Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for enhancing patient compliance during inspiration measurements

US6106481A · kind A · utility

79Cited by
78References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 1, 1997
Grant dateAug 22, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 1, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/486
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system for measuring a patient's inspiration volume and for enhancing patient compliance with a predetermined breathing pattern during inspiration volume measurements. A flexible conductive loop adapted for being wrapped around, and conforming to the patient's chest is coupled to an amplifier circuit including a signal generator and an exclusive-OR gate. The signal generator generates a square-wave signal for coupling to a first terminal of the conductive loop and the exclusive-OR gate is responsive to the applied square-wave signal and to a signal at the second terminal of the loop for measuring the delay between the signals. The output signal of the amplifier circuit is indicative of the inductance of the loop, which varies with the patient's inspiration volume. The measured inspiration volume is displayed on a first display and a target inspiration volume is displayed on a second display, preferably, disposed adjacent to the first display. The patient is instructed to breathe in a manner that causes the measured inspiration volume display to match the target inspiration volume display. In one embodiment, a measure of the patient's compliance with the predetermined breathing pa…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.