| 摘要 |
An apparatus and method for measurement of the respiration rate and breathing pattern of a subject, using a sensor 201 that determines water vapour concentration. The sensor comprises a first counter electrode 203, a second working electrode 204, both mounted on a support 202, and an active substrate between the electrodes. The presence of water vapour varies the electrical conductivity of the path between the two interdigitated electrodes, and the variation in conductivity is computed, and the result used to monitor respiratory rate. The apparatus includes a voltage control circuit, a monitor having display means, data collection, storage, and transmission capability, and an alarm actuated if signals are received which are outside predetermined threshold levels, or if zero signal is detected. The sensor can be situated on the face of the subject, preferably between the mouth and the nose and able to measure airflow from both the nasal and oral airstreams simultaneously. The sampling system is configured to discriminate between the nasal and oral airstreams, to independently measure and interpret the patterns of breathing through the nose and the mouth. |
