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:
Jan. 12, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 04, 1997
Michael G Snow, Stacy, MN (US);
Steven D James, Edina, MN (US);
Medical Graphics Corporation, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A portable apparatus for measuring the thoracic lung volume of a patient without enclosing the patient in a sealed chamber, comprising first and second impedance belts, a flow meter, shutter and a microprocessor-based controller. The flow meter includes pressure transducers for measuring the change in volume and pressure as the patient respires therethrough. The change in thoracic cage volume of the patient's lungs is directly correlated with the change of impedance in the belts. The thoracic lung volume is then determined from a measured barometric pressure, the measured change in pressure and the measured volume change in the thoracic cage volume utilizing a correction factor to determine the thoracic cage volume.