US5088501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Measurement arrangement for acquiring a signal corresponding to respiratory motion
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1990-10-17
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Granted: 1992-02-18
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Expires: 2010-10-17
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement for acquiring a signal corresponding to respiratory motion includes a pneumatic respiratory belt which generates a mechanical pressure signal and a pressure transducer which converts the incoming mechanical pressure signal into an optical signal using a flexible membrane, which is deformed by the pressure signal, and which has a reflective surface thereon so that a modulated light signal is generated corresponding to the pressure signal. The transducer can be constructed avoiding metallic materials, thereby permitting the transducer to be disposed in the radio frequency field of a magnetic resonance imaging tomography apparatus, and thus in the immediate proximity of the respiratory belt. The pressure signals from the belt, since they must travel only a relatively short distance to the transducer, do not significantly deteriorate and thus the sensitivity of the measuring arrangement is increased.
Inventors
- 👤 Joachim Niewisch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/54; G01R33/56; G01R33/567; G01R33/5673; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/103; A61B5/11; A61B5/113; A61B5/1135; A61B5/72; A61B5/7203; A61B5/7207; A61B5/721; G01R33/28; A61B5/7271; A61B5/7285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A measuring arrangement for acquiring a signal corresponding to respiratory motion comprising: a pneumatic respiratory belt adapted to be worn by an examination subject which generates a pneumatic pressure signal in response to respiratory motion; a light source; a pressure transducer in fluid communication with said belt via a releasable connection, permitting said belt to assume an arbitrary operating point before connection to said pressure transducer, for receiving said pneumatic pressure signal therefrom and in optical communication with said light source for receiving light therefrom, said pressure transducer having a flexible membrane deformable by said pneumatic pressure signal, said membrane carrying a reflector thereon disposed in the path of light from said light source and which generates an intensity-modulated optical signal corresponding to the deformations; and means for detecting said intensity-modulated optical signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A measuring arrangement for acquiring a signal corresponding to respiratory motion comprising: a pneumatic respiratory belt adapted to be worn by an examination subject which generates a pneumatic pressure signal in response to respiratory motion; a light source; a pressure transducer in fluid communication with said belt via a releasable connection, permitting said belt to assume an arbitrary operating point before connection to said pressure transducer, for receiving said pneumatic pressure signal therefrom and in optical communication with said light source for receiving light therefrom, said pressure transducer having a flexible membrane deformable by said pneumatic pressure signal, said membrane carrying a reflector thereon disposed in the path of light from said light source and which generates an intensity-modulated optical signal corresponding to the deformations; and means for detecting said intensity-modulated optical signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for detecting and said light source are in optical communication with said transducer via a common optical waveguide having an end face disposed in said transducer, and wherein said membrane has a planar surface on which said reflector is disposed facing said end face of said light waveguide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane consists of silicone rubber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflector consists of an aluminum coated Mylar® foil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflector is formed by a vapor-deposited metallic layer on said membrane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflector is a dielectric mirror.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A measuring arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said membrane has a thickened region in registry with said end face of said light waveguide and wherein said reflector is disposed on said thickened region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
A measuring arrangement for acquiring a signal corresponding to respiratory motion comprising: a pneumatic respiratory belt adapted to be worn by an examination subject and generating a pneumatic pressure signal corresponding to respiratory motion; a light source; transducer means containing no magnetic or electrically conductive parts in fluid communication with said belt via a releasable connection, permitting said belt to assume an arbitrary operating point before connection to said pressure transducer, for receiving said pneumatic signal therefrom and in optical communication with said light source for receiving light therefrom for converting said pressure signal into an intensity-modulated optical signal; and means for detecting said intensity-modulated optical signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
A measuring arrangement for acquiring a signal corresponding to respiratory motion comprising: a pneumatic respiratory belt adapted to be worn by an examination subject and generating a pneumatic pressure signal corresponding to respiratory motion; a light source; transducer means containing no magnetic or electrically conductive parts in fluid communication with said belt via a releasable connection, permitting said belt to assume an arbitrary operating point before connection to said pressure transducer, for receiving said pneumatic signal therefrom and in optical communication with said light source for receiving light therefrom for converting said pressure signal into an intensity-modulated optical signal; and means for detecting said intensity-modulated optical signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
211 words
A method for acquiring a signal corresponding to respiratory motion comprising the steps of: attaching a pneumatic respiratory belt to an examination subject so that a pneumatic chamber in said belt, having a conduit in fluid communication therewith, generates a pressure signal in response to deformation of said chamber by respiratory motion; maintaining said conduit open to the atmosphere during attachment of said belt to said examination subject so that said pressure chamber can assume an arbitrary deformation and thereby set an arbitrary operating point for said respiratory belt; attaching said conduit, after attachment of said belt to said examination subject, to a pressure transducer via a releasable connection so that said pressure transducer is in fluid communication with said deformable chamber for receiving said pressure signal therefrom; deforming a flexible membrane in said pressure transducer by said pressure signal, said flexible membrane having an optical reflector thereon; directing a light source at said reflector on said flexible membrane for intensity-modulating light from said light source by movement of said reflector caused by deformation of said flexible membrane due to said pressure signal; and detecting light from said light source which has been intensity-modulated by deformation of said flexible membrane and using the intensity-modulated light as an indicator for respiratory motion.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
211 words
A method for acquiring a signal corresponding to respiratory motion comprising the steps of: attaching a pneumatic respiratory belt to an examination subject so that a pneumatic chamber in said belt, having a conduit in fluid communication therewith, generates a pressure signal in response to deformation of said chamber by respiratory motion; maintaining said conduit open to the atmosphere during attachment of said belt to said examination subject so that said pressure chamber can assume an arbitrary deformation and thereby set an arbitrary operating point for said respiratory belt; attaching said conduit, after attachment of said belt to said examination subject, to a pressure transducer via a releasable connection so that said pressure transducer is in fluid communication with said deformable chamber for receiving said pressure signal therefrom; deforming a flexible membrane in said pressure transducer by said pressure signal, said flexible membrane having an optical reflector thereon; directing a light source at said reflector on said flexible membrane for intensity-modulating light from said light source by movement of said reflector caused by deformation of said flexible membrane due to said pressure signal; and detecting light from said light source which has been intensity-modulated by deformation of said flexible membrane and using the intensity-modulated light as an indicator for respiratory motion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-17 | 1995-08-19 | 1996-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-17 | 1999-08-19 | 2000-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-17 | 2003-08-19 | 2004-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |