Head-mounted device for supporting breathing circuit tubes and sensor

Claim 1

In a system for monitoring the concentration of fluids such as CO 2 in a breathing circuit of the type including an endotracheal tube positionable in a patient's nose or mouth, a fluid sensor having an airway passage means connected to the endotracheal tube and having means for measuring the concentration of a fluid which passes through the airway passage means, a pair of breathing tubes connected to the airway passage means, and a breathing machine providing a source of inhalation fluids to one of the breathing tubes and an exit for exhalation fluids from the other breathing tube, a device for supporting the breathing tubes and sensor comprising: a cushion positionable across the forehead; a plate positionable over the cushion and having first and second plate portions, said plate being substantially rigid and providing a thermal insulating barrier; a band stretchable in the lengthwise direction and adapted to be wrapped snugly over the cushion and the first plate portion and around the back of the head, the band having adjustable and releasable attaching means for securing the band in said wrapped position; the second plate portion extending above the band; and connecting means on the second plate portion and on the sensor for attaching the sensor to the second plate portion; wherein the plate acts as a thermal barrier reducing heat transfer from the sensor to the patient and counterbalances the weight of the sensor so that the sensor is supported in a substantially fixed position on the plate adjacent the centerline of the patient s forehead and the circuit tubes are positioned up over the patient's head.