Patient monitoring device and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting body vibrations such as caused by heartbeats and the like comprising:
- first means for sensing sounds and transducing the sounds sensed to electrical signals,second means including a container for a liquid having a flexible top wall on which a person may recline,a liquid sound transmitting medium contained within said container to provide the body of a person disposed against said flexible top wall in sound coupling relation with said first means,means for supporting said first means in sound coupling relation with the liquid in said container to permit said transducing means to pick up body sounds of a person reclining on said flexible top wall, which body sounds are transmitted from the body of said person through said flexible top wall of said container and through the liquid in the container to said first means,sound transmission means connected to said first means for transmitting signals generated by sounds sensed thereby, receiving means for receiving the signals generated by said first means and transmitted thereto by said transmission means, andindicating means connected to said receiving means for indicating body sounds generated within the body of a person reclining on said flexible top wall of said container and transmitted through said sound transmission medium within said container.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cushioning device on which a human body may lie or recline, as in resting, sleeping or sitting, which cushioning device contains a transducer or pickup for body vibrations such as heart pulses, respiration or body tremors. In one form, the cushioning device is in the form of an elongated mattress, at least a portion of the upper wall of which is formed of a flexible material such as flexible plastic or resin impregnated and coated cloth. The interior of the mattress is filled with a liquid such as water or oil through which medium body vibrations may be transmitted. A transducer, such as a piezoelectric sensor or other form of sensor which is operable to sense sounds transmitted through the liquid and generate or modulate electrical signals, is operatively coupled to the liquid within the mattress either by direct contact therewith or through a flexible portion of the wall of the mattress. Electronic analyzing and display means is provided which is connected to the transducer and is either supported by the mattress or is remote therefrom. Communication between such electronic circuit analyzing means and the transducer is effected either by flexible cable or short wave communication.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for detecting body vibrations such as caused by heartbeats and the like comprising:
-
first means for sensing sounds and transducing the sounds sensed to electrical signals, second means including a container for a liquid having a flexible top wall on which a person may recline, a liquid sound transmitting medium contained within said container to provide the body of a person disposed against said flexible top wall in sound coupling relation with said first means, means for supporting said first means in sound coupling relation with the liquid in said container to permit said transducing means to pick up body sounds of a person reclining on said flexible top wall, which body sounds are transmitted from the body of said person through said flexible top wall of said container and through the liquid in the container to said first means, sound transmission means connected to said first means for transmitting signals generated by sounds sensed thereby, receiving means for receiving the signals generated by said first means and transmitted thereto by said transmission means, and indicating means connected to said receiving means for indicating body sounds generated within the body of a person reclining on said flexible top wall of said container and transmitted through said sound transmission medium within said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification