Qualitative Or Quantitative Analysis Of Breath Component Patents (Class 600/532)
  • Patent number: 10092221
    Abstract: A method of analyzing breathing data representing a shape of the trunk of a subject 104 as a function of time to monitor and/or analyze the subject's breathing pattern. The data is measured and processed into a data array relating to a 2-dimensional grid having grid points, a position in space of the shape at each grid point and points of time. The method includes the steps of mapping the data array onto a 2-dimensional array, decomposing the 2-dimensional array and forming a signature of the subject 104 from the decomposed 2-dimensional array representing a motion pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: PNEUMACARE LIMITED
    Inventors: Joan Lasenby, Willem Hessel De Boer
  • Patent number: 10034621
    Abstract: Apparatuses are described to accurately determine a gas concentration of a sample of a patient's breath. The apparatuses may include a sample compartment, a breath speed analyzer, a gas analyzer, and a processor. The sample compartment includes an inlet that receives the breath. The breath speed analyzer determines the speed of a portion of the breath. The gas analyzer determines a gas concentration. The processor includes an algorithm that determines a degree of non-homogeneity of the sample based on the speed, and a corrected gas concentration based on the degree of non-homogeneity. In some variations, the gas correction is determined independently of patient cooperation. Apparatuses may be tuned based on the intended population's expected breathing pattern ranges such that the sample compartment is filled with a homogenous end-tidal gas sample regardless of an individual's breathing pattern. These apparatuses are useful, for example, for end-tidal CO analysis. Methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Capnia, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Wondka, Anish Bhatnagar
  • Patent number: 10031126
    Abstract: A system for monitoring an exhaled breath of a subject is described. A breath collector can be configured to receive exhaled breath from a subject. One or more sensors can be configured to output a concentration of a first gas compound in the received exhaled breath, and to output a concentration of a second gas compound in the received exhaled breath. The second gas compound is used to normalize the concentration of the first gas based on different physiological states of the subject. A processor operably coupled to the one or more sensors is configured to calculate a ratio of the first gas compound to the second gas compound based on the determined concentrations, and to determine a normalized concentration of the first gas compound. This ratio may be monitored to evaluate an inflammatory state of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Donald R. Blake, Alan G. Barbour
  • Patent number: 9986935
    Abstract: A compact, on-airway, respiratory gas analyzer for performing pulmonary function tests incorporates an IR spectroscopy light guide having a curved, rather than linear, sample chamber that lies transverse to a direction of respiratory gas flow. Cooperating with the sample chamber is an impact plate that functions to steer respiratory and test gases impinging on the impact plate into the curved sample chamber. A source of IR energy is at one end of the sample chamber and an electro-optical sensor responsive to IR energy is disposed at an opposite end of the chamber. The respiratory gas analyzer also includes gas flow paths and valving for carrying out lung capacity and lung diffusion tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: MGC Diagnostics Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Blanton, Charles P. Howard, Joshua L. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9943248
    Abstract: According to one of aspects, an electronic device used for a phone call includes: a sound input unit to which a sound is input during a phone call; and a sensor that is provided near the sound input unit and detects a substance contained in a gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideki Hidaka
  • Patent number: 9936897
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for capturing and analyzing the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. The CO2 level of air drawn into the system (10) is monitored to distinguish inhalation and exhalation of breath. Upon detection of a decrease in the CO2 level in the air drawn into the system (10), indicating a transition between exhalation and inhalation a pair of flow selector valves (26, 28) are operated to capture the end-tidal volume of air drawn into the system (10) immediately prior to the detection of the decrease in the CO2 level. Incoming air is diverted around the captured volume of air, and the CO2 levels 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 (44) for analysis of one or more predetermined gas levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Capnia, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee R. Carlson, Edward A. McClatchie, Joe Martinosky, Ralph Walden, Elvir Causevic
  • Patent number: 9919123
    Abstract: The flow rate of a gaseous sample of exhaled breath through an analytical device is controlled by a pump, and in certain embodiments two pumps. Placement of the analyte sensor in a secondary stream branching off of the primary stream through the device offers further control over the manner, duration, and quantity of the breath that is placed in contact with the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Circassia AB
    Inventors: Kevin Nason, Jonathan Fay, Bryan P. Flaherty, Bhairavi R. Parikh
  • Patent number: 9901482
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a protrusion splint comprising an upper support area configured to provide a defined abutment of a maxilla area, and a lower support area configured to provide a defined abutment of a mandible area. The method includes fixing the maxilla area and the mandible area in a first position so that the mandible area is shifted forward relative to the mandible area. A three-dimensional image data set of an air passage in a region of a trachea is created in the first position. The air passage is checked whether an opening value of the air passage corresponds to a target value. A second position of the maxilla area and of the mandible area to each other is defined depending on the checking. The protrusion splint is manufactured so that the mandible area is held relative to the maxilla area in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: HICAT GMBH
    Inventor: Daniel Gruenberg
  • Patent number: 9901384
    Abstract: A medical device may include a stimulation member configured to apply a stimulus to a nerve that is configured to control a contraction of an airway distal to the nerve, and a measurement member configured to measure an effect of the stimulus on the airway. The medical device also may include an energy delivery element configured to deliver energy to tissue defining the airway to reduce an effect of the stimulus on the airway. The energy delivery element may be disposed at or distally of the stimulation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Allen Clark, Aiden Flanagan, Michael Eppihimer, William Conrad Stoffregen, Juan Gabriel Hincapie Ordonez
  • Patent number: 9888870
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to intrapleural air leak detection and monitoring. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an air leak may be detected utilizing at least one sensor to determine whether fluid extracted from a pleural cavity of a patient includes carbon dioxide and/or a second substance. The second substance may be a foreign substance inhaled by the patient to confirm presence of the air leak. The air leak may be further monitored over a period of time by collecting temporally successive measurements associated with detected concentrations of carbon dioxide. Therefore, tissue damage and recovery may be assessed according to objectively collected criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Dimitrios Miserlis, Kim Cluff, Abby M. Kelly, Suzanne J. Higgins, Max H. Twedt
  • Patent number: 9885693
    Abstract: A measuring system and device (12), a reaction carrier (14) and a measuring method for measuring a concentration of gaseous and/or aerosol components of a gas mixture are provided. The reaction carrier includes flow channels (42) and a coding that is detectable by a position sensor (36) to position the reaction carrier flow channels. At least one flow channel defines a reaction chamber (46) in which optically detectable reaction material (48) is provided. A position sensor detects a relative position of the reaction carrier. A conveying device (28) moves the reaction carrier relative to gas connections (22, 24) of a gas-inlet channel (16) and a gas-outlet channel (16, 18) between a measuring position with gas connections via a first flow channel for flushing the gas inlet channel and gas connections via a second flow channel defining a reaction chamber, for measuring the component of the gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Hans-Ullrich Hansmann, Philipp Rostalski
  • Patent number: 9861298
    Abstract: A gas sampling line having a channel for conducting respiratory gases from a patient respiratory interface to a gas monitor, the gas sampling line comprising, i.a., a gas sampling tube comprised of a polyether block amide material, the polyether segments of which comprise polyethyleneoxide. Use of a tube comprised of a polyether block amide material, the polyether segments of which comprise polyethyleneoxide, for sampling of respiratory gases; and a method for sampling of respiratory gases, the method comprising conducting respiratory gases through such a tube. A gas analysis system for analyzing respiratory gases, comprising a gas sampling line as defined above and a gas monitor connectable to the gas sampling line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Masimo Corporation
    Inventors: Anders Eckerbom, Robert Zyzanski
  • Patent number: 9795324
