Devices, systems and methods for plethysmographic monitoring at the nose

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9668661-B2
Application number	US-201314097672-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2013
Priority date	Jun 20, 2002
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel lip/cheek probes for detection of pulse-based differences in light absorbence across the vascularized tissue of a lip or cheek of a patient. These probes are fabricated to provide signals to estimate arterial oxygen saturation, and/or to obtain other photoplethysmographic data. The present invention also relates to a combined probe/cannula. The present invention also relates to other devices that combine a pulse oximeter probe with a device supplying oxygen or other oxygen-containing gas to a person in need thereof, and to sampling means for exhaled carbon dioxide in combination with the novel lip/cheek probes. In certain embodiments, an additional limitation of a control means to adjust the flow rate of such gas is provided, where such control is directed by the blood oxygen saturation data obtained from the pulse oximeter probe.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of monitoring respiration of an individual, comprising:
(a) securing onto the nose of the individual a device comprising: 1) a pulse oximetry probe; and 2) another sensor for monitoring respiration at the nose;
(b) collecting data on a breathing cycle of the individual from the pulse oximeter probe, wherein the data on the breathing cycle is obtained from evaluating changes in an envelope of a DC component of a photoplethysmography signal from the pulse oximeter;
(c) collecting data on a pattern or dynamics of respiration from the other sensor for monitoring respiration at the nose;
(d) analyzing with a processor the data from the pulse oximeter probe and the other sensor to determine whether the individual needs more or less oxygen; and
(e) if the analysis in step (d) indicates a need for more or less oxygen to the individual, automatically adjusting a supply of oxygen or oxygen-rich air to the individual.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the other sensor for monitoring respiration at the nose detects air flow, air pressure, or both.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sampling breath of the individual and obtaining end tidal carbon dioxide measurements.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a cannula.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using data from the pulse oximeter probe and the data from the other sensor for monitoring respiration at the nose to analyze a sleep disorder in the individual.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the sleep disorder comprises sleep apnea.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a sampling structure to direct exhaled gas to a capnometer, a capnograph, or both.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the analysis in step (d) indicates a need for more or less oxygen to the individual, an alarm is generated.

Assignees

• Melker Richard J
• Univ Florida

Inventors

• Melker Richard J
• Worley George
• Gravenstein Joachim

Classifications

• A61M16/085

  Gas sampling · CPC title

• A61B5/0816

  Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00) · CPC title

• A61B5/0836

  Measuring rate of CO2 production · CPC title

• A61B5/682

  Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth · CPC title

• A61M16/0672

  Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy · CPC title