Sleep apnea monitor
AssigneeSentel Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Bowers, Gunther W. Kienle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sleep apnea monitor includes an SaO.sub.2 sensor, a breathing sensor, a snoring sensor, and a head position sensor, all of which are mounted to a headgear. The breathing sensor preferably includes a piezo-electric film formed of a generally cylindrical shape positioned between the nose and mouth of the subject such that exhaled air warms the film and generates an electric signal indicative of the brathing pattern of the subject. Preferably, the region bounded by the piezo-electric film is used as a resonant cavity which is acoustically coupled to a microphone included in the snoring sensor. In one embodiment, data is logged from the sleep apnea monitor at the rate of one measurement for each pulse beat of the subject. In this way, data recording is synchronized with a physiological variable.
Claims17
A sensor positioning device for an oximeter of the type comprising an emitter having at least one light source, a receiver having at least one photosensor, and means for monitoring the receiver to measure selected body parameters, said device comprising:
- a headband configured to rest on the head of a subject;
- means for mounting the emitter and the receiver to the headband in side-by-side relationship such that both the emitter and the receiver are directed toward the forehead of the subject;
- means, included in the mounting means, for resiliently biasing the emitter and receiver into contact with the forehead of the subject;
- a breath sensor;
- and
- means for mounting the breath sensor to the headband to position the breath sensor to respond to air exhaled by the subject.
A sensor positioning device for an oximeter of the type comprising an emitter having at least one light source, a receiver having at least one photosensor, and means for monitoring the receiver to measure selected body parameters, said device comprising:
- a headband configured to rest on the head of a subject;
- means for mounting the emitter and the receiver to the headband in side-by-side relationship such that both the emitter and the receiver are directed toward the forehead of the subject;
- means, included in the mounting means, for resiliently biasing the emitter and receiver into contact with the forehead of the subject;
- a first strap positioned to encircle the head of the subject at the forehead;
- a second strap secured to the first strap to extend over the top of the head of the user;
- and
- means for adjusting the lengths of the first and second straps.
A health parameter sensing and data logging system comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each comprising means for sensing a respective health parameter and for generating a respective signal indicative of said parameter;
- means for processing the signals;
- means for logging the processed signals at selected intervals in response to an activation signal;
- and
- means for generating the activation signal in synchronization with the heart pulse of a subject such that the processed signals are logged in synchronization with the heart pulse.
A sensor positioning device for an oximeter of the type comprising an emitter having at least one light source, a receiver having at least one photosensor, and means for monitoring the receiver to measure selected body parameters, said device comprising:
- a headband configured to rest on the head of a subject;
- means for mounting the emitter and the receiver to the headband in side-by-side relationship such that both the emitter and the receiver are directed toward the forehead of the subject, said mounting means comprising:
- an elastic strap having first and second ends and an intermediate section;
- means for securing the first and second ends of the strap to the headband such that the strap is positioned on a chord of the headband;
- and
- means for securing the emitter and receiver to the intermediate section;
- said strap dimensioned to bias the emitter and receiver against the forehead of the subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.