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, and related system, for monitoring the wellbeing of an individual by providing eyewear that includes at least one sensor for monitoring the motion of the user. In various embodiments, the system receives data generated by the at least one sensor, uses the data to determine the user's movements using the received data, and compares the user's movements to previously established movement patterns of the user. If the system detects one or more inconsistencies between the user's current movements as compared to the previously established movement patterns of the user, the system may notify the user or a third party of the detected one or more inconsistencies. The system may similarly monitor a user's compliance with a medical regime and notify the user or a third party of the user's compliance with the regime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Vision Service Plan
    Inventors: Jay William Sales, Richard Chester Klosinski, Jr., Matthew Allen Workman, Meghan Kathleen Murphy, Matthew David Steen
  • Patent number: 9791366
    Abstract: A gas detector (10) includes a cell internal space (130) into which a target gas is supplied, the target gas exhibiting an absorption peak in an absorption spectrum; a light source (410) configured to generate light having at least a wavelength belonging to the absorption peak; and a photodetector (420) configured to detect the light that has emitted from the light source (410) and has propagated through the cell internal space (130). The gas detector (10) further includes a conductive thin film (220) in which a plurality of optical apertures (222) are regularly arranged such that a transmission peak in a transmission spectrum is superimposed over the absorption peak in the absorption spectrum along a wavelength axis. The conductive thin film (220) is provided on an optical path extending from the light source (410) to the photodetector (420), and is provided so as to be contactable with the target gas within the cell internal space (130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION YOKOHAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Nishijima, Yuta Adachi
  • Patent number: 9770192
    Abstract: A method of avoiding a contaminant which would skew an analyte result in a breath analysis method and of calibrating subject of the breath analysis includes, immediately before the breath analysis method or the collection of breath for the breath analysis method, administering to the subject a predetermined gas composition. A system for analyzing an analyte in breath of a subject while avoiding a local contaminant which would skew an analyte result and calibrating the subject of so that the result of the analyte analysis will be the same regardless of where the test is performed geographically, includes a source of a predetermined gas composition immediately before the breath analysis method or the collection of gas for the breath analysis method, administering to the subject a predetermined gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventors: Richard C. Fuisz, Joseph M. Fuisz
  • Patent number: 9687176
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns improved capabilities for evaluating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). A system and method of evaluating PAH in a subject may include measuring end tidal partial pressure of exhaled carbon dioxide in the subject, wherein the measurement is made orally using described systems or devices. Integrated sensors enable the measurement and characterization of other respiratory gas components, some of which may be indicative of disease. The system and method can be used to monitor a course of treatment for PAH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Anna R. Hemnes, Alexander Newman, John Newman
  • Patent number: 9671389
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for measuring levels of a specified gas in exhaled breath, the apparatus comprising a photoacoustic sensor for providing a measurement representative of the level of the specified gas in the exhaled air, wherein the photoacoustic sensor comprises a light source that is modulated at a first frequency; a sound speed measurement module for measuring the sound speed of the exhaled breath, wherein the sound speed measurement module operates either at a second frequency that is substantially different to the first frequency or in a pulsed mode; wherein the first frequency of the modulated light source is adjusted during exhalation in accordance with the measured speed of sound of the exhaled breath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Hans Willem Van Kesteren
  • Patent number: 9657326
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing an existing or developing acute pneumonia induced by a microorganism by detecting one or more volatile organic compound(s) in a subject's sample and the use of one or more volatile organic compound(s) for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenza and optionally opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: MEON Medical Solutions GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Horst Ruether, Anton Amann
