Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Patent
1993-05-26
1995-05-30
Peng, John K.
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
73646, 73645, 340600, G08B 2300
Patent
active
054205816
ABSTRACT:
The present invention is a maternal sound level device that functions to protect fetal hearing by alerting the mother whenever her fetus is exposed to sound pressure levels (SPL) which exceed predetermined levels. The device is comprised of a microphone (14) for SPL detection, preamplifier (2), weighting network (4), level detector (6), and alarm mechanism (8). This device is battery operated and can be easily clipped on a belt so as to be worn by pregnant women at the abdominal level to monitor SPL at the abdomen. SPLs are measured in the range of greater than 80 dB and less than 100 dB over a frequency range of greater than 30 Hz and less than 10,000 Hz. The mother is alerted to SPLs that are exceeding a predetermined level to protect the hearing of the mother's developing fetus by a visual and/or a mechanical alarm. A distinguishing feature of the invention is the weighting network which enhances low frequency SPLs (greater than 30 Hz and less than 1000 Hz) by greater than 5 dB and less than 15 dB and attenuates high frequency SPLs (greater than 1000 Hz). In a preferred embodiment, an alarm signal will be presented to the user of the device when sound pressure levels in the vicinity of the user are greater than 80 dB at frequencies between greater than 30 Hz and less than 1000 Hz, with gradually increasing SPLs required with higher frequency such that 100 dB SPL is required to produce an alarm at greater than 4000 Hz and less than 5000 Hz.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3696206 (1972-10-01), Ida
patent: 3778552 (1973-12-01), Edinborgh
patent: 3789952 (1974-02-01), Widegren
patent: 4064362 (1977-12-01), Williams
patent: 4277980 (1981-07-01), Coats
patent: 4297677 (1981-10-01), Lewis
patent: 4319081 (1982-03-01), Martin
patent: 4538296 (1985-08-01), Short et al.
patent: 4654642 (1987-03-01), Groff
patent: 4827458 (1989-05-01), D'Alayer de Costemore D'Arc
patent: 5072415 (1991-12-01), Cannelli et al.
patent: 5093658 (1992-03-01), Grothause
patent: 5109421 (1992-04-01), Fox
patent: 5119426 (1992-06-01), Roberts
Brody, Jane E., "Sounds and the Fetus", The New York Times, Mar. 31, 1993.
Peters, Aemil J. M., et al., "Fetal Vibroacoustic Stimulation Test: Vibrator Response Characteristics in Pregnant Sheep Postmorten", Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 81, No. 2, Feb. 1993, pp. 181-184.
Robb, Vicki, "UF research in sheep indicates how sounds reach fetus in womb", The Friday Evening Post, University of Fla., Health Science Center Communications, Gainesville, Fla., p. 2, Oct. 9, 1992.
Richards, Douglas S., et al., "Sound Levels in the Human Uterus", Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 80, No. 2, Aug. 1992, pp. 186-190.
Peters, A. J. M., et al., "Resonance of the Pregnant Sheep Uterus", J. of Low Frequency Noise & Vibration, vol. 11, No. 1 (1992) pp. 1-6.
Peters, Aemil J. M., et al., "Three Dimensional Sound and Vibration Frequency Responses of the Sheep Abdomen", J. of Low Frequency Noise & Vibration, vol. 10, No. 4 (1991) pp. 100-111.
Peters, Aemil J. M., et al., "Vibration of the Abdomen in Non-Pregnant Sheep: Effect of Dynamic Force and Surface Area of Vibrator", J. of Low Frequency Noise & Vibration, vol. 10, No. 3, (1991) pp. 92-99.
Gerhardt, Kenneth J., "Prenatal and Perinatal Risks of Hearing Loss", Seminars in Perinatology, vol. 14, No. 4, Aug. (1990), pp. 299-304.
Lalande, Nicole M., et al., "Is Occupational Noise Exposure During Pregnancy a Risk Factor to the Auditory System of the Fetus", Am. J. of Indus. Med., 10:427-435 (1986).
Gerhardt, K. J., et al., "Cochlear Microphonics Recorded From Fetal and Newborn Sheep", Am. J. of Otolaryngology, vol. 13, No. 4, Jul.-Aug. (1992), pp. 226-233.
Abrams Robert M.
Masterson Byron J.
Peters Aemil J. M.
Bani-Jamali Maryam
BodySonics, Inc.
Peng John K.
Wong Albert K.
LandOfFree
Maternal sound level device and method for protecting fetal hear does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Maternal sound level device and method for protecting fetal hear, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Maternal sound level device and method for protecting fetal hear will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-365381