Patent ID: 7041062

Claim:
An apparatus for generating measurement data concerning respiration-related movements of the abdominal wall and/or the thorax of a person, comprising at least one first pair of sensor units which are on an intermediate layer at a first distance from each other when the intermediate layer is fixed on the skin on a thoracic or abdominal area of the person, a measuring device connected to the first pair of sensor units and configured for detecting signals of the sensor units which are capable of electrical evaluation and for generating a first distance signal corresponding to said first distance and changes in same to a second distance signal corresponding to the changes in distances between the sensors as a result of respiratory related movements of the person, the measuring device includes means for outputting the first distance signal in the frequency range of respiration, an evaluation unit is connected to the output of the measuring device and is so configured for evaluating pulsed and/or waveform changes of the first distance signal that periodic signal changes of a frequency in the range between 0.5 and 0.1 Hz can be detected, distinguished in terms of frequency, amplitude or signal form from periodic changes of the first distance signal to the second distance signal caused by the human heartbeat and outputted as a respiration display signal which can be electronically displayed or further evaluated, wherein the evaluation unit is configured for additionally detecting a change in the first distance signal generated by running or hopping of the person, and to determine a stepping or hopping frequency therefrom.