Abstract:
An alcohol detection device for controlling the ignition circuit of a vehicle. The device incorporates an alcohol sensor (10) within an open ended body (21) to enhance evaporation of condensation within the body (21). Also mounted in the body (21) is a breath pressure operative switch (25) to operate in conjunction with the sensor (10). The outputs from the sensor (10) and the switch (25) are fed to an electronic circuit latching means (19) controlling a short provided on a vehicle's ignition circuit. An intending driver exhales into the body (21) a sufficient amount to activate the pressure switch (25) and in so doing provide a breath sample for the sensor (10). A time delay circuit (16) is preferably provided whereby the pressure switch (25) must be closed for a time period commensurate to that of the timer (16) to provide an output signal to the latching means (19).
Abstract:
A sensor for use in detecting cardiopulmonary functions employs a skin-heating conductive surface for use in achieving vasodilitation for the measurement of PO 2 and PCO 2 . The same surface is employed as an electrode for a heartbeat and/or respiration rate measuring device.
Abstract:
A radioaerosol delivery apparatus particularly adapted for the subsequent disposal of radioactively contaminated elements includes a manifold (88) for delivery of radioaerosol to a patient, having a pair of rigid conduits (100, 102) joined at one end to form a first connector (104) and at the other end to form a second connector (106). A third connector (116) is formed in the first conduit (100) between the first and second connectors and a one-way valve (112) is located between the first (104) and third (116) connector. A second one-way valve (114) is located in the second conduit (102) to permit exhalation by the patient. In use the manifold and source are located in a container incorporating radiation shielding. A portion (30) of the shielding is releasably attached to the manifold (88) and is removable from the container so as to carry with it the manifold (88) and source (82).
Abstract:
This invention concerns an implantable cardiac pacemaker in which the stimulation rate is determined through a suitable programmable algorythm by the patient's ventilation rate which is taken by measuring the impedance variations throughout a distance within the human body; preferably a distance within the thoracic region that goes between the pacemaker box and the lead which is placed subcutaneously. Peculiarities of the pacemaker concerned are the ability of detecting variations, even rapid ones, of the corporeal impedance and of discriminating substantial width variations attributable in all probability to a respiratory act, furthermore as well as a limited drain of electrical energy.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a respiration monitor primarily intended to be used in hospitals to provide an alarm signal in the event of cessation of breathing by a patient. The monitor includes a sensor (10,10') having a housing (12,12') which defines an air passageway (14,14') and which is adapted to be placed in communication with the airway of a patient so that air inhaled and exhaled by the patient will flow through said passageway (14,14'). A pair of electrical conductors (26,28) are located in the passageway in the path of air flowing therethrough in use. The conductors are insulated from one another and form a capacitor having a dielectric partially formed by the air between said conductors (26,28), so that changes in the humidity of the air in said passageway (14,14') during inhalation and exhalation by the patient in use will cause corresponding cyclic variations in the capacitance of said capacitor. The monitor also includes electrical circuit means coupled to the conductors and adapted to provide an alarm signal in the event of cessation of said cyclic variations in capacitance.
Abstract:
A water trap for use in a capnographic sampling line is disclosed. It includes a main body, a liquid collection chamber in communication with ambient atmosphere through a first channel, a cylindrically shaped separation chamber which communicates at a first end with ambient atmosphere through the top of the main body and at its end opposite the first end with the collection chamber, and a sampling gas input channel in communication with ambient atmosphere and which extends into the separation chamber tangentially to the interior wall thereof.
Abstract:
Apparatus for measuring xenon concentration in xenon cerebral blood-flow studies operates under the control of a microprocessor which is used to monitor the patient's breathing cycle and to control a sampling pump in order to assure that only end-tidal gas is sampled. A xenon gas mixture is delivered to a patient by means of a mask assembly. At the end of each exhale cycle, the patient's end-tidal gas is held in a chamber on the exhale side of the mask assembly. At the start of the next inhale cycle, the microprocessor activates the sampling pump which draws end-tidal gas into a thermal conductivity detector. The output of the detector is transmitted through an A/D converter and the resultant value stored in the microprocessor memory along with the time of the sample. At the completion of a CT scan series, the accumulated data in the microprocessor is transferred to the CT-system-housed computer to be used in the reconstruction of cerebral blood-flow images using conventional techniques.
Abstract:
An inhalation apparatus for exposing small laboratory animals, e.g., rats, to a test atmosphere in such a manner that the animals are exposed to a uniform concentration of the test atmosphere containing substantially no exhaled materials. The apparatus comprises an animal holding tube means capable of positioning the nose of an animal at a fixed point within the tube means. The tube means is provided with a test atmosphere inlet means located in the vicinity of the nose and an exhaust outlet means such that the test atmosphere can be inhaled by the animal then exhausted rearward of the nose of the animal. A plurality of these animal holding tube means can be combined by connecting their inlet means to a first plenum duct that is in communication with a source of the test atmosphere and connecting their outlet means to a second plenum duct for exhausting substantially all exhaled materials and excess test atmosphere.
Abstract:
A gas introducing apparatus for a respiratory gas analyzer which comprises a gas introducing tube (21) for guiding sampled gas from an airway tube inserted into the airway of a patient to a gas analyzer, and a sintered metal filter (22) hermetically and detouchably mounted on a distal end of the gas introducing tube (21).