MONITORING OF ORO-NASAL RESPIRATION

摘要

A pair of nasal prongs (15), suitable for insertion into the lower portion of the nares, join together via a small plenum chamber (16) to form a single tube (17) conveying the nasal pressure towards an electrical pressure transducer (19). Another prong (20) is held in proximity with the patient's mouth. A baffle element (25) extends downwards from a location above the open end of the prong (20) to redirect a portion of oral airflow. The oral tube (21) extends towards the electrical pressure transducer (19), and conjoins with the nasal tube (17) at a junction (22) to form a common tube (18) connected to the pressure transducer (19). The relative lengths and/or diameters of the nasal tube (17) and the oral tube (21) are arranged so that the respective pneumatic impedances are different, so that the contributions of respiratory airflow from each of said tubes (17, 21) are substantially equal.