US3559639A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spirometer monitoring device
Assignee: Puritan Bennett Corp
•
Filing: 1968-08-05
•
Granted: 1971-02-02
•
Expires: 1988-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A monitoring device for attachment to a spirometer with an expansible-contractable bellows to provide an alarm signal when indicated respiration ceases for a predetermined time period or when the tidal volume goes below a certain minimum for the same predetermined time period. An electronic audible-alarm signal generator is maintained in an inactive condition by a resettable time delay network. A magnet movable with the bellows actuates a reed switch in the monitor to generate a reset signal to reset the time delay network. If the time delay network is not reset within the predetermined time period by appropriate movement of the bellows and magnet, the alarm signal generator is activated. An auxiliary, inhibit network is provided for deactivating the monitor for a longer predetermined time period when initially turned on after which the monitor automatically resumes its monitoring function. The auxiliary inhibit network and time delay network may be selectively overridden by a manually operated override circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfred Nagus
- 👤 Steven A Bell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/08; A61B5/091; A61B5/093
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
The combination of a spirometer monitor and a spirometer having an expansible-contractible chamber mounted in a case with a wall movable with respect to the case in response to expansion and contraction of the chamber, said monitor comprising: a sensing means fixed in position with respect to the case of the spirometer; follower means movable in accordance with movement of the wall and including an elongated member extending from said wall toward said sensing means and movable longitudinally relative thereto; alarm means for generating an alarm signal, said alarm signal being generated following a predetermined time period after a reset condition of said alarm means; and reset means associated with said follower means and said sensing means for resetting said alarm means to said reset condition when said follower means is in a predetermined position with respect to said sensing means, said reset means including actuating means carried by said elongated member along a portion of its length and movable toward and away from said sensing means during movement of said wall, said sensing means being actuated to reset said alarm means to said reset condition when said actuating means is within a preselected distance from said sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
The combination of a spirometer monitor and a spirometer having an expansible-contractible chamber mounted in a case with a wall movable with respect to the case in response to expansion and contraction of the chamber, said monitor comprising: a sensing means fixed in position with respect to the case of the spirometer; follower means movable in accordance with movement of the wall and including an elongated member extending from said wall toward said sensing means and movable longitudinally relative thereto; alarm means for generating an alarm signal, said alarm signal being generated following a predetermined time period after a reset condition of said alarm means; and reset means associated with said follower means and said sensing means for resetting said alarm means to said reset condition when said follower means is in a predetermined position with respect to said sensing means, said reset means including actuating means carried by said elongated member along a portion of its length and movable toward and away from said sensing means during movement of said wall, said sensing means being actuated to reset said alarm means to said reset condition when said actuating means is within a preselected distance from said sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said alarm means includes an electrical alarm-signal generating means, the activation of said the activation of said alarm-signal generating means being controlled by an electrical time delay network associated with said reset means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises a magnet and said sensing means is a reed switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said actuating means and said sensing means are selectively adjustable relative to each other longitudinally of said member to vary the position of the movable wall in which said alarm means is reset.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination of claim 4, wherein said actuating means is a magnet movably positioned along the length of said elongated member and said sensing means is a switch element movable by said magnet, and further including a calibrated rod telescoped with said member and connected to said magnet to move the latter and to indicate its position along the member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
The combination of a spirometer monitor and a spirometer having an expansible-contractible chamber mounted in a case with a wall movable with respect to the case in response to expansion and contraction of the chamber, said monitor comprising: a sensing means fixed in position with respect to the case of the spirometer, said sensing means including a magnetically responsive means; follower means movable in accordance with movement of the wall, said follower means carrying a magnet movable relative to said magnetically responsive means; alarm means for generating an alarm signal following a predetermined time period after a reset condition of said alarm means; and reset means associated with said magnetically responsive means for resetting said alarm means to said reset condition when said magnet actuates said magnetically responsive means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
The combination of a spirometer monitor and a spirometer having an expansible-contractible chamber mounted in a case with a wall movable with respect to the case in response to expansion and contraction of the chamber, said monitor comprising: a sensing means fixed in position with respect to the case of the spirometer, said sensing means including a magnetically responsive means; follower means movable in accordance with movement of the wall, said follower means carrying a magnet movable relative to said magnetically responsive means; alarm means for generating an alarm signal following a predetermined time period after a reset condition of said alarm means; and reset means associated with said magnetically responsive means for resetting said alarm means to said reset condition when said magnet actuates said magnetically responsive means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein said follower means includes an elongated tube extending from the wall of the spirometer and sAid magnet is carried by a rod slidable within said tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 1, including an inhibit means for inhibiting the monitoring function of the spirometer monitor for a second predetermined time period which is longer than said first predetermined time period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
The combination of a spirometer monitor and a spirometer having an expansible-contractible chamber mounted in a case with a wall associated with the chamber being movable with respect to the case in response to expansion or contraction of the chamber, said monitor comprising: a guide tube extending from the wall of the chamber; a rod slidable within said guide tube, said rod having a magnet disposed along a portion of its length; a base platform fixed in position with respect to the case of the spirometer, said platform having an opening through which said tube and carried rod extend; magnetically responsive means mounted on said platform adjacent said opening; and electrical circuit means including an audible signal generating means, said audible signal generating means being activated following a predetermined time period after a reset condition of said electrical circuit means, said reset condition being generated when said magnetically responsive means responds to said magnet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
The combination of a spirometer monitor and a spirometer having an expansible-contractible chamber mounted in a case with a wall associated with the chamber being movable with respect to the case in response to expansion or contraction of the chamber, said monitor comprising: a guide tube extending from the wall of the chamber; a rod slidable within said guide tube, said rod having a magnet disposed along a portion of its length; a base platform fixed in position with respect to the case of the spirometer, said platform having an opening through which said tube and carried rod extend; magnetically responsive means mounted on said platform adjacent said opening; and electrical circuit means including an audible signal generating means, said audible signal generating means being activated following a predetermined time period after a reset condition of said electrical circuit means, said reset condition being generated when said magnetically responsive means responds to said magnet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 9, including an electrical inhibit means for inhibiting the monitoring function of the spirometer monitor for a second predetermined time period in response to a manually initiated inhibit signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 1, including override means for activating said alarm means before the expiration of said first predetermined time period.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 6, including override means for activating said alarm means before the expiration of said first predetermined time period.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 6, including inhibit means for inhibiting the monitoring function of the spirometer monitor for a second predetermined time period which is longer than said first predetermined time period; and override means selectively operable to activate said alarm means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
141 words
The combination of a spirometer monitor and a spirometer having an expansible-contractible chamber mounted on a base and having a wall movable with respect to the base in response to expansion and contraction of the chamber, said monitor comprising: magnetically responsive sensing means stationarily mounted on the base of the spirometer; follower means supported for movement with said wall relative to said sensing means and including a magnetic actuator for actuating said sensing means when said actuator is within a preselected distance of the sensing means; resettable alarm means for generating an alarm signal following a preselected time delay after each resetting of said alarm means; and reset means associated with said sensing means for resetting said alarm means each time said actuator moves to within said preselected distance of said sensing means, thereby to prevent generation of said alarm signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
141 words
The combination of a spirometer monitor and a spirometer having an expansible-contractible chamber mounted on a base and having a wall movable with respect to the base in response to expansion and contraction of the chamber, said monitor comprising: magnetically responsive sensing means stationarily mounted on the base of the spirometer; follower means supported for movement with said wall relative to said sensing means and including a magnetic actuator for actuating said sensing means when said actuator is within a preselected distance of the sensing means; resettable alarm means for generating an alarm signal following a preselected time delay after each resetting of said alarm means; and reset means associated with said sensing means for resetting said alarm means each time said actuator moves to within said preselected distance of said sensing means, thereby to prevent generation of said alarm signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
174 words
The combination of a spirometer-monitor and a spirometer having an expansible-contractible chamber mounted on a base and having a wall movable with respect to the base in response to expansion and contraction of the chamber, said monitor comprising: sensing means mounted in a preselected position on the base of the spirometer; follower means supported for movement with said wall and including actuating means movable toward and away from said sensing means as said chamber expands and contracts; resettable alarm means for generating an alarm signal following a preselected time delay after each resetting of said alarm means; reset means associated with said sensing means for resetting said alarm means each time said actuator moves toward said sensing means to within a preselected distance thereof, thereby to prevent generation of said alarm signal; and means supporting said sensing means and said actuating Means on said base and said follower means, respectively, for selective adjustment toward and away from each other thereby to change the position of said wall in which said alarm means is reset.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
174 words
The combination of a spirometer-monitor and a spirometer having an expansible-contractible chamber mounted on a base and having a wall movable with respect to the base in response to expansion and contraction of the chamber, said monitor comprising: sensing means mounted in a preselected position on the base of the spirometer; follower means supported for movement with said wall and including actuating means movable toward and away from said sensing means as said chamber expands and contracts; resettable alarm means for generating an alarm signal following a preselected time delay after each resetting of said alarm means; reset means associated with said sensing means for resetting said alarm means each time said actuator moves toward said sensing means to within a preselected distance thereof, thereby to prevent generation of said alarm signal; and means supporting said sensing means and said actuating Means on said base and said follower means, respectively, for selective adjustment toward and away from each other thereby to change the position of said wall in which said alarm means is reset.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |