Wearable acoustic device for monitoring breathing sounds

• US 8,663,126 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fatemah S. Al Thalab
• Original Assignee: Fatemah S. Al Thalab
• Inventors: Al Thalab, Fatemah S.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'ANGELO, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US13/771,070
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/390, 600/529, 600/532, 600/538, 600/534
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0823 Detecting or evaluating cough events
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise

Abstract

The wearable acoustic device for monitoring breathing sounds includes an acoustic sensor and audible/visual indicators triggered by device electronics indicating normal, abnormal, and severity of abnormal bronchial asthmatic breathing. An elastic belt holds the device. Fasteners disposed on the belt allow the belt to be secured around the baby'"'"'s chest. An oximeter may be connected to the device to measure percentage oxygen intake of the baby. A processor disposed in the device processes the oximeter and acoustic signals via an algorithmic sequence that looks for oxygen intake and the presence of bronchial asthmatic breathing vs. a normal breathing/oxygen intake sample stored in memory on the device. A transmitter powered by rechargeable batteries wirelessly transmits the alarm condition to the baby'"'"'s caretaker. Depending on the normality/severity of the infant'"'"'s breathing, an audible alarm sounds. The visual indicator displays severity of the breathing condition.

Claims

1. A wearable, acoustic device for monitoring breathing sounds, comprising:

an elongate resilient strap having mating fasteners disposed on opposite ends thereof, the strap being adapted for removable attachment around a portion of a chest of an infant;

a thin, flexible housing having a hermetic seal attached to an outer surface of the strap;

an acoustic sensor disposed on an inner surface of the strap, the acoustic sensor contacting the portion of the chest of the infant when the strap is wrapped around the infant, the acoustic sensor generating a signal corresponding to the breathing sounds of an infant;

a portable power source disposed in the housing for supplying electrical power to the wearable acoustic device;

a processor disposed inside the housing, the acoustic sensor being operably connected to the processor, the processor having memory for storing the signal generated by the acoustic sensor and having a signal corresponding to baseline normal breathing sounds stored in memory, the processor having means for comparing the signal generated by the acoustic sensor to the stored signal corresponding to the baseline normal breathing sounds and generating a normal breathing output signal when the comparison of the signals indicates the infant is breathing normally, generating a warning output signal when the comparison of the signals indicates the infant is developing breathing problems, and generating a danger output signal when the comparison of the signals indicates the infant'"'"'s breathing indicates an attack of bronchial asthma;

a thermal actuator disposed in the housing and operably connected to the processor, the thermal actuator generating heat for changing the temperature of the thermal actuator in response to the output signal of the processor;

a thermal activated color strip disposed on the housing and visible to a user when the strap is secured to the infant'"'"'s chest, the thermal activated color strip being adjacent to the thermal actuator and changing color in response to the temperature of the thermal actuator, the thermal activated color strip being green in response to the temperature of the heat actuator due to a normal breathing output signal of the processor, yellow in response the temperature of the heat actuator due to a warning output signal of the processor, and red in response to the temperature of the heat actuator due to a danger output signal of the processor;

an oximeter attachable to a finger of the infant; and

a coupling between the oximeter and the processor.

2. The wearable, acoustic device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling further comprising:

a cable extending from the oximeter, the oximeter transmitting percent oxygen (SpO2) data via the cable, the cable having an end connector; and

a port disposed on said housing and accepting the end connector, the port being connected to said processor, thereby allowing said processor to receive the SpO2 data from the oximeter, said processor having means for analyzing the SpO2 data in conjunction with the comparison of the acoustic signal with the stored signal.

3. The wearable, acoustic device for monitoring breathing sounds according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter disposed in said housing, said wireless transmitter wirelessly sending an alarm to a user device when the processor generates a danger output signal.

4. The wearable, acoustic device for monitoring breathing sounds according to claim 1, wherein said hermetic seal for sealing components is disposed inside said housing from outside moisture and fluids.

5. A device for acoustic monitoring breathing sounds, wearable by a baby consisting of:

an elongate resilient strap;

mating fasteners disposed on opposite ends of the elongate resilient strap;

wherein the mating fasteners and the strap being designed and configured for removable attachment around a chest portion of the baby;

a hermetically sealed housing attached to an outer surface of the strap;

wherein the hermetically sealed housing preventing outside moisture and fluids entering the housing;

an acoustic sensor disposed on an inner surface of the strap;

wherein when the strap is wrapped around the baby, the acoustic sensor is adapted for contacting the chest portion of the baby,

whereby the acoustic sensor generates a signal corresponding to the breathing sounds of the baby;

a power source disposed in the housing;

the power source providing electrical power to the device;

a processor disposed inside the housing, the acoustic sensor being operably connected to the processor, the processor having memory for storing the signal generated by the acoustic sensor and having a signal corresponding to baseline normal breathing sounds stored in memory, the processor also comparing the signal generated by the acoustic sensor to the stored signal corresponding to the baseline normal breathing sounds and generating a normal breathing output signal when the comparison of the signals indicates the baby is breathing normally, the processor generating a warning output signal when the comparison of the signals indicates the baby is developing breathing problems, and generating a danger output signal when the comparison of the signals indicates that the breathing of the baby indicating a bronchial asthma attack;

a thermal actuator disposed in the housing and operably connected to the processor, the thermal actuator generating heat for changing the temperature of the thermal actuator in response to the output signal of the processor;

a thermal activated color strip disposed on the housing and visible to a user when the strap is secured to the chest of the baby;

wherein the thermal activated color strip is in proximity to the thermal actuator and changes color in response to the temperature of the thermal actuator, the thermal activated color strip being green in response to a normal breathing output signal, yellow in response to a warning output signal, and red in response to a danger output signal;

an oximeter attachable to a finger of the baby, the oximeter providing percent oxygen (SpO2) data to the processor;

a cable extending from the oximeter;

an end connector on the cable, at an end opposite the oximeter;

a port disposed on the housing and accepting the end connector;

wherein the port is connected to the processor, thereby allowing the processor to receive the SpO2 data from the oximeter;

the processor further analyzing the SpO2 data in conjunction with the comparison of the acoustic signal with the stored signal; and

a wireless transmitter disposed in the housing, the wireless transmitter wirelessly sending an alarm to a user device when the processor generates a danger output signal.