Patent ID: 8663126

Claim:
A wearable, acoustic device for monitoring breathing sounds, comprising: an elongate resilient strap having mating fasteners disposed on opposite ends thereof, the strap being adapted for removable attachment around a portion of a chest of an infant; a thin, flexible housing having a hermetic seal attached to an outer surface of the strap; an acoustic sensor disposed on an inner surface of the strap, the acoustic sensor contacting the portion of the chest of the infant when the strap is wrapped around the infant, the acoustic sensor generating a signal corresponding to the breathing sounds of an infant; a portable power source disposed in the housing for supplying electrical power to the wearable acoustic device; a processor disposed inside the housing, the acoustic sensor being operably connected to the processor, the processor having memory for storing the signal generated by the acoustic sensor and having a signal corresponding to baseline normal breathing sounds stored in memory, the processor having means for comparing the signal generated by the acoustic sensor to the stored signal corresponding to the baseline normal breathing sounds and generating a normal breathing output signal when the comparison of the signals indicates the infant is breathing normally, generating a warning output signal when the comparison of the signals indicates the infant is developing breathing problems, and generating a danger output signal when the comparison of the signals indicates the infant's breathing indicates an attack of bronchial asthma; a thermal actuator disposed in the housing and operably connected to the processor, the thermal actuator generating heat for changing the temperature of the thermal actuator in response to the output signal of the processor; a thermal activated color strip disposed on the housing and visible to a user when the strap is secured to the infant's chest, the thermal activated color strip being adjacent to the thermal actuator and changing color in response to the temperature of the thermal actuator, the thermal activated color strip being green in response to the temperature of the heat actuator due to a normal breathing output signal of the processor, yellow in response the temperature of the heat actuator due to a warning output signal of the processor, and red in response to the temperature of the heat actuator due to a danger output signal of the processor; an oximeter attachable to a finger of the infant; and a coupling between the oximeter and the processor.