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:
Sep. 20, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 19, 2003
Lee R. Carlson, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Edward A. Mcclatchie, Orinda, CA (US);
Joe Martinosky, Wildwood, MO (US);
Ralph Walden, Granite City, IL (US);
Elvir Causevic, Denver, CO (US);
Lee R. Carlson, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Edward A. McClatchie, Orinda, CA (US);
Joe Martinosky, Wildwood, MO (US);
Ralph Walden, Granite City, IL (US);
Elvir Causevic, Denver, CO (US);
Capnia, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An improved apparatus and method for capturing and analyzing the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. The COlevel of air drawn into the system () is monitored to distinguish inhalation and exhalation of breath. Upon detection of a decrease in the COlevel in the air drawn into the system (), indicating a transition between exhalation and inhalation a pair of flow selector valves () are operated to capture the end-tidal volume of air drawn into the system () immediately prior to the detection of the decrease in the COlevel. Incoming air is diverted around the captured volume of air, and the COlevels are continually monitored to ensure that the captured volume of air corresponds to the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. Once the captured volume of air is positively identified as the end-tidal portion of an exhalation, the captured volume is routed through a gas analyzer () for analysis of one or more predetermined gas levels.