Apparatus and method for monitoring degree of integration between functions of heart and lungs, and therapeutic success of resuscitative interventions

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for assessing the coupling between lung perfusion and ventilation in a patient who is mechanically ventilated or who is breathing spontaneously through a conventional artificial airway is provided. Embodiments of the apparatus comprise an adaptor configured to fit between the artificial airway and mechanical ventilator (or to attach to the free end of the artificial airway in cases where the patient is breathing spontaneously), a measuring chamber in constant fluid communication with the adaptor via one or more measuring chamber sampling ports, and a monitoring unit where data obtained from temperature and relative humidity sensors located in the measuring is calibrated, sampled, logged and analyzed together with anthropometric patient data provided by the operator in order to calculate and/or derive a novel cardio-pulmonary coupling index termed "Qi" as described, and to enable ongoing diagnostic cardio-pulmonary monitoring of a patient by comparing changes in the patient's Qi index during a monitoring interval. The Qi index is expressed in non-dimensional units, and is displayed relative to a range of "normal" values defined with reference to values that are commonly observed at rest in persons in good general health and who generally match a given patient in gender, age and body size, and/or as a specific patient's baseline values at rest or under stress at the outset of a monitoring interval.

Description

technical field [0001] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to methods, systems and devices for measuring the temperature and humidity of inhaled and exhaled gases in the airway. Background technique [0002] Taken in isolation, clinical assessment of the physiological variables used to monitor the condition (eg, need for supplemental oxygen, composition of exhaled breath, blood pressure, heart rate, etc.) is often prone to misinterpretation. These variables are often interdependent, and misinterpretation of their individual variables can lead to delays in timely detection of changes in status and subsequent diagnosis, and delays in appropriate treatment of the patient. Incorrect clinical management decisions may also be made when changes in important signals are misleading due to diseases or injuries with similar clinical manifestations. [0003] Several devices have been developed to measure temperature and humidity in the human tracheobronchial tree and i...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, previous efforts in this area have addressed specific issues related to the manner in which ambient temperature and humidity affect long-term ventilation, primarily thr...

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