Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) monitor and stimulator
First Claim
1. A movement and sound monitor and stimulator, comprising:
- (a) a base member for supporting an animate object and including a liquid-filled mattress;
(b) a movement and sound transducer positioned for detecting movement activity and acoustic activity of the animate object on said base member, said transducer providing an output signal in response to forces applied thereto which are generated by and representative of said movement and acoustic activity, wherein said base member is configured so said acoustic activity from the animate object in the form of at least one of breathing, heart and motion sounds of the animate object is transmitted to said transducer;
(c) a circuit connected to said transducer and adapted to monitor said output signal from said transducer;
(d) a stimulator connected to said circuit and being operable to provide at least physical movement to said base member to stimulate movement activity or acoustic activity in the animate object when the output signal from said transducer to said circuit corresponds to no movement activity and no acoustic activity from the animate object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A movement and sound monitor and stimulator which is particularly useful for preventing death in human infants from sudden infant death syndrome is disclosed. The movement and sound monitor and stimulator has a base member which may be a fluid-filled sensing pad for supporting the infant or other animate object which is being monitored and a transducer positioned for detecting movement or acoustic activity (e.g., heartbeat, breathing) of the object on the base member to provide an output signal in response to forces applied thereto which are generated by such movement. A circuit is connected to monitor the output signal from the transducer and activates a stimulator which is operable to provide movement to the base member to stimulate movement in the object when output from the transducer to the circuit corresponds to no movement from the object. The transducer may be a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the fluid interior of the sensing pad. In the alternative, a piezo-electric sheet operatively connected to a surface of the sensing pad to detect such movement as well as movement cessation. The circuit may also be connected to an alarm which can provide an audible or visual indication to third parties when there is no movement from the object.
286 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A movement and sound monitor and stimulator, comprising:
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(a) a base member for supporting an animate object and including a liquid-filled mattress; (b) a movement and sound transducer positioned for detecting movement activity and acoustic activity of the animate object on said base member, said transducer providing an output signal in response to forces applied thereto which are generated by and representative of said movement and acoustic activity, wherein said base member is configured so said acoustic activity from the animate object in the form of at least one of breathing, heart and motion sounds of the animate object is transmitted to said transducer; (c) a circuit connected to said transducer and adapted to monitor said output signal from said transducer; (d) a stimulator connected to said circuit and being operable to provide at least physical movement to said base member to stimulate movement activity or acoustic activity in the animate object when the output signal from said transducer to said circuit corresponds to no movement activity and no acoustic activity from the animate object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A movement and sound monitor and stimulator, comprising:
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a liquid-filled sensor pad adapted to support an animate object and receive sounds from the animate object; a movement and sound transducer monitoring movement and sounds of the animate object on said sensor pad, said transducer including sound transducing means for receiving sounds emitted by the animate object and transmitting electrical signals corresponding to the sounds; a circuit connected to said transducer and adapted to receive the electrical signals corresponding to the sounds from said transducer; a physical stimulator connected to said circuit and adapted to physically move said sensor pad and the animate object. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a liquid-filled sensor pad adapted to support an animate object and receive acoustic signals from the animate object; acoustic transducing means for monitoring and converting the acoustic signals within said sensor pad to electrical signals corresponding to the acoustic signals; a circuit connected to said acoustic transducing means and adapted to receive the electrical signals corresponding to the acoustic signals from said acoustic transducing means; a transmitter located at a first position and connected to said circuit, said transmitter configured to transmit signals corresponding to the acoustic signals of the animate object; a receiver located at a second position spaced apart from said first position and configured to receive signals from said transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification