초록 ▼

A passive, non-invasive, non-contacting apparatus and method for monitoring the respiration of a subject within a monitored environment is disclosed. The apparatus generally comprises a pair of sensors which detect changes in infrared energy. The first sensor detects changes in infrared energy which

A passive, non-invasive, non-contacting apparatus and method for monitoring the respiration of a subject within a monitored environment is disclosed. The apparatus generally comprises a pair of sensors which detect changes in infrared energy. The first sensor detects changes in infrared energy which signifies and corresponds to changes in the monitored environments of a component to be monitored and generates a first signal. The second sensor detects changes in infrared energy which signifies reference infrared energy in the monitored environment and generates a second signal. A processing system converts the first and second signals into a third signal which signifies the concentration of the monitored component in the monitored environment. The monitored components may be CO.sub.2 H.sub.2 O or a constituent of exhaled breath such as a ketone, amino acid, insulin or pintane. In another embodiment of the invention changes in blood pH may be monitored by adding an additional sensor. Micromotion of the subject's body may also be monitored in yet another embodiment through the use of a single sensor together with an appropriate processing system. Imaging techniques may be employed to accomplish high resolution monitoring of the monitored environment.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A non-invasive, non-contacting apparatus having imaging optics for determining changes in amounts of a respiratory component present in a predetermined spatial volume intermediate said apparatus and a surface of size determined by the imaged field of view of said optics b

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A non-invasive, non-contacting apparatus having imaging optics for determining changes in amounts of a respiratory component present in a predetermined spatial volume intermediate said apparatus and a surface of size determined by the imaged field of view of said optics by detection of infrared energy emitted by said surface or present in said volume and transiting said volume to said apparatus, the apparatus comprising:first sensor means having a plurality of first sensor elements disposed a distance from said surface substantially equivalent to the object length of said optics for sensing infrared energy emitted by said surface or present in said volume and transiting at least a part of said volume to said first sensor means, for imaging the spatial intensity distribution of infrared energy emitted by said surface or present in said volume and transiting at least a part of said volume to said first sensor means, producing a first image having a plurality of pixels in two-dimensional alignment, wherein at least one of said first sensor elements produces a first signal which indicates the presence or absence of radiation in a first range of wavelengths incident on the elements, said first range of wavelengths including wavelengths to which a respiratory gas of interest is responsive;second sensor means having a plurality of second sensor elements disposed a distance from said surface substantially equivalent to the object length of said optics for sensing infrared energy emitted by said surface or present in said volume and transiting at least a part of said volume to said second sensor means at substantially the same time as the infrared energy sensed by said first sensor means, for imaging the spatial intensity distribution of infrared energy emitted by said surface or present in said volume and transiting at least a part of said volume to said second sensor means producing a second image having a plurality of pixels in two-dimensional alignment, wherein said second sensor elements produce a second signal which indicates the presence or absence of radiation in a second range of wavelengths incident on the elements which is substantially nonoverlapping with said first range of wavelengths;wherein said first and second images substantially temporally and spatially overlap; andprocessing means for processing said first and second images to produce a third image having a plurality of pixels in two-dimensional alignment representing a change in the amount of a respiratory component in said volume, said processing means further comprising means for compensating said first matrix of signals by said second matrix of signals so as to reduce effects on said third matrix of signals of changes in the infrared emissions of said surface or present in said volume.