Method and apparatus for anatomical deadspace measurement
AssigneeRespironics, Inc.
InventorEric W. Starr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining an anatomical deadspace volume VDANA of a patient. The apparatus includes a sensor that measures a parameter indicative of the volume of gas exhaled by the patient and a gas analyzer that measures a concentration of a gas constituent in the patient's expiratory flow. A controller determines the patient's anatomical deadspace volume based on signals provided by the sensor and the gas analyzer.
Claims28
An apparatus for determining an anatomical deadspace volume VDANA of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor adapted to measure a parameter indicative of a volume of gas exhaled by a patient during at least an exhalation phase of a respiratory cycle;
- a gas analyzer adapted to measure a concentration of a gas constituent in such a patient's flow of gas during an exhalation phase of a respiratory cycle;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the gas analyzer, wherein the controller determines such a patient's anatomical deadspace volume based on signals provided by the sensor and the gas analyzer.
A method of determining an anatomical deadspace volume VDANA of a patient, comprising:
- detecting a parameter indicative of a volume of gas exhaled by a patient;
- detecting a concentration of a gas constituent in a flow of gas exhaled by such a patient;
- and
- determining such a patient's anatomical deadspace volume based on the detected parameter indicative of a volume of gas and the detected concentration of a gas constituent.
An apparatus for detecting an anatomical deadspace volume of a patient comprising:
- sensing means for detecting a parameter indicative of a volume of gas exhaled by a patient;
- gas analyzing means for detecting a concentration of a gas constituent in the flow of gas exhaled by such a patient;
- and
- processing means for determining such a patient's anatomical deadspace volume based on the detected volumetric flow of gas and the detected concentration of a gas constituent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.