Breathing apparatus, controller for a breathing apparatus and method of operating a breathing apparatus
AssigneeAvon Polymer Products Limited
InventorKevin Peter GURR
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a breathing apparatus and a controller for a breathing apparatus. The controller is configured to receive a first output signal from a pressure sensor in the breathing apparatus, wherein the first output signal is indicative of variations in a total gas pressure within the breathing apparatus. The controller is further configured to determine, using the first output signal, an oxygen consumption rate of a user of the breathing apparatus. This may enable the controller to determine the user's oxygen consumption rate, without having to rely on an oxygen sensor. The breathing apparatus may be a rebreather, which is used for underwater diving.
Claims21
1-26. (canceled)
A controller for a breathing apparatus, the controller comprising:
- a memory having computer-executable instructions stored therein;
- and
- a processor configured to execute the computer executable instructions, and being further configured to:
- store a relationship between a breathing rate of a user of the breathing apparatus and oxygen consumption of the user;
- receive a first output signal from a differential pressure sensor configured to detect variations in a total gas pressure of a gas mixture in the breathing apparatus, wherein the first output signal is indicative of the variations in the total gas pressure;
- and
- determine, using the first output signal, an oxygen consumption rate of the user of the breathing apparatus, wherein determining the oxygen consumption rate comprises:
- determining a breathing rate of the user from the first output signal;
- and
- determining, based on the breathing rate, the oxygen consumption rate using the relationship between the breathing rate and oxygen consumption of the user.
A method of operating a breathing apparatus, the method comprising:
- storing a relationship between a breathing rate of a user of the breathing apparatus and oxygen consumption of the user;
- receiving a first output signal from a differential pressure sensor in the breathing apparatus, the differential pressure sensor being configured to detect variations in a total gas pressure of a gas mixture in the breathing apparatus, wherein the first output signal is indicative of variations in the total gas pressure;
- and
- determining, using the first output signal, an oxygen consumption rate of the user of the breathing apparatus, wherein determining the oxygen consumption rate comprises:
- determining a breathing rate of the user from the first output signal;
- and
- determining, based on the breathing rate, the oxygen consumption rate using the relationship between the breathing rate and oxygen consumption of the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.