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:
Apr. 25, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 18, 1998
Max Harry Weil, Northbrook, IL (US);
Wanchun Tang, Palm Desert, CA (US);
Jose Bisera, Camarillo, CA (US);
Institute of Critical Care Medicine, Palm Springs, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for assessing impairment of blood circulation of a patient by measurement of PCO.sub.2 (partial pressure of carbon dioxide) in the upper digestive/respiratory tract of the patient. The method includes introducing a CO.sub.2 sensor into the mouth-nose area and against a mucosal surface. In one example, the sensor is placed under the tongue, in the manner of an oral thermometer, and sublingual (under the tongue) measurements of CO.sub.2 are taken. This allows for the triage of patients or victims in emergency of disaster settings. The measurement involves minimal invasion while avoiding false readings. For monitoring of more than about one or two minutes, holders are used to hold the CO.sub.2 sensor instrument stabily in the mouth or nose, and to isolate the mucosal area immediately around the CO.sub.2 sensor from air flow that could carry away CO.sub.2, while maintaining high humidity.