Infant monitoring system

• US 20090192364A1
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dumsa, Alfred V. JR., Ross, David A., Perry, Kenneth D., Voto, Andrew M., Selby, Ronald K.
• Application Number:
  US12/011,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20090192364A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

An infant monitoring system includes a bladder configured for communication with an infant having a mass and measurable biological functions and properties. The bladder contains a substantially non-toxic fluid adapted to transmit fluid pressure. The infant monitoring system also includes a single pressure sensor that selectively monitors the fluid pressure. The pressure sensor detects a presence of the infant by monitoring for a substantially continuous pressure due to the mass of the infant. The infant monitoring system also includes an electronic module operatively connected to the pressure sensor, which electronic module receives a signal indicative of the fluid pressure monitored by the pressure sensor. The electronic module emits a notification if the signal is substantially outside of a predetermined boundary.

Claims

1. An infant monitoring system, comprising:

a bladder configured for communication with an infant having a mass and measurable biological functions and properties, the bladder containing a fluid adapted to transmit fluid pressure;

a single pressure sensor in operative communication with the fluid and configured to selectively monitor the fluid pressure, the pressure sensor configured to at least detect a presence of the infant by monitoring for a substantially continuous pressure due to the mass of the infant; and

an electronic module operatively connected to the pressure sensor and configured to receive a signal indicative of the fluid pressure monitored by the pressure sensor, wherein the electronic module is configured to emit a notification if the signal is substantially outside of a predetermined boundary.

2. The infant monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the fluid is selected from air and nitrogen, or is selected from a substantially non-toxic, minimally compressible or non-compressible fluid selected from silicone, water, glycerine, and combinations thereof.

3. The infant monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the signal indicative of the fluid pressure is also indicative of at least one of the measurable biological functions.

4. The infant monitoring system of claim 3 wherein the at least one of the measurable biological functions is selected from respiration intensity, respiration rate, heart rate, body temperature, and combinations thereof.

5. The infant monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a notification unit configured to receive the notification and emit an alarm in response to receipt of the notification.

6. The infant monitoring system of claim 5 wherein the notification is transmitted to the notification unit via a wire, radio frequency, satellite, telecommunications, optical communications, or combinations thereof.

7. The infant monitoring system of claim 5 wherein the alarm is selected from an audible alarm, a visual alarm, a tactile alarm, and combinations thereof.

8. The infant monitoring system of claim 7 wherein the notification unit is located proximate to the single pressure sensor, remote from the single pressure sensor, or combinations thereof.

9. The infant monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a material layer covering at least a portion of the bladder.

10. The infant monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the infant monitoring system is configured to operate in a low power mode when the infant is not in communication with the bladder.

11. The infant monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the electronic module is housed at least partially within the bladder.

12. The infant monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined boundary is selected from a heartbeat range, a respiration rate range, a respiration intensity range, and combinations thereof.

13. A method of monitoring an infant having a mass and measurable biological functions, the method comprising:

selectively monitoring, with a single pressure sensor in communication with a fluid disposed in a bladder, a fluid pressure of the fluid, the bladder configured for communication with the infant, the single pressure sensor configured to at least detect a presence of the infant by monitoring the fluid pressure for a substantially continuous pressure due to the mass of the infant; and

transmitting a signal indicative of the fluid pressure to an electronic module operatively connected to the pressure sensor, wherein the electronic module is configured to emit a notification if the signal is substantially outside of a predetermined boundary.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the fluid is selected from air and nitrogen, or is selected from a substantially non-toxic, minimally compressible or non-compressible fluid selected from silicone, water, glycerine, and combinations thereof;

and wherein the signal indicative of the fluid pressure is also indicative of at least one of the measurable biological functions.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one of the measurable biological functions is selected from respiration intensity, respiration rate, heart rate, body temperature, and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving the notification at a notification unit; and

emitting an alarm in response to receipt of the notification.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the notification is transmitted to the notification unit via a wire, radio frequency, satellite, telecommunications, optical communications, and combinations thereof;

and wherein the alarm is emitted audibly, visually, tactilely, or combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising operating in a low power mode after detecting a lack of the presence of the infant.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising triggering an alarm when the infant is removed from the bladder.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the predetermined boundary is selected from a heartbeat range, a respiration rate range, a respiration intensity range, and combinations thereof.

21. A method of making an infant monitoring system, the method comprising:

providing a bladder containing a fluid adapted to transmit fluid pressure, the bladder configured for communication with an infant having a mass and measurable biological functions and properties;

positioning a single pressure sensor in operative communication with the fluid, the pressure sensor configured to selectively monitor the fluid pressure and to at least detect a presence of the infant by monitoring for a substantially continuous pressure due to the mass of the infant; and

operatively connecting an electronic module to the pressure sensor, the electronic module configured to receive a signal indicative of the fluid pressure monitored by the pressure sensor, wherein the electronic module is configured to emit a notification if the signal is substantially outside of a predetermined boundary.