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:
May. 10, 1994
Filed:
Feb. 11, 1992
Roger A Kisner, Knoxville, TN (US);
Steven P Baker, Powell, TN (US);
R Bennett Muskin, Wyndmoor, PA (US);
Spectrum Medical Technologies, Knoxville, TN (US);
Abstract
A passive, non-invasive, non-contacting apparatus and method for monitoring the respiration of a subject within a monitored environment is disclosed. The apparatus generally comprises a pair of sensors which detect changes in infrared energy. The first sensor detects changes in infrared energy which signifies and corresponds to changes in the monitored environments of a component to be monitored and generates a first signal. The second sensor detects changes in infrared energy which signifies reference infrared energy in the monitored environment and generates a second signal. A processing system converts the first and second signals into a third signal which signifies the concentration of the monitored component in the monitored environment. The monitored components may be CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 O or a constituent of exhaled breath such as a ketone, amino acid, insulin or pintane. In another embodiment of the invention changes in blood pH may be monitored by adding an additional sensor. Micromotion of the subject's body may also be monitored in yet another embodiment through the use of a single sensor together with an appropriate processing system.