Acoustic respiratory monitoring sensor having multiple sensing elements
First Claim
1. An acoustic sensor comprising:
- first and second piezoelectric elements each including respective first and second electrodes; and
a noise attenuator coupled to the first electrode of the first piezoelectric element and the first electrode of the second piezoelectric element, the noise attenuator configured to;
at least partially constructively combine a physiological signal component of a first signal output by the first piezoelectric element and a physiological signal component of a second signal output by the second piezoelectric element; and
at least partially destructively combine a noise component of the first signal output by the first piezoelectric element and a noise component of the second signal output by the second piezoelectric element.
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Abstract
According to certain described aspects, multiple acoustic sensing elements are employed in a variety of beneficial ways to provide improved physiological monitoring, among other advantages. In various embodiments, sensing elements can be advantageously employed in a single sensor package, in multiple sensor packages, and at a variety of other strategic locations in the monitoring environment. According to other aspects, to compensate for skin elasticity and attachment variability, an acoustic sensor support is provided that includes one or more pressure equalization pathways. The pathways can provide an air-flow channel from the cavity defined by the sensing elements and frame to the ambient air pressure.
1140 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An acoustic sensor comprising:
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first and second piezoelectric elements each including respective first and second electrodes; and a noise attenuator coupled to the first electrode of the first piezoelectric element and the first electrode of the second piezoelectric element, the noise attenuator configured to; at least partially constructively combine a physiological signal component of a first signal output by the first piezoelectric element and a physiological signal component of a second signal output by the second piezoelectric element; and at least partially destructively combine a noise component of the first signal output by the first piezoelectric element and a noise component of the second signal output by the second piezoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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receiving signals from an acoustic sensor that is attachable to a medical patient and configured to provide the signals responsive to acoustic vibrations indicative of one or more physiological parameters of the medical patient, the acoustic sensor including first and second piezoelectric elements each including respective first and second electrodes; and by a noise attenuator; at least partially constructively combine a physiological signal component of a first signal output by the first piezoelectric element and a physiological signal component of a second signal output by the second piezoelectric element; and at least partially destructively combine a noise component of the first signal output by the first piezoelectric element and a noise component of the second signal output by the second piezoelectric element, wherein the noise attenuator is coupled to the first electrode of the first piezoelectric element and the first electrode of the second piezoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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at least partially constructively combining, by a noise attenuator, a physiological signal component of a first signal received from a first piezoelectric element of an acoustic sensor and a physiological signal component of a second signal received from a second piezoelectric element of the acoustic sensor; and at least partially destructively combining, by the noise attenuator, a noise component of the first signal received from the first piezoelectric element and a noise component of the second signal received from the second piezoelectric element, wherein the noise attenuator is coupled to a first electrode of the first piezoelectric element and a first electrode of the second piezoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification