The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 16, 1993
Filed:
May. 10, 1991
Michael M Grunstein, Merion, PA (US);
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for determining respiratory system compliance (C.sub.rs) and resistance (R.sub.rs) are disclosed. The present invention provides apparatus whereby an airflow is introduced to a patient via a set of one way valves such that the inspiratory and expiratory flow paths are separate. By selectively occluding expiration, C.sub.rs can be determined and, following subsequent release of the occlusion, the respiratory system time constant (.tau..sub.rs) is measured, from which R.sub.rs can be derived. In another embodiment, by selectively occluding inspiration after expiration has been occluded, a drop in pressure due to the compliance of the lungs can be measured and from this and other data, another measure of R.sub.rs can be obtained. The introduction of an airflow into the patient permits the present invention to obtain passive and dynamic respiratory function data. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the present invention permits medication to be effectively introduced into the airways of the patient. The present invention also permits analysis of the airway pressure waveform to determine the relative homogeneity of the air passageways leading to the alveolar sacs.