  • Patent number: 9659149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical monitoring system (100) based on sound analysis in a medical environment. A sound level analyzer (SLA, 10) is capable of providing an indicator for perceived levels of sound from a number of sound events, and a data storage modality (DSM, 20) is receiving and storing said indicator for perceived levels of sound and also corresponding information from an associated patient monitoring system (PMS, 60) handling information indicative of a physical and/or mental condition of a patient under influence by sound. A sound event analyzer (SEA, 30) is further being arranged for performing, within a defined time window, an overall sound analysis (ANA, 50) related to physical and/or mental condition of the patient that may be influenced by sound in order to assist or supervise medical personal with respect to the acoustic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Armin Gerhard Kohlrausch, Thomas Falck, Albertus Cornelis Den Brinker
  • Patent number: 9581585
    Abstract: A breath acetone meter is provided. The blood glucose meter includes a receiver comprising a first polymer and a second plurality of layers arranged in an alternating arrangement. The receiver is configured to receive a breath sample from a user. The first plurality of layers and second plurality of layers being configured to interact in response to the level of acetone in the breath sample. The breath acetone meter further including a light source arranged to emit a light onto the receiver. A sensor is arranged to receive the light and output a voltage in response to receiving the light, wherein the voltage is proportional to an amount of acetone in the breath sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ronny Priefer, Michael J. Rust
  • Patent number: 9572518
    Abstract: Based on a capnometry signal, one or more breathing parameters of a subject are determined that require valid breaths by the subject to be distinguished from anatomical events that cause the CO2 content of gas at or near the airway of the subject to fluctuate. To improve the accuracy of one or more of these determinations, gas at or near the airway of the subject is diluted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Joseph Allen Orr
  • Patent number: 9498150
    Abstract: There is provided a breath sampling tube comprising a deflector adapted to reduce liquid intake into a sampling inlet. There is also provided a breath sampling tube including a deflector adapted to deflect liquid droplets present in breath to reduce liquid at the sampling inlet. There is also provided a breath sampling system including a gas analyzer and a breath sampling tube comprising a deflector adapted to deflect breath to reduce liquid at the sampling inlet. There is also provided a breath sampling system including a gas analyzer and a breath sampling tube comprising a deflector adapted to deflect liquid droplets present in breath to reduce liquid at the sampling inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Oridion Medical 1987 Ltd.
    Inventors: Joshua Lewis Colman, Gershon Levitsky
  • Patent number: 9486169
    Abstract: A portable ketone measurement device measures ketone levels in breath samples or other bodily fluid samples of a user, and communicates the ketone measurements to an application that runs on a smartphone or other mobile device of the user. The application may communicate with, and report the measurements to, a remote server. One or more components of the system (e.g., the portable ketone measurement device, the mobile application, and/or the server) may, where appropriate, adjust the ketone measurements to compensate for ketone variations resulting from, e.g., the age of the user, a medical condition of the user, a missed medication event, or an interrupted sleep event. The application may, in some scenarios, withhold the display of a ketone measurement from the user until an authorization has been received from the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Invoy Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Lubna M. Ahmad
  • Patent number: 9474484
    Abstract: A physiological monitor device includes a central processing unit (CPU) that is configured to control operation of the device, a display screen, and one or more computer readable data storage media storing software instructions that, when executed by the CPU, cause the device to: create or modify a patient profile, select a patient test, store one or more test parameters selected or entered for the patient test, store one or more thresholds selected or entered for at least one of the test parameters, store one or more instructions for the patient, start the test, display test results while the test is in progress, determine whether any of the test parameters exceed limits set by the one or more thresholds, take one or more actions when it is determined that one or more of the test parameters exceed the limits set by the one or more thresholds, provide a summary and analysis of the test results, and send the test results to a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Kinsley, Matthew D. Mullin, John A. Lane, Cynthia A. Kuiper, Daniel J. Wilson, Shawn C. St. Pierre
  • Patent number: 9445748
    Abstract: A device for fractionally collecting contents of exhaled air by changing the state of matter of the contents by means of the Joule-Thomson effect arising during the expansion of pressurized gas. The temperature of the exhaled air conducted in a flow channel is lowered, because of the cooling of the expanding gas, to a temperature that is suitable for condensing the contents in the exhaled air flow. This device and method provides a more efficient means by which condensate can be separated from exhaled air in comparison to conveying exhaled air along a cooling surface for the condensation of the contents, as a result of which condensation of the contents occurs only in the area of these cooling surfaces, so that several breath cycles are required for the collection of sufficient condensate for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: MTI Medtech Innovation GmbH
    Inventor: Ruediger Eichler
  • Patent number: 9441260
    Abstract: A biological material such as platelets is sealed inside a container with a dead space to accommodate a metabolic gas. The concentration of the gas in the dead space is monitored while the container remains sealed. In some embodiments, the container is permeable to the gas. In other embodiments, the biological material is the only growth medium in the container. The disposal of the biological material is in accordance with the monitored gas concentration. Preferably, the gas concentration is measured spectroscopically. A container for a biological material includes a main body that retains the biological material but that is permeable to a gas and a reservoir in fluid communication with the main body that is transparent to an optical wavelength that is absorbed by the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: VAYU SENSE AG
    Inventors: Noel Axelrod, David Nuttman, Moria Shimoni
  • Patent number: 9429564
    Abstract: A method recovering one or more nonvolatile compounds from an exhaled aerosol collected on an electrostatic filter membrane (205) comprises eluting the nonvolatile compounds from the filter with a polar solvent and collecting the eluate. The method is useful for processing samples collected from a portable breath analysis device comprising a sampling filter membrane for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Sensa Bues AB
    Inventor: Olof Beck
  • Patent number: 9417222
    Abstract: A gas analyzer includes: a gas measuring portion which performs a measurement on a gas; a case which houses the gas measuring portion; a liquid separator which includes a reservoir for storing a liquid component separated from the gas; a holder portion which holds the liquid separator; and a rotation mechanism which mounts the holder portion to the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Matsubara, Yutaka Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 9408556
    Abstract: The present embodiments disclose a device including a module for sampling, separating and enriching a detected object, an exhaled breath condensates (EBCs) detection module and a combined volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detection module. The sampling module is connected with the EBCs detection module via a syringe pump for sample injection and is connected with the combined VOCs detection module by a capillary separation column. EBCs and VOCs in human exhaled breath are simultaneously sampled, separated and condensed; the heavy metal ions, cell factors, etc. in the collected EBCs are detected with a light addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS); the condensed VOCs can be quantitatively detected by the combined VOCs detection module with a high sensitivity; and a heating rod and a platinum resistor can be conveniently replaced because a separated outlet heating piece is designed in the combined VOCs detection module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ping Wang, Di Wang, Le Wang, Jin Yu, Kai Yu, Yishan Wang, Lin Wang, Cong Zhao
  • Patent number: 9404836
    Abstract: Fluorescence chromophores such as phenylene diamine derivatives can undergo oxidative coupling and polymerization to form optical, colorimetric and fluorogenic, multimers and polymers. The presence of carbonyl containing moieties such as aldehydes and ketones under favorable environmental conditions can initiate, catalyze, accelerate and modulate this reaction which in turn provides a mechanism for the detection and quantitation of such moieties. Selected phenylene diamine derivatives can be used for the detection and quantitation of aldehyde and ketones via measurement of the reaction and the associated spectroscopic transformation. In particular, the use of meta-phenylene diamine (mPDA) and related compounds for aldehyde detection and quantitation is described. The method provides a convenient means for monitoring aldehyde and ketone levels without use of separation steps. The method is applicable to kinetic and quasi-endpoint detection assay formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Pulse Health LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Thomas, Brian Young, Juven Lara, Charles Noll, James Ingle
  • Patent number: 9374629
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed herein to classify audio. An example method includes determining a first count of volume events having a first period of time associated with the audio. The example method also includes determining a second count of volume events having a second period of time associated with the audio. The example method also includes classifying the audio based on the first count and the second count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Morris Lee
  • Patent number: 9311826
    Abstract: An energy consumption estimator includes a body motion sensor, a first calculation unit, an acquisition unit, and a second calculation unit. The body motion sensor detects body motion by a user. Based on the body motion detected by the body motion sensor, the first calculation unit calculates the user's total energy consumption. The acquisition unit acquires the user's energy consumption derived from fats and lipids. Based on the energy consumption derived from fats and lipids and on the total energy consumption, the second calculation unit calculates the user's total energy derived from carbohydrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: TANITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miyuki Kodama, Ayumi Sano, Atsuo Kumekawa
  • Patent number: 9267883
    Abstract: A gas measurement module (16) for use with an airway adapter (22) is configured such that both an emitter (48) and a detector (52, 54) are disposed on the same side of a sampling chamber (46) formed within the airway adapter. Optical elements (56) that guide electromagnetic radiation from the emitter back and forth across the sampling chamber to the detector include at least one toric element. The at least one toric element compensates for a tilted folding mirror positioned on a side of the sampling chamber opposite from the emitter and the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: James Russell
  • Patent number: 9250228
    Abstract: A method and system for remotely monitoring intoxication of a user, comprising: prompting the user to provide a breath sample at a time point; at a breath sample acquisition device, generating a breath sample signal upon reception of the breath sample from the user, and broadcasting a unique signature proximal in time to the time point; using a sensor of a mobile computing device, generating an authentication signal derived from detection of the unique signature; at a processing system in communication with the mobile computing device and the sample acquisition device, receiving the breath sample signal and the authentication signal; generating a verification assessment that validates provision of the breath sample by the user; determining a value of an intoxication metric for the user based upon the breath sample signal; and transforming the verification assessment and the value of the intoxication metric into an analysis of intoxication of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: KHN Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Harry Nothacker, Pauline Anne Basaran, Stacey Ilene Rettus, Zachary Michael Saul
  • Patent number: 9232910
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for monitoring, identifying and determining the breathing cycle of an individual from processed acoustic signal waveform data. The breathing sounds of an individual are recorded using a microphone and digitized such that the breathing sounds may be plotted. The data is segmented and transformed to form a plurality of segments representative of a frequency spectrum. The frequency spectrum data is transformed so as to produce magnitude bins and the sum of lower magnitude bins and the sum of higher magnitude bins are determined in a sampling of segments. A Bands Ratio is determined from the sum of lower magnitude bins and the sum of higher magnitude bins in the sampling of segments. A first bands ratio is then determined within a given segment and compared to the mean bands ratio. If the first bands ratio of the given segment is greater than the mean bands ratio by at least a predetermined multiplier, the given segment is labeled as inspiration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK
    Inventors: Hisham Alshaer, Geoffrey Roy Fernie, T. Douglas Bradley
  • Patent number: 9226690
    Abstract: A method for determining anatomical dead space in a respiratory tract of a living organizm, include the steps of continuously and simultaneously measuring flow (F) and respiratory air density (D) during exhalation (EX) over time (T). The time is measured from the start of exhalation, in which the flow is greater than zero, until the dead space point at which, after significant decreases following the start, the respiratory air density merges to an approximately constant value. The integral of the flow is formed from the start point until the dead space end point, the measurements of the respiratory air density and the flow from the start until the dead space end point and during the short time, as that time span in which the respiratory air density assumes an approximately constant value, taken place multiple times in each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventor: Peter Ganshorn
  • Patent number: 9201002
    Abstract: Gas within a ventilation circuit (12) is analyzed by a spectrometer included in gas measurement module (16) that is inserted into the respiratory circuit. The gas measurement module includes an infrared source and a movable filter member comprising at least two filter elements. The optical path length of the spectrometer is reduced. This includes removing optical components configured to collimate or focus electromagnetic radiation within the spectrometer. However, path length of the spectrometer is reduced to the point that other enhancements associated with path length reduction outweigh losses to precision and/or accuracy caused by beam expansion in the spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: James T. Russell
