Infant respiratory monitor

• US 5,993,397 A
• Filed: 01/23/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Krista Lynn Branson
• Original Assignee: Krista Lynn Branson
• Inventors: Branson, Krista Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASTORINO, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US09/012,626
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 600/500-503, 600/532-538, 600/595, 600/386-391, 600/534, 600/504, 600/529, 600/481-486, 600/300-301, 128/897-899, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 600/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound

Abstract

An infant respiratory monitor for alerting the supervisors of an infant when there is a lack of movement of the infant due to potential respiratory problems. The device comprises a housing having an attachment for clip for securing the housing to an infant. Respiratory monitoring circuitry is contained within the housing, and comprises a power source which is in circuit with a motion sensor, processor and audio output means. The motion sensor detects movement, and transmits the presence of such movement to the processor. The processor is configured to count the number of signals received from the motion sensor within a pre-determined time period and alert the sound output means in the event that the number of signals received within the pre-determined period of time from the motion sensor drops below a pre-determined value. Upon that occurrence, the processor signals the audio output means to emit an audible alert warning noise.

Claims

1. An infant respiratory monitor for alerting the supervisors of an infant when there is a lack of movement of the infant due to potential respiratory problems;

comprising;

a) a housing, the housing having a front surface, a rear surface and at least one side which co-joins the front surface and the rear surface;

b) an attachment clip located upon the housing for securing the housing to an infant; and

c) respiratory monitoring circuitry located within the housing, said circuitry comprising a power source which is in electrical circuit with a motion sensor as well as a processor and sound output means, a switch disposed between the power source and remaining circuitry components, the switch capable of completing an electrical connection between said power source and remaining circuitry components when the infant respiratory monitor is intended to be activated, wherein the motion sensor of the activated infant respiratory monitor which is secured to the infant transmits a signal to the processor each time movement of the infant is detected by said motion sensor, and the processor is configured to count the number of signals received from the motion sensor within a pre-determined time period and alert the sound output means in the event that the number of signals received within the pre-determined period of time from the motion sensor drops below a pre-determined value, in which case the processor will signal the audio output means to emit an audible alert warning noise.

2. The infant respiratory monitor of claim one, wherein the attachment clip is encased in a soft foam-like material to avoid the possibility of injuring or irritating the infant when the device is secured to the infant.

3. The infant respiratory monitor of claim two, further comprising information display means such as a liquid crystal display which is in circuit with the processor and disposed upon the housing, said display means capable of conveying certain desired information from the processor to a user.

4. The infant respiratory monitor of claim three, wherein the switch of the respiratory monitoring circuitry is accessible through the housing so that the user may selectively activate or de-activate said monitor.