Patent ID: 6150941
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An infant monitoring system for continuously monitoring the breathing of an infant and producing an alarm whenever the breathing activity of the infant is in jeopardy comprising:a) an apparatus for generating an ultrasound wave and broadcasting said ultrasound wave upon said infant such that an echo return of said ultrasound wave is generated from said infant;b) a microphone for detecting the echo return of said ultrasound wave and generating a first signal corresponding thereto;c) an apparatus for generating a second signal, said second signal representing normal respiratory activity anticipated for an infant;d) a phase comparator for comparing said first signal with said second signal and measuring the degree of variation between said first signal and said second signal, said phase comparator further being designed to transmit a third signal at intervals corresponding to when said first signal deviates from said second signal beyond a respective one of a plurality of selected degrees of variation between said first signal and said second signal, wherein each respective one of said selected degrees of variation corresponds to an abnormal respiratory condition;e) a timer for timing the duration of the receipt of the third signal generated from said phase comparator; andf) an alarm coupled to said timer, said alarm being designed to produce an alarm signal whenever said timer indicates receipt of said third signal from said phase comparator for a reference time duration.