DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SENSING RESPIRATION OF A LIVING BEING

• US 20100087748A1
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Original Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Inventors: Wissendheit, Uwe, Ershov, Sergev, Tobola, Andreas, Couronne, Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/574,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20100087748A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices

Abstract

A description is given of a device for sensing respiration of a living being, the device including: an active transmitter configured to generate a magnetic or electromagnetic field; and a sensor arranged on the torso of the living being and configured to provide a signal which depends on the magnetic or electromagnetic field and on a change in the distance, caused by the respiration of the living being, between the active transmitter and the sensor.

Claims

1. A device for sensing respiration of a living being, comprising:

an active transmitter configured to generate a magnetic or electromagnetic field; and

a sensor arranged on the torso of the living being and configured to provide a signal which depends on the magnetic or electromagnetic field and on a change in the distance, caused by the respiration of the living being, between the active transmitter and the sensor.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active transmitter and the sensor each comprise an antenna or an antenna system.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the active transmitter and the sensor each comprise at least one antenna coil and are inductively coupled to each other, so that the signal provided depends on a change in the induction within the sensor which is caused by the change in the distance.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the active transmitter and the sensor each comprise at least one antenna for UHF (ultra-high frequency), micrometer or millimeter wave ranges and are electromagnetically coupled to each other, so that the signal provided depends on a change in the field strength within the sensor which is caused by the change in the distance.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active transmitter and the sensor are configured to be arranged on opposite sides of the torso of the living being.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first object and a second object;

the first object and the second object being configured and connected to each other in such a manner, the active transmitter being arranged in or on the first object in such a manner, and the sensor being arranged in or on the second object in such a manner, that the active transmitter and the sensor are arranged on opposite sides of the torso, irrespective of a turn of the torso of the living being.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first object or the second object is a backrest of a seat or car seat.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first object or the second object is a lying surface.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second object or the first object is a belt or a safety belt.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein neither the first object nor the second object is a piece of clothing or is firmly connected to the body.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an evaluation unit configured to determine, on the basis of the signal provided, a breathing rate, a breathing amplitude, and/or a breathing volume of the respiration.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensor and the evaluation unit are connected to each other via a wired or wireless communication interface so as to transmit the provided signal from the sensor to the evaluation unit.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensor is a transponder, and the wireless communication interface is based on a load modulation method or a back-scattering method.

14. A method of sensing respiration of a living being, comprising:

generating a magnetic or electromagnetic field by means of an active transmitter; and

providing a signal by means of a sensor arranged on the torso of the living being, the signal depending on the magnetic or electromagnetic field and on a change in the distance, caused by the respiration of the living being, between the active transmitter and the sensor.

15. A measuring system for sensing respiration of a person situated within a motor vehicle, comprising:

an active transmitter integrated into a backrest of a car seat of the motor vehicle and configured to generate a magnetic or electromagnetic field; and

a sensor arranged within a safety belt of the motor vehicle, in a state in which the safety belt is fastened, at the height of the person'"'"'s torso, and configured to provide a signal which depends on the magnetic or electromagnetic field and on a change in the distance, caused by the respiration of the living being, between the active transmitter and the sensor.