Detection and monitoring device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for monitoring over relatively long periods of time, the rate of at least one physiological rhythmic function of a subject, said system comprising, in combination:
- detection means for detecting acoustical energy generated by said subject within a predetermined, relatively narrow acoustical frequency band, characteristic of and unique with respect to said function, said detection means being attachable to said subject allowing the subject to move and generate motion artifacts;
generating means for generating an electrical signal representative of the acoustical energy within said frequency band and detected from the subject;
demodulating means for demodulating said electrical signal so as to produce a demodulated electrical signal and so as to detect any periodic amplitude modulation frequency of said electrical signal;
means for distinguishing between the portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to said function and at least some of those portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected and attributed to said motion artifacts; and
means for generating a function rate signal as a function of the portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of the acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to said physiological function;
wherein the portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to said physiological function encompasses a band of frequencies which includes the frequency at which the optimum signal-to-noise ratio occurs in order to distinguish between those portions of the demodulated electrical signal generated by acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to said function at typical, normal amplitude levels and spurious electrical signals generated by acoustical energy within said band and attributed to said motion artifacts.
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Abstract
One or more physiological rhythmic functions can be monitored by detecting pressure waves within a predetermined, relatively narrow, frequency band associated with each of said functions, generating a corresponding signal representative of said pressure waves associated with each of said functions and demodulating the signal to detect any amplitude modulation frequency related to the rhythmic rate of each of said functions.
129 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring over relatively long periods of time, the rate of at least one physiological rhythmic function of a subject, said system comprising, in combination:
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detection means for detecting acoustical energy generated by said subject within a predetermined, relatively narrow acoustical frequency band, characteristic of and unique with respect to said function, said detection means being attachable to said subject allowing the subject to move and generate motion artifacts; generating means for generating an electrical signal representative of the acoustical energy within said frequency band and detected from the subject; demodulating means for demodulating said electrical signal so as to produce a demodulated electrical signal and so as to detect any periodic amplitude modulation frequency of said electrical signal; means for distinguishing between the portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to said function and at least some of those portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected and attributed to said motion artifacts; and means for generating a function rate signal as a function of the portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of the acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to said physiological function; wherein the portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to said physiological function encompasses a band of frequencies which includes the frequency at which the optimum signal-to-noise ratio occurs in order to distinguish between those portions of the demodulated electrical signal generated by acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to said function at typical, normal amplitude levels and spurious electrical signals generated by acoustical energy within said band and attributed to said motion artifacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20)
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11. A system for monitoring over a relatively long period of time the respiration rate of a subject, said system comprising, in combination:
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detection means for detecting acoustical energy generated by said subject within a predetermined, relatively narrow acoustical frequency band characteristic of and unique with respect to the respiration function of the subject, said detection means being attachable to said subject allowing the subject to move and generate motion artifacts; generating means for generating an electrical signal representative of the acoustical energy detected from the subject within the frequency band; demodulation means for demodulating said electrical signal so as to produce a demodulated electrical signal and so as to detect any periodic amplitude modulation frequency of the electrical signal; means for distinguishing between those portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to respiration and at least some of those portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected and attributed to said motion artifacts; and means for generating a respiration rate signal as a function of the portions of the demodulated signal representative of acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to respiration; wherein the portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to respiration encompasses a band of frequencies which includes the frequency at which optimum signal-to-noise ratio occurs so as to easily distinguish between those portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to respiration at typical, normal amplitude levels and spurious electrical signals generated by acoustical energy within said band and attributed to said motion artifacts. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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21. A system for simultaneously monitoring over a relatively long period of time the respiration rate and heart rate of a subject, said system comprising, in combination:
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an acoustical detector for detecting acoustical energy generated by said subject within a first predetermined, relatively narrow acoustical frequency band characteristic and unique with respect to the respiration function of the subject and within a second predetermined relatively narrow acoustical frequency band characteristic and unique with respect to the cardio-vascular function of the subject; first generating means for generating a first electrical signal representative of the acoustical energy detected from the subject within said first frequency band; second generating means for generating a second electrical signal representative of the acoustical energy detected from the subject within said second frequency band; first demodulation means for demodulating said first electrical signal so as to produce a first demodulated electrical signal and so as to detect any periodic amplitude modulation frequency of the first electrical signal as a function of the respiration rate of the respiration rate of the subject; second demodulation means for demodulating said second electrical signal so as to produce a second demodulated electrical signal and so as to detect any periodic amplitude modulation frequency of the second electrical signal as a function of the heart rate of the subject; and means coupled to each of the outputs of said first and second demodulator means for respectively monitoring each of said first and second demodulated signals independently of the presence of acoustical energy arising from vocal expression. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. In combination with a respiratory device of the type including a tube insertable through the trachea of a subject, an improved device for monitoring the respiration rate of said subject over relatively long periods of time, said device comprising, in combination:
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detection means, coupled to said tube, for detecting acoustical energy generated by said subject through said tube within a predetermined relatively narrow bandwidth characteristic of and unique with respect to the respiration function of the subject; generating means for generating an electrical signal representative of the acoustical energy detected from the subject within the frequency bandwidth; demodulation means for demodulating said electrical signal so as to produce a demodulated signal and so as to detect any periodic amplitude modulation frequency of the electrical signal; means for distinguishing between those portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to respiration and those portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected and attributed to motion artifacts; and means for generating a respiration rate signal as a function of the portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of the acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to the respiration rate; wherein the portions of the demodulated electrical signal representative of acoustical energy detected from the subject and attributed to respiration encompasses a band of frequencies which includes the frequency at which the optimum signal-to-noise ratio occurs so as to easily distinguish between those portions of the demodulated electrical signal detected from the subject and attributed to respiration and spurious electrical signals generated by acoustical energy within said band and attributed to said motion artifacts. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification