Kirk, Gilbert M.; Bickley, James D.;

Carbon dioxide detector and shield

An apparatus (14) for detecting carbon dioxide in exhaled gas is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an indicating element (10) for changing color when exposed to carbon dioxide and a carbon dioxide shield (12) for absorbing a predetermined level of carbon dioxide from the exhaled gas before exposing the indicating element (10) to the exhaled gas.

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What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for regulating gas inhaled and exhaled from a patient and for detecting carbon dioxide in the exhaled gas, the apparatus comprising:

an indicating element for changing color when exposed to a predetermined level of carbon dioxide;

a carbon dioxide shield for absorbing carbon dioxide in the exhaled gas below a threshold level;

a valve housing having an inlet, an inhalation port, and exhalation port and a valve means for controlling the flow of gas through said apparatus; and

a patient housing, for receiving the exhaled air and for displaying the indicating element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said valve means is a duckbill valve.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second valve in said exhalation port for preventing the flow of fresh gas into the valve housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gas inlet adapter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said carbon dioxide shield comprises either sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said patient housing is constructed of a clear material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicating means and said carbon dioxide shield occupy a low dead space.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said predetermined concentration of carbon dioxide is at least about 2.2%.

9. A resuscitator having a carbon dioxide detector for detecting carbon dioxide in gas exhaled from the patient, comprising:

an indicating means for changing color when exposed to carbon dioxide;

a carbon dioxide shield for absorbing carbon dioxide in the exhaled gas below a predetermined concentration;

a valve housing having an inlet opening, an inhale port and an exhale port;

a flexible container connected to said inlet opening for supplying gas to a patient;

a valve means for controlling the flow of gas from the flexible container and through the valve housing; and

an inhale port housing coupled to the inhale port for receiving the exhaled gas and for displaying the indicating means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said carbon dioxide shield comprises either sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said predetermined concentration of carbon dioxide is at least about 2.2%.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said inhale port housing is constructed of clear material.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said indicating means and said carbon dioxide shield occupy a low dead space.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said valve means is a duckbill valve.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a second valve in the exhale port.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said second valve is a flapper valve.