Swisstom Ag

Hamilton Medical Ag

Csem Centre Suisse D'electronique Et De Microtechnique Sa&#x2014;recherche Et D&#xe9;veloppement

Sentec Ag

Csem Sa

Csem Centre Suisse D'electronique Et De Microtechnique Sa-recherche at Développement

Neosim Ag

Josef X Brunner

Thomas Laubscher

Josep Sola I Caros

Pascal Olivier Gaggero

Marc Wysocki

Nicolas Robitaille

Andrew Adler

Stephan Bohm

Gion Durisch

Dominik Novotni

Martin Proença

Peter Krammer

Ivo Mettier

Stephan H Böhm

Andreas Waldmann

Bartlomiej Grychtol

Patrick Büchele

Damien Farrario

Damien Ferrario

Ricardo Lopez Gasco

Stephan BÖHM

Stephan H BÖHM

A physical lung model (PLM) for training and teaching comprising a lung compartment which is delimited by an enlargeable and reducible piston for enlarging and reducing the volume of the lung compartment, a lid sealing a first end of the piston, a support body carrying the piston in that a second end of the piston is sealingly attached to the support body; and an airway leading from the lung compartment to an airway opening. A mechanical stop is attached to the piston and partitions the piston into a first enlargeable and reducible section and a second enlargeable and reducible section, the mechanical stop describing a path of movement during the enlargement of the lung compartment. A lever, is installed for blocking the movement of the stop at a predefined point on the path of movement during enlargement of the lung compartment and restricting the enlargement of the lung compartment.

Lung simulator for teaching and training

A system for EIT imaging comprises an electrode array for positioning on a patient and measuring an impedance distribution, a data entry unit and a calculation unit. The electrode array contains a visual aid coupled to the electrode array for visually indicating the position of at least one electrode, the data entry module accepts an entry of data describing the position of the visual aid, and the calculation unit calculates the position of the individual electrodes relative to the patient's body and provides correction for the image creation algorithm. A sensor device for EIT imaging may comprise the electrode array, which is connectable to an EIT imaging system comprising a data entry unit and a calculation unit. An EIT imaging method may employ the system or sensor device.

Sensor belt and positioning aid for electro-impedance tomography imaging in neonates

A sensor device for EIT imaging comprises an electrode array for measuring an impedance distribution, with at least one sensor for determining spatial orientation of the electrode array coupled to the electrode array. EIT imaging instrument is connectable to a sensor for determining spatial orientation of a test person, and optionally in addition connectable to a sensor for gathering information on electrical and/or acoustic activity and/or a sensor for gathering information on dilation. A computing device is connected or integrated for adjusting impedance data based on spatial data, which spatial data describe the spatial orientation of a test subject. An EIT imaging method for measuring an impedance distribution and adjusting said measured impedance distribution comprises measuring impedance distribution by using an impedance distribution measuring device comprising an electrode array, and transforming the measured impedance distribution into EIT images.

Sensor device for electrical impedance tomography imaging, electrical impedance tomography imaging instrument and electrical impedance tomography method

An electrical impedance tomography system for determining electric properties of an internal body part of a patient comprises an electrode array in electrical contact with the patient, a device for applying current or voltage between electrodes of the array and for measuring voltages or currents between other combinations of the array A computing unit comprises a processor and a storage unit. The storage unit comprises a reconstruction algorithm used by the data processor for reconstructing the measured voltages of the body part into electrical properties or changes thereof. The data processor outputs a representation of the reconstructed electrical properties and generates or processes anatomical models descriptive of the body part The data processor uses biometric data of the patient and, according to the biometric data of the patient, selects an anatomical model for reconstructing the measured electrical voltages of the body part into electrical properties or changes thereof.

Electrical impedance tomography system

A method for estimating blood pressure (BP) values comprises: measuring at a first PTT value, a second PTT value, and further PTTref values using a method comprising measuring a first arterial pressure pulse arrival time (PAT) and measuring a second PAT value; calculating a PTT value from the difference between the first PAT value and the second PAT value; processing a sequence of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images to identify at least one region of interest (ROI); and estimating at least one of the first and second PAT value from the variation of impedance value determined from the at least one ROI. The method allows for the non-invasive and continuous determination of the PB values by using a calibration factor.

