Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for non-invasively monitoring one or more cardiopulmonary events in a subject comprising: disposing about the neck means for detecting changes in cross-sectional area or a parameter indicative thereof; providing a signal indicative of the changes in cross-sectional area or a parameter indicative thereof as detected by said detecting means; and monitoring said signal, said signal being indicative of said cardiopulmonary events.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for non-invasively monitoring one or more cardiopulmonary events in a subject comprising: disposing about the neck means for detecting changes in cross-sectional area or a parameter indicative thereof; providing a signal indicative of the changes in cross-sectional area or a parameter indicative thereof as detected by said detecting means; and monitoring said signal, said signal being indicative of said cardiopulmonary events.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said disposing step comprises looping an extensible conductor in close encircling relation about the neck and wherein said signal providing step comprises measuring changes in the inductance of the conductive loop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said monitoring step comprises processing said signal whereby to remove the carotid arterial pulse component, and monitoring said processed signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said processing step comprises low pass filtering said signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 4, further comprising time series averaging said signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said processing step comprises time series averaging said signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 3, further comprising calibrating said signal to provide a signal semi-quantitatively related to intrapleural pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method according to claim 7, further comprising looping an additional extensible conductor in close encircling relation about the neck, providing an additional signal indicative of the changes in the inductance of the additional conductive loop, processing the additional signal whereby to remove the carotid arterial pulse component, and calibrating said first mentioned signal and said additional signal for respiratory events having first and second frequencies, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring the amplitude of said signal to detect specific pulmonary events.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring the frequency of said signal to detect specific pulmonary events.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring the pattern of said signal to detect specific cardiopulmonary events.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said monitoring step comprises processing said signal whereby to remove the respiration component, and monitoring said processed signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said processing step comprises high pass filtering said signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 13, further comprising time series averaging said signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said processing step comprises time series averaging said signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 4, further comprising comparing said processed signal with signals from an EKG and phonocardiogram whereby to determine systolic time intervals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring the amplitude of said signal to detect specific cardiac events.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring the frequency of said signal to detect specific cardiac events.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring the pattern of said signal to detect specific cardiac events.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said monitoring step comprises splitting said signal into first and second signals, processing said first signal whereby to remove the carotid arterial pulse component, processing said second signal whereby to remove the respiration component, and monitoring said processed first and second signals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method according to claim 2, further comprising looping an additional extensible conductor in close encircling relation about another portion of the body of said subject at the site of a pulse other than the carotid pulse; providing an additional signal indicative of the changes in the inductance of the additional conductive loop; and comparing the signal from the conductor looped about the neck with said additional signal whereby to determine arterial pulse wave velocity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 21, wherein said other pulse is the brachial, radial or finger pulse.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring the amplitude of said signal to detect specific cardiopulmonary events.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring the frequency of said signal to detect specific cardiopulmonary events.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said monitoring step comrpises monitoring the pattern of said signal to detect specific cardiopulmonary events.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method according to claim 2, further comprising looping an additional extensible conductor in close encircling relation about the neck; providing an additional signal indicative of the changes in the inductance of the additional conductive loop; and wherein said monitoring step comprises processing said first-mentioned signal and said additional signal to remove, respectively, the carotid arterial pulse component and the respiration component, and monitoring said processed signals.