Importance

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Abstract

A monitoring system (10) of this invention includes a first sensor (12) for detecting the respiration and/or movements of an infant (14), and an optional second sensor (18) for detecting the presence and/or movement of the infant or proximal objects (20) surrounding the infant. An optional accelerometric sensor (22) detects movements of a platform (16) supporting the infant and contributes supplementary movement data to the monitoring system. An optional audio sensor (24) detects sounds associated with the infant or proximal objects. None of the sensors are physically attached to the infant. A controller (26) conditions and processes the various sensor signals and generates alarms by interpreting the sensor signals. The controller optionally communicates with a remote control unit (30). In one embodiment the first sensor signal is filtered (112, 114) to extract respiration- and nonrespiration-related signals that are processed by a signal processor (116), which compares the extracted signals to thresholds, and if neither signal exceeds its threshold for a predetermined time, a low signal alarm is generated. In another embodiment, the signal processor determines whether a respiration decay period is less than a threshold value, and if not, generates a respiration decay alarm. In yet another embodiment, the signal processor compares the respiration-related signal pattern to a stored pattern, and if the patterns do not match, a respiration pattern alarm is generated. The signal processor further interprets various combinations of the sensor signals and makes aggregated decisions to generate specific warnings when critical situations occur.

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First Claim