Method and apparatus for monitoring and treating sudden infant death syndrome

• US 6,208,897 B1
• Filed: 04/27/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Jorgenson, Dawn Billie, Gliner, Bradford E
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/300,263
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 607/4, 607/5, 607/6, 600/511, 600/529, 600/544, 600/483-486, 600/480, 128/898
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/06 Children, e.g. for attention deficit diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39044 in combination with cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] therapy

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a device for monitoring an infant for the onset of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), detecting the onset of SIDS and providing immediate treatment. In the broadest sense, the invention includes an apparatus for detecting and treating SIDS. The apparatus comprises a data gatherer for monitoring an infant parameter, a controller for communicating with the data gatherer, an energy source operable to power the data gatherer for monitoring the infant parameter and further operable to provide energy to an energy delivery system which is operable to deliver an electric shock from an energy source to an electrode interface, and an alarm which is activated by the controller for alerting a remote caregiver to the onset of symptoms associated with SIDS. The invention also relates to a method of operating a SIDS monitor. The method comprises the steps of monitoring an infant parameter, determining whether the monitored parameter is an acceptable value. If the monitored parameter is an acceptable value, then an alarm is activated to alert a caretaker of the onset of SIDS symptoms, if the monitored parameter is within an acceptable value, then continuing to monitor the infant parameter.

Claims

1. A method of operating a SIDS monitor comprising:

monitoring an infant parameter; and

determining whether the monitored parameter is an acceptable value;

if the monitored value is an acceptable value, then continuing to monitor the infant parameter, or

if the monitored parameter is not within an acceptable value, then activating an alarm to alert a caretaker of the onset of SIDS symptoms

requesting interaction from the caretaker to terminate the alarm phase and begin the rescue prompt phase,

if caretaker interaction is not detected, then continue requesting interaction, or

if caretaker interaction is detected, then begin rescue prompting, prompting the caretaker in administration of first aid to the infant.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

automatically activating an emergency medical response system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the emergency medical response system is activated concurrently with activating the alarm.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the emergency medical response system is automatically activated after a predetermined period of time if a caretaker does not interact with the SIDS monitor.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the emergency medical response system is activated upon user interaction with the SIDS monitor.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing the most recent monitored infant parameter data in memory.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the infant parameter data stored in memory is the most recent 60 minutes of data.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of removing the monitored infant parameter data from the memory.

9. A method of operating a SIDS monitor comprising:

monitoring an infant cardiac signal; and

determining whether the monitored infant cardiac signal is an acceptable value;

if the monitored infant cardiac signal is an acceptable value, then continuing to monitor the infant cardiac signal, or

if the monitored infant cardiac signal is not within an acceptable value, then activating an alarm to alert a caretaker of the onset of SIDS symptoms

determining whether the infant cardiac signal represents a shockable rhythm,

if the infant cardiac signal is a shockable rhythm, begin instructing the caretaker to deliver a defibrillation shock, or

if the cardiac signal is not a shockable rhythm, continuing to monitor the infant cardiac rhythm.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

automatically activating an emergency medical response system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the emergency medical response system is activated concurrently with activating the alarm.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the emergency medical response system is automatically activated after a predetermined period of time if a caretaker does not interact with the SIDS monitor.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the emergency medical response system is activated upon user interaction with the SIDS monitor.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of storing the most recent monitored infant cardiac signal as data in memory.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the infant cardiac signal data stored in memory is the most recent 60 minutes of data.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of removing the monitored infant cardiac signal data from memory.

17. A method of operating a SIDS monitor comprising:

monitoring an infant cardiac signal; and

determining whether the monitored infant cardiac signal is an acceptable value;

if the monitored infant cardiac signal is an acceptable value, then continuing to monitor the infant cardiac signal, or

if the monitored infant cardiac signal is not within an acceptable value, then activating an alarm to alert a caretaker of the onset of SIDS symptoms

determining whether the infant cardiac signal represents a shockable rhythm,

if the infant cardiac signal is a shockable rhythm, deliver a defibrillation shock, or

if the infant cardiac signal is not a shockable rhythm, continuing to monitor the infant parameter.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of automatically activating an emergency medical response system.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the emergency medical response system is activated concurrently with activating the alarm.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the emergency medical response system is automatically activated after a predetermined period of time if a caretaker does not interact with the SIDS monitor.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the emergency medical response system is activated upon user interaction with the SIDS monitor.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of storing the most recent monitored infant cardiac signal as data in memory.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the infant cardiac signal data stored in memory is the most recent 60 minutes of data.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of removing the monitored infant cardiac signal data from memory.