  • Patent number: 9183757
    Abstract: A dieting support system includes a function that detects a component of biogas and that measures concentration of the biogas, a function that accumulates and analyzes the measured result, and a function that determines suitable timing for taking a meal or suitable timing for doing exercise, depending on the analyzed result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Yuuki Yamada, Satoshi Hiyama
  • Patent number: 9173595
    Abstract: Method for providing ventilatory settings with regard to the airway pressure levels of an artificial ventilator, the artificial ventilator is connected to a lung, including the steps of obtaining data samples of a gas concentration of the expired gas over a single breath; selecting a plurality of data samples from the obtained data samples; calculating a tracing value being sensitive to changes of alveolar dead space on the basis of the selected data samples; repeating steps a), b) and c) for obtaining a plurality of tracing values; and changing at least one airway pressure level of the artificial ventilator, wherein from an observation of a resulting course of the plurality of calculated tracing values an airway pressure level at which alveolar opening or lung overdistension or lung open condition or alveolar closing occurs is detected. Apparatus for providing ventilatory settings with regard to the airway pressure levels of an artificial ventilator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Inventors: Stephan Böhm, Gerardo Tusman
  • Patent number: 9170248
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an operating method for a gas sensor, in particular a gas sensor for detecting asthma. According to said method, nitrogen monoxide or nitrogen dioxide is detected in a measuring phase and the gas sensor is heated by a heating device in a desorption phase in order to accelerate desorption. The heating process is continued until the temporal alteration of the measuring signal of the gas sensor falls below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Maximilian Fleischer, Karsten Hiltawsky, Erhard Magori, Roland Pohle, Oliver von Sicard
  • Patent number: 9126000
    Abstract: An artificial ventilation apparatus includes: a connecting portion which is connected to a respiratory system of a patient; an inspiratory circuit which is a flow path for flowing a gas from a ventilator to the connecting portion; an expiratory circuit which is a flow path for guiding a gas exhausted from the connecting portion to an exhaust portion of the ventilator; an expiratory valve which blocks a flow of a gas from the exhaust portion toward the connecting portion; a carbon dioxide concentration sensor which is disposed in a circuit that is provided at a downstream side of the expiratory valve and which detects a carbon dioxide concentration; and an alarm outputting unit which outputs an alarm based on an output of the carbon dioxide concentration sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Usuda, Naofumi Kobayashi, Shinji Yamamori, Yasushi Nagai
  • Patent number: 9121838
    Abstract: An ammonia sensor can include a laser detector configured to provide stable sample readings. The sensor can implement a method including processing the recorded intensity of the laser beam to determine a first harmonic component and a second harmonic component and the amount of ammonia in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Aamir Farooq, Kyle Owen
  • Patent number: 9122996
    Abstract: A method of performing real-time correction of a water stage forecast includes obtaining at least one predicted water stage of at least one time and a predicted water stage of a next time after the at least one time; obtaining at least one observed water stage of the at least one time; generating a system error of the water stage forecast according to the at least one observed water stage, the at least one predicted water stage, the predicted water stage of the next time, a Time Series method, and an Average Deviation method; utilizing a Kalman filter method to generate a random error of the water stage forecast; generating a water stage forecast correction of the next time according to the system error and the random error; and correcting a predicted water stage of the next time according to the water stage forecast correction and the predicted water stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: National Applied Research Laboratories
    Inventors: Ho-Cheng Lien, Shiang-Jen Wu, Chih-Tsung Hsu
  • Patent number: 9114065
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring nutritional uptake of an individual are disclosed. The method can include monitoring microflora intestinal gas concentration levels associated with a patient and adjusting the volume of nutrient provided by the patient with an artificial feeding device based at least in part on the microflora intestinal gas levels associated with the patient. A microflora intestinal gas sensor can be used to monitor the microflora intestinal gas associated with the patient. The microflora intestinal gas sensor can monitor the microflora intestinal gas in a patient's exhaled breath or in the patient's digestive tract. The microflora intestinal gas sensor be included as part of an enteral feeding system at the distal end or outside end of an enteral feeding tube. Systems and methods for monitoring nutritional uptake of an infant based on microflora intestinal gas levels associated with the infant are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: John Gavin MacDonald, CholWon Koh, InYoung Sa, Jose K. Abraham, Sridhar Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 9095276
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for capturing and analyzing the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. The CO2 level of air drawn into the system (10) is monitored to distinguish inhalation and exhalation of breath. Upon detection of a decrease in the CO2 level in the air drawn into the system (10), indicating a transition between exhalation and inhalation a pair of flow selector valves (26, 28) are operated to capture the end-tidal volume of air drawn into the system (10) immediately prior to the detection of the decrease in the CO2 level. Incoming air is diverted around the captured volume of air, and the CO2 levels 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 (44) for analysis of one or more predetermined gas levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Capnia, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee R. Carlson, Edward A. McClatchie, Joe Martinosky, Ralph Walden, Elvir Causevic
  • Patent number: 9060680
    Abstract: According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a bite block assembly adapted for capnography and oxygen delivery to a subject, the bite block assembly (50) including a first capnography passageway adapted for passage therethrough of exhaled breath from the subject to a capnograph and a second oxygen delivery passageway, separate from the first passageway, adapted for passage therethrough of oxygen from an oxygen source to the mouth of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Oridion Medical 1987 Ltd.
    Inventors: Joshua Lewis Colman, Gershon Levitsky, Ron Porat
  • Patent number: 9039629
    Abstract: A CO2 monitoring system (20) is described which is operable to monitor the CO2 content of respiratory gases during intubation, CPR, or ventilation treatment of a patient. The patient's respiratory gases are sensed for CO2 content (17) and characteristics of a CO2 waveform are detected (30), such as waveform baseline, waveform amplitude, waveform frequency, waveform slope, waveform rhythm, and waveform corners. One or more of the waveform characteristics are analyzed in consideration of the type of respiration treatment being performed to identify an abnormal respiratory condition. These abnormal conditions may include the intubation tube located in the esophagus, ineffective CPR, or an airway obstruction, for example. When an abnormal condition is identified (34) a visual or audible alarm (40) is issued to alert a caregiver to tend to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Sophia Zhou, Eric Helfenbein, John Cadigan, William Grube, James Russell, Saeed Babaeizadeh
  • Publication number: 20150126887
    Abstract: The flow rate of a gaseous sample of exhaled breath through an analytical device is controlled by a pump, and in certain embodiments two pumps. Placement of the analyte sensor in a secondary stream branching off of the primary stream through the device offers further control over the manner, duration, and quantity of the breath that is placed in contact with the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin NASON, Jonathan FAY, Bryan P. FLAHERTY, Bhairavi R. PARIKH
  • Patent number: 9023278
    Abstract: A device (600) for performing at least part of an analytical process comprises a communicator (605) to facilitate communication with the device, and a data handler (610) to handle data of the analytical process and/or the device. In an embodiment, the device (600) is a consumable device and/or a microfluidic device. A method for performing at least part of an analytical process using a device comprises the steps of: (a) introducing a sample into the device; (b) handling data associated with the test using a data handler of the device; and (c) facilitating communications about the test using a communicator of the device. In another embodiment, the method is performed using a consumable device and/or a microfluidic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Micah James Atkin
  • Publication number: 20150112221
    Abstract: A device for measuring the concentration of nitrogen monoxide in the respiratory air of a patient includes a nitrogen dioxide sensor and a converter. The sensor is arranged between an inlet opening and an outlet opening of the device. The converter, for oxidation of nitrogen monoxide to nitrogen dioxide, is arranged between the inlet opening and the sensor such that the device can be switched to at least two states. In a first state, a fluidic connection is present between the inlet opening and the sensor but does not lead through the converter. In a second state, a fluidic connection is present between the inlet opening and the sensor and leads through the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Oliver von Sicard, Erhard Magori, Roland Pohle, Maximilian Fleischer