Method and apparatus for the non-invasive measurement of pulse transit times (PTT)

The invention relates to a device for the regulation of PEEP and FiOof a ventilator for achieving an arterial oxygen partial pressure in the blood of a mechanically ventilated patient. At reading which is representative of the success of the oxygen supply, i.e. the oxygen saturation of the blood is measured with the device, and assigned to one of three regions, which are defined by two characteristic lines. A first control loop is designed to optimise PEEP and FiOon assigning a reading to a region which demands a change of the settings, or to retaining the settings with an assignment to the normal region between the characteristic lines. This first control loop carries out such an optimisation at predefined temporal intervals on account of the representative reading (SaO) and a predefined necessary supply intensity. The ventilator is subsequently activated accordingly. Therebetween, if necessary only FiOis increased or reduced with a second control loop, if between optimisations by way of the first control loop, the current representative value (SaO) falls below a limit value (characteristic line) which is dependent on the supply intensity, which demands an immediate increase of the oxygen supply.

O-controller

A sensor device for EIT imaging comprises an electrode array for measuring an impedance distribution, with at least one sensor for determining spatial orientation of the electrode array coupled to the electrode array. An EIT imaging instrument is connectable to a sensor for determining spatial orientation of a test person, and optionally in addition connectable to a sensor for gathering information on electrical and/or acoustic activity and/or a sensor for gathering information on dilation. A computing device is connected or integrated for adjusting impedance data based on spatial data, which spatial data describe the spatial orientation of a test subject. An EIT imaging method for measuring an impedance distribution and adjusting said measured impedance distribution comprises measuring impedance distribution by using an impedance distribution measuring device comprising an electrode array, and transforming the measured impedance distribution into EIT images.

An electro impedance measuring belt for placing electrodes around the thorax of a patient comprises an array of a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, and a support structure, on which the electrodes are arranged. The support structure with the electrode array comprises two angulated legs on which the electrodes are lined up, the two legs spread out from an apex at an angle, such that, when the belt is put around the thorax of a patient, the array of electrodes extends from the back of the patient, where the apex of fee angulated legs is to be located, essentially parallel to the ribs to the lower part of the breastbone of the patient.

Belt for electro impedance measurement and method using such belt

Electrode sensor comprising an array of spaced apart individual contact elements (), and an interface structure () for forming contact between said contact elements and the skin; said interface structure comprising an interface layer of an essentially electrically insulating or poorly electrically conducting material () defining a skin () contact surface on one side and an array contact surface on the other side of the interface layer, a first pattern of an electrically conducting material on the array contact surface, a second pattern of an electrically conducting material on the skin contact surface, and electrical pathways () connecting the first pattern with the second pattern; whereas, the first pattern comprises pattern elements, each individual contact element () comprises a contacting surface area large enough to cover several pattern elements of said first pattern when contacting the array contact surface of the interface structure, and by contacting distinct sections of the first pattern with said individual contact elements, groups of electrical pathways establish contact further with distinct sections of the second pattern, so that an individual contact element () defines an individual effective electrode on the skin contact surface. Method of manufacturing said electrode sensor, comprising the steps of: providing said interface structure, creating a first pattern of an electrically conducting material on its array contact surface, a second pattern of an electrically conducting material on its skin contact surface, electrically conducting pathways connecting the first pattern with the second pattern, and contacting sections of the electrically conducting first pattern with an array of spaced apart contact elements.

Electrode sensor and use of electrode sensor as EIT electrode

The present disclosure concerns a method for determining a heart-lung interaction factor of a subject, comprising: measuring a heart activity-related signal comprising heart activity-related information; from the heart activity-related signal, calculating a frequency of cardiac cycle and a frequency of respiratory cycle; from the heart activity-related signal, determining a cardiac cycle energy at the frequency of cardiac cycle, determining a respiratory cycle energy at the frequency of respiratory cycle, and determining a heart-lung interaction energy at an intermodulation frequency corresponding to the difference between the frequency of respiratory cycle and the frequency of cardiac cycle, or the sum of the frequency of respiratory cycle and the frequency of cardiac cycle; and determining a heart-lung interaction factor from the ratio of the heart-lung interaction energy and one of the cardiac cycle energy and the respiratory cycle energy. The heart-lung interaction factor can be determined non-invasively.

Method for determining non-invasively a heart-lung interaction

A method and apparatus for measuring a pulse transit time (PTT) value of a subject, comprise measuring a first arterial pressure pulse arrival time (PAT) and measuring a second PAT value; calculating a PTT value from the difference between the first PAT value and the second PAT value; processing a sequence of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images to identify at least one region of interest (ROI); and estimating at least one of the first and second PAT value from the variation of impedance value determined from the at least one ROI. The method allows for the non-invasive and continuous measurement of the PTT value and arterial blood pressures.

The invention relates to a device, with which one is to prevent a patient who breathes on Ms own and who desires a lower CO-partial-pressure than is achieved by the set Ventilation from tiring. It comprises the following means for the regulation of a changing intensity of a mechanical Ventilation: &#x2022; means for determining a target frequency RR, &#x2022; means for determining a spontaneous frequency RR&#x2022; means for comparing the spontaneous frequency RRwith the target frequency RR. wherein adapting a Ventilation target value (% MinVol, V') on account of the result of the comparison of the spontaneous frequency RRwith the target frequency RRand &#x2022; means for adapting the parameters determining the intensity of the Ventilation, on account of the Ventilation target value (% MinVol, V&#x2032;). This so-called pump support System (PSS) is activated (PSS on) when the patient breathes in an adequately spontaneous manner (Criterion 1). With an insufficient individual activity of the patient, his behavior is taken as a basis for the control of the regulation. The control or regulation of the Ventilation is assumed by a fixed setting of a Ventilation target value (% MinVol), or a CO-controller, as soon as the patient breathes in a manner which is not spontaneous enough.

Apparatus for regulating a mechanical ventilation

An electrode assembly for an EIT scanning device () including an electrode (), a current supply unit (), a voltage buffer unit (), a switch logic unit (), and lines for connecting the different elements, whereby the switch logic unit () comprises at least one element of a first shift register () and at least one element of a second shift register (). A belt-like device comprising a plurality of said electrode assemblies. A method of measuring an EIT-image using such electrode assemblies preferably arranged in such a belt-like device.

Electrode for a scanning electrical impedance tomography device and a scanning electrical impedance tomography device

Method and apparatus for estimating an arrival time (PAT) value of a subject in an automatic and unsupervised fashion from a sequence of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images. The method comprises: providing an EIT imaging device adapted to record impedance signal distribution within a measurement region of the subject; measuring a sequence of temporally discrete EIT images during a predetermined measuring time period in the measurement region using the EIT imaging device, each EIT image comprising one or a plurality of EIT pixel subsets, each of said one or a plurality of EIT pixel subset representing an impedance value; generating one or a plurality of time series, each of said one or a plurality of time series representing a variation of the impedance value of the sequence of EIT images; and estimating the PAT value from each of said one or a plurality of time series.

Method and apparatus for estimating a pulse arrival time value

The invention relates to an apparatus with sensing means suitable for sensing the inspiratory phase and the expiratory phase of each respiratory cycle of a respirated person from in each case at least one minimum and maximum amplitude of a circulation value within a single respiratory cycle, and with a computing device for calculating a variation of the amplitudes of the circulation value occurring within a said respiratory cycle. It is distinguished by the fact that the computing device is set up to assign each amplitude of the circulation value either to the inspiratory phase or to the expiratory phase and to determine the one extreme amplitude of the circulation value from the amplitudes assigned to the inspiratory phase and the other extreme amplitude of the circulation value from the amplitudes assigned to the expiratory phase, and to ascertain from the amplitude variation between the extreme amplitudes in the two phases of the respiratory cycle whether the haemodynamic stress caused by the assisted breathing is too high.

Growing community of inventors

Chur, Switzerland

Josef X Brunner