1. A pinch detection apparatus for an opening-and-closing member actuated by a motor, the pinch detection apparatus comprising:
a reference data storage portion calculating load data on the basis of a rotation speed of the motor and an environmental temperature which are obtained in a case where a closing operation of the opening-and-closing member is performed at a predetermined time, the reference data storage portion storing the load data and the environmental temperature as reference load data and reference temperature data, respectively;
a drive load calculation portion calculating drive load data on the basis of the rotation speed of the motor and the environmental temperature which are obtained in a case where the closing operation of the opening-and-closing member is performed after the reference load data is stored;
a pinch determination portion configured to determine an occurrence of pinch on the basis of a comparison result obtained by comparing a difference between the reference load data and the drive load data with a threshold set in order to determine the pinch at the opening-and-closing member, the pinch determination portion configured to correct a relative relation between the difference between the reference load data and the drive load data, and the threshold on the basis of a relative relation between a reference temperature which corresponds to the reference temperature data and a drive temperature which corresponds to the environmental temperature obtained at the closing operation of the opening-and-closing member after the reference load data is stored; and
wherein a comparison processing at the pinch determination portion is invalidated in a case where a difference between the reference temperature and the drive temperature is not within a predetermined range.
2. The pinch detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time corresponds to a time when a predetermined condition is established at the motor.
3. The pinch detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pinch determination portion is configured to correct the threshold on the basis of the relative relation between the reference temperature and the drive temperature.
4. The pinch detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pinch determination portion is configured to correct the threshold on the basis of the relative relation between the reference temperature and the drive temperature.
5. The pinch detection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a correction amount at the correction of the threshold is defined as a positive function relative to a change from the reference temperature to the drive temperature.
6. The pinch detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a correction amount at the correction of the threshold is defined as a positive function relative to a change from the reference temperature to the drive temperature.
7. The pinch detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pinch determination portion is configured to correct the drive load data on the basis of the relative relation between the reference temperature and the drive temperature.
8. The pinch detection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a correction amount at the correction of the drive load data is defined as a negative function relative to a change from the reference temperature to the drive temperature.
9. The pinch detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference data storage portion is configured to update the reference load data at a predetermined timing.
10. The pinch detection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in a case where the closing operation of the opening-and-closing member, which is performed after the reference load data is stored, ends without detecting the occurrence of the pinch and in a case where a predetermined condition is established at the closing operation, the drive load data which is obtained at the closing operation is rewritten as new reference load data.
11. An opening-and-closing member apparatus comprising:
an opening-and-closing member;
a motor;
a rotation speed detection portion detecting a rotation speed of the motor; and
a pinch detection apparatus actuated by the motor, the pinch detection apparatus comprising:
a reference data storage portion calculating load data on the basis of a rotation speed of the motor and an environmental temperature which are obtained in a case where a closing operation of the opening-and-closing member is performed at a predetermined time, the reference data storage portion storing the load data and the environmental temperature as reference load data and reference temperature data, respectively;
a drive load calculation portion calculating drive load data on the basis of the rotation speed of the motor and the environmental temperature which are obtained in a case where the closing operation of the opening-and-closing member is performed after the reference load data is stored;
a pinch determination portion configured to determine an occurrence of pinch on the basis of a comparison result obtained by comparing a difference between the reference load data and the drive load data with a threshold set in order to determine the pinch at the opening-and-closing member, the pinch determination portion configured to correct a relative relation between the difference between the reference load data and the drive load data, and the threshold on the basis of a relative relation between a reference temperature which corresponds to the reference temperature data and a drive temperature which corresponds to the environmental temperature obtained at the closing operation of the opening-and-closing member after the reference load data is stored; and
wherein a comparison processing at the pinch determination portion is invalidated in a case where a difference between the reference temperature and the drive temperature is not within a predetermined range.
12. A pinch detection apparatus for an opening-and-closing member actuated by a motor, the pinch detection apparatus comprising:
a reference data storage portion calculating load data on the basis of a rotation speed of the motor and an environmental temperature which are obtained in a case where a closing operation of the opening-and-closing member is performed at a predetermined time, the reference data storage portion storing the load data and the environmental temperature as reference load data and reference temperature data, respectively;
a drive load calculation portion calculating drive load data on the basis of the rotation speed of the motor and the environmental temperature which are obtained in a case where the closing operation of the opening-and-closing member is performed after the reference load data is stored; and
a pinch determination portion configured to determine an occurrence of pinch on the basis of a comparison result obtained by comparing a difference between the reference load data and the drive load data with a threshold set in order to determine the pinch at the opening-and-closing member, the pinch determination portion configured to correct a relative relation between the difference between the reference load data and the drive load data, and the threshold on the basis of a relative relation between a reference temperature which corresponds to the reference temperature data and a drive temperature which corresponds to the environmental temperature obtained at the closing operation of the opening-and-closing member after the reference load data is stored, and wherein the pinch determination portion is configured to correct the drive load data on the basis of the relative relation between the reference temperature and the drive temperature.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-111. (canceled)
112. A method of preparing an apparatus for inducing or maintaining a target end tidal concentration of a gas X in a subject comprising:
a) selecting a rate of a source gas flow into a breathing circuit, the rate projected to be not substantially more than the minute ventilation of the subject;
b) selecting the concentration of an at least one constituent gas of an at least one component gas making up the source gas, to a level corresponding to the target end tidal concentration of gas X, whereby said apparatus is adapted to administer a source gas having a first gas composition; and optionally wherein the at least one component gas comprises a single constituent gas\u2014gas X, and wherein the concentration of gas X is selected to be at a predetermined level corresponding to the target end tidal concentration of gas X; and optionally wherein said gas X is a gas produced by the patient, and the concentration of said gas X (FG1X) is set according to
F
G
1
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X
=
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T
ET
\ue89e
X
–
V
.
\ue89e
X
V
.
\ue89e
G
1
,
where {dot over (V)}X is the patient’s minute production of gas X, FTETX is the target end tidal concentration of gas X, and {dot over (V)}G1 is the flow rate of the source gas wherein said gas X is a gas consumed by the patient, and the concentration of said gas X (FG1X) is set according to
F
G
1
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X
=
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ET
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X
+
V
.
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X
V
.
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G
1
,
where {dot over (V)}X is the patient’s minute consumption of gas X, FTETX is the target end tidal concentration of gas X and {dot over (V)}G1 is the flow rate of the source gas; and optionally wherein the apparatus is fluidly connected to a source of each of one or more component gases.
113. A method according to claim 112, further comprising the step of allowing a subject to inhale the source gas from the prepared apparatus, for a time period at least sufficient to attain the target end tidal concentration of gas X; optionally wherein said at least sufficient time period is no greater than 30 seconds at a rate corresponding to a minute ventilation which is equal to or greater than the rate of flow of the source gas; optionally wherein said at least sufficient time period is no greater than the duration of a single breadth and wherein the rate of flow of the source gas is between 5 and 20 litres per minute.
114. A method according to claim 113, further comprising the step of selecting a different concentration of at least one constituent gas in said source gas, the concentration of said at least one constituent gas selected to be at a predetermined level corresponding to a second different target end tidal concentration of gas X, whereby said apparatus is adapted to administer a source gas having a second gas composition; and optionally further comprising the step of allowing a subject to inhale said source gas having said second composition from a correspondingly prepared apparatus for a time period at least sufficient to attain the second target end tidal concentration of gas X; and optionally further comprising the step of measuring a physiological variable in a subject at a least one time point corresponding to a duration of retention of each of said first and second end tidal concentrations of gas X; and optionally wherein said physiological variable is CVR as measured by MRI.
115. An apparatus for inducing or maintaining a target end tidal gas concentration of a gas X in a subject when prepared according to claim 112, said apparatus comprising: a source gas outlet and at least one component gas inlet; optionally a source gas outlet, a plurality of component gas inlets and a controller adapted to select the rate of flow of at least one component gas into a source gas conduit.
116. A method of claim 112, wherein induction of a target end tidal concentration of a gas X in a patient is accomplished by:
c) setting the source gas flow into a partial rebreathing circuit at a rate equal to or less than the patient’s minute ventilation
d) setting the concentration of said gas X in the source gas to a predetermined level corresponding to the target end tidal concentration of gas X
e) delivering the source gas to the patient through said circuit; optionally wherein said gas X is a gas produced by the patient, the concentration of said gas X (FG1X) is set according to
F
G
1
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X
=
F
T
ET
\ue89e
X
–
V
.
\ue89e
X
V
.
\ue89e
G
1
,
where {dot over (V)}X is the patient’s minute production of gas X, FTETX is the target end tidal concentration of gas X, and {dot over (V)}G1 is the flow rate of the source gas; optionally, wherein said gas X is a gas consumed by the patient, and the concentration of said gas X (FG1X) is set according to
F
G
1
\ue89e
X
=
F
T
ET
\ue89e
X
+
V
.
\ue89e
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V
.
\ue89e
G
1
,
where {dot over (V)}X is the patient’s minute consumption of gas X, FTETX is the target end tidal concentration of gas X and {dot over (V)}G1 is the flow rate of the source gas.
117. The method of claim 112 for simultaneously inducing target end tidal concentrations of a plurality of gases in patient, where said target end tidal concentrations are independent of each other, the method comprising:
f) setting the source gas flow into a partial rebreathing circuit at a rate equal to or less than the patient’s minute ventilation
g) setting the concentration of each gas in the source gas to attain the target end tidal concentration of that gas
h) delivering the source gas to the patient through said circuit; and optionally wherein at least one of the gases X whose end tidal concentration is being induced, is a gas produced by the patient, and the concentration of said gas X in the source gas is set according to
F
G
1
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X
=
F
T
ET
\ue89e
X
–
V
.
\ue89e
X
V
.
\ue89e
G
1
,
where {dot over (V)}X is the patient’s minute production of gas X, FTETX is the target end tidal concentration of gas X and G1 is the flow rate of the source gas; andor optionally wherein at least one of the gases X whose end tidal concentration is being induced, is a gas consumed by the patient, and the concentration said gas X is set according to
F
G
1
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X
=
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ET
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+
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.
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V
.
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1
,
where {dot over (V)}X is the patient’s minute consumption of gas X, FTETX is the target end tidal concentration of gas X, and {dot over (V)}G1 is the flow rate of the source gas.
118. The method of claim 112 used for changing an end tidal concentration of a gas X in a patient comprising:
i) setting the source gas flow into a partial rebreathing circuit at a rate equal to or less than the patient’s minute ventilation
j) providing a first concentration of said gas X in the source gas and delivering the source gas to the patient through said circuit in order to effect a first end tidal concentration of said gas X, then providing a second concentration of said gas X in the source gas and delivering the source gas to the patient through said circuit in order to effect a second end tidal concentration of said gas X; optionally said method directed to changing between target end tidal concentrations of a first gas X in a patient comprising inducing the first target end tidal concentration using any of the methods described in claim 5 or 6, then inducing the second target end tidal concentration using any of the methods of claims 5 or 6.
119. The method of claim 118 further comprising keeping end tidal concentration of a second gas Y at a fixed target level using any of the methods of claims 5 or 6.
120. The method of claim 112 for simultaneously changing between target end tidal concentrations of two or more gases in a patient comprising inducing the first target end tidal gas concentrations using any of methods of claims 0-0, then inducing the second target end tidal gas concentrations using any of methods of claims 0-0.
121. The method of claim 112 where, for each set of target end tidal gas concentrations, the gas flow into the breathing circuit is comprised of a premixed gas
122. The method of claim 112 where, for each set of target end tidal gas concentrations, the gas flow into the breathing circuit is comprised of a blend of at least two component gases, said component gases being blended to achieve the desired concentrations in the source gas flow of the gases whose end tidal concentrations are being targeted.
123. The method of claim 122 where each of the component gases has a minimum safe concentration of O2.
124. The method of claim 122 where the source gas flow into the breathing circuit has a minimum safe concentration of O2.
125. The method of claim 124 where the minimum safe level of O2 concentration is 10%.
126. The method of claim 122 using 3 component gases.
127. The method of any of claims 122 wherein the partial rebreathing circuit is a sequential gas delivery circuit.
128. The method of claim 122 wherein the gas whose end tidal concentration target is being induced is O2.
129. The method of any of claims 122 wherein the gas whose end tidal concentration target is being induced is CO2.
130. The method of claim 122 where the component gases have the following relative concentrations:
k) Gas A: High O2, Low CO2
l) Gas B: Low O2,High CO2
m) Gas C: Low P2, Low CO2
n)
131. The method of claim 116 where the source gases have the following concentrations:
o) Gas A: 50-100% O2, 0-20% CO2
p) Gas B: 10-30% O2, 20-80% CO2
q) Gas C: 10-30% O2, 0-20% CO2; or the following concentrations:
r) Gas A: 100% O2, 0% CO2
s) Gas B: 10% O2, 20-80% CO2
t) Gas C: 10% O2, 0% CO2; or the following concentrations:
u) Gas A: 100% O2, 0% CO2
v) Gas B: 10% O2, 20-40% CP2
w) Gas C: 10% O2, 0% CO2 ; or the following concentrations:
x) Gas A: 100% O2, 0% CO2
y) Gas B: 10% O2, 40% CO2
z) Gas C: 10% O2, 0% CO2; or the following concentrations:
aba)Gas A: 100% O2, 0% CO2
bb)Gas B: 10% O2, 20% CO2
cc) Gas C: 10% O2, 0% CO2
132. A method according to claim 129 further comprising a diagnostic step.
133. A method to claim 132 for measuring cerebrovascular reactivity comprising:
a) controlling the end tidal CO2 and O2 levels of a subject
b) monitoring a blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) MRI signal intensity
134. The method of claim 133 where the end tidal CO2 and O2 levels are controlled independently of each other.
135. The method of claim 133 where the end tidal CO2 levels are changed while the end tidal O2 levels are kept constant.
136. The method of claim 128 where the end tidal PO2 levels are changed while the end tidal PCO2 levels are kept constant.
137. The method of claim 134 where the end tidal PO2 levels and the end tidal PCO2 levels are changed simultaneously.
138. A method of claim 132 used to measure occulovascular reactivity comprising:
a) controlling the end tidal CO2 and O2 levels of a subject; and
b) monitoring occulovascular blood flow; optionally the end tidal CO2 and O2 levels are controlled independently of each other; optionally the end tidal CO2 levels are changed while the end tidal O2 levels are kept constant; or optionally the end tidal PO2 levels are changed while the end tidal PCO2 levels are kept constant; or optionally the end tidal PO2 levels and the end tidal PCO2 levels are changed simultaneously; optionally the method is used to standardize measurement of occulovascular reactivity.
139. The method of claim 132 used to measure a beneficial level of oxygenation to tissues for the purpose of radiotherapy or chemotherapy, comprising:
a) controlling the end tidal CO2 and O2 levels of a subject;
b) monitoring oxygenation or blood flow in the tumor; optionally the end tidal CO2 and O2 levels are controlled independently of each other; optionally the end tidal CO2 levels are changed while the end tidal O2 levels are kept constant; or optionally the end tidal PO2 levels are changed while the end tidal PCO2 levels are kept constant; or optionally the end tidal PO2 levels and the end tidal PCO2 levels are changed simultaneously.
140. The method of claim 139 comprising:
a) Determining the end tidal O2 and CO2 levels that provide a beneficial oxygenation or blood flow level to tissues for the purpose of radiotherapy or chemotherapy
b) setting the end tidal O2 and CO2 levels to said levels during radiotherapy or chemotherapy
141. An apparatus for inducing target end tidal gas concentrations in a patient simultaneously, and independently of each other comprising:
i.) a partial rebreathing circuit
ii.) a source gas flow into said breathing circuit
iii.) means for controlling the rate of said source gas flow into the circuit;
iv.) means for controlling the concentration of said gases in the source gas flow independently of each other; optionally the apparatus further comprises means for monitoring end tidal CO2 and O2 concentrations; optionally the apparatus further comprises means for monitoring pressure in the breathing circuit; optionally the breathing circuit is a sequential gas delivery circuit; optionally for each set of target end tidal gas concentrations, the gas flow into the breathing circuit is comprised of a premixed gas or a blend of at least three component gases, said component gases being blended to achieve the desired concentrations in the source gas flow of the gases whose end tidal concentrations are being targeted; optionally 3 component gases which optionally have the following relative concentrations:
A) Gas A: High O2, Low CO2
B) Gas B: Low O2, High CO2
C) Gas C: Low O2, Low CO2; optionally the three component gases have the following concentrations:
D) Gas A: 50-100% O2, 0-20% CO2
E) Gas B: 10-30% o2, 20-80% CO2
F) Gas C: 10-30% O2, 0-20% CO2; or:
G) Gas A. 100% O2, 0% CO2
H) Gas B: 10% O2, 20-80% CO2
I) Gas C: 10% O2, 0% CO2; or:
J) Gas A: 100% O2, 0% CO2
K) Gas B: 10% O2, 20-40% CO2
L) Gas C: 10% O2, 0% CO2; or:
M) Gas A: 100% O2, 0% CO2
N) Gas B: 10% O2, 40% CO2
O) Gas C: b 10l % O2, 0% CO2; or:
P) Gas A: 100% O2, 0% CO2
Q) Gas B: 10% O2, 20% CO2
R) Gas C: 10% O2, 0% CO2; optionally the three component gases have constituent gases with compositions in the following composition ranges:
S) GAS A\u201485-100% oxygen
T) Gas B\u201485-100% carbon dioxide
U) Gas C\u201485-100% nitrogen;
optionally a flow controller is provided for each component gas in the source gas flow; the flow controllers provided for each component gas in the source gas flow optionally constituting the means for controlling the rate of source gas flow into the circuit.
