Motion and sound monitor and stimulator
First Claim
1. A sound and movement monitor and stimulator, comprising:
- (a) a fluid-filled mattress for supporting an animate object;
(b) a sound and movement transducer positioned for detecting movement activity and acoustic activity of the object on said mattress, said transducer providing an output signal in response to forces applied thereto which are generated by and representative of said activity, said transducer including a pressure transducing element arranged in fluid communication with the internal fluid volume of said mattress such that forces applied to said mattress by said object cause pressure changes which are detected by said pressure transducing element, said pressure transducing element providing an output proportional to the pressure changes;
(c) a circuit connected to said transducer and adapted to monitor said output signal from said transducer; and
(d) a stimulator connected to said circuit and being operable to provide at least physical movement to the object to stimulate movement or acoustic activity in the object when the output from said transducer to said circuit corresponds to no movement activity and no acoustic activity from the object;
wherein said mattress is configured so said activity from the object including at least one of breathing, heart and motion sounds of the object is transmitted to said transducer said mattress including top and bottom surfaces which are sufficiently rigid so as to facilitate transmission of pressure fluctuations from the object to said transducer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A movement monitor and stimulator may prevent death in human infants from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Recent medical studies indicate a SIDS victim'"'"'s breathing may be resuscitated by immediate stimulation. The sound and/or movement monitor and stimulator may have a base member configured as a fluid-filled sensing pad for supporting an infant and a transducer for detecting movement or acoustic activity (e.g., heart beat, breathing, voice and motion sounds). A stimulator may move the base member to stimulate movement in the object when output from the transducer corresponds to no sound and/or movement from the object, or indicates a dangerous change in monitored condition, such as the decrease in metabolic rate indicative of the onset of sleep. The stimulator may also be applied in a more gentle fashion to soothe and quiet an infant that has been awakened unexpectedly. The transducer may be a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the fluid interior of the sensing pad. Alternatively, a piezoelectric sheet operatively connected to a surface of the sensing pad may detect movement and movement cessation. An alarm may provide an audible and/or visual indication to third parties when there is no movement from the object. A transmitter may continuously transmit the sensor'"'"'s output to a remote location for monitoring. A remote monitor may transmit heart and breathing sounds and may also have lights indicating motion and acoustic activity to indicate the infant is breathing.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A sound and movement monitor and stimulator, comprising:
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(a) a fluid-filled mattress for supporting an animate object; (b) a sound and movement transducer positioned for detecting movement activity and acoustic activity of the object on said mattress, said transducer providing an output signal in response to forces applied thereto which are generated by and representative of said activity, said transducer including a pressure transducing element arranged in fluid communication with the internal fluid volume of said mattress such that forces applied to said mattress by said object cause pressure changes which are detected by said pressure transducing element, said pressure transducing element providing an output proportional to the pressure changes; (c) a circuit connected to said transducer and adapted to monitor said output signal from said transducer; and (d) a stimulator connected to said circuit and being operable to provide at least physical movement to the object to stimulate movement or acoustic activity in the object when the output from said transducer to said circuit corresponds to no movement activity and no acoustic activity from the object;
wherein said mattress is configured so said activity from the object including at least one of breathing, heart and motion sounds of the object is transmitted to said transducer said mattress including top and bottom surfaces which are sufficiently rigid so as to facilitate transmission of pressure fluctuations from the object to said transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a liquid-filled sensor pad adapted to support an animate object; acoustic transducing means for monitoring and converting acoustic activity of the animate object on said sensor pad to electrical signals corresponding to the monitored acoustic activity; a circuit connected to said acoustic transducing means and adapted to receive the electrical 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 activity 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; and a physical stimulator connected to said circuit and adapted to physically move said sensor pad and the animate object, when the electrical signals from said acoustic transducing means correspond to no acoustic activity of the animate object. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method of monitoring and stimulating an animate object comprising the steps of:
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determining acoustic activity of an animate object; transmitting a first signal corresponding to the acoustic activity to a control element; stimulating the animate object when the first signal received by the control element corresponds to no acoustic activity from the animate object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification