Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Respiratory
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-24
2001-07-31
Winakur, Eric F. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Respiratory
C600S529000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267730
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apnea detecting system for monitoring the cyclic respiratory movement of a subject's body and for triggering an alarm signal in response to a cessation in that respiratory movement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sudden infant death syndrome, commonly referred to by its acronym of SIDS, remains a mysterious phenomenon that can be an overwhelming source of anxiety to parents of newborns. Although the precise source of SIDS continues to elude researchers, it is indisputably true that an occurrence of SIDS will be attended by a cessation in breathing, which is commonly termed apnea. Accordingly, anxious parents often find themselves physically watching over their sleeping babies or listening to baby monitors in the hope of detecting any breathing affectation and preventing that apnea occurrence from leading to a life threatening event.
One knowledgeable in the art will be aware that a plurality of inventors have endeavored to provide means for continuously monitoring an infant's breathing and for triggering an alarm signal in response to a cessation in that breathing. The prior art has disclosed apnea detectors with a wide variety of means for detecting a cessation in breathing. Almost universally, these apnea detectors have been retained adjacent to a child's body by a strap that surrounds the child's torso. Certain of these devices further require that adhesive be interposed between the child's body and a housing of the apnea detector for ensuring constant contact and proper function of the device.
Unfortunately, the apnea detectors disclosed by the prior art suffer from a number of drawbacks. A most basic disadvantage of prior art apnea detectors is that securing the device about a child's torso is a relatively cumbersome task that certainly makes applying the device an unduly laborious that could discourage the apnea detector from being applied at all. Furthermore, strapping such apnea detectors around a baby's waist certainly can lead to discomfort for the child, which can be upsetting both to the child and to the parent. Still further, many prior art apnea detectors require a measure of expertise and a considerable degree of care to ensure that the device is installed properly on a wearer.
Even further still, the retaining straps in prior art devices can become displaced, which can prevent the devices from functioning properly and could pose a danger of entanglement or strangulation to the young, sleeping wearer. This same danger is often unfortunately presented by apnea detectors that employ external wires or leads for their sensing functions, power supply, or the like. Yet further, AC powered apnea detectors could exhibit EMF generation, which also would endanger the subject whom they are intended to protect. On a more mundane level, one will appreciate that many prior art apnea detectors are necessarily expensive to manufacture and thus to buy, which can put them out of reach of many consumers.
In light of the foregoing, it becomes clear that an apnea detector providing a solution to one or more of the aforementioned deficiencies in the prior art would be useful. It is clearer still that an apnea detector presenting a solution to each and every problem left by the prior art while providing a number of heretofore unrealized advantages would represent a marked advance in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Advantageously, the present invention sets about with the broadly stated object of providing an apnea detecting system that meets the needs left unmet by the prior art while markedly improving on the functionality of the prior art. Naturally, a primary object of the present invention is that of providing a device that consistently functions effectively to ensure that any cessation or other appreciable affectation in a wearer's breathing will be detected and an alarm signal actuated in response thereto. In furtherance of this basic object, a principal object of the present invention is to provide an apnea detector that is retained securely in place while remaining comfortably unobtrusive. Another object of the invention is to provide an apnea detector that effectively can not act as an independent source of danger to a child who wears the device. A still further object of the invention is to provide an apnea detector that may be installed quickly and easily in a manner that requires substantially no expertise and leaves little room for error. Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apnea detector that is durable and reliable in function yet inexpensive in manufacture. Certainly these and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious both to one who reviews the present disclosure and to one who has an opportunity to make use of an embodiment of the present invention.
In accomplishing the aforementioned objects, one most basically stated embodiment of the present invention for an apnea detecting system essentially comprises an apnea detector for monitoring a cyclic respiratory movement of a subject's body and for triggering an alarm signal in response to an abnormality in that respiratory movement in combination with an article of clothing specifically adapted for retaining the apnea detector.
A resilient projection may be disposed on the first side of the body of the apnea detector. The resilient projection preferably will be formed integrally as a single member with a wall of the apnea detector body. The resilient projection may be formed as a hub coupled to the wall by a plurality of legs. The resilient projection may cooperate with a plunger actuator and a piezoelectric member to act as a means for sensing a respiratory movement of a subject. In such a case, the plunger actuator may have a first end coupled to an interior surface of the resilient projection and a second end disposed adjacent to the piezoelectric member for deforming the piezoelectric member upon compression of the resilient projection. The sensing means may be supplemented by a means for triggering an alarm signal in response to an abnormality in the respiratory movement of a subject and a means for providing an alarm signal in response to an activation by the alarm signal triggering means.
The article of clothing, which may assume the form of a diaper, most basically comprises a body covering element with an aperture, which may be annular, therein for aligning with the projection from the body of an apnea detector. The article of clothing further includes a means for retaining the apnea detector relative to the article of clothing with the resilient projection aligned with the aperture in the article of clothing. With the means for retaining the apnea detector relative to the article of clothing, the invention ensures consistently effective function of the apnea detector.
The means for retaining the apnea detector relative to the article of clothing may comprise a pocket disposed on the body covering element, and the aperture may be disposed on an inside wall of the pocket. The article of clothing may include another aperture, such as a slit, in the outside wall of the pocket. A first leg may project from the second side of the apnea detector for engaging the aperture in the outside wall of the pocket. With this, the aperture and the first leg together act as an ideal means for securing the apnea detector within the pocket.
The first leg preferably will be supplemented by a second leg so that the apnea detector will be retained within the pocket most securely. The first and second legs may be fixed in position with a proximal side of each leg facing the body of the apnea detector and a distal side of each leg facing away from the body of the apnea detector. Alternatively, the legs could be hingedly coupled to the apnea detector body and locked in the aforedescribed configuration by a means for locking the first and second legs in position, which may comprise a hook in combination with a ridge. A most effective alarm indication may be provided by disposing a means fo
Natnithithadha Navin
O'Connell Law Firm
Winakur Eric F.
LandOfFree
Apnea detecting system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apnea detecting system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apnea detecting system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2566260