Abstract: An airway adapter includes a housing and a pressure transducer. The housing includes a flow path having a first end and a second end, a first pressure port that communicates with the flow path, and a second pressure port that communicates with the flow path. The first pressure port is spaced apart from the second pressure port. The flow restriction is disposed in the flow path between the first and second pressure ports that creates a pressure differential therebetween. The pressure transducer generates a signal that reflects the differential pressure created by the flow restriction between the first and second pressure ports, wherein the pressure transducer includes an optical interferometer.

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.

Abstract: A filter wheel and a spectrometer including the filter wheel are disclosed. The filter wheel has a first support structure on which a first plurality of filters are mounted and a second support structure on which at least one filter is provided. A radiation source generates a radiation beam, and a beam splitter splits the radiation beam into a first detection path and a second detection path. The first plurality of filters are selectively movable into the first detection path. The at least one filter on the second support structure is arranged to be disposed in the second detection path. The spectrometer includes a first radiation detector that detects radiation that passes through the selected filter in the first detection path, and a second radiation detector that detects radiation passing through the filter in the second detection path.

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.

Abstract: A gas measurement system includes a housing adapted to be mounted on an airway adapter, and a luminescence quenching gas measurement assembly disposed in the housing. The luminescence quenching gas measurement assembly includes a source disposed in a first plane, and at least one detector also disposed in the first plane.

Abstract: A filter wheel and a spectrometer including the filter wheel are disclosed. The filter wheel has a first support structure on which a first plurality of filters are mounted and a second support structure on which at least one filter is provided. A radiation source generates a radiation beam, and a beam splitter splits the radiation beam into a first detection path and a second detection path. The first plurality of filters are selectively movable into the first detection path. The at least one filter on the second support structure is arranged to be disposed in the second detection path. The spectrometer includes a first radiation detector that detects radiation that passes through the selected filter in the first detection path, and a second radiation detector that detects radiation passing through the filter in the second detection path.

Abstract: An optical sensor is configured to determine an amount of at least one material in a sample without interference from any of the material of interest present in an ambient environment in which the optical sensing is effected. The optical sensor may include a compensation detector positioned a different distance apart from a source of monitoring radiation than the distance that a primary, measurement detector is positioned from the source. Alternatively, the optical sensor may include an optically transparent material that consumes space within the sensor and, thus, eliminates ambient amounts of a material of interest from at least a portion of an optical pathway through the sensor. A calibration element transmits calibration radiation to one or more detectors of an optical sensor to facilitate correction of any changes in the manner in which the one or more detectors sense radiation. Optical sensing methods are also disclosed, as are calibration methods.

Abstract: An airway adapter that comprises a housing and a pressure transducer. The housing comprises a flow path having a first end and a second end, a first pressure port that communicates with the flow path, and a second pressure port that communicates with the flow path. The first pressure port is spaced apart from the second pressure port. The flow restriction is disposed in the flow path between the first and second pressure ports that creates a pressure differential therebetween. The pressure transducer generates a signal that reflects the differential pressure created by the flow restriction between the first and second pressure ports, wherein the pressure transducer comprises an optical interferometer.

Abstract: A robust, compact spectrometer apparatus for determining respective concentrations or partial pressures of multiple gases in a gas sample with single as well as multiple and even overlapping, absorption or emission spectra that span a wide spectral range.

Abstract: An airway adapter that comprises a housing and a pressure transducer. The housing comprises a flow path having a first end and a second end, a first pressure port that communicates with the flow path, and a second pressure port that communicates with the flow path. The first pressure port is spaced apart from the second pressure port. The flow restriction is disposed in the flow path between the first and second pressure ports that creates a pressure differential therebetween. The pressure transducer generates a signal that reflects the differential pressure created by the flow restriction between the first and second pressure ports, wherein the pressure transducer comprises an optical interferometer.

