Buxco Electronics, Inc.

Richard A Larson

Joseph Lomask

Vito Sheehan

An integrated respiratory ventilation system and method for its calibration is described. The system includes a ventilator having air conduits, transducers adapted to emit signals proportional to the level of air pressure or air flow within the air conduits, and inspiration, expiration and exhaust ports. A processor-controlled calibrator is in communication with one or more of the air conduits. A preferred calibrator includes a water-filled outer column and a vertically aligned inner column extending into the outer column, the inner column having an upper end in communication with at least one of the ports. A processor controls the opening and closing of the ports and the level of air pressure in, and air flow from, the inner column to measure the level of transducer signals at two known pressures and two known flows. The processor uses the measured transducer signals to calibrate the transducer.

Integrated ventilator with calibration

A plethysmograph is described that includes a reference chamber having a top wall, a bottom wall, a barrier wall spaced beneath the bottom wall, a continuous side wall having a lower edge, and a first continuous flange with a lower edge below the bottom wall and above the barrier wall; a test chamber having a bottom wall, a continuous side wall with an upper edge, and a second continuous flange extending upwardly from the upper edge, the interior face of one of the flanges including an annular groove with an O-ring in the groove, and the interior face of the other flange being tapered from vertical by up to about 1&#xb0;; and a manifold having airflow openings in communication with the reference and test chamber and a common exterior airflow opening through a passageway, and a sampling port in communication with the passageway.

Large diameter plethysmograph

A cough event is differentiated from a sneeze event of a test subject enclosed within a plethysmograph test chamber by measuring air pressure changes during the event, and comparing the pressure changes against criteria indicative of a cough to determine the likelihood that the event is a cough. Air pressure changes are recorded as pressure and/or sound values. A graphical record of a waveform of changes in the air pressure during an event relative to a baseline value is recorded, and a value is calculated that is indicative of the likelihood that the event is a cough based on the sizes of areas between the waveform and baseline during the event, said areas including a first area indicative of the change in air pressure during air inspiration, a second area indicative of the change in air pressure during air compression, and a third area indicative of the change in air pressure during expiration.

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North Warnborough, United Kingdom

Richard A Larson