Abstract: A process is provided for monitoring a patient being anesthetized, as well as a process for determining a combined effect of different anesthetics used. Devices for carrying out the processes are also provided.

Abstract: A stretchable belt (1) provided for medical purposes for use on the body of a patient has at least one sensor (8) for detecting at least one parameter of the patient's body. An adaptation to different body sizes and motions of the patient is provided without separate length adjusting members being necessary or without the need to stock different belt sizes. Furthermore, the belt is able to be manufactured at a low cost and makes possible simple and reliable handling, even for patients. The belt material (1) has at least one material area (2) with a lower spring rate in the longitudinal extension than at least one material area (3) with a higher spring rate of the belt (1).

Abstract: Methods for noninvasively determining a pulmonary capillary blood flow or a cardiac output of a subject include determining data of the amount of gas exchanged between blood and gas in lungs of the subject, as well as data of an indicator of the content of the gas in blood of the subject. Such a determination may be made during two or more different states of ventilation. A geometric relationship is identified between data points, with any data points outlying the geometric relationship being disregarded. The remaining data points may be used to estimate or calculate a measure of pulmonary capillary blood flow or cardiac output. Systems that include elements that are configured to effect such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device (1) and a corresponding method are provided for determining and/or monitoring the respiration rate based on measurement with more than one sensor (5, 7, 9, 13, 15). The device may be part of a monitor for determining and/or monitoring the respiration rate. The second and/or additional sensors are different form the first sensor and have a different manor of operation from the first sensor.

Abstract: Methods for estimating the volume of the carbon dioxide stores of an individual's respiratory tract include determining a carbon dioxide store volume at which a correlation between corresponding signals of carbon dioxide elimination and an indicator of the content of carbon dioxide in blood of the individual is optimized. The estimate of the volume of carbon dioxide stores, which comprises a model of the respiratory tract, or lungs, of the individual, may be used as a transformation to improve the accuracy of one or both of the carbon dioxide elimination and carbon dioxide content signals. Transformation, or filtering, algorithms are also disclosed, as are systems in which the methods and algorithms may be used. The methods, algorithms, and systems may be used to accurately and noninvasively determine one or both of the pulmonary capillary blood flow and cardiac output of the individual.

Abstract: A process for monitoring a patient by a monitoring device is provided in which simplified monitoring of the patient can be carried out on the basis of a suitable selection of the parameter values and/or ranges displayed in a special manner. A suitable device (1) is provided for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A process is provided for monitoring a patient being anesthetized, as well as a process for determining a combined effect of different anesthetics used. Devices for carrying out the processes are also provided.

Abstract: A process is provided for monitoring a patient being anesthetized, as well as a process for determining a combined effect of different anesthetics used. Devices for carrying out the processes are also provided.

Abstract: A compressed air respirator with prolonged operating time due to rebreathing. The compressed air reservoir includes a compressed air reserve with a connected demand air supply valve, a reversible breathing gas reservoir (4) with a registering device (5) detecting the filling level of the breathing gas reservoir (4), and with an inspiration and expiration line (7, 8) for the user of the apparatus. A valve (6) is connected with the inspiration and expiration line (7, 8) and, on the inlet side, with the compressed air reserve (1) with a demand air supply valve (2) and with the breathing gas reservoir (4) and, on the outlet side, with the ambient air (11) and with the breathing gas reservoir (4).

Abstract: A compressed air respirator has prolonged operating time due to a rebreathing feature. The respirator has a compressed air reserve (1) with a connected demand air supply valve (2), wherein the demand air supply valve (2) is connected with a reversible breathing gas reservoir (4) with adjustable volume. A rebreathing line (25) for the user of the apparatus has an expiration valve (88), wherein the rebreathing line (25) is connected with the breathing gas reservoir (4).

Abstract: Methods for estimating the volume of the carbon dioxide stores of an individual's respiratory tract include determining a carbon dioxide store volume at which a correlation between corresponding signals of carbon dioxide elimination and an indicator of the content of carbon dioxide in blood of the individual is optimized. The estimate of the volume of carbon dioxide stores, which comprises a model of the respiratory tract, or lungs, of the individual, may be used as a transformation to improve the accuracy of one or both of the carbon dioxide elimination and carbon dioxide content signals. Transformation, or filtering, algorithms are also disclosed, as are systems in which the methods and algorithms may be used. The methods, algorithms, and systems may be used to accurately and noninvasively determine one or both of the pulmonary capillary blood flow and cardiac output of the individual.

Abstract: A method for noninvasively determining the pulmonary capillary blood flow or cardiac output of a patient includes measurement of respiratory flow and carbon dioxide pressure of the patient's breathing. These measurements are used to calculate carbon dioxide elimination and an indicator of the carbon dioxide content of the patient's blood. A geometric relationship between the carbon dioxide elimination data and the data of the indicator of carbon dioxide content is determined. At least one set of the data is modified and at least one other determination of a geometric relationship between the data is made to find the most accurate data set. The data may be modified by filtering or clustering. A slope of at least a portion of the geometric relationship is then used to determine the pulmonary capillary blood flow or cardiac output of the patient.

Abstract: Methods for estimating the volume of the carbon dioxide stores of an individual's respiratory tract include determining a carbon dioxide store volume at which a correlation between corresponding signals of carbon dioxide elimination and an indicator of the content of carbon dioxide in blood of the individual is optimized. The estimate of the volume of carbon dioxide stores, which comprises a model of the respiratory tract, or lungs, of the individual, may be used as a transformation to improve the accuracy of one or both of the carbon dioxide elimination and carbon dioxide content signals. Transformation, or filtering, algorithms are also disclosed, as are systems in which the methods and algorithms may be used. The methods, algorithms, and systems may be used to accurately and noninvasively determine one or both of the pulmonary capillary blood flow and cardiac output of the individual.

Abstract: A method of noninvasively determining the pulmonary capillary blood flow or cardiac output of a patient, including the use of rebreathing techniques to measure the respiratory flow and carbon dioxide pressure of the patient's breathing. These measurements are used to calculate carbon dioxide elimination and an indicator of the carbon dioxide content of the patient's blood, such as the end-tidal pressure of carbon dioxide (PetCO2), CaCO2, or pCO2. The location and orientation of a best-fit line through the carbon dioxide elimination data and the data of the indicator of carbon dioxide content is determined by linear regression or by plotting the carbon dioxide elimination data against the data of the indicator of carbon dioxide content. At least one set of the data is modified and at least one other determination of the best-fit line made to find a data set that correlates most closely to the best-fit line. The data may be modified by filtering or clustering.

Abstract: A method of non-invasively estimating the intrapulmonary shunt in a patient. The method includes non-invasively measuring respiratory flow, respiratory carbon dioxide content, and arterial blood oxygen content. A re-breathing process is employed to facilitate an estimate of the patient's pulmonary capillary blood flow. Any inaccuracies of the arterial blood oxygen content are corrected to provide a substantially accurate arterial blood oxygen content measurement. The respiratory flow, carbon dioxide content and arterial blood oxygen content measurements, and the pulmonary capillary blood flow estimate are employed to estimate an intrapulmonary shunt of the patient. The invention also includes a method of determining the total cardiac output of the patient which considers the estimated intrapulmonary shunt.

Abstract: A method of non-invasively estimating the intrapulmonary shunt in a patient. The method includes non-invasively measuring respiratory flow, respiratory carbon dioxide content, and arterial blood oxygen content. A re-breathing process is employed to facilitate an estimate of the patient's pulmonary capillary blood flow. Any inaccuracies of the arterial blood oxygen content are corrected to provide a substantially accurate arterial blood oxygen content measurement. The respiratory flow, carbon dioxide content and arterial blood oxygen content measurements, and the pulmonary capillary blood flow estimate are employed to estimate an intrapulmonary shunt of the patient. The invention also includes a method of determining the total cardiac output of the patient which considers the estimated intrapulmonary shunt.

Abstract: A method of compensating for non-metabolic changes in respiratory or blood gas parameters including generating a compensatory signal based on the magnitude of the non-metabolic change and the amount of time elapsed since the onset of the non-metabolic change. The method of the present invention is useful for compensating for non-metabolic changes in non-invasive carbon dioxide elimination measurements and, particularly, when carbon dioxide elimination is employed to determine cardiac output on a non-invasive, continuous basis.

Abstract: A method of continuously, non-invasively determining the cardiac output of a patient. The method includes intermittently measuring the cardiac output, the volume of carbon dioxide exhaled by the patient per breath, and determining the arterial-venous gradient of the patient or a similar substantially constant value by dividing the volume of carbon dioxide exhaled by the measured cardiac output. The arterial-venous gradient or similar substantially constant value may then be employed to determine the cardiac output of the patient on a breath-by-breath basis. The carbon dioxide elimination, which is non-invasively measured as the volume of carbon dioxide exhaled by the patient per breath, is divided by the arterial-venous gradient or the substantially constant value to determine the cardiac output.

Abstract: A re-breathing method for determining pulmonary capillary blood flow that accounts for changes in the cardiac output or in the carbon dioxide content of the venous blood of a patient. The carbon dioxide elimination and partial pressure of end tidal carbon dioxide of the patient are non-invasively measured prior to re-breathing, during re-breathing, and after re-breathing. The carbon dioxide elimination and the carbon dioxide content of the alveolar blood of the patient at each of the before, during, and after re-breathing phases are then used to calculate the pulmonary capillary blood flow of the patient. A rate of change of carbon dioxide content of the venous blood of the patient may also be calculated and employed in calculating the pulmonary capillary blood flow of the patient.

Abstract: A re-breathing method for determining pulmonary capillary blood flow that accounts for changes in the carbon dioxide content of a patient. The carbon dioxide elimination and partial pressure of end tidal carbon dioxide of the patient are measured prior to re-breathing, during re-breathing, and after re-breathing. A rate of change of carbon dioxide content of the venous blood of the patient is then calculated. The rate of change is then employed in calculating the pulmonary capillary blood flow of the patient.