Breath end-tidal gas monitor
US9095276B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 2011 |
| Grant date | Aug 4, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S436/90
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An improved apparatus and method for capturing and analyzing the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. The CO2 level of air drawn into the system (10) is monitored to distinguish inhalation and exhalation of breath. Upon detection of a decrease in the CO2 level in the air drawn into the system (10), indicating a transition between exhalation and inhalation a pair of flow selector valves (26, 28) are operated to capture the end-tidal volume of air drawn into the system (10) immediately prior to the detection of the decrease in the CO2 level. Incoming air is diverted around the captured volume of air, and the CO2 levels are continually monitored to ensure that the captured volume of air corresponds to the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. Once the captured volume of air is positively identified as the end-tidal portion of an exhalation, the captured volume is routed through a gas analyzer (44) for analysis of one or more predetermined gas levels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.