Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting sound generated within body
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-24
2004-03-16
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting sound generated within body
C600S300000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06706002
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS
A related patent application by M. E. Halleck and M. D. Halleck has been filed concurrently with this patent application Ser. No. 09/534,813 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Detecting Very Low Frequency Acoustic Signals”. Another related patent application by M. E. Halleck and M. D. Halleck has been filed concurrently with this patent application Ser. No. 09/536,104 entitled “Sensor and Method for Detecting Very Low Frequency Acoustic Signals”. Another related patent application by M. E. Halleck, M. D. Halleck, M. L. Lehrman and A. R. Owens has been filed concurrently with this patent application Ser. No. 09/536,093 entitled “Physiological Condition Monitors Utilizing Very Low Frequency Acoustic Signals”. Another related patent application by M. E. Halleck, M. D. Halleck and G. V. Halleck has been filed concurrently with this patent application Ser. No. 09/535,293 entitled “System and Method for Seizing A Communication Channel in A Commercially Available Child Monitor”.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to physiological condition monitors that utilize very low frequency acoustic signals to detect cardiac activity and respiration activity in children. The immediate detection of a child's irregular heartbeat or the cessation of the child's respiration can be used to prevent the death of the child. The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for detecting very low frequency acoustic signals that represent physiological activity. The present invention comprises a sensor and a method for detecting very low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz (0.1 Hz) to thirty Hertz (30.0 Hz). The sensor of the present invention is capable of obtaining physiological condition signals from a child without being directly coupled to the skin of the child.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the United States an estimated two thousand to three thousand infants a year suddenly die from unexplained causes. Apparently healthy children can suddenly die without any obvious cause of death. This phenomenon is known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In the United States Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the leading cause of death of children between the age of one month and one year. It is second only to congenital abnormalities as the leading overall cause of death for all children less than one year of age.
If a child begins to experience difficulty in breathing or begins to experience irregular heartbeat, whoever is caring for the child (usually one of the child's parents) may have only a few seconds to respond to the child's distress. Therefore, it is very desirable to be able to provide a child's care giver with immediate notification that the child is experiencing cardiac or respiratory difficulty. This may be achieved by using a physiological condition monitor that is capable of continuously monitoring the physiological conditions of the child.
Microphones in physiological condition monitors are used to detect sounds that are indicative of physiological processes. Physiological condition monitors are capable of obtaining and recording signals indicative of a child's physiological processes. The most commonly monitored physiological processes are respiration and cardiac activity. Physiological condition monitors that monitor respiration and cardiac activity usually comprise one or more sensors coupled to the body of the child whose physiological conditions are to be measured. The sensors are capable of sensing changes in physical parameters that are caused by the child's respiration and cardiac activity. Physiological condition monitors measure and record waveform signals received from the sensors. Electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform signals may be used to measure a child's cardiac activity. Respiration waveform signals may be electronically derived using techniques such as impedance pneumongraphy or inductive plethysmography. Respiration waveform signals are used to measure a child's breathing rate and other types of information concerning respiration.
The present invention comprises a chamber and a microphone that is capable of detecting very low frequency acoustic signals. The present invention is capable of monitoring physiological conditions in children utilizing very low frequency acoustic signals. For purposes of illustration, the present invention will be described with reference to physiological condition monitors that are capable of monitoring respiration and cardiac activity. It is understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to use in respiration monitors, and is not limited to use in cardiac activity monitors, and is not limited to use in physiological condition monitors in general. The present invention may be used to detect, measure and record any type of very low frequency acoustic signal.
Low heart rate is referred to as bradycardia. High heart rate is referred to as tachycardia. Cessation of respiration is referred to as apnea. When a child exhibits apnea, bradycardia or tachycardia, a life threatening condition very likely exists. Physiological condition monitors that are capable of continuously monitoring a child's respiration and cardiac activity are extremely useful for quickly detecting apnea, bradycardia or tachycardia. Such physiological condition monitors are also useful for quickly detecting other abnormal conditions such as a very slow breathing rate or a very high breathing rate.
Children who are susceptible to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome are known to exhibit apnea and bradycardia. Physiological condition monitors that are capable of continually monitoring respiration and cardiac activity are particularly useful in the early detection of apnea or bradycardia in children. Most physiological condition monitors are equipped with an alarm system to sound an alert when such conditions are detected.
A physiological condition monitor may be coupled directly to a child while the child is sleeping in a bed. In such an arrangement the waveform signals from the sensors coupled to the child's body may be sent through wires directly to a detector circuit (and other circuitry) located in a console by the child's bed. The wires attached to the child restrict the child's movements and frequently become tangled as the child moves. The tangling of the wires can also result in the sensors becoming detached from the child. The loss of sensor contact can set off an alarm signal.
In other cases it is more practical to provide one or more sensors located in a belt, harness or item of clothing that is to be worn by the child. In this type of physiological condition monitor the waveform signal information from the sensors is transmitted via a radio frequency transmitter to a radio frequency receiver in a base station unit that is located away from the site of the physiological condition sensors. The base station unit contains circuitry for analyzing and recording the waveform signal information. The base station unit contains circuitry for detecting abnormal conditions in the child's breathing (such as apnea) or abnormal conditions in the child's cardiac activity (such as bradycardia or tachycardia). Because of the freedom of movement that this type of monitor provides, it is the preferred type of monitor for monitoring the physiological conditions of children.
If the data that is acquired by the physiological condition monitor is not transmitted to the base station unit and recorded there, then the data may be recorded in a memory data storage device located within the physiological condition monitor. To preserve the freedom of movement that is provided by a monitor that is worn on a belt, harness or item of clothing, the memory data storage device within the physiological condition monitor must be battery powered.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform signals may be used to obtain information concerning a child's cardiac activity. To obtain ECG waveforms an ECG sensor unit is coupled to the child. The ECG sensor
Halleck Michael D.
Halleck Michael E.
Lehrman Michael L.
ILife Systems, Inc.
Natnithithadha Navin
Shaver Kevin
LandOfFree
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