Patent ID: 6017315
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: A61G,A61M

Abstract:
A patient monitoring apparatus, comprising:a user interface having an interior portion adapted to communicate with an airway of a user such that substantially all gas inhaled and exhaled by such a user enters said interior portion of said user interface;at least one vent element associated with said user interface and communicating said interior portion of said user interface with an ambient atmosphere outside said user interface, said at least one vent element and said user interface defining a flow element across which a pressure differential is created during inhalation and exhalation, said pressure differential being a pressure difference between a first pressure within said interior portion of said user interface and a pressure of said ambient atmosphere outside said user interface;a sensor communicating with said interior portion of said user interface, said sensor measuring a fluid characteristic resulting from said pressure differential and outputting a first signal indicative of said fluid characteristic; anda processing unit receiving said first signal and determining a quantitative value for a physiological characteristic of a user based on said first signal.