US3887795A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Respiration ratemeter
Assignee: Allied Healthcare Products Inc
•
Filing: 1973-10-02
•
Granted: 1975-06-03
•
Expires: 1993-10-02
Abstract
Abstract Circuitry for displaying an averaged respiration rate is disclosed. Inspiration pulses from a respirator representing a breathing rate to be monitored are fed to three counters, each of which counts the pulses for a period of 30 seconds. Each 10 seconds the accumulated count in a different counter is transferred to a display storage register, and that counter cleared. The input inspiration pulses are doubled before counting, so that the count that is transferred to the display represents the breathing rate for a one minute period. The display thus presents a breath per minute indication which is updated every 10 seconds.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore B Eyrick
- 👤 Neil R Hattes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:54
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K21/00; H03K21/08; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/08; A61B5/0816
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
In a meter for counting pulses representing the rate occurrence of an event to be monitored and displaying a periodically updated accumulated count representing said rate of occurrence, at least two counters each receiving and accumulating all of said pulses representing said event, timer means generating a train of periodic timing pulses; selector means responsive to said timing pulses for sequentially selecting said counters; indicator means; means responsive to said timing pulses for transferring the accumulated count in a selected counter to said indicator means; and means for clearing said selected counter after transfer of the accumulated count, whereby the output of each counter in turn is periodically selected and displayed to provide a periodic update in the display representing said rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a meter for counting pulses representing the rate occurrence of an event to be monitored and displaying a periodically updated accumulated count representing said rate of occurrence, at least two counters each receiving and accumulating all of said pulses representing said event, timer means generating a train of periodic timing pulses; selector means responsive to said timing pulses for sequentially selecting said counters; indicator means; means responsive to said timing pulses for transferring the accumulated count in a selected counter to said indicator means; and means for clearing said selected counter after transfer of the accumulated count, whereby the output of each counter in turn is periodically selected and displayed to provide a periodic update in the display representing said rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a meter for counting pulses representing the rate occurrence of an event to be monitored and displaying a periodically updated accumulated count representing said rate of occurrence, at least two counters each receiving and accumulating all of said pulses representing said event, timer means generating a train of periodic timing pulses; selector means responsive to said timing pulses for sequentially selecting said counters; indicator means; means responsive to said timing pulses for transferring the accumulated count in a selected counter to said indicator means; and means for clearing said selected counter after transfer of the accumulated count, whereby the output of each counter in turn is periodically selected and displayed to provide a periodic update in the display representing said rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a meter for counting pulses representing the rate occurrence of an event to be monitored and displaying a periodically updated accumulated count representing said rate of occurrence, at least two counters each receiving and accumulating all of said pulses representing said event, timer means generating a train of periodic timing pulses; selector means responsive to said timing pulses for sequentially selecting said counters; indicator means; means responsive to said timing pulses for transferring the accumulated count in a selected counter to said indicator means; and means for clearing said selected counter after transfer of the accumulated count, whereby the output of each counter in turn is periodically selected and displayed to provide a periodic update in the display representing said rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The meter of claim 1, wherein each of said counters accumulates said pulses over a predetermined period of time, and said timing pulses are generated at a rate to produce a plurality of transfers of accumulated counts during said period of time, whereby each periodicallly updated display is of a couNt accumulated over the entire said period.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The meter of claim 2, including three counters, said selector means selecting each counter in turn, each counter being selected once during each said period.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The meter of claim 3, wherein said selector means comprises a fourth counter responsive to successive ones of said timing pulses to produce a repetitive series of three counter selecting pulses, each timing pulse advancing said fourth counter means to the next succeeding counter selecting pulse, and means for applying each said selecting pulse to a corresponding counter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The meter of claim 4, wherein said means for clearing said selector counter comprises clear pulse generating means for resetting a selected counter to zero count.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The meter of claim 4, wherein said means for transferring the accumulated count comprises multiplexer gating means connected to the outputs of each counter, said multiplexer gating means being operative to transfer to said display means the accumulated count in a selected counter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The meter of claim 6, wherein said forth counter means further comprises address means for activating multiplexer gating means corresponding to the selected counter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The meter of claim 7, further including pulse doubler means for doubling said pulses representing the event to be monitored, whereby each periodically updated display represents the count for twice said period.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of measuring and displaying the number of breaths per unit time drawn by a patient, comprising: generating a first train of pulses simultaneously wherein each pulse represents a patient inhalation; generating a second train of pulses having a rate double the rate of said first train; applying said second train of pulses to first, second and third counters for accumulating a count corresponding to the number of pulses received; cyclically selecting and resetting said first, second and third counters after first, second and third periods of time, respectively; and transferring the count accumulated in each of said first, second and third counters upon selection thereof to a display means, whereby said display means is updated after each of said periods.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of measuring and displaying the number of breaths per unit time drawn by a patient, comprising: generating a first train of pulses simultaneously wherein each pulse represents a patient inhalation; generating a second train of pulses having a rate double the rate of said first train; applying said second train of pulses to first, second and third counters for accumulating a count corresponding to the number of pulses received; cyclically selecting and resetting said first, second and third counters after first, second and third periods of time, respectively; and transferring the count accumulated in each of said first, second and third counters upon selection thereof to a display means, whereby said display means is updated after each of said periods.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 9, wherein each of said counters is selected once during each of two halves of said unit time, whereby a counter will accumulate pulses over only one-half of said unit time before being selected, and said display will indicate a count representing the number of patient inhalations per unit time.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of measuring and displaying the rate of physiological occurrences in a patient, comprising: generating a train of count pulses representing one of said occurrences; accumulating simultaneously in a plurality of counters a count corresponding to the number of count pulses received; cyclically selecting and resetting said counters, said counters being periodically and sequentially selected; transferring to a display means the count accumulated in each counter upon its selection, whereby said display means is updated by the counts from successive selected counters to produce a series of updated displays, each display representing the number of physiological occurrences measured over a predetermined unit time greater than the time period between successive updated displays.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of measuring and displaying the rate of physiological occurrences in a patient, comprising: generating a train of count pulses representing one of said occurrences; accumulating simultaneously in a plurality of counters a count corresponding to the number of count pulses received; cyclically selecting and resetting said counters, said counters being periodically and sequentially selected; transferring to a display means the count accumulated in each counter upon its selection, whereby said display means is updated by the counts from successive selected counters to produce a series of updated displays, each display representing the number of physiological occurrences measured over a predetermined unit time greater than the time period between successive updated displays.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |