Abstract:
A method and apparatus to simulate intrauterine contractions to train clinicians in using a tocodynamometer (TOCO) transducer. The apparatus includes an enclosure housing an air bladder, with an opening in the enclosure for a TOCO transducer to be placed in contact with the air bladder. The air bladder is selectively pressurized by a source of compressed gas, the flow being controlled by a flow valve. A pressure release valve is provided to reduce pressure in the bladder. A pressure sensor monitors the bladder pressure, and can be used to calibrate the system to determine what bladder pressure produced a given uterine activity. The flow valve may be controlled by a software run on a processor to achieve particular uterine activity levels over a given period of time.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus to identify the source of oxygen delivery failure to a patient. The apparatus comprises a pressure sensor to detect a patient's breathing pressure and ambient pressure, an oxygen flow analyzer to measure oxygen flow to the patient, and a processor to analyze the breathing pressure values, ambient pressure value, and oxygen flow rate values. When the oxygen flow rate value is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the processor is programmed to compare the breathing pressure values to the ambient pressure value and output an apnea alarm or an oxygen delivery device displacement alarm.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus to simulate a fetal heart rate to train clinicians in using a Doppler probe. The apparatus includes an enclosure housing a bladder, with a piece of deformable material to be placed in contact with the bladder and the Doppler probe. The bladder is selectively pressurized by a source of compressed gas, the flow being controlled by a flow valve. A pressure release valve is provided to reduce pressure in the bladder. A pressure sensor monitors the bladder pressure. The flow valve may be controlled by a software run on a processor to achieve pre-determined bladder pressures to mimic a fetal heart rate.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus to simulate arterial blood pressure pulses to train clinicians in the use of oscillometric blood pressure monitors is described. The apparatus comprises a bladder or blood pressure cuff placed in a rigid enclosure with a known volume. The enclosure also has an opening, with a pressure plate placed between the opening and the bladder. An actuator, such as a servo motor with an arm, is attached to the outside of the enclosure next to the opening such that the arm of the servo motor or actuator may exert a force on the pressure plate, which in turn impinges the bladder. The bladder may be connected to a pressure sensor and an oscillometric blood pressure monitor. The force exerted by the actuator may be controlled in a feedback loop by a controller connected to the actuator and the pressure sensor.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus to simulate arterial blood pressure pulses to train clinicians in the use of oscillometric blood pressure monitors is described. The apparatus comprises a bladder or blood pressure cuff placed in a rigid enclosure with a known volume. The enclosure also has an opening, with a pressure plate placed between the opening and the bladder. An actuator, such as a servo motor with an arm, is attached to the outside of the enclosure next to the opening such that the arm of the servo motor or actuator may exert a force on the pressure plate, which in turn impinges the bladder. The bladder may be connected to a pressure sensor and an oscillometric blood pressure monitor. The force exerted by the actuator may be controlled in a feedback loop by a controller connected to the actuator and the pressure sensor.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus to identify the source of oxygen delivery failure to a patient. The apparatus comprises a pressure sensor to detect a patient's breathing pressure and ambient pressure, an oxygen flow analyzer to measure oxygen flow to the patient, and a processor to analyze the breathing pressure values, ambient pressure value, and oxygen flow rate values. When the oxygen flow rate value is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the processor is programmed to compare the breathing pressure values to the ambient pressure value and output an apnea alarm or an oxygen delivery device displacement alarm.
Abstract:
A connector for connecting an oxygen delivery device to a patient interface. The connector includes a housing with a first lumen for delivering oxygen and a second lumen to allow pressure to be measured. A third optional lumen may allow for gas sampling. The housing surrounding the first and second lumen has a portion that includes encoding for determining the type of patient interface being used, as well as a depth indicator sensor.
Abstract:
A connector for connecting an oxygen delivery device to a patient interface. The connector includes a housing with a first lumen for delivering oxygen and a second lumen to allow pressure to be measured. A third optional lumen may allow for gas sampling. The housing surrounding the first and second lumen has a portion that includes encoding for determining the type of patient interface being used, as well as a depth indicator sensor.
Abstract:
A system for detecting manual ventilation and selectively delivering a high flow of oxygen. The system comprises a source of compressed oxygen coupled to a first lumen of a nasal cannula, with an oxygen flow control valve coupled to a processor to control the flow of oxygen to the nasal cannula. A second lumen of the nasal cannula is in connection with a pressure sensor and the pressure sensor in connection with the processor. The processor may receive the pressure values and be programmed to determine when manual ventilation has occurred, and send a signal to the oxygen flow control valve to send a high flow of oxygen in response to manual ventilation.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus to deliver a variable flow of oxygen to a patient. The apparatus may include a flow control valve, a pressure sensor to detect a patient's breathing pressure and ambient pressure, an oxygen flow analyzer to measure oxygen flow to the patient, and a processor to analyze the breathing pressure values, ambient pressure value, and oxygen flow rate values and to determine when a patient is inhaling. When the processor determines the patient is inhaling, the processor calculates an optimal oxygen flow rate to deliver to a patient, which may depend on a pre-selected flow rate and an oxygen backlog, and the processor sends a signal to the flow control valve to deliver the optimal oxygen flow rate to the patient.