Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
Apparatus for monitoring the respiratory function comprising: respiratory means for receiving inhalation and exhalation gas flow, said respiratory means having inhalation and exhalation valve means respectively operative for opening in response to inhalation and expiration, said respiratory means including means for developing electrical signals representative of the respiratory functions; first computing means connected to the output of the respiratory means and also receiving signals indicative of absolute pressure and temperatures for providing a signal indicative of mass flow rate; analyzing means determining the partial pressures of selected respiratory gases; summing means receiving the partial pressures from the analyzing means and providing a signal representative of total pressure; second computing means connected to the output of first computing means, the signal of partial pressure of a selected gas and the signal from the summing means to provide a signal representing mass flow of selected respiratory gas; and first counter means connected to the second computing means and also receiving signals of inhalation and exhalation cycles to produce a signal indicative of net difference of selected respiratory gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
Apparatus for monitoring the respiratory function comprising: respiratory means for receiving inhalation and exhalation gas flow, said respiratory means having inhalation and exhalation valve means respectively operative for opening in response to inhalation and expiration, said respiratory means including means for developing electrical signals representative of the respiratory functions; first computing means connected to the output of the respiratory means and also receiving signals indicative of absolute pressure and temperatures for providing a signal indicative of mass flow rate; analyzing means determining the partial pressures of selected respiratory gases; summing means receiving the partial pressures from the analyzing means and providing a signal representative of total pressure; second computing means connected to the output of first computing means, the signal of partial pressure of a selected gas and the signal from the summing means to provide a signal representing mass flow of selected respiratory gas; and first counter means connected to the second computing means and also receiving signals of inhalation and exhalation cycles to produce a signal indicative of net difference of selected respiratory gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
125 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is a second counter means connected to the first counter means; timing means for controlling the second counter means by providing timing signals, said timing signals defining a finite time reference for the respiratory function; means responsive to said timing signals for stopping the measurement of the respiratory function and nearly simultaneously reinitiating a new measurement of the next respiratory function; and means for transferring the counted data from said counter means to a storage means without affecting the measurement then underway thereby synchronizing the unrythmic respiratory phenomenon to a finite timing means so that each measurement begins and ends at the beginning of a respiratory function after the occurrence of the timing signal from the timing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including a free running, high frequency clock to provide discrete time elements to the measurement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and further including means operative during the inhibition time period for printing the output of said counter means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a flow passage and a pressure differential operated diaphragm in said flow passage, and means responsive to movement of said diaphragm for generating an electrical signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for monitoring the respiratory process wherein the gas flow rate and the frequency of inhalation and exhalation cycles are determined on a real time basis, said method comprising: deriving alternating low frequency signals of the inhalation and exhalation cycles; measuring as pulse rate signals the flow rate during the inhalation and exhalation cycles; converting the pulse rate signals and frequency signals to up and down signals representing inhalation and exhalation flow rate; supplying the up and down signals to a continuous counter; and providing to the counter a timing signal defining a finite time which alerts the counter to be synchronized with the respiratory function whereby upon the next transition of the respiratory cycle the counter commences counting and continues to count until the next similar transition of the respiratory cycle after the succEeding timing signal at which time the counted data is transferred while the count is continued.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for monitoring the respiratory process wherein the gas flow rate and the frequency of inhalation and exhalation cycles are determined on a real time basis, said method comprising: deriving alternating low frequency signals of the inhalation and exhalation cycles; measuring as pulse rate signals the flow rate during the inhalation and exhalation cycles; converting the pulse rate signals and frequency signals to up and down signals representing inhalation and exhalation flow rate; supplying the up and down signals to a continuous counter; and providing to the counter a timing signal defining a finite time which alerts the counter to be synchronized with the respiratory function whereby upon the next transition of the respiratory cycle the counter commences counting and continues to count until the next similar transition of the respiratory cycle after the succEeding timing signal at which time the counted data is transferred while the count is continued.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method specified in claim 6 wherein a free-running, high-frequency clock signal is applied to the counted data.