Alert device for providing a warning of a baby's condition which may lead to the onset of SIDS

• US 6,373,392 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric Au
• Original Assignee: Eric Au
• Inventors: Au, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/529,449
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/575, 340/586, 340/588, 340/589, 340/611, 340/614, 340/870.17, 600/534, 600/535, 600/549
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/06 Children, e.g. for attention deficit diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals

Abstract

An alert device for providing a warning of a baby'"'"'s condition which may lead to the onset of SIDS. The alert device includes a receiver for receiving a signal, which has an element for warning a person proximate to the receiver of the baby'"'"'s condition. A transmitter for transmitting a signal to the receiver includes a device for connecting the transmitter to a baby and is located remotely from the receiver. A transducer includes a device for connecting the transducer to a baby'"'"'s chest, with the transducer further including a pressure-sensitive and/or a temperature-sensitive activation element to be located on the baby'"'"'s chest. The pressure-sensitive and/or temperature-sensitive activation element is activated when the baby rolls over onto the baby'"'"'s chest, a position which has been associated with the onset of SIDS, so that the transducer causes signalling of the transmitter to, in turn, signal the receiver, for warning a person located proximate to the receiver and located remotely from the baby, when the receiver receives the signal, that the baby'"'"'s condition may lead to the onset of SIDS.

Claims

1. An alert device for providing a warning of a baby'"'"'s condition which may lead to the onset of SIDS, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal, said receiver including means for warning a person proximate to said receiver;

a transmitter having means for connecting said transmitter to a baby and being located remotely from said receiver, said transmitter incorporating means for signalling said receiver; and

,

a transducer having means for connecting said transducer to a baby'"'"'s chest with said transducer further including pressure-sensitive activation means to be located on the baby'"'"'s chest, said pressure-sensitive activation means being activated when the baby rolls over onto the baby'"'"'s chest, so that said transducer causes said means for signalling of said transmitter to signal said receiver, thereby warning a person located proximate to said receiver and located remotely from the baby, when said receiver receives the signal, that the baby'"'"'s condition may lead to the onset of SIDS.

2. The alert device according to claim 1, wherein said transducer further includes temperature-sensitive activation means activated upon a change in temperature of the baby at a rate exceeding a predetermined rate of change for the temperature of the baby, said temperature-sensitive activation means activating said transducer, so that said transducer causes said means for signalling of said transmitter to signal said receiver.

3. The alert device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter further includes means for transmitting an indication that said transmitter is operating properly, said means for transmitting an indication being activated at a predetermined interval of time.

4. The alert device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter further includes means for transmitting an indication of battery voltage for said transmitter when the battery voltage falls to a predetermined level.

5. The alert device according to claim 1, wherein said means for warning of said receiver, upon receiving a signal from said transmitter, provides an audible signal to a person proximate to said receiver.

6. The alert device according to claim 1, wherein said means for warning of said receiver, upon receiving a signal from said transmitter, provides a visual signal to a person proximate to said receiver.

7. The alert device according to claim 6, wherein said means for warning of said receiver includes means for acknowledging a warning.

8. The alert device according to claim 7, wherein said means for acknowledging a warning includes means for rendering the warning more insistent if said means for acknowledging is not activated within a predetermined period of time.

9. The alert device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said transmitters for signalling said receiver, with said receiver having means for discriminating signals from each of said plurality of said transmitters.

10. The alert device according to claim 1, wherein said receiver is a button connected to clothing worn by the baby.

11. An alert device for providing a warning of a baby'"'"'s condition which may lead to the onset of SIDS, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal, said receiver including means for warning a person proximate to said receiver;

a transmitter having means for connecting said transmitter to a baby and being located remotely from said receiver, said transmitter incorporating means for signalling said receiver; and

,

a transducer having means for connecting said transducer to a baby'"'"'s chest with said transducer further including temperature-sensitive activation means to be located on the baby'"'"'s chest, said temperature-sensitive activation means being activated upon a change in temperature of the baby, said temperature-sensitive activation means activating said transducer when the baby rolls over onto the baby'"'"'s chest, so that said transducer causes said means for signalling of said transmitter to signal said receiver, thereby warning a person located proximate to said receiver and located remotely from the baby, when said receiver receives the signal, that the baby'"'"'s condition may lead to the onset of SIDS.

12. The alert device according to claim 11, wherein said temperature-sensitive activation means of said transducer is activated upon a change in temperature of the baby at a rate exceeding a predetermined rate of change for the temperature of the baby, said temperature-sensitive activation means activating said transducer, so that said transducer causes said means for signalling of said transmitter to signal said receiver.

13. The alert device according to claim 11, wherein said transmitter further includes means for transmitting an indication that said transmitter is operating properly, said means for transmitting an indication being activated at a predetermined interval of time.

14. The alert device according to claim 11, wherein said transmitter further includes means for transmitting an indication of battery voltage for said transmitter when the battery voltage falls to a predetermined level.

15. The alert device according to claim 11, wherein said means for warning of said receiver, upon receiving a signal from said transmitter, provides an audible signal to a person proximate to said receiver.

16. The alert device according to claim 11, wherein said means for warning of said receiver, upon receiving a signal from said transmitter, provides a visual signal to a person proximate to said receiver.

17. The alert device according to claim 16, wherein said means for warning of said receiver includes means for acknowledging a warning.

18. The alert device according to claim 17, wherein said means for acknowledging a warning includes means for rendering the warning more insistent if said means for acknowledging is not activated within a predetermined period of time.

19. The alert device according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of said transmitters for signalling said receiver, with said receiver having means for discriminating signals from each of said plurality of said transmitters.

20. The alert device according to claim 11, wherein said receiver is a button connected to clothing worn by the baby.