Sudden infant death prevention clothing

• US 8,866,621 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Wolfe, Andrew, Conte, Thomas Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/392,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,064 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/595, 340/573.7, 340/517, 340/521, 340/524, 340/575, 340/689, 340/572.1, 340/539.11, 340/686.1, 607/5, 128/898, 345/184
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise

Abstract

A health sensing device is described for placement on a user. The device may include a sensor, a filter, and a transmitter. The sensor is configured to sense one or more factors relating to an indicator of a health related condition or occurrence. The filter is configured to evaluate a signal from the sensor and determine if the indicator has been detected. The transmitter is arranged for initiating a transmission based on a signal from the filter. The sensor can include one or more microphone devices, accelerometers, and/or MEMs devices. A method of monitoring a user for a health related condition is also described.

Claims

1. A health sensing device for placement on a user, the device comprising:

a sensor including an accelerometer, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a breathing pattern of the user or a sleep position of the user and generate a sensor signal in response to the breathing pattern or the sleep position;

a filter coupled to the sensor and configured to receive data from the accelerometer and determine if the breathing pattern or the sleep position is indicative of sudden infant death syndrome, and generate a filter signal based on the determination;

a transmitter configured to receive the filter signal and generate a transmission responsive to the sensor signal; and

a recalibration button associated with the sensor and configured to calibrate the accelerometer to indicate that the user is in a safe condition;

wherein the sensor, the filter, and the transmitter are supported by a single substrate.

2. The device Of claim 1, wherein sleep position indicative of sudden infant death syndrome is a face down sleep position.

3. A health sensing system, comprising the device of claim 1 and a second device wherein the second device comprises a receiver and a processor and wherein the processor is configured to notify a third party.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the user is an infant and the third party is a parent of the infant.

5. A health sensing system, comprising the device of claim 1, and a second device wherein the second device comprises a receiver and at processor and wherein the processor is configured to stimulate the user.

6. The health sensing device of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer is configured to sense a motion of a chest of the user to sense the breathing pattern.

7. The health sensing device of claim 6, wherein the accelerometer is further configured to measure a gravitational force to sense the sleep position.

8. The health sensing device of claim 1, wherein the filter is configured to receive data from the accelerometer indicative of a current gravitational force and compare the current gravitational three with another gravitational force measured during the safe condition.

9. The health sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the transmitter are supported by a silicon based substrate, and wherein the silicon based substrate includes an enveloping waterproofed nylon material.

10. The health sensing device of claim 9, wherein the substrate and the enveloping waterproofed nylon material are included in a patch having an adhesive affixing element configured to adhere to the user.

11. The health sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the transmitter are supported by a substrate, and wherein the substrate is sewn into clothing wearable by the user.

12. The health sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor and the transmitter are supported by a substrate, and wherein the substrate includes a shielding structure configured to prevent radio frequency interference.

13. The health sensing device of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer comprises a MEMS accelerometer.

14. The health sensing device of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer comprises a variable capacitance device having a capacitance based, at least in part, on a gravitational force exerted on the variable capacitance device.

15. A method for monitoring a user for a health related condition using a health sensing device, comprising:

calibrating the health sensing device to indicate that the user is in a safe condition, the calibrating comprising using a recalibration button associated with the health sensing device;

sensing a sleep position of the with the health sensing device;

sensing a breathing pattern of the user with the health sensing device;

generating a sensor signal responsive to the sleep position of the user or the breathing pattern of the user with the health sensing device;

generating a filter signal by filtering the sensor signal to determine if the breathing pattern or sleep position of the user is indicative of sudden infant death syndrome with the health sensing device; and

initiating a transmission responsive to the filter signal with the health sensing device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sleep position indicative of sudden infant death syndrome is a face down sleep position.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein initiating a transmission includes selectively transmitting when the breathing pattern or the sleep position is indicative of sudden infant death syndrome.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving the transmission and performing a process, wherein performing the process includes notifying a third party.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein notifying third party includes sounding an alarm.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein performing the process further includes storing data related to the sleep position.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said sensing a sleep position of the use comprises sensing a sleep position of the user with an accelerometer, and wherein said sensing a breathing pattern of the user comprises sensing a breathing pattern of the user with the accelerometer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said accelerometer comprises a MEMS accelerometer.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said accelerometer comprises a variable capacitance device, and wherein said sensing the sleep position of the user comprises measuring a capacitance of the variable capacitance device.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein said sensing a sleep position of the user comprises sensing, a sleep position of the user with a pressure transducer and wherein said sensing a breathing pattern of the user comprises sensing a breathing pattern of the user with an accelerometer.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving a combination of signals from the pressure transducer and accelerometer and determining whether the combination of signals are indicative of sudden infant death syndrome.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising positioning the health sensing device on a chest of the user.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein said sensing a sleep position of the user comprises sensing a gravitational three applied to the health sensing device.

28. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining when the breathing pattern is indicative of sudden infant death syndrome at least in part by comparing a gap in the breathing pattern with a threshold.

29. The method of claim 15, wherein said calibrating the health sensing device comprises sensing a first gravitational three on the health sensing device during the safe condition, and wherein said sensing a sleep position of the user comprises sensing a current gravitational force on the health sensing device and comparing the current gravitational force with the first gravitational force.