GB2341686A - Breathing alarm for a respirator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for monitoring the respiration of a person wearing breathing apparatus. The monitoring device comprises a respiratory sensor with an output connected to an alarm. A delay timer is connected between the output sensor and the alarm. The device is adapted such that, in use, an absence of normal respiration for a pre-determined time activates one or a combination of indicators. The device further comprises a radio transmitter and a radio receiver. In the normal state, the radio receiver is activated and the radio transmitter is OFF. In an emergency, when the user of the apparatus becomes distressed, the transmitter switches ON and transmits a signal. This signal can be picked up by the normally ON receivers of other similar apparatus, or remotely by a standard radio receiver.

Description

2341686 2 THIS INVENTION RELATES TO AN TMPRQVEU, MONITORING AND 3 ALARM

SYSTEM TO PROTECT USERS DEPENDENT UPON A CLOSED 4 CIRCUIT BREATHING SYSTEM COMBINED WITH AN ALARM OUT PUT.

THIS INVENTION ALSO CHECKS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIR/GASS 6 GENERATOR WHICH BE IN THE FORM OF AN AIR PUMP AND FILTER OR 7 BOTTLED AIR,BY THIS MEANS IT IS POSSIBLE TO ALERT THE USER 8 THE INSTANT THIS EQUIPMENT DEVELOPS A LIFE THREATENING 9 COMPLICATION THIS VITAL INFORMATION WILL ALSO BE CONVEYED TO NURSING STAFF OR IN THE CASE OF OTHER USERS SUCH AS GASS 11 OR SEWER WORKERS WOULD ALERT OTHER PERSONAL TO THE USERS 12 PLIGHT. THIS INVENTION ALSO IDENTIFIES NORMAL BREATHING 13 ALSO ABNORMAL RESPIRATION SUCH AS SHALLOW BREATHING OR 14 VERY LOW OR NO BREATHING, SUCH AS IN THE CASE OF VERY DEEP UNCONSCIOUSNESS OR COMPLETELY STOPPED BREATHING, THIS 16 INFORMATION WOULD BE TRANSMITTED IN THE FORM OF AN ALARM 17 SIGNAL THIS TYPE OF DISTRESS WARNING MAY BE MEANS OF AN is AUDIO VISUAL OR RADIO COMMUNICATION OR A COMBINATION OF ALL 19 THREE FORMS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A MANUAL SWITCH TO SUMMON ASSISTANdE THIS WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR A NORMAL OPERATOR 21 WEARING BREATHING EQUIPMENT BECOMING TRAPPED OR INJURED.

22 THERE IS A FACILITY THAT ENABLES THE USER TO BY PASS THIS 23 MANUAL ALARM SWITCH SUCH AS IN THE CASE WHERE THEY ARE 24 TOTALLY TRAPPED AN D IN THIS SITUATION BY HOLDING THEIR BREATH FOR TEN SECONDS THIS W-TLL RESULT IN ACTIVATING THE 26 BREATHING DISTRESS ALARM. THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT 27 SHALLOW BREATHING IS REQUIRED SUCH AS WHEN LISTENING FOR 28 VICTIMS SUCH AS IN MINE RESCUE THERE IS AN EARLY WARNING 29 ALARM TO REMIND THE USER TO RETURN TO NORMAL BREATHING TO AVOID THE ACTIVATION OF THE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS ALARM.

31 32 33 2 1 THE SHALLOW ALARM IS A TWO STAGE MONITOR TO MINIMISE 2 THE RISK OF FALSE ALARMS THE FIRST STAGE IS ACTIVATED BY 3 THREE CONSECUTIVE SHALLOW BREATHS THE FULL DISTRESS ALARM 4 BEING ACTIVATED BY A FURTHER TWO AND MORE SHALLOW BREATHS.

A STATE OF DEEP UNCONSCIOUSNESS OR CEASED RESPIRATION 6 RESULTS IN THE FULL RESPIRATORY DISTRESS ALARM BEING ACTIVATED 7 WITH IN TEN SECONDS OF THIS LOW OR NO BREATHING CONDITION.

8 COMMENCING- THUS MINIMISING RESPIRATORY DISTRESS CALLING 9 FOR ASSISTAXCE AS VITAL SECONDS DELAY COULD PROVE TO BE FATAL IN THESE CRITICAL SITUATIONS-TO FURTHER SPEED UP 11 RESCUE TIME A LOW POWER TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER IS 12 INCORPORAT5D IN TO THIS INVENTION THE RECEIVER OUT PUT 13 ACTIVATES A VISUAL INDICATOR ON THE VISOR OF THE FACE MASK 14 IT MAY ALSO ACTIVATE AN AUDIO ALARM. THUS WHEN A NEARBY is RESPIRATORY DISTRESS ALARM IS SIGNALLING THIS IS INSTANTLY 16 RECOGNISED BY THE VISUAL INDICATOR BEING ILLUMINTED MOUNTED 17 ON THE FACE MASK VISOR. THIS ALSO HAS A FURTHER 18 ADVANTAGE IN THAT WHEN A WORKING TEAM ARE STRUCK SUCH AS 19 WHILST FIRE FIGHTING IN THICK SMOKE AND BEING COVERED BY DEBRIS THAT THIS SHORT RANGE VERY LOW POWER TRANSMITTER 21 WILL ACTIVATE THE ALARM VISOR VISUAL INDICATOR OF THE 22 RESCUERS ALSO WEARING THIS INVENTION AS THEY NEAR THE USER 23 IN DISTRESS ALSO WEARING THIS INVENTION THUS SAVING VALUABLE 24 SEARCHING TIME ALSO SAVING IN MANY CASES VITAL MINUTES.

25.1 - A FOR USE OF THIS INVENTION IS TO SPEED UP 26 LOCATING USERS OF BREATING EQUIPMENT WHO ARE IN A LIFE 27 THREATENING SITUATION,IN A MINI TIME SCALE 28 A FURTHER FUNCTION OF THE RADIO INCORPORATED IS THAT IT 29 MAY ALSO RECEIVE AN EVACUATION SIGNAL FROM AN OVERAL CONTOL TEAM THIS IS ALSO GIVEN AS A VISUAL DISPLAY ON THE 31 BREATHING EQUIPMENT'S VISOR AS THEY ARE SITUATIONS SUCH 32 AS IN MINE RECUE OR OTHER SITUATION WHERE IT IS ESSENTIAL 3 1 TO LEAVE DUE TO THE RISK OF AN EXPLOSION OR SOME OTHER 2 PENDING DISASTER. THIS INVENTION HAS BEEN RESEARCHED AND 3 DEVELOPED TO SAFE GUARD OF ALL PERSONAL WHO HAVE TO WORK 4 IN HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS WHILST WEARING SOME FORM OF BREATHING APPARATUS, 6 DRAWING ONE WHICH IS THE BASIC BLOCK DIAGRAM OF THIS 7 INVENTION. (I)IS THE RESPIRATORY TRANSDUCER (2) SIGNAL AMPLIFIER S (3) SHALLOW BREATHING INDICATER(4) FULL DISTRESS ALARM 9 (5) UNCONSCIOUS ALSO STOPPED BREATHING ALARM (6) DEMAND VALVE REMAINING OPEN ALARM. THIS INVENTION IS POWERED BY THE BATTERY 7 11 THIS INVENTION ALSO MONITORS THE OPERATION OF THE RESPIRATORY 12 CIRCUIT INCLUDING THE DEMAND VALVE THAT OPENS AT THE COMMENCEMENT 13 OF EACH RESPIRATORY CYCLE AND AUTOMATICALLY CLOSES ON 14 COMPLETION OF THIS CYCLE, THEY ARE INCIDENTS WHERE THIS VALVE REMAINS OPEN ALLOWING VALUABLE AIR TO ESCAPE IT IS VITAL THAT 16 THE USER OF THE BREATHING APPARATUS IS INSTANTLY ALERTED TO 17 THIS CRITICAL SITUATION AND ALSO NEAR BY COLLEAGUES WOULD BE is ALSO BE ALERTED AS THE DEMAND VALVE ALARM STAGE IS ACTIVATED 19 BY A PRESET TiMING CIRCUIT.(8) THIS IS A MANUAL INSTANT DISTRESS SWITCH THAT BY-PASSES THE ALARM COUNT DOWN TIMES 21 THUS ENABLING TO SUMMON ASSISTANCE WHERE THE PERSONAL ARE 22 INJURED OR TRAPPED. (9) RADIO TRANSMITTER (10) EVACUATION 23 RADIO RECEIVER AND DISTRESS SIGNAL LOCATER.

24 26 27 28 29, 4 1 This invention relates to a device for use with 2 breathing apparatus to monitor respiration of a person, 3 such as a fire fighter, wearing the breathing 4 apparatus. 5 6 The device comprises a respiratory sensor; a delay 7 timer, an alarm; one or more audio/visual indicators; a 8 transmitter in the form of a radio beacon; and a 9 receiver in the form of a --adio beacon locator stage. 10 11 The output of the respiratory sensor is connected to 12 the delay timer. The output of the delay timer is 13 connected to the alarm. 14 15 In use, when there is lack of normal respiration for a 16 predetermined time, the delayed alarm activates one, or 17 a combination of audio/visual indicators. 18 19 The radio beacon is activated by the alarm condition. 20 The radio beacon locator stage is normally activated 21 when the radio beacon is inactive. 22 23 In use, when the alarm is activated, the radio beacon 24 overrides the radio beacon locator stage and emits a 25 signal which can be picked up by the (normally active) 26 radio beacon locator stage of a similar device in the 27 vicinity. That is, the radio beacon locator stage 28 enables the device to locate a similar device in the 29 neighbourhood, whose radio beacon has been activated by 30 the device moving into alarm condition. 31 32 This means that, when a group of fire fighters are 33 kitted out with matching devices, the other members of 34 the group will be alerted should one member of the 35 group be in distress. The distressed person can thus 36 can be quickly located and rescued.

1 Additionally or alternatively the alarm is picked up by 2 a remote radio receiver.

3 4 The device further comprises a manual switch adapted to activate the alarm mode condition. This manual switch 6 bypasses the sensor input time delays. The manual 7 switch is also electrically connected to the radio 8 transmitter.

9 More specifically, the invention relates to a device 11 for monitoring respiratory activity. The device 12 comprises a movement sensor, electrically coupled to 13 time delay means which the sensor is adapted to drive.

14 is The output of electrical time delay means is connected 16 an alarm device which it is adapted to drive.

17 18 The arrangement of these components is such that, as 19 long as movement is detected by the monitoring sensor, the alarm device is normally OFF. However, in the 21 absence of normal respiration, after a programmed time 22 delay, the alarm device switches ON. The absence of 23 respiration can be due to breathing difficulties or 24 loss of consciousness. Alternatively if a user becomes trapped, or encounters some other difficulty, he can 26 summon assistance by holding his breath which simulates 27 respiratory distress and L-riggers activation of the 28 alarm.

29 The time delay is determined by the delay timer. The 31 - built in delay is to minimise false alarms if, for 32 example, a user holds his breath to listen for movement 33 within a burning building.

34 The movement sensor comprises a respiratory sensor 36 which, when activated, establishes an electrical 6 1 signal, representative of a user's physical activity, 2 at an output terminal. This terminal is connected to 3 the input of the delay timer. 4 5 The delay timer comprises first and second time delay 6 circuits, connected in series. The input of the first 7 time delay circuit is connected to the output terminal 8 of the movement sensor, and the outputs of each of the 9 first and second time delay circuits is connected to 10 the alarm device. 11 12 The first time delay circuit incorporates a manually 13 operable reset device. The second time delay circuit 14 is non-cancelling. The arrangement of the delay is circuits is such that, if the first time delay circuit 16 activates the alarm, the second time delay circuit 17 provides a time interval prior to effecting the alarm 18 during which activation of the alarm can be cancelled 19 by breathing normally. 20 21 The respiratory sensor and the first delay circuit also 22 include means for automatically producing a primary 23 alarm signal. If the alarm signal is not cancelled by 24 further normal respiration in a preset delay time, a 25 second input delay timer, with a latching out, will 26 latch on and be required to be cancelled manually. 27 28 The output of the second alarm is also connected to an 29 alarm device. This alarm device comprises either a 30 radio transmitter locator beacon, an audio signalling 31 device, a visual signalling device or a combination of 32 one or more of these devices. 33 34 In OFF condition the second timer output is 35 electrically connected to a radio receiver. That is, 36 the second timer output is normally OFF, and connected 7 1 to a radio beacon locator stage. This receiver will 2 locate a signal from a local similar device in alarm 3 ON. This enables a groun, each of which is wearing the 4 apparatus, to appreciate quickly if one of their 5 colleagues becomes distressed. 6 7 The device includes a manual switch, electrically 8 connected to cancel out the first and second input 9 timers. This switch operates by reducing the delay 10 time greatly, and activating the second alarm with its 11 latching output. The manual switch is of push type and 12 is also electrically connected to the radio transmitter 13 to allow intermittent signalling. 14 15 The respiratory sensor is electrically connected to the 16 inputs of the alarm delay timers. 17 is The respiratory sensor is adapted to sense respiratory 19 flow even when the wearer of the breathing apparatus to 20 which the device is attached is not standing upright. 21 22 The incoming sensor signal voltages the two alarm 23 delayed outputs. 24 25 The output of the second input delay timer is 26 electrically connected to the incorporated radio 27 receiver. 28 29 The radio receiver is disabled when the second time 30 delay produces a signal to turn on the alarm device. 31 The alarm device is a radio transmitter locator beacon. 32 The alarm device may also have a combination of audio 33 and visual signals. 34 35 The alarm device further has a manual push switch that 36 bypasses the input delay timer, thus shortening the 1 time it normally takes to activate the alarm output. 2 3 The manual push switch is adapted such that when 4 activated for a shorter time interval than it would 5 take to actually activate the alarm, it will only 6 electrically connect to the radio transmitter beacon 7 momentarily, enabling it to operate as a short range 8 signalling device. 9 10 The radio transmitter beacon is received by radio 11 beacon receivers incorporated in similar respiratory 12 devices which are worn by persons within a given radius 13 of the wearer. 14 15 The manual push switch is electrically connected to the 16 alarm latching output to activate an instant alarm. 17 18 The device further includes a vertical movement sensor 19 and the delay timer further comprises a third time 20 delay circuit with its input connected to the output of 21 the vertical movement sensor, and its output connected 22 to the first and second time delay circuits. 23 24 When movement is detected by the movement sensor, it 25 sends a single voltage which resets the first time 26 delay sensor. 27 28 Improvements and modifications may be made to the above 29 without departing from the scope of the invention. 30 31 1 1- k ' 9

Claims (6)

1 CLAIMS 2 3 4 1. A respiratory monitor for breathing apparatus 5

comprising means for monitoring respiration; alarm 6 activation means; and alarm signal means. 7 8

2. A respiratory monitor as claimed in Claim 1 9 wherein said alarm activation means comprises a 10 movement sensor. 11 12

3. A respiratory monitor as claimed in Claim 1 or 13 Claim 2 wherein said alarm activation means comprises a 14 respiratory sensor. is 16

4. A respiratory monitor as claimed in any preceding 17 claim wherein said alarm signal means comprises first 18 signal means adapted to alert a user of the apparatus. 19 20

5. A respiratory monitor as claimed in any preceding 21 claim wherein the alarm means comprises second signal 22 means remote from a user of the apparatus. 23 24

6. A respiratory monitor as claimed in any preceding 25 claim comprising radio receiver means; and radio