Acoustic monitoring system
First Claim
1. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
- a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining at least one chamber containing acoustic transmission material and adapted to receive acoustic signals originating from and produced by the organism; and
acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting said acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transducer in communication with fluid in a pad held in close contact against a sound or movement source monitors acoustic signals transferred into the fluid. The signal pattern is monitored aurally and/or compared to predetermined reference patterns, and optional control and stimulation means can be activated in response to the comparison results. The sensed acoustic signal can be transmitted to a remote receiver or processed locally. Typically, the acoustic signal is representative of the heartbeat or breathing of a living organism. The monitoring system may be applied to diverse situations including SIDS, apnea, home baby monitoring, medical transport devices, blood pressure cuffs, seats, combat casualty care and hand-held devices.
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Citations
96 Claims
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1. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining at least one chamber containing acoustic transmission material and adapted to receive acoustic signals originating from and produced by the organism; and acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting said acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 37, 38, 39, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 96)
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2. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a plurality of fluid-filled chambers adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; and acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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10. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and means for filtering airborne acoustic noise from said electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and means to store predetermined patterns of acoustic signals and means to provide a comparison of said predetermined patterns to said acoustic signals from the organism. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; and acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; wherein said sensor pad is filled with water.
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22. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; and acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; wherein said acoustic transducing means includes a hydrophone.
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23. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and a bed having a body support surface wherein said sensor pad of said acoustic monitoring system is positioned on said body support surface of said bed.
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24. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and a pillow having a surface to support a portion of a living organism wherein said sensor pad of said acoustic monitoring system is carried on said support surface of said pillow.
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25. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and a blood pressure cuff adapted to pressingly encircle a portion of a living organism wherein said sensor pad of said acoustic monitoring system is carried on said encircling cuff.
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26. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and a strap apparatus adapted to support animals during lifting and transporting operations wherein said sensor pad of said acoustic monitoring system is carried on said supporting strap apparatus.
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27. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and an exercise apparatus having a body support surface wherein said sensor pad of said acoustic monitoring system is carried on said body support surface of said exercise apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and a hat having a headband adapted to press against the head of a wearer wherein said sensor pad of said acoustic monitoring system is carried on said headband of said hat.
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30. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and eyeglasses having at least one arm adapted to press against the side of the head of a wearer wherein said sensor pad of said acoustic monitoring system is carried on said eyeglass on said at least one arm.
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31. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and a pair of goggles having a support surface adapted to press against the head of a wearer wherein said sensor pad of said acoustic monitoring system is carried on said support surface of said goggles.
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32. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and at least one earplug adapted to be pressed into the ear of a wearer wherein said sensor pad of said acoustic monitoring system is incorporated into said at least one earplug.
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33. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and a medical transport device having a body support surface wherein said sensor pad of said acoustic monitoring system is carried on said body support surface of said medical transport device. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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40. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and means for creating a vacuum seal around said sensor pad, wherein said sensor pad is held in acoustic contact with the living organism by said vacuum seal created around said pad.
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41. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; wherein said pad includes a concave vessel having an open side forming a chamber, a substantially acoustically transparent diaphragm extending across said open side and enclosing a volume within said chamber, said chamber being fluid-filled to receive acoustic signals from the organism through said diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of a living organism, said pad defining a fluid-filled chamber adapted to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; and
means for transmitting said acoustic signals for remote monitoring;wherein said sensor pad and acoustic transducing means are miniaturized and included within a swallowable capsule for monitoring internal acoustic signals.
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46. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a conformable fluid-filled sensor pad; acoustic transducing means for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said sensor pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; processing means connected to said acoustic transducing means and adapted to receive said electrical signals from said acoustic transducing means; a transmitter located at a first position and connected to said processing means, said transmitter configured to transmit signals corresponding to the received acoustic signals; and a receiver located at a second position spaced apart from said first position and configured to receive signals from said transmitter.
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47. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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at least one fluid-filled sensor pad adapted to conform to a portion of the surface of a living organism and to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received in each of said at least one sensor pads to electrical signals; fluid-filled conduit means communicating from each of said at least one sensor pads to said acoustic transducing means; and processing means connected to said acoustic transducing means and adapted to receive said electrical signals from said transducing means.
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48. An acoustic monitoring system for insertion in an ear having an ear canal, comprising:
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a fluid filled bladder; a hydrophone disposed in the bladder for creating an electrical signal; electrical circuitry connected to the hydrophone for at least one of amplifying, filtering, transmitting and receiving the electrical signal; a battery for powering the electrical circuitry; an antenna connected to the electrical circuitry; and a seal for sealing the ear canal from external sounds. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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51. An acoustic monitoring system, comprising:
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a pacifier having a nipple; fluid and a hydrophone disposed in the nipple, the hydrophone creating an electrical signal; electrical circuitry connected to the hydrophone for at least one of amplifying, filtering, transmitting and receiving the electrical signal; a battery for powering the electrical circuitry; an antenna connected to the electrical circuitry; and noise isolation material for isolating the nipple from a remainder of the pacifier. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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53. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a sensor pad adapted to conform to at least a portion of the surface of an inanimate object, said pad defining a chamber containing acoustic transmission material and adapted to receive acoustic signals originating from the inanimate object; and acoustic transducing means coupled with said pad for monitoring and converting said acoustic signals received by said pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals.
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90. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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a conformable sensor pad containing acoustic transmission material; acoustic transducing means for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received by said sensor pad to electrical signals corresponding to said acoustic signals; processing means connected to said acoustic transducing means and adapted to receive said electrical signals from said acoustic transducing means; a transmitter located at a first position and connected to said processing means, said transmitter configured to transmit signals corresponding to the received acoustic signals; and a receiver located at a second position spaced apart from said first position and configured to receive signals from said transmitter.
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91. An acoustic monitoring system comprising:
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at least one sensor pad containing acoustic transmission material and adapted to conform to a portion of the surface of a living organism and to receive acoustic signals from the organism; acoustic transducing means for monitoring and converting acoustic signals received in each of said at least one sensor pads to electrical signals; conduit means containing acoustic transmission material and communicating from each of said at least one sensor pads to said acoustic transducing means; and processing means connected to said acoustic transducing means and adapted to receive said electrical signals from said transducing means.
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92. An acoustic monitoring system for insertion in an ear having an ear canal, comprising:
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a bladder containing acoustic transmission material; a hydrophone disposed in the bladder for creating electrical and acoustic signals; electrical circuitry connected to the hydrophone for at least one of amplifying, filtering, transmitting and receiving the electrical signal; a battery for powering the electrical circuitry; an antenna connected to the electrical circuitry; and a seal for sealing the ear canal from external sounds. - View Dependent Claims (93, 94)
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95. An acoustic monitoring system, comprising:
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a pacifier having a nipple; acoustic transmission material and a hydrophone disposed in the nipple, the hydrophone creating an electrical signal; electrical circuitry connected to the hydrophone for at least one of amplifying, filtering, transmitting and receiving the electrical signal; a battery for powering the electrical circuitry; an antenna connected to the electrical circuitry; and noise isolation material for isolating the nipple from a remainder of the pacifier.
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Specification