WO2008155184A1

WO2008155184A1 - Garment with a sensor element for monitoring breathing and heart activity

Info

Publication number: WO2008155184A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/056116
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marko Rocznik
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-06-18
Filing date: 2008-05-19
Publication date: 2008-12-24
Also published as: DE102007027899A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a garment with a sensor element for measuring breathing and heart activity, wherein the sensor element contains, within a housing, at least one sensor, a chip (IC) with an integrated evaluation circuit, and a power supply unit, wherein the sensor is a one- or multiaxis inertial sensor, and a receiver element matched to the sensor element. The invention relates in addition to the use of an inertial sensor for monitoring the breathing and heart activity, particularly for avoiding sudden infant death.

Description

title

Garment with a sensor element for monitoring respiration and heart activity

description

The present invention relates to a garment having a sensor for monitoring respiration and cardiac activity, a receiver unit tuned to that sensor, and the use of an inertial sensor for monitoring respiration and cardiac activity.

Breast and cardiac arrest in sleeping infants may have various causes. In addition to occlusion of the airways by pillows or cuddly animals or the aspiration of vomit, especially in the supine position, is the so - called Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) with unclear pathology in the

Foreground. Sudden infant death is the accidental death of an infant or toddler usually in the first year of life. The risk factors include, among others, the prone position of the child during sleep or excessive warming. In any case, even with different or unexplained causes, SIDS leads to respiratory arrest and, as a consequence, to SIDS

Oxygen deficiency, which can lead to rapid and rapid deterioration of organ functions and cardiac arrest.

State of the art

Devices are known which monitor vital bodily functions, particularly in neonates and infants, to prevent sudden infant death.

An example is monitoring mats, which are intended to detect the movements of children. Such mats have been found to be very susceptible to interference and lead to frequent false alarms.

US 4,657,025 describes an electromagnetic sensor as a signal generator for the simultaneous detection of heart rate and respiratory rate. The signal generator consists of a cylindrical magnet which is surrounded by an electric coil. When the electric coil is moved, an electric current is generated in proportion to the movement and a voltage proportional to the frequency of the relative movement between the coil and the magnet generated. Heart rate and respiratory rate signals are electronically combined and a circuit detects the integrated energy of both signals. By a simple electronic circuit, a deviation from normal or predetermined values is determined and possibly triggered an alarm. This sensor is expensive and just unsuitable for use in children because it generates a constant electromagnetic load.

US 5,914,660 describes a position monitoring device for prone prevention. This device comprises a position indicator device which is connected to a signaling circuit. The position indicator device generated

Signals in response to a prone position of the child during sleep. This may be, for example, an optical sensor that interacts with a reflective or reflective or other marker, which in turn is attached to the child. If a signal is generated in response to a SIDS-dangerous abdominal or lateral position this is transmitted to a receiving unit and generates an alarm signal. This

However, the system is unable to detect sudden infant death from respiratory and / or cardiac arrest in the supine position.

At the moment, devices are also being developed that, similar to heart rate monitors (ECG principle), measure cardiac activity and control breathing through the movement of the thorax and the abdominal wall. The sensors are integrated into baby clothing, especially a baby body. However, the sensors require direct contact with the infant or toddler. In addition, a corresponding piece of clothing, such as a special baby body, must be provided, which contains the sensors and is expensive in its execution. In addition, the different

Sensors for monitoring to evaluate the data are connected by cable to a computer or laptop on which a corresponding monitoring and evaluation program is running.

Alternatively, the principle of pulse oximetry is used. Pulse oximetry is a

Method for the non-invasive determination of the oxygen saturation in the blood by determining the light absorption or the light remission by transillumination of the skin (percutaneous). The measurement is carried out with an attachable saturation receiver (clip) on an easily accessible body part, preferably on a finger, toe or earlobe. However, the oxygen saturation in the blood is not sufficiently fast

Indication for respiratory arrest dar. Moreover, such devices are susceptible to interference, especially during movements. For movements of the limbs, where the sensors Therefore, the oxygen saturation may not be or can no longer be determined with sufficient accuracy. This leads to frequent false alarms. Especially in infants and toddlers, the use of pulse oximeters is not practical because they can trample off the saturation and thus the fluoroscopic unit of arms or legs.

The application of the described equipment is therefore often complicated and in many cases requires a fixed cabling of the infant. Therefore, the known devices often have a low wearing comfort. As a result, the toddler often does not accept these devices and tries to puncture or lose them. In addition, there is also the risk of slipping of the sensors.

Another new development is that of a SIDS monitor, which integrates a light guide into which light is coupled into the child's clothing. For example, here is a simple plastic fiber as a light guide in a T-shirt or baby

Woven shirt. By moving, for example, by the breathing movement, the light guide is moved. The movements of the light guide change the intensity of the light that passes through the light guide. These changes in light intensity are measured continuously. If no changes in the light intensity occur over a defined period of time and thus no recognizable child movements, an alarm is triggered. This sensor system has the advantage that it is inexpensive and easy to operate and next to it no electrodes or adhesive sensors must be attached to the child. Furthermore, there is always a good contact with the child. A false alarm from dropped sensors or bad contact with the child can not occur. The disadvantage is that the optical fibers in turn must be connected via appropriate plugs and cables with a light source on the one hand and a measuring device on the other.

The death rate from SIDS aged 2 to 7 months is still extremely high, with over 50% of deaths at this age. Therefore, there is still much interest in improved and safe sensor systems that are inexpensive and can be standardized well.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, a garment with a sensor element for measuring respiration and heart activity is proposed, wherein the sensor element is in a housing contains at least one micromechanical sensor, a chip (IC) with integrated evaluation circuit and a power supply unit and wherein the sensor is a single or multi-axis inertial sensor.

Inertial sensors measure the acceleration and / or the rate of rotation with respect to the inertial space. Inertial sensors themselves are known and can advantageously be produced in a micromechanical manner with low space requirements and weight in a simple and inexpensive manner.

The heartbeat of individuals, especially infants, causes a pulse-like

Movement of the abdominal wall, which can be measured in the form of an acceleration by the inertial sensor contained in the sensor element according to the invention. The sensor and the circuits, in particular the signal processing on the chip, can advantageously be adapted to the particular requirements and bandwidth of the measuring range of the heart rate (pulse) and have the corresponding sensitivity.

The inertial sensor is preferably a low-g acceleration sensor which, together with the integrated evaluation circuit on the chip, can detect and evaluate the heartbeat of a child, in particular of an infant, particularly well.

The sensor element may include one or more acceleration sensors and / or

Rate of rotation sensors as an inertial sensor include. For example, for the further detection of the respiration, the same acceleration sensor can be used as for the heartbeat measurement. In this case, an acceleration sensor is used, which only evaluates the amplitude change of one direction. The one inertial sensor is in this case then selected so that during the twisting motion of the sensor of the

Direction of the gravitational acceleration based on the sensitive direction of the acceleration sensor sufficiently changes with the respiratory rate.

Similarly, according to the invention, for example, two or three, each 90 ° to each other arranged acceleration sensors can be used. From the

Individual proportions of the accelerations, the total vector of gravity can be calculated. A location differentiation of this vector gives the rotation that provides the respiratory movement as a measure.

For the detection of a breath-rotary motion can alternatively a single or multi-axis

Yaw rate sensor can be used. This can be accommodated with an acceleration sensor in the same silicon or quartz or even with this in a single Implemented structure be implemented. According to the invention, a plurality of individual inertial sensors can be used which are contacted, in particular bonded, to the chip. By a multiplication of the sensors used and the connection of the sensor signals to a common signal processing can advantageously the sensor element to the respective requirements, such as

Example measuring ranges and sensitivity for measuring cardiac activity and respiration, optimally adjusted.

In a further embodiment, the item of clothing according to the invention is designed such that the signal acquisition, the signal evaluation and the evaluation of the

Respiration and heart activity can be done within the sensor. A deviation from predefined defined standard values can thus be detected particularly quickly and an alarm state can be detected. This allows short signal and current paths. If the alarm occurs, the sensor can transmit the collected data very quickly to a receiver by radio. Advantageously, moreover, no lasting

Radio signal load on because only in case of alarm, data is sent to an external receiver.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that the power supply unit of the sensor may be a battery or a rechargeable battery. This has the advantage of being such

Power supply no wiring required. Alternatively, the power supply unit may particularly preferably comprise a high-capacitance capacitor and a coil. The use of a high-capacitance capacitor and a coil has the additional advantage over the use of batteries or rechargeable batteries that such a power supply unit no further tightness requirements of the

Housing provides, as it may require the use of batteries for the purpose of replacement, or of rechargeable batteries for charging. The preferred capacitor can be charged via the coil, which in turn can be powered by an external magnetic alternating field with energy. The charging process can be controlled by the chip. In addition, the capacitor can advantageously be charged within a few seconds. In addition, a power-saving circuit concept can ensure a sufficient operating time, for example of about one day.

In a further embodiment, the housing may be formed by a potting compound. It can be used here, for example, casting compounds are used as they are known for potting ICs. - -

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shape of the housing may form the outer end shape of the garment. More preferably, the garment may be a garment button containing an inertial sensor measuring respiration and cardiac activity. Such a button can be easily attached to clothing, such as by stitching or a push-button mechanism on a romp or shirt. Such a button can be provided from the outset or simply retrofitted. Advantageously, neither direct skin contact nor wiring is necessary. In addition, such a garment button can be made standardized in large quantities.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a radio signal can be sent from the sensor to an external receiver unit in case of alarm. This has the advantage that only then electromagnetic radiation is emitted when the alarm has occurred. An ongoing exposure to electromagnetic radiation can be avoided. An alarm case can be triggered if the measured data for respiration and / or heartbeat deviate from previously defined normal or limit values. Furthermore, an alarm case can also be defined if the charge state of the sensor falls below a certain value or an error in the function is detected.

According to the invention, a receiver unit is furthermore provided which is matched to the sensor element in the item of clothing according to the invention and generates an optical and / or acoustic alarm signal in the event of an alarm. In this way, a detected respiratory and / or cardiac arrest can be displayed as quickly as possible and prevented by the timely alert, usually the parents, deaths.

Particularly preferably, the receiver unit may comprise a charging and / or data transmission unit for the sensor. The charging station can thus be in the same device according to the invention, which receives the measured data or

Transfers data to the sensor. During the charging process, the chip of the SIDS sensor element can advantageously receive a coding and / or parameters of the child at the same time. As a result, normative and limit values for cardiac activity and respiration can be determined individually and the measuring range can be precisely determined.

The invention further relates to the use of an inertial sensor for monitoring respiration and cardiac activity, in particular for the prevention of sudden infant death. drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail below by way of example with reference to embodiments in conjunction with the drawings, without being limited thereto.

In these show:

1a is a sectional view of a clothing button according to the invention,

Fig. Ib is a plan view of the garment button of the invention of Figure 1 a with the top open housing. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a receiver unit corresponding to the garment button of FIG.

1 a is assigned and

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the functional units of a sensor element according to the invention and a receiver unit as a whole system.

1a shows a garment 1, namely in the form of a garment button with a single or multi-axis inertial sensor as micromechanical sensor 2 in a sectional view. Particularly preferably, the sensor 2 is a low-g acceleration sensor. The garment button 1 comprises, in addition to the sensor 2, which absorbs the acceleration values, a chip 3. The chip 3 is arranged on the sensor 2 in the embodiment shown. As a power supply unit, a capacitor 4 and a coil 5 is preferably used.

The capacitor 4 is preferably a low-leakage high-capacitance capacitor. Such a capacitor 4 has the advantage that it can be charged very quickly. The housing 6 may preferably be formed and formed by a potting compound, which advantageously simultaneously connect the various components, protect and form the outer button shape. The housing 6 may be designed so that directly at the

For example, an eyelet 10 for sewing on clothing is provided with. According to the invention, the attachment of the item of clothing 1 to the sensor element preferably takes place on the clothing, in particular in the form of a button, in the area between the sternum and the abdominal wall. Alternatively, the housing 6 may, for example, comprise means for a detachable push-button connection. This can make a sequential attachment to different garments possible. In a further alternative embodiment, the sensor element can also be integrated in the garment, ie sewn inside a bag, for example. The sensor 2 and the chip 3 may, as shown in the figure, be separate components, alternatively, the sensor 2 may be technologically integrated in the chip 3. The chip 3 can be a so-called ASIC (application-specific integrated Circuit) with a digital circuit in which an evaluation algorithm for PuIs- and / or breathing movement is stored and runs. This can be done either by means of a CPU or integrated directly into the logic.

Fig. Ib shows the garment button 1 of Fig. Ia in a plan view. The housing 6 can be designed round. The outer shape of the housing 6 can also be variable to different

Requirements are adjusted. The chip 3 with attached sensor 2 can be arranged on the capacitor 4. The coil 5 is arranged circumferentially around the capacitor 4.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an external receiver unit 7 in conjunction with the clothing button 1 comprising a sensor element from FIGS. 1a and 1b. The receiver unit 7 can be configured as an alarm unit and at the same time as a charging station. For this purpose, the receiver unit 7 may have a data transmission and charging field 8. In addition, an antenna 9 can be arranged on the receiver unit. Before putting on the garment provided with the garment button sensor element 1, it can be held for a few seconds on the panel 8 of the external receiving unit 7 so that it can be charged with power and data. After charging the controls

Chip 3 its power supply from the capacitor 4. Tilting its charge towards the end, the sensor element in the garment button 1 send a warning signal that prompts you to reload. The charging field 8 for charging and data feed can also be switched to receive. Advantageously, the function of the transmitting unit can thus be checked. Furthermore, the correctness of the written data can thus be checked and the capacitance of the capacitor 5 can be determined. The sensor element in clothing button 1 associated receiving antenna (not shown) may for example be installed as a loop antenna directly in the cot or on the stroller or designed as a mobile additional antenna. The latter can be positioned under a mattress, for example.

3 shows a schematic representation of the functional units of a sensor element according to the invention and of a receiver unit as an overall system. The chip 3 (ASIC) represents the intelligent part of the system. Preferably, the chip 3 consists of a power-saving analog front-end, which is switched on under the control of a signal processing unit only for measurement. The micromechanical sensor 2 picks up the acceleration values and transmits these signals to the chip 3. Since the signal processing and calculation of the measurements of cardiac activity and respiration is digital, an analog-to-digital converter is provided on the chip 3. In addition, a digital-to-analog converter can also be provided. Child-specific parameters can be retrieved from a RAM. These parameters may preferably be written to RAM during the charging process by a transceiver unit 7a. After the charging process, the chip 3 controls its Power supply from the capacitor 4 forms the preferred power supply unit of the sensor element together with the coil 5. A charge control in the chip 3 can ensure that the capacitor 4 is optimally charged and this is protected from too high Ladeendspannung. By the power supply control on the chip 3 can advantageously be ensured an optimal, sufficiently long operating time of the sensor element. In the event of an alarm, the chip 3 can transmit the signals and parameters to the receiving and alarm unit 7b, which can then preferably emit an acoustic and / or optical alarm signal directly. In this way, a detected respiratory and / or cardiac arrest can be displayed as quickly as possible and prevented by the timely alert, usually the parents, deaths.

In summary, a concept comprising a garment with a sensor element is provided according to the invention which has a simple and inexpensive construction and with which the respiratory and cardiac function, in particular for the prevention of sudden infant death, can be reliably measured. In addition, according to the invention, the evaluation and secure transmission of the data to an assigned receiver unit can be wireless.

Claims

claims

1. garment with a sensor element for measuring respiration and

Cardiac activity, characterized in that the sensor element contains in a housing at least one sensor, a chip (IC) with integrated evaluation circuit and a power supply unit and wherein the sensor is a single or multi-axis inertial sensor.

2. Garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the inertial sensor comprises one or more acceleration sensors and / or yaw rate sensors.

3. Garment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal detection, the signal evaluation and the evaluation of the respiration and heart activity within the sensor element takes place.

4. Garment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power supply unit is a battery or a rechargeable battery or preferably comprises a high-capacitance capacitor and a coil.

5. Garment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing is formed by a potting compound.

6. Garment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shape of the housing forms the outer end shape of the garment.

7. Garment according to claim 6, characterized in that the housing has a head shape.

8. Garment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in case of alarm, a radio signal is sent to an external receiver unit.

9. Use of an inertial sensor for monitoring respiration and cardiac activity, in particular for the prevention of sudden infant death.

10. receiver unit characterized in that it is tuned to the sensor element in the garment according to one of claims 1 to 9 and generates an optical and / or audible alarm signal in case of alarm.

11. Receiver unit according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a charging and / or data transmission unit for the sensor element.