142. A system for independently controlling the end tidal concentration of each constituent gas in the expired gas of a subject, the system comprising a source gas outlet, a plurality of component gas inlets, a flow controller for each component gas, an input device for inputting a selected end tidal concentration of a constituent gas X in the source gas, a processor unit programmable to derive the concentration of said constituent gas X in the source gas based on the end tidal concentration of the constituent gas X in the expired gas, said processor unit operatively connected to each flow controller for setting the respective gas flow rate of said flow controller in order to achieve the derived concentration of said constituent gas X in the source gas; optionally the selected concentration of the constituent gas X in the source gas is mathematically computed based on the selected end tidal concentration of the constituent gas X in the expired gas; and optionally the source gas is made up of at least three component gases; optionally each a blended gas; optionally where said gas X is a gas produced by the subject, the concentration of said gas X (FG1X) is computed according to
F
G
1
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X
=
F
T
ET
\ue89e
X
–
V
.
\ue89e
X
V
.
\ue89e
G
1
,
where {dot over (V)}X is the subject’s minute production of gas X, FTETX is the selected end tidal concentration of gas X, and {dot over (V)}G1 is the flow rate of the source gas; optionally where said gas X is a gas consumed by the subject, and the concentration of said gas X (FG1X) is computed according to
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G
1
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X
=
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T
ET
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X
+
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.
\ue89e
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V
.
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1
,
where {dot over (V)}X is the subject’s minute consumption of gas X, FTETX is the selected end tidal concentration of gas X and {dot over (V)}G1 is the flow rate of the source gas.
143. A system according to claim 142, wherein each component gas inlet is fluidly connected to a blended gas source comprising at least 10% O2; and optionally the source gas outlet is fluidly connected to a sequential gas delivery circuit; optionally the source gas outlet is fluidly connected to a partial rebreathing circuit.
144. A method of developing a system for independently controlling the end tidal concentration of each constituent gas in the expired gas of a subject, comprising the steps of:
a) making available for aquisition an apparatus having at least a source gas outlet, a plurality of component gas inlets, and a flow controller for each component gas;
b) facilitating implementation of machine readable instructions to drive a processor unit programmable to derive the concentration of said constituent gas X in the source gas based on the end tidal concentration of the constituent gas X in the expired gas, said processor unit adapted to be operatively connected to each flow controller for setting the respective gas flow rate of said flow controller in order to achieve the derived concentration of said constituent gas X in the source gas; optionally said processor unit is included within a housing comprising said apparatus.
145. A method according to claim 144, wherein step b) includes carrying out one or more steps selected from:
a. developing of said machine readable instructions;
b. out-sourcing development of said machine readable instructions;
c. making said machine readable instructions available for acquisition;
d. providing instructions for acquisition of said machine readable instructions;
e. providing instructions for use of said machine readable instructions;
f. providing instructions for development of said machine readable instructions;
g. providing instructions for acquisition of a processor unit programmed with said machine readable instructions; and
h. providing instructions for working, updating, upgrading, trouble-shooting, substitution, repair or re-acquisition, of said machine readable instructions or such processor unit.