Loading patent…
OwnerMichael Berthon-Jones, Gordon Joseph Malouf +1inventors
InventorsMichael Berthon-Jones, Gordon Joseph Malouf, Peter Edward Bateman
Estimating the term…
The invention is an optical sensor whose output represents or measures movement of the skin of the suprasternal notch, this movement being a measure of respiratory effort. The use of a trough detector, with a time constant long compared with a breath but short compared with the interval between changes in body position, allows detection of the optical signal corresponding to zero effort. Subtraction of the trough signal from the optical signal produces a self-zeroing effort signal which automatically compensates for changes in body position. A soft, low irritant adhesive material, which may be left in place on the skin for several days, allows the sensor to be placed and removed as often as desired without injuring the skin.
A method for measuring respiratory effort comprising the steps of mounting an optical sensor on a patient's body, adjusting the position of the optical sensor so that movement of the skin of the suprasternal notch produces a change in the output signal of the optical sensor, directing light to the suprasternal notch and detecting light reflected therefrom, wherein the optical sensor is a light source for directing light to the suprasternal notch and a photocell for detecting light reflected therefrom.
A method for measuring a patient's respiratory effort by using an optical sensor mounted on the patient's body, the optical sensor directing light to the patient's suprasternal notch and detecting the light reflected therefrom, the optical sensor being mounted on the patient's body so as not to move with the skin of the suprasternal notch such that relative movement between the optical sensor and the suprasternal notch produces a change in an output signal of the optical sensor.
A device for measuring a patient's respiratory effort comprising an optical sensor mountable on the patient's body, the optical sensor directing light to the patient's suprasternal notch and detecting the light reflected therefrom, the optical sensor being mountable on the patient's body so as not to move with the skin of the suprasternal notch such that relative movement between the optical sensor and the suprasternal notch produces a change in an output signal of the optical sensor;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.