Apparatus and method for detecting body vibrations

• US 4,595,023 A
• Filed: 09/27/1984
• Issued: 06/17/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Bonnet
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Bonnet
• Inventors: Bonnet, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/654,986
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 128/774, 128/782, 128/721-722, 128/714-715, 128/687
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1102 Ballistocardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1105 of laboratory animals, e.g. activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/70 Means for positioning the patient in relation to the detecting, measuring or recording means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for detecting body vibrations of a living animal or human being, such as those generated by heart function and respiration. The system employs a rigid spring-like structure formed of one or more deflectable elements such as metal or plastic strips or a strip-like formation, preferably configured in a sinuous or irregular path and supported at one or more locations along its length by a support, such as a frame forming the wall of a container such as the bottom of a bassinet or other container. In one form, the irregularly shaped deflectable member or members are disposed to be directly engaged by an animal lying thereon, for testing purposes. In another form, a sheet of plastic is disposed across the deflectable member or members on the upper surface of which a portion of the body of an animal or human being may lie or sit to permit body vibrations to be transmitted through the sheet to the deflectable member and to be detected when such member deflects. The vibrational energy transmitted to the deflectable member is conducted therefrom through a centrally disposed rod or pin to a transducer, such as an audio speaker, which transduces the vibrational energy to electrical signals which may be amplified and detected by a recording or indicating instrument.

Claims

1. Body vibration sensing means comprising in combination:

a first support defining a body supporting portion adapted to be disposed beneath a living being to receive and support at least a portion of the weight of such living being,

said body supporting portion having an opening adapted to be disposed beneath the portion of the weight of such living being not supported by said body supporting portion,

spring means including at least one deflectable element which is cantileverily supported by said first support and extends into said opening in said body supporting portion of said first support in a manner to permit vibrational deflection of said deflectable element within said opening when body vibrations are imparted thereto from a living being supported above said body supporting portion,

transducing means for sensing variations in force applied thereto and operable to indicate such force variations by means of a variable output signal,

means for operatively coupling said deflectable element to said transducing means in a manner to permit the deflections of said deflectable element caused by variations in forces

imparted thereto by a living being whose body is operatively coupled to said deflectable element to be sensed by said transducing means, and

indicating means controlled by the signal output by said transducing means for indicating deflections of said deflectable element caused by vibrations imparted thereto.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element has a narrow, strip-like configuration and is formed with an irregular shape.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a strip-like deflectable element in the configuration of a flat spiral having outer and inner ends which deflectable element is supported at its outer end by said first support and is operatively coupled to said transducing means near its inner end.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a strip-like deflectable element in the configuration of a substantially rectangular spiral.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spring means has a narrow strip-like configuration and is formed with an irregular shape which is supported at two locations by said first support.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transducing means includes a loud speaker and said means for operatively coupling said deflectable element to said transducing means comprises a rigid member secured to said deflectable element and engaging a portion of said speaker in a manner to impart vibration to said speaker when vibrations are imparted to said deflectable element by a living being.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element and said means for operatively coupling said deflectable element to said transducing means define a unitary structure.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element is formed of molded material.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said deflectable element and said means for coupling said deflectable element to said transducing means are integrally formed of a unitary molding.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first support is in the configuration of at least a portion of a bed and a flexible sheet material is disposed across and engaging said deflectable element for receiving at least a portion of the weight of a living being reclining on said bed.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first support forms part of a pad adapted to be disposed beneath a living being whose body vibrations are to be monitored thereby.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support comprises a bassinet having a bottom wall containing said opening therein, said deflectable element being supported within said opening in said bottom wall at substantially the level of the bottom wall and a flexible sheet material extending across said opening and against said deflectable element to permit the weight of a baby disposed in said bassinet to bear against said deflectable element.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said deflectable element is defined by two strip-like formations extending parallel to each other in a substantially flat spiral configuration.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transducing means is a pressure transducer with a sensing element in sensing engagement with said spring means and operable to receive body vibrations transmitted to said spring means to generate variable electrical signals in accordance with variations in the vibrations received thereby.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first support is in the configuration of a rigid frame.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first support is in the configuration of a bed for supporting a living being reclining thereon.

17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element is formed of stainless steel strip material.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element is formed of stainless steel tubing.

19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deflectable element is formed of stainless steel tubing having a diameter in the range of 1/4" to 1/2".

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a plurality of deflectable elements secured together and operatively coupled to said transducing means.