Abstract: A side-stream respiration monitoring sensor includes a body having a first end, a second end, and a detecting section disposed between the respective ends. The detecting section includes a first port and a second port positioned on generally opposite sides of a restricting member. The restricting member extends into a flow path formed through the body such that a pressure differential is generated between the first port and the second port. A sampling port is positioned downstream relative to a patient from the first and the second port and configured to acquire a respiration sample. The sensor is constructed to monitor respiration performance of premature infants “preemies”, or the like.

Abstract: A side-stream respiration monitoring system includes a sensor, a monitor, and a display. The sensor is constructed to engage respiration flows having a variable flow amounts and acquire a respiration sample from the flow. The monitor is connected to the sensor and configured to determine the amount of respiration flow as well as the amount of several constituents of the respiration flow such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, and nitrous oxide. The monitor is also configured to adjust the determined values for ambient environment variations and is self-calibrating with respect to the ambient conditions. The monitor temporally aligns the acquired data to account for dead-space respiration events and physiological respiration modifications such as cardiac events. Information generated by the monitor is communicated to an operator via a display configured to display the real-time respiration performance.

Abstract: A gas flow diverter for increasing the turbulence of an incoming respiratory gas flow through a respiratory gas sensor is provided. The diverter is positioned at a patient or inlet end of a tube section of the sensor in order to divert the respiratory gas flow from the patient generally equally across the cross-sectional area of the tube section. The diverter can be formed integrally as a part of the sensor, or can be releasably attached to the sensor or to an adapter that is releasably connected to the inlet end of the sensor for use in situations in which the volume of the incoming respiratory gas flow from the patient is greatly reduced due to the size of the patient, i.e., when the patient is an infant.

Abstract: In a respiratory air flow measuring monitor, a subassembly for analyzing certain respiratory gases through infrared spectroscopy includes an infrared emitter and an infrared detector, the amount of energy detected by the detector corresponding to the concentration of the gas selected for analysis. The subassembly includes a gas sample chamber that utilizes an elliptical reflecting surface for the infrared light source. The light source and detector are both oriented longitudinally along the axis of the ellipse and the light source and detector are each located at the two focal points of the ellipse in order to optimize the light absorption reading. The gas content analyzer subassembly additionally incorporates various compensatory features, allowing for automatic temperature and pressure compensation. Specifically, the analyzer includes a continuous air puree feature that inhibits moisture from collecting within the lumen tubes of the analyzer and interfering with the operation of the analyzer.

Abstract: In a respiratory air flow measuring monitor, a subassembly for analyzing certain respiratory gases through infrared spectroscopy includes an infrared emitter and an infrared detector, the amount of energy detected by the detector corresponding to the concentration of the gas selected for analysis. The subassembly includes a gas sample chamber that utilizes an elliptical reflecting surface for the infrared light source. The light source and detector are both oriented longitudinally along the axis of the ellipse and the light source and detector are each located at the two focal points of the ellipse in order to optimize the light absorption reading. The gas content analyzer subassembly additionally incorporates various compensatory features, allowing for automatic temperature and pressure compensation.

Abstract: In a respiratory air flow measuring monitor, a tubing connector for connecting lumen tubing to the analyzer module includes a connector housing for attaching the tubing connector to the analyzer module, and a female socket in the connector housing for receiving the lumen tubing therein. A light-emitting diode and corresponding light detector detects the presence of the lumen tubing within the female socket. A second pair of light emitters and diodes discriminates different types of respiratory air flow sensors attached to the analyzer module. The female socket is configured to receive multiple lumen tubes, and to maintain polarity by discriminating different diameters of the lumen tubes.

Abstract: The air flow sensor for a respiratory air flow measuring systems includes a tubular member for providing an air passageway for the flow of air between a patient and a ventilator. The passageway includes a fixed orifice-type obstruction comprised of a plurality of aerodynamically curved vanes which produce a pressure drop as the air flows through the passageway. The air flow rate of the patient's respirations is calculated by measuring the pressure differential between two longitudinally spaced apart pressure measuring air ports bored within one of the vanes in the air flow sensor. A third air port hole extracts respiratory gas samples for content analysis.