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:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 31, 1997
Craig J Bell, E. Swanzey, NH (US);
Medcare Medical Group, Inc., East Swanzey, NH (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the sensing and reporting the relative humidity, moisture content, and temperature of inspired or delivered gases in a patient with an artificial airway. The apparatus includes a humidity sensing device, incorporated into an adapter that is compatible with and connectable in series to standard artificial airway connections of a patient's breathing circuit. The apparatus also includes a display means which receives signals from the sensing device, translates the signals and displays results as percent relative humidity and/or moisture content (water content per volume of gas delivered). One apparatus is connectable in series with the artificial airway just before the artificial airway enters the patient, or two apparati are connectable, one in the inspiratory branch of a breathing circuit, and one in the expiratory branch of the breathing circuit to monitor both inspired and expired gases in patients on mechanical ventilation or anesthesia. The method includes the use of the humidity sensing device and adapter in patients with an artificial airway. The apparatus and method are used on patients with or without mechanical ventilation. There is also an apparatus having two humidity sensing chambers, one for inspired gas and one for expired gas, each air-flow isolated from the other and each having a separate humidity sensing device such that both inspiratory and expiratory gases are monitored.