APNEA DETECTOR AND SYSTEM

• US 20130123654A1
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diapertech Ltd
• Original Assignee: Diapertech Ltd
• Inventors: Rahamim, Shaked, Elyada, Ori
• Granted Patent: US 9,445,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/535
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0026 characterised by the transmission medium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0826 Detecting or evaluating apnoea events A61B5/4818 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6808 Diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

An apnea detector is disclosed. 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.

Claims

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.

2. ) The method of claim 1 wherein the capacitance sensing occurs within a circuit comprising the following serially-connecting circuit elements:

i) a first of the capacitor plates;

ii) the subjects body; and

iii) a second of the capacitor plates.

3. ) The method of claim 1 wherein there are at two capacitor plates and each capacitor plate is attached to the article of clothing such that the capacitor plates are next to each other separated by an insulating portion of the article of clothing.

4. ) The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the capacitor plates is releasably attachable to the article of clothing.

5. ) The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the capacitor plates is embedded within the article of clothing.

6. ) Apparatus for detecting apnea of a subject comprising:

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.

7. ) A system for detecting apnea of a subject, the system comprising:

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; and

d) contingent on the results of the apnea determining, to generate an alert signal.

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.

9. ) The system of claim 8 wherein:

(i) the condition requiring care by a parent, guardian or medical professional is apnea; and

(ii) the detected indication is a symptom of apnea.

10. ) The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the additional alert signals is a visual or audio or email or text-message or radio or infra-red alert signal.