Patent US6648833B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6648833B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Respiratory analysis with capnography
Assignee: Physio Control Inc
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Filing: 2001-10-15
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Granted: 2003-11-18
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Expires: 2021-10-15
Abstract
Abstract The invention presents techniques for identifying and guiding treatment for medical conditions, based upon the carbon dioxide concentration in the patient's breath. In an exemplary application, the techniques of the invention may be used to distinguish obstructive lung disease from restrictive lung disease, even though the symptoms of the conditions are similar. The techniques of the invention may further be used to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Hampton
- 👤 Baruch S. Krauss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/08; A61B5/083; A61B5/0836
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
30 words
A method comprising: measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient; and determining the presence of restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
30 words
A method comprising: measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient; and determining the presence of restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient comprises generating a capnogram with a capnograph.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The meted of claim 1 , wherein measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient comprises measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide as a function of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the presence of restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement comprises measuring the ascending slope of a curve traced by the measurements of the concentration of carbon dioxide over time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the presence of obstructive lung disease as a function of the measurement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein determining the presence of one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement comprises: measuring the duration of a steady rise of the concentration of carbon dioxide; determining the presence of obstructive lung disease when the duration is longer than a threshold duration; and determining the presence of restrictive lung disease when the duration is shorter than the threshold duration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein determining the presence of one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement comprises: measuring the rate of increase of the concentration of carbon dioxide; determining the presence of obstructive lung disease when the rate of increase is lower than a threshold rate; and determining the presence of restrictive lung disease when the rate of increase is higher than the threshold rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein determining the presence of obstructive lung disease as a function of the measurement comprises: measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide as a function of time; comparing the measurement of the concentration of carbon dioxide as a function of time to a characteristic curve; and determining the presence of obstructive lung disease when the correlation of the measurement of the concentration of carbon dioxide as a function of time to the characteristic curve exceeds a threshold value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising reporting the determination.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the breath expired byte patient is a first breath, the method further comprising: measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a second breath expired by the patient following treatment; evaluating a change in concentration of carbon dioxide between the first breath and the second breath.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10 , further comprising reporting the evaluation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising treating the patient as a function of the determination.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising recommending treatment of the patient as a function of the determination.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
37 words
A device comprising: a gas sensor that measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient; and a processor that determines the presence of restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
37 words
A device comprising: a gas sensor that measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient; and a processor that determines the presence of restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 14 , further comprising an output device that reports the determination.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 14 , further comprising an intake apparatus that conveys the expired breath from the patient to the gas sensor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 14 , further comprising an analog-to-digital converter that converts analog measurements from the gas sensor to digital values, wherein the processor analyzes the digital values to determine the presence of restrictive lung disease.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 14 , further comprising a capnograph that includes the gas sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 14 , wherein the gas sensor comprises an infrared sensor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 14 , wherein the processor further determines the presence of obstructive lung disease as a function of the measurement.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
85 words
A method comprising: measuring a first concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient; guiding treatment of the patient as a function of the measurement, wherein guiding treatment comprises at least one of determining the presence of restrictive lung disease and suggesting a medicine; measuring a second concentration of carbon dioxide in a second breath expired by the patient after a treatment; and monitoring the response of the patient to the treatment as a function of the measurement of the second concentration.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
85 words
A method comprising: measuring a first concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient; guiding treatment of the patient as a function of the measurement, wherein guiding treatment comprises at least one of determining the presence of restrictive lung disease and suggesting a medicine; measuring a second concentration of carbon dioxide in a second breath expired by the patient after a treatment; and monitoring the response of the patient to the treatment as a function of the measurement of the second concentration.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein guiding treatment further comprises determining the presence of obstructive lung disease.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein guiding treatment further comprises assessing the severity of the obstructive lung disease.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein guiding treatment further comprises assessing the severity of the restrictive lung disease.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the breath expired by a patient comprises measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide as a function of time.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising reporting a recommendation for treatment.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
47 words
An apparatus comprising: a sensing means that measures the concentration of carbon dioxide over time in a breath expired by a patient; a processing means that determines the presence of restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement; and an output means that reports the determination.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
47 words
An apparatus comprising: a sensing means that measures the concentration of carbon dioxide over time in a breath expired by a patient; a processing means that determines the presence of restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement; and an output means that reports the determination.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 27 , further comprising: a filtering means that receives a signal from the sensing means and generates a filtered signal comprising low frequency components of the signal; and a converting means that receives the filtered signal and generates a digital signal received by the processing means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 27 , further comprising memory means that stores data characteristic of at least one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 27 , wherein the processing means further determines the presence of obstructive lung disease as a function of the measurement.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
72 words
A method comprising: measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient; and distinguishing between one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement, wherein distinguishing between one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement comprises measuring the ascending slope of a curve traced by the measurements of the concentration of carbon dioxide over time.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
72 words
A method comprising: measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient; and distinguishing between one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement, wherein distinguishing between one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement comprises measuring the ascending slope of a curve traced by the measurements of the concentration of carbon dioxide over time.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 31 , further comprising treating the patient as a function of the distinction.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 , further comprising recommending treatment of the patient as a function of the distinction.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
103 words
A method comprising: measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient; and determining the presence of one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement, wherein determining the presence of one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement comprises: measuring the duration of a steady rise of the concentration of carbon dioxide; determining the presence of obstructive lung disease when the duration is longer than a threshold duration; and determining the presence of restrictive lung disease when the duration is shorter than the threshold duration.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
103 words
A method comprising: measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a breath expired by a patient; and determining the presence of one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement, wherein determining the presence of one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement comprises: measuring the duration of a steady rise of the concentration of carbon dioxide; determining the presence of obstructive lung disease when the duration is longer than a threshold duration; and determining the presence of restrictive lung disease when the duration is shorter than the threshold duration.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 34 , further comprising treating the patient as a function of the determination.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 34 , further comprising recommending treatment of the patient as a function of the determination.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
69 words
A method comprising: measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a first breath expired by a patient; determining the presence of one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement; measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a second breath expired by the patient following treatment; and evaluating a change in concentration of carbon dioxide between the first breath and the second breath.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
69 words
A method comprising: measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a first breath expired by a patient; determining the presence of one of obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease as a function of the measurement; measuring a concentration of carbon dioxide in a second breath expired by the patient following treatment; and evaluating a change in concentration of carbon dioxide between the first breath and the second breath.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 37 , further comprising reporting the evaluation.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
56 words
A method comprising: measuring a first concentration of carbon dioxide in a first breath expired by a patient; measuring a second concentration of carbon dioxide in a second breath expired by the patient after a treatment; and monitoring the response of the patient to the treatment as a function of the measurement of the second concentration.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
56 words
A method comprising: measuring a first concentration of carbon dioxide in a first breath expired by a patient; measuring a second concentration of carbon dioxide in a second breath expired by the patient after a treatment; and monitoring the response of the patient to the treatment as a function of the measurement of the second concentration.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 39 , further comprising guiding treatment of the patient as a function of the response.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein guiding treatment comprises at least one of determining the presence of restrictive lung disease, assessing the severity of the restrictive lung disease, determining the presence of obstructive lung disease, assessing the severity of the obstructive lung disease and suggesting a medicine.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 39 , wherein measuring the first concentration of carbon dioxide in the breath expired by a patient comprises measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide as a function of time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-11-17 | 2007-05-19 | 2007-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-11-17 | 2011-05-19 | 2011-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-11-17 | 2015-05-19 | 2015-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |