APNEA DETECTOR AND SYSTEM
First Claim
1. ) A method of detecting apnea of a subject using one or more capacitor plates, the method comprisingat a time when at least one of the capacitor plates is mechanically coupled to an article of clothing worn by the subject:
- a) capacitively sensing a distance(s) between;
i) the mechanically coupled capacitor plate and;
ii) a surface of the subject'"'"'s body,to generate a sensor-output electrical signal;
b) analyzing time variations in the sensor-output electrical signal to determine if the time variations are indicative of a symptom of apnea in the subject; and
c) generating an apnea alert signal that is contingent on the results of the apnea determining.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apnea detector is disclosed. In some embodiments, a detector unit in communication with a capacitive type sensor is adapted to receive an electrical signal which is indicative of variable capacitance resulting from movement of a subject and to emit an alert signal when the received electrical signal is indicative of symptoms of apnea. In one embodiment, a detector unit is in communication with a curvature sensor adapted to detect a variable curvature of a subject body surface resulting from breathing patterns of a subject. The detector unit is attached to an article of clothing of the subject. A monitoring system comprises a detector unit for detecting one or more subject related parameters of interest and for emitting acoustical information after determining that a subject related parameter of interest has a predetermined status, and a stationary unit disposed within an audible range of the detector unit for receiving the emitted acoustical information.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. ) A method of detecting apnea of a subject using one or more capacitor plates, the method comprising
at a time when at least one of the capacitor plates is mechanically coupled to an article of clothing worn by the subject: -
a) capacitively sensing a distance(s) between; i) the mechanically coupled capacitor plate and; ii) a surface of the subject'"'"'s body, to generate a sensor-output electrical signal; b) analyzing time variations in the sensor-output electrical signal to determine if the time variations are indicative of a symptom of apnea in the subject; and c) generating an apnea alert signal that is contingent on the results of the apnea determining. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. ) Apparatus for detecting apnea of a subject comprising:
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a) a capacitive displacement sensor including one or more capacitor plates, the capacitor sensor configured, when deployed to an article of clothing being worn by the subject, to capacitively sense a distance between one or more of the capacitor plate(s) and a surface of the subject'"'"'s body to generate an output capacitance-related electrical signal indicative of the sensed distance; and b) a detector unit in communication with at least one of the electrical sensors, the detector unit configured; i) to receive the output capacitance-related electrical signal; ii) to analyze time variations in the capacitance-related value to determine if the time variations are indicative of a symptom of apnea in the subject; and iii) contingent on the results of the apnea determining, to generate an alert signal.
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7. ) A system for detecting apnea of a subject, the system comprising:
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a) a diaper; and b) a capacitance-sensor configured to capacitively sense a distance(s) between; i) a diaper-associated capacitor plate that is mechanically coupled to the diaper and that is part of the capacitance sensor; and ii) a surface of the subject'"'"'s body when the diaper is worn by the subject, thereby generating a capacitance output signal; c) a detector unit in communication with at least one of the diaper-coupled electrical sensors, the detector unit configured;
to analyze time variations the capacitance output signal to determine if the time variations are indicative of a symptom of apnea in the subject; andd) contingent on the results of the apnea determining, to generate an alert signal.
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8. ) A monitoring system, comprising (a) detector unit configured to detect an indication of a condition requiring care by a parent, guardian or medical professional;
- (b) a audio speaker for emitting an audio alert signal contingent upon the detected indication of condition requiring care by a parent, guardian or medical professional;
(c) a microphone in audible range of the audio speaker configured to detect sound and to generate an electrical signal descriptive of the detected sound; and
(d) electrical circuitry configured to analyze the electrical signal descriptive of the detected sound and to determine if the electrical signal descriptive of the detected sound matches the audio alert signal; and
(e) an alert signal-emitting unit configured, in response to the results of the analysis by the electrical circuitry, and contingent upon a positive matching to emit one or more additional alert signals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
- (b) a audio speaker for emitting an audio alert signal contingent upon the detected indication of condition requiring care by a parent, guardian or medical professional;
Specification