Passive apnea monitor
First Claim
1. An apnea and SIDS monitoring method comprising at least one thin piezoelectric film, communicating a patient'"'"'s acoustic transmissions to the thin piezoelectric film, producing a voltage signal from the acoustic transmissions in the film pad, transmitting the voltage signal from the film, calculating an energy spectrum from the transmitted voltage signal, and characterizing peaks in the energy spectrum as respiration rates.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The instrument monitors the acoustic and electromechanical signals of the patient and calculates an energy spectrum periodogram or histogram using time series analysis techniques. The patient lies down on a large piezoelectric film (few microns thick) that has the capability of measuring signals from very high to very low frequencies. The heart and respiration rates as well as obstructive apnea can be observed, detected and measured from the spectral peaks in the resulting energy spectrum. A microcomputing machine provides calculations to determine the energy spectrum and provides for discrimination between noise and a true apnea episode. An alarm calls for assistance in the event of an apnea, including obstructive apnea, or a Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) episode.
177 Citations
40 Claims
- 1. An apnea and SIDS monitoring method comprising at least one thin piezoelectric film, communicating a patient'"'"'s acoustic transmissions to the thin piezoelectric film, producing a voltage signal from the acoustic transmissions in the film pad, transmitting the voltage signal from the film, calculating an energy spectrum from the transmitted voltage signal, and characterizing peaks in the energy spectrum as respiration rates.
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11. An apnea monitor apparatus comprising a thin piezoelectric film for producing a voltage signal from acoustic sensing transducers in the piezoelectric film of a patient'"'"'s acoustic transmissions, which are picked up by the film;
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a transmitter connected to the acoustic transducers in the film for transmitting the voltage signal from the film;
a processor connected to the transmitter for receiving the voltage signal and calculating an energy spectrum from the voltage signal and time signals; and
a comparator connected to the processor for receiving and comparing peaks in the energy spectrum and characterizing the peaks as respiration rates. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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- 21. An apnea and SIDS monitoring method comprising communicating a patient'"'"'s acoustic and electromechanical transmissions to a piezoelectric pad, producing a voltage signal from the piezoelectric pad, transmitting the voltage signal from the piezoelectric pad, calculating an energy spectrum from the transmitted voltage signal, and characterizing peaks in the energy spectrum as heart and respiration rates.
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31. An apnea monitor apparatus comprising a piezoelectric pad for producing a voltage signal from a patient'"'"'s acoustic and electromechanical transmissions;
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a transmitter connected to the piezoelectric pad for transmitting the voltage signal from the piezoelectric pad;
a processor connected to the transmitter for receiving the voltage signal and calculating an energy spectrum from the voltage signal and time signals; and
a comparator connected to the processor for receiving and comparing peaks in the energy spectrum and characterizing the peaks as heart and respiration rates. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification