Patent ID: 8479731
Filing Date: 2013-07-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for determining the presence or absence of a pulmonary embolism in a patient, said method comprising the steps of: (a) measuring the amount of CO (b) measuring the volume (V) of breathing gases expired during the expiration of breathing gases by the patient using a flow sensor; (c) determining a slope in a measurement apparatus, the slope defined by a change in the amount of expired CO (d) measuring an amount of CO (e) measuring the amount of CO (f) determining the difference in the measurement apparatus between the amount of CO (g) establishing a relationship in the measurement apparatus between the determination of step (f) and the determination of step (c) to produce a quantity for use in determining the presence or absence of a pulmonary embolism in the patient, and (h) defining the alveolar expiration phase of patient expiration as that in which the quantity produced in step (c) is reduced to a given percentage of a corresponding quantity produced for a previous phase of expiration.