Apparatus and method for non-contacting detection of respiration
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for the detection of air flow at the mouth and nose of a subject without contacting the subject, comprising:
- at least one transducer for converting an alternating electrical voltage into directional ultrasound waves in air, and for converting airborne ultrasound waves into electrical signals,means for directing said ultrasound waves through unconfined air from said at least one transducer towards the mouth and nose of said subject for reflection therefrom, said waves after or before reflection having their velocity non-reciprocally altered by air flow from respiration of said subject independently of physical movement of said subject,driving circuit means providing said at least one transducer with alternating voltage, anddetector circuit means performing analysis of said electrical signals converted by said at least one transducer from said ultrasound waves after said waves are reflected by the mouth and nose of said subject, said analysis being directed to a determination of whether said reflected sound waves have had their velocity altered by air flow accompanying respiration of said subject.
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for detecting air flow at the mouth and nose of a subject, including a transducer for converting electrical signals into ultrasound waves and vice versa, means for directing the ultrasound waves toward the mouth and nose of the subject and receiving return waves, and a detector to analyze electrical signals converted by the transducer from the return ultrasound waves.
56 Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for the detection of air flow at the mouth and nose of a subject without contacting the subject, comprising:
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at least one transducer for converting an alternating electrical voltage into directional ultrasound waves in air, and for converting airborne ultrasound waves into electrical signals, means for directing said ultrasound waves through unconfined air from said at least one transducer towards the mouth and nose of said subject for reflection therefrom, said waves after or before reflection having their velocity non-reciprocally altered by air flow from respiration of said subject independently of physical movement of said subject, driving circuit means providing said at least one transducer with alternating voltage, and detector circuit means performing analysis of said electrical signals converted by said at least one transducer from said ultrasound waves after said waves are reflected by the mouth and nose of said subject, said analysis being directed to a determination of whether said reflected sound waves have had their velocity altered by air flow accompanying respiration of said subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for the detection of air flow at the mouth and nose of a subject without contacting the subject, comprising:
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at least two transducers for converting an alternating electrical voltage into directional ultrasound waves in air, and for converting airborne ultrasound waves into electrical signals, means for directing said ultrasound waves through unconfined air from each of said at least two transducers toward the mouth and nose of said subject for reflection therefrom, said waves after or before reflection having their velocity non-reciprocally altered by air flow from respiration of said subject independently of physical movement of said subject, driving circuit means providing said at least two transducers with alternating voltage, and detector circuit means performing analysis of said electrical signals converted by said at least two transducers from said ultrasound waves after said waves are reflected by the mouth and nose of said subject, said analysis being directed to a determination of whether said reflected sound waves have had their velocity altered by air flow accompanying respiration of said subject. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for detecting whether a subject is breathing and, if so, the relative force thereof without contacting the subject, comprising:
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positioning a transducer for converting an alternating electrical voltage into directional ultrasound waves at the region of the mouth and nose of the subject, providing said transducer with alternating voltage to generate airborne ultrasound waves by said transducer, directing the ultrasound waves from said transducer through unconfined air toward the mouth and nose of the subject for reflection therefrom, said waves after or before reflection having their velocity non-reciprocally altered by air flow from respiration of said subject independently of physical movement of said subject, detecting ultrasound waves reflected to said transducer from said nose and mouth of said subject by converting said returning ultrasound waves into electrical signals, and analyzing said electrical signals to determine whether said reflected sound waves have had their velocity altered by air flow accompanying respiration of said subject. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification