuit.
A system for measuring subject flow in a respiratory therapy device, the system comprising:
- primary flow generating means configured to generate a first pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to a subject through a subject circuit, the subject circuit including a first flow restriction, the first flow restriction causing a pressure difference to occur between a first side and a second side of the first flow restriction if gas is flowing through the subject circuit, the second side being opposite the first side;
- secondary flow generating means configured to generate a second pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to a sensor circuit, the sensor circuit being in fluid communication with the subject circuit such that gas from the second pressurized flow of breathable gas is introduced into the subject circuit at:
- a first interface on the first side of the first flow restriction, and
- a second interface on the second side of the first flow restriction;
- and
- sensor means in fluid communication with gas in the sensor circuit, the sensor means being configured to generate output signals conveying information related to flow parameters of gas through the first flow restriction in the subject circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.