Abstract: A gas measurement system of this invention includes a housing adapted to be mounted on an airway adapter, and a luminescence quenching gas measurement assembly disposed in the housing. The luminescence quenching gas measurement assembly includes a source disposed in a first plane, and at least one detector also disposed in the first plane.

Abstract: A gas measurement system of this invention includes a housing adapted to be mounted on an airway adapter, and a luminescence quenching gas measurement assembly disposed in the housing. The luminescence quenching gas measurement assembly includes a source disposed in a first plane, and at least one detector also disposed in the first plane.

Abstract: A gas measurement system of this invention includes a detector assembly having a beamsplitter adapted to separate infrared radiation into a first beam and a second beam and a mirror adapted to receive the first beam from the beamsplitter. The first and second beams are directed to first and second detectors that are disposed in a common plane. In one embodiment, the optical elements are provided on or in an optical block. In another embodiment, the gas measurement system includes a housing that contains an infrared absorption gas measurement assembly, a luminescence quenching gas measurement assembly, and a processor that is programmed to measure gas constituents of a gas flow based on an output of the infrared absorption gas measurement assembly and the luminescence quenching gas measurement assembly.

Abstract: An airway adapter that comprises a housing and a pressure transducer. The housing comprises a flow path having a first end and a second end, a first pressure port that communicates with the flow path, and a second pressure port that communicates with the flow path. The first pressure port is spaced apart from the second pressure port. The flow restriction is disposed in the flow path between the first and second pressure ports that creates a pressure differential therebetween. The pressure transducer generates a signal that reflects the differential pressure created by the flow restriction between the first and second pressure ports, wherein the pressure transducer comprises an optical interferometer.

Abstract: A scanner such as a bar-code scanner includes a scan-beam generator, a beam reflector having a first magnet, and a beam-sweep mechanism having a second magnet. The beam-sweep mechanism causes the reflector to sweep the scan beam across a target such as a bar-code symbol by exerting a force on the first magnet with the second magnet. In one example, attraction between the magnets holds the reflector steady in a non-sweep position. Conversely, in a sweep position, repulsion between the magnets causes the reflector to oscillate and sweep the scan beam across a target such as a bar-code symbol. Because it does not include a motor for rotating a beam-sweep mirror, the scanner is often smaller and uses less electrical energy than motorized bar-code scanners.

Abstract: An improved optical configuration for use in a gas monitoring system. The optical system uses a high numerical aperture lens that maximizes capture of relatively large angle rays, thereby increasing the measured signal at the infrared radiation detector. In one embodiment of the present invention, a half-ball-type lens is provided proximal to the infrared radiation source in the gas measurement system. To further increase the measured signal at the infrared radiation detector and allow more efficient capture of the larger angle rays, materials that are reflective in the infrared band of interest are used, so that the walls of the sample cell act as a hollow light pipe.

Abstract: A robust, compact spectrometer apparatus for determining respective concentrations or partial pressures of multiple gases in a gas sample with single as well as multiple and even overlapping, absorption or emission spectra that span a wide spectral range.

Abstract: An improved optical configuration for use in a gas monitoring system. The optical system uses a high numerical aperture lens that maximizes capture of relatively large angle rays, thereby increasing the measured signal at the infrared radiation detector. In one embodiment of the present invention, a half-ball-type lens is provided proximal to the infrared radiation source in the gas measurement system. To further increase the measured signal at the infrared radiation detector and allow more efficient capture of the larger angle rays, materials that are reflective in the infrared band of interest are used, so that the walls of the sample cell act as a hollow light pipe.

Abstract: A robust, compact spectrometer apparatus for determining respective concentrations or partial pressures of multiple gases in a gas sample with single as well as multiple and even overlapping, absorption or emission spectra that span a wide spectral range.

Abstract: A robust, compact spectrometer apparatus for determining respective concentrations or partial pressures of multiple gases in a gas sample with single as well as multiple and even overlapping, absorption or emission spectra that span a wide spectral range.