This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to patent application no. DE 10 2011 077 515.3, filed on Jun. 15, 2011 in Germany, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a device and a method for electronic body monitoring, more particularly for infants.
Sudden infant death syndrome is one of the most common ways of dying in child age beyond the neonatal period. Currently, one way of taking precautions against sudden infant death syndrome lies in using motion detectors, e.g. Angelcare AC401, http://www.angelcare.de. Here, motion is captured by sensor mats situated below a mattress. In the case of motion detectors for taking precautions against sudden infant death syndrome, the motion of the child is monitored, and a warning signal is transmitted in the case of a relatively long break between movements. In this case, no further vital parameters of the child are monitored in addition to motion.
EP 0 573 765 B1 discloses a method and a device for monitoring the change in the motion state of objects or parts of the human body by means of an arrangement of optical fibers. DE 10 2008 014 652 A1 discloses a medical detection device for detecting sleep apnea or sleep hypopnea on the basis of sound. DE 10 2009 001 398 A1 discloses a plaster for detecting movements of a body.
A further way of taking precautions against sudden infant death syndrome lies in using cardio-respiratory monitors. In this case, the respiration rate is permanently monitored by a body sensor and the heart rate is permanently monitored using two electrodes. Body sensor and electrodes are connected to monitoring equipment by cables. Cardio-respiratory monitors monitor the heart rate of the infant with the aid of electrodes and monitor the respiratory movement of the infant with the aid of a body sensor. If critical values are reached in the process, e.g. a respiratory pause of more than 15 seconds, the parents are informed by means of an alarm function.
Plasters comprising electronic components, for example for monitoring human vital parameters, are referred to as electronic functional plasters. Known applications of electronic plasters include measuring EKGs or blood-oxygen saturation.
An electronic functional plaster comprises electronics for signal processing and control, optionally sensors, actuators and output elements, which are integrated in an adhesive plaster. An autonomous energy source, e.g. a battery, is required for supplying the electronic components with electrical energy.
The present disclosure provides a device and a method for electronic body monitoring according to claims 1 and 13, respectively, more particularly for infants, in order to identify critical states of the infant, which could lead to sudden infant death syndrome, in good time and trigger an alarm.
The preferred embodiment of the disclosure has a functional plaster.
Preferred developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
According to the disclosure, the combination of different sensor systems in addition to monitoring various vital parameters of an infant also allows the monitoring of further important parameters in respect of the risk of infant death syndrome.
The following come into question as vital parameters to be monitored: heart rate, skin temperature, respiration rate and movement. The sleep position—supine, lateral or prone position—the ambient temperature and the ambient humidity can be measured as further parameters.
By monitoring the measured parameters and comparing these to intended value ranges for each parameter, it is possible to achieve improved identification of critical states of the infant.
Simplified handling is achieved by embedding the electronics into a plaster.
The fixation device is designed such that it is used to affix the sensor part 12 to the infant body. Alternatively, this can preferably be brought about by securely adhering the sensor part 12 by means of an adhesive plaster or an adhesive tape strip. As an alternative to this, fixation by means of an already present diaper of the infant may also be advantageous. Moreover, there may be integration into a pacifier.
Hence, the sensor apparatus 20 contains various sensors 21, 23, 24 for measuring the parameters and the sleep position of the infant, an evaluation logic unit 25 for processing the sensor signals and transmission electronics 27 for transmitting data to the signaling part, and also an electric energy source 26 for supplying the electronics with energy. The contained energy source can be designed such that it is rechargeable or replaceable.
In order to measure heart beat and respiration, use is made of an acoustic sensor 21, a microphone, in conjunction with an acoustic horn. In order to measure the sleep position and movement of the infant, use is made of the accelerometer 23. The skin temperature is captured by a temperature sensor 24, as used in medical thermometers.
In order to evaluate and process the sensor signals, use is made of the evaluation logic unit 25. The latter can be realized by a microcontroller or a programmable logic component, e.g. FPGA, PAL or GAL.
In order to transmit the data from the sensor apparatus 20 to the signaling part 13, the transmission electronics 27 are used here for wireless transmission of the data, for example by means of WLAN, Bluetooth or RFID.
Here, a simple button cell serves as energy source 26 for the electronics. The holder of the battery should then be designed such that it is easy to replace the latter. The use of a rechargeable battery is an alternative thereto. The rechargeable battery can then be charged either by contact surfaces, for example on a plaster, or, in the case of an appropriate configuration, in a contactless manner by means of an induction field.
As an alternative to the plug-in power supply unit 47, the reception device can be supplied with electrical energy from a battery.
The control, reception and evaluation electronics 51 are designed such that they can receive the data transmitted by a sensor part, for example by means of WLAN, Bluetooth or RFID. The control, reception and evaluation electronics 51 serve to evaluate the received data and control the signaler and warning elements. Here, the evaluation electronics may consist of a microcontroller and/or a programmable logic component.
The warning elements LEDs 44 and loudspeaker 45 serve to warn the parents if there is a risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
As signaling element, the signaling part 40 contains the display 43 for visualizing the data transmitted by a sensor part: heart rate, skin temperature, respiration rate, movement and sleep position. In addition to the current data record, the display can also signal the time profile of the data. In the shown embodiment of the signaler, the LEDs 44 serve to signal problem-free functioning of the device for electronic body monitoring, more particularly for infants, and for signaling an alarm.
Alternatively, signaling the data signaled in the display can be realized by simple LEDs.
A charging apparatus, coil 52 in
As an alternative to an independent signaling part, it is possible to use an appropriately equipped PC, e.g. with WLAN receiver, Bluetooth receiver or USB receiver, for receiving the data from the sensor part, with appropriate software as signaling part.
By processing all available data, in particular the sleep position, in the evaluation logic unit of the sensor part, it is possible to achieve improved identification of critical states, which could lead to sudden infant death syndrome.
The data measured on the infant is evaluated in the sensor part in all of the above-described examples. An advantage of this is that processed data, and therefore data that is reduced in terms of its amount, is transmitted. Alternatively, sensor data that has not been completely processed can be transmitted by the sensor part, and said data is evaluated in the signaling part.
According to a further embodiment of the disclosure, the signaling part 40 furthermore has an Internet connection. As a result, remote monitoring of the child can take place when requested, independently of an emergency, for example by means of an Internet-capable cellular telephone.
If at least one measurement value lies outside of the intended range of the corresponding parameter, an alarm is then emitted in method step c) via branch 71. In method step d), the alarm and the at least one measurement value that lies outside of the intended range are signaled. The method then repeats again, starting with method step a). If it is not the case that at least one measurement value lies outside of the intended range for the intended parameter, a repetition of the method, starting with method step a), follows directly via branch 72.
As per one embodiment of the disclosure, after method step a), a check is carried out in the method as to whether there is an external query in respect of transmitting measurement values and, if need be, the measurement values are transmitted to the external source. By way of example, this embodiment is possible in the case of a signaling part with an Internet connection. As a result, the child can be monitored remotely following a query by the parents, independently of an emergency, for example by means of an Internet-capable cellular telephone. The cellular telephone transmits, via the Internet, a query in respect of transmitting measurement values to the signaling part. The signaling part thereupon transmits the measurement values to the cellular telephone over the Internet. The query and the transmission of the measurement values are preferably encrypted with the necessary data security. The additional function can be designed as a separately installable program for the cellular telephone.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2011 077 515.3 | Jun 2011 | DE | national |