Sensor for monitoring respiration
AssigneeInstrumentarium Corp.
InventorLauri Malkamaki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
For monitoring respiration occurring through the respiratory tract or tracts of a patient, a sensor comprises two spaced-apart electrically conductive elements (2,3). Wires (8,9) extend from the elements to a measuring instrument. The transfer of an electrical charge between the elements is effected by means of charge carriers in an intermediate layer between the electrically conductive elements and responsive to moisture in respired air. The transfer provides an indication of respiration to a measuring instrument.
Claims28
A sensor for monitoring the respiration of air occurring through one or more respiratory tracts of a patient and for providing an indication of the same to a measuring instrument, said sensor comprising:
- two spaced-apart electrically conductive elements (2,3), said elements having means (8,9) for coupling same to the measuring instrument (10);
- an intermediate layer means between said elements, said intermediate layer means being capable of transferring electric charge carriers between said elements in the presence of moisture in said intermediate layer means to establish a current between said elements;
- and
- means for affixing the sensor to the patient proximate one or more respiratory tracts of the patient to subject the sensor to moisture contained in the air moving during respiration occurring in said one or more tracts.
A sensor for monitoring the respiration of air occurring through the nasal and oral respiratory tracts of a patient and for providing an indication of same to a measuring instrument, said sensor comprising:
- two spaced-apart electrically conductive elements (2,3), said elements having means (8,9) for coupling same to the measuring instrument (10);
- and
- an intermediate layer means between said elements, said intermediate layer means being capable of transferring electric charge carriers between said elements in the presence of moisture in said intermediate layer means to establish a current between said elements,
- said sensor having a generally T-shape for being positionable on the upper lip of the patient proximate the nasal and oral respiratory tracts for being subjected to moisture contained in the air moving during respiration occurring in the tracts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.