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A device for sensing the respiratory air of a patient. The device includes a venturi tube through which the patient inspires and expires, the tube having a constricted midportion. The tube also has an inspiration orifice, an expiration orifice, and a central orifice therebetween. An air mass flow se

A device for sensing the respiratory air of a patient. The device includes a venturi tube through which the patient inspires and expires, the tube having a constricted midportion. The tube also has an inspiration orifice, an expiration orifice, and a central orifice therebetween. An air mass flow sensor is positioned in the tube. A flow direction housing is attached to the tube and has a channel with an inspiration portion, an expiration portion, and a central portion therebetween. The housing also has an inspiration opening providing communication between the tube inspiration orifice and an end portion of the inspiration channel away from the central channel portion, an expiration opening providing communication between the tube expiration orifice and an end portion of the expiration channel portions away from the central channel portion, and a central opening providing communication between the tube central orifice and the central channel portion. This causes a flow of a portion of the respiratory air which the patient inspires to pass through the tube inspiration orifice and flow through the inspiration channel portion to the housing central opening, and a flow of a portion of the respiratory air which the patient expires to pass through the tube expiration orifice and flow through the expiration channel portion to the housing central opening for return to the venturi tube at the tube constricted portion. A flow direction sensor is positioned in the inspiration channel portion and a flow direction sensor is positioned in the expiration channel portion to produce outputs responsive to the flow of respiratory air through the inspiration and expiration channel portions for determining if the respiratory air flowing through the venturi tube is inspired or expired air.

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A device for sensing the respiratory air of a patient, comprising: a venturi tube including a first open end through which the patient inspires and expires, a second open end, and a constricted midportion therebetween, said venturi tube having an inspiration orifice, an expiration orifice, and a cen

A device for sensing the respiratory air of a patient, comprising: a venturi tube including a first open end through which the patient inspires and expires, a second open end, and a constricted midportion therebetween, said venturi tube having an inspiration orifice, an expiration orifice, and a central orifice positioned therebetween at said tube midportion; a flow sensor positioned within said tube midportion to provide air flow data on the respiratory air flowing through said venturi tube; a flow direction housing attached to said venturi tube exterior thereof, said housing having a channel with an inspiration portion, an expiration portion and a central portion positioned therebetween, said housing further including an inspiration opening aligned with said tube inspiration orifice and in communication with an end portion of said inspiration channel portion spaced away from said central channel portion, an expiration opening aligned with said tube expiration orifice and in communication with an end portion of said expiration channel portion spaced away from said central channel portion, and a central opening aligned with said tube central orifice and in communication with said central channel portion to cause a flow of a portion of the respiratory air which the patient inspires to pass from said second open end of said venturi tube through said tube inspiration orifice and said housing inspiration opening and to flow through said inspiration channel portion to said housing central opening and said tube central orifice for return to said venturi tube at said tube midportion, and a flow of a portion of the respiratory air which the patient expires to pass from said first open end of said venturi tube through said tube expiration orifice and said housing expiration opening and to flow through said expiration channel portion to said housing central opening and said tube central orifice for return to said venturi tube at said tube midportion; and an inspiration air flow direction sensor positioned in said inspiration channel portion and having an output responsive to said flow of said portion of the respiratory air through said inspiration channel portion, and an expiration air flow direction sensor positioned in said expiration channel portion and having an output responsive to said flow of said portion of the respiratory air through said expiration channel portion, wherein the respiratory air flowing through said venturi tube can be determined to be inspired air or expired air by comparing said outputs of said inspiration and expiration air flow direction sensors.