20090030335 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESPIRATORY MONITORING - The method and the apparatus are used for monitoring a patient's breathing. A respiratory movement of the patient is detected by means of a thoracic expansion sensor that is placed near the rib cage and by means of an abdominal expansion sensor that is placed near the abdomen. Moreover, a phase difference is detected between a thoracic measuring signal delivered by the thoracic expansion sensor and an abdominal measuring signal delivered by the abdominal expansion sensor. The phase difference thus detected is monitored to determine whether it exceeds at least a phase threshold or whether it increases over time, and the presence of a disorder in the respiratory tract of the monitored patient is recognized on the basis of an increasing phase difference. | 01-29-2009 |