Physiological condition monitors utilizing very low frequency acoustic signals
US6415033B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 2, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C16/30
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Physiological condition monitors utilizing very low frequency acoustic signals and signals indicative of body orientation are disclosed. The physiological condition monitors comprise a sensor that is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a microphone mounted in the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity. The sensor provides information concerning physiological conditions, such as respiration and cardiac activity. The sensor in a physiological condition monitor does not need to be directly coupled to the skin of the person being monitored. The physiological condition monitor simultaneously provides information concerning cardiac activity, and respiration activity, and the movement and position orientation of the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.