KR20060054338A - Bio-filter pad for facilitating the detection of an occurrence of a physiological action - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention facilitates the detection of an occurrence of a physiological action imparting a displacement to a body part at a natural frequency signature by virtue of a bio-filter pad (2) including a viscoelastic interior (23) for intimate juxtapositioning against the body part, and having a mechanical resonance frequency midway in the range of the frequency signature associated with the physiological action.

Description

BIO-FILTER PAD FOR FACILITATING THE DETECTION OF AN OCCURRENCE OF A PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION}

The present invention relates generally to medical diagnostic devices and methods for detecting the occurrence of physiological activities, in particular of the gestation.

Fetal movements are described in Fetal Movements In utero-A Review, Sadovsky, E., M.D., Isr. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 1992; 3: 27-36 has been recognized as a good predictor of fetal condition. The gestational monitoring technique was variously performed by the subjective evaluation of the mother through the gestational monitoring device for monitoring the abdominal movement of the mother or the basic technique of the intrauterine ultrasound for intrauterine observation. The birth monitoring device is designed to monitor maternal abdominal movements in the range of 8-25 Hz, the natural frequency of the maternal abdomen. These abdominal movements are thought to be mainly induced by the gestation, as opposed to intrauterine contractions, respiratory movements, and maternal postural movements, so the 8-25 Hz natural frequency of the maternal abdomen is referred to as the "natural birth frequency".

Exemplary passive monitoring devices are described in "Measurement of Fetal Movements by Moving-Coil Transducer" by Adler D., et al., IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, Vol. BME-27, No. 12, December 1980, which uses two moving-coil transducers on the left and right side of the mother's abdomen to detect womb. Such devices require about 80 dB electrical signal amplification for detection of wake, which is at least partially necessary to overcome transducer attenuation of frequencies at natural wake frequencies and to offset the high sensitivity of the device to electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Summary of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to a bio-filter capable of physically amplifying displacement within the natural frequency range associated with the occurrence of physiological activity, which facilitates the detection of the occurrence of physiological activity. This increases the physical amplification of the displacement in response to a bio-filter pad having a mechanical resonant frequency, preferably intermediate, in the natural frequency range, and preferably at the same mechanical resonant frequency, thus amplifying the electrical signal by a suitable physiological activity recorder. In order to reduce the requirement, this is achieved by a transducer mechanically coupled to the bio-filter pad. The transducers used to implement the invention are preferably transducers of the type, for example moving coil transducers, in which the resonant frequency can be easily adjusted to the desired frequency range, but other types of transducers can also be used. have.

At present, the first application of the present invention is generally for monitoring the gestation, in particular for monitoring the gestation at home, but the bio-filter pad of the invention can also be adapted for use in kinesiology, rehabilitation and the like. . For quick monitoring purposes, the bio-filter pads and transducers preferably each have the same mechanical resonance frequency in the middle of the natural wake frequency range, thereby inducing physical amplification of about 20 to about 50 of abdominal displacement. . Due to this physical amplification, a suitably tailored transducer and passive recorder, which together form the passive monitoring device, are about 45 dB electrical signal amplification only combined in opposition to the 80 dB electrical signal amplification required so far in the above mentioned Adler literature. This is required, and therefore also inherently advantageously reducing the EMI sensitivity of the passive recorder.

Brief description of the drawings

In order to understand the present invention and to see how it can be implemented, the preferred embodiments will be described by way of non-limiting example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, like numbers:

1 is a schematic diagram of a first preferred embodiment of a passive monitoring system according to the present invention comprising a bio-filter pad, a transducer and a passive recorder;

2 is a graph showing the natural gestational frequency of the mother's abdomen;

3 is a view of the bio-filter pad of FIG. 1;

4 is a cross-sectional view of the bio-filter pad of FIG. 1 along line A-A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the rate response curve of the bio-filter pad of FIG. 1; FIG.

6 is a schematic diagram of a second preferred embodiment of the passive monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a passive monitoring system 1 suitable for use at home, which provides a visual indicator at the predominant gestational level, based on the detection of maternal abdominal movement with a typical natural emergent frequency signal FS (FIG. 2). The passive monitoring system 1 includes a bio-filter pad 2 detachably attached to the mother abdomen, and a moving coil transducer 3 for sensing the mother's abdominal movement is centrally located on the bio-filter pad. It is installed. Transducer 3 is predominant during amplifier 6, A / D converter 7, signal processor 8, memory 9, output connector 11, e.g., RS-232, and passive monitoring period. Is connected to a credit card type battery powered spring recorder 4 with a spring display 12 for comparing the spring to regular levels measured based on historical information. The emergent display 12 has three LEDs: a green LED 13 indicating a regular level of emergence, an orange LED 14 indicating a slightly lower emergence than a regular level of emergence and a significantly lower emergence than a regular level of emergence. Red LED 16 indicating. The transducer 3 and the passive recorder 4 have a combined electrical signal amplification of about 45 ± 5 dB.

FIG. 3 shows an elastic retaining member for sliding the transducer 3 onto the bio-filter pad 2 to mechanically couple the transducer 3 to the bio-filter pad 2. 18 having a top portion 17 formed therein, and a bottom with a peel-off protective liner 21 that can expose the attachment surface 22 to detachably attach the bio-filter pad 2 to the mother's abdomen. The bio-filter pad 2 with 19 is shown. The bio-filter pad 2 is preferably circular, having a diameter of about 10 cm to about 25 cm and a thickness of about 1 mm to about 5 mm. The bio-filter pad 2 concentrates the mechanical energy imparted so that the transducer can detect most of the emergence, although not all of the emergence, which is induced from the abdominal movement to the transducer 3, but not just the limb movement. 3) has a viscoelastic interior 23 with concentric sections leading to (see FIG. 4). Viscoelastic interior 23 may be comprised of a solid material, a gel material, a fluid material, or a combination thereof. The bio-filter pad 2 has a 12 Hz mechanical resonant frequency for physically amplifying the displacement in the manifestation of the natural frequency (see FIG. 5), as the transducer 3 did. The mechanical resonant frequencies of the bio-filter pad 2 and the transducer 3 can be tested by impinging on them. The mechanical coupling between the bio-filter pad 2 and the transducer 3 is such that they induce a physical amplification of about 20 to about 50 of abdominal displacement to accentuate the signs of spontaneous emergence frequency.

The gestational monitoring system typically replaces the mother's subjective evaluation of the gestation in other conventional gestational monitoring programs. Thus, according to the birth monitoring program, the mother removes the peel-off protective liner from the bio-filter pad, attaches the bio-filter pad closely on the mother's abdomen, couples the transducer to the bio-filter pad, Record the abdominal movements of the mother. During normal operation, the green LED will light up, and no special action is required. If the amber or red LED is lit during the birth monitoring period, the mother should deliver the birth recorder with all the birth information input to the medical professional for professional diagnosis.

FIG. 6 is a passive monitoring system 31 similar to the passive monitoring system 1 except that the passive recorder 32 is an independent unit, which supplies power and connects to a remote server 34 for data processing. Removably attached to the mobile telephone 33 for. To this end, the passive recorder 32 comprises a data compression processor 36 for compressing the passive record for selective transmission to the remote server 34 and an audio output 37 for connecting to the audio input of the mobile telephone. . The result of the passive monitoring period is preferably sent by SMS for display on the mobile telephone display 38.

While the invention has been described in a limited number of embodiments, it will be apparent that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the bio-filter pad can be elliptical, and different retention techniques can be used to position the transducer on top of it. Also, recorders, for example, passive recorders 4 and 36 may be integrally formed with the transducer.

Claims (16)

Bio-filter pads used to detect the occurrence of physiological activity that imparts displacement to body parts at natural frequencies, including viscoelastic interiors for closely paralleling body parts and associated with physiological activity Bio-filter pads having a mechanical resonance frequency in the middle of the frequency range. 2. The bio of claim 1, further comprising a peel-off protective liner for exposing a surface suitable for intimately detachable attachment of the bio-filter pad to a body part. -Filter pad. The viscoelastic interior of claim 1 or 2, wherein the viscoelastic interior places the mechanical energy delivered to the bio-filter pad due to displacement of the body part located below the bio-filter pad in the upper center of the bio-filter pad facing the body part. A bio-filter pad, characterized in that it has a concentrating compartment for concentrating with an isolated transducer. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a retaining member on the bio-filter pad for mechanically detachably coupling the transducer to the top of the bio-filter pad. Bio-filter pad, characterized in that. 5. The bio-filter pad of claim 4, wherein the retaining member slides to receive the transducer. 6. A bio-filter pad according to any one of claims 1 to 5, having a size and shape suitable for the mother's abdomen, and having a mechanical resonance frequency in the middle of the natural emergence frequency range for emergent monitoring. The bio-filter pad of claim 1, wherein the bio-filter pad is used for single use for a single patient. A method for detecting the occurrence of physiological activity that imparts displacement to a part of the body at natural frequency, (a) placing a bio-filter pad in close proximity to the body part having a viscoelastic interior and having a mechanical resonance frequency in the middle of the natural frequency range associated with physiological activity; (b) physically coupling one or more transducers closely to the top of the bio-filter pad to generate an electrical signal response to displacement of the body part; And (c) processing the electrical signal to detect the occurrence of physiological activity. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (a) comprises removing the peel-off protective liner from the underside of the bio-filter pad to expose the attachment surface for detachable close attachment of the bio-filter pad onto the body part. Including method. 10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein step (b) comprises detachably sliding the transducer under a retaining member on top of the bio-filter pad. 11. The method of any one of claims 8 to 10, further comprising concentrating the physical energy delivered to the bio-filter pad with the transducer due to displacement of the body part located under the bio-filter pad. How to. 12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the bio-filter pad has a size and shape suitable for the mother's abdomen, and has a mechanical resonance frequency in the middle of the natural emergence frequency range for emergent monitoring. . 13. The method of any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the bio-filter pad is used for single use for a single patient. One or more transducers positioned closely parallel to the maternal abdomen for generating an electrical signal for maternal abdominal movement; And a passive recorder for processing an electrical signal for detecting occurrence of a passive event, Device with electrical signal amplification of about 45 ± 5 dB. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the passive recorder comprises one or more transducers integrally formed therewith. 16. The apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the passive recorder has an audio output for connecting with the mobile telephone.

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