Abstract: There is disclosed a sensor and method for detecting very low frequency acoustic signals. The sensor is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a low frequency microphone placed within the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity.

Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, within a communication device for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for seizing control of a communications channel in a child monitor of the type comprising a child monitor transmitter and a child monitor base station. The system and method is used in conjunction with a physiological condition monitor that is capable of monitoring the status of a person's physiological conditions such as heartbeat and breathing. When the physiological condition monitor detects that an alarm condition has occurred, it causes a control transmitter to transmit an alarm signal to said child monitor base station. The signal that is transmitted by the control transmitter blocks any signal that is being transmitted to the child monitor base station by the child monitor transmitter.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for detecting very low frequency acoustic signals. The apparatus comprises a sensor that is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a low frequency microphone placed within the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity. The sensor provides information concerning physiological conditions, such as respiration and cardiac activity. The sensor in a physiological condition monitor does not need to be directly coupled to the skin of the person being monitored.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method of operation for evaluating body activity relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a processor that is associable with a sensor for sensing dynamic and static accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor is operable to process the sensed dynamic and static accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic and an environmental representation to thereby determine whether the evaluated body activity is within environmental tolerance. The processor operates to monitor both activity and inactivity relative to the environmental representation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sensor and method for detecting very low frequency acoustic signals. The sensor is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a low frequency microphone placed within the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity.

Abstract: Physiological condition monitors utilizing very low frequency acoustic signals and signals indicative of body orientation are disclosed. The physiological condition monitors comprise a sensor that is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a microphone mounted in the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity. The sensor provides information concerning physiological conditions, such as respiration and cardiac activity. The sensor in a physiological condition monitor does not need to be directly coupled to the skin of the person being monitored.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in physiological condition monitors that use a memory data storage device that operates in a high power mode when data is being written to the memory data storage device and operates in a low power mode when inactive. The apparatus comprises: 1) a controller for receiving incoming data to be written to the memory data storage device; and 2) a first low power buffer coupled to the controller. The controller stores the incoming data in the first low power buffer until a predetermined amount of incoming data has been accumulated in the first low power buffer and transfers the accumulated predetermined amount of incoming data to the memory data storage device in a single data transfer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for seizing control of a communications channel in a child monitor of the type comprising a child monitor transmitter and a child monitor base station. The system and method is used in conjunction with a physiological condition monitor that is capable of monitoring the status of a person's physiological conditions such as heartbeat and breathing. When the physiological condition monitor detects that an alarm condition has occurred, it causes a control transmitter to transmit an alarm signal to said child monitor base station. The signal that is transmitted by the control transmitter blocks any signal that is being transmitted to the child monitor base station by the child monitor transmitter.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for detecting a rotational movement of a body. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is capable of detecting a rotational movement of the body of a child. The invention can provide a care giver information concerning the position of the body of a child in the care giver's care. The invention is especially useful in warning when a child moves from a position of lying on its back to a position of lying on its stomach. The invention comprises at least two tilt switches capable of detecting when the apparatus of the invention has been rotated by a preselected inclination angle of approximately one hundred eighty degrees. The invention also comprises a controller that is capable of receiving a signal from the tilt switches and generating an alarm signal. The apparatus also comprises an alarm signaling device that is capable of sending the alarm signal to alert a care giver that a child has rolled over onto his or her stomach.

Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, within a position locator device for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.

Abstract: There is disclosed a belt clip capable of being clipped onto a user's belt or garment edge for carrying small items like a pager or a cellular telephone. The belt clip comprises a belt clip body with a bottom flange that has two different flange surfaces. The first flange surface is flat and abuts the back of the cellular telephone when the cellular telephone is attached to the belt clip. The second flange surface is also flat but lies in a plane that is disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of the first flange surface. The second flange surface does not abut the back of the cellular telephone. A space is formed between the second flange surface and the back of the cellular telephone to facilitate the placement of the combination of the belt clip and cellular telephone on the user's belt or garment edge. The space also facilitates the removal of the combination of the belt clip and cellular telephone from the user's belt or garment edge.

Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, that evaluate movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.

Abstract: The present invention introduces systems, as well as methods of operating such systems, within a communication device for evaluating movement of a body relative to an environment. According to an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a sensor and a processor. The sensor, which is associable with the body, is operable to repeatedly sense accelerative phenomena of the body. The processor, which is associated with the sensor, is operable to process the sensed accelerative phenomena as a function of at least one accelerative event characteristic. The system, and, more particularly, the processor generates state indicia relative the environment, and determines whether the evaluated body movement is within environmental tolerance. In a preferred embodiment, the processor communicates various state indicia to a monitoring controller, preferably using at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The monitoring controller cooperates with the processor to remotely monitor the body.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in physiological condition monitors that use a memory data storage device that operates in a high power mode when data is being written to the memory data storage device and operates in a low power mode when inactive. The apparatus comprises: 1) a controller for receiving incoming data to be written to the memory data storage device; and 2) a first low power buffer coupled to the controller. The controller stores the incoming data in the first low power buffer until a predetermined amount of incoming data has been accumulated in the first low power buffer and transfers the accumulated predetermined amount of incoming data to the memory data storage device in a single data transfer.

Abstract: A respiration monitor is disclosed which includes a simplified pneumatic breath detector, a pressure sensor connected with the detector, and an active low pass filter for filtering the output of the monitor to reduce signals not indicative of respiration, such as movement of and/or impacts upon the detector. The monitor may be linked with a transmitter for remote subject monitoring, and the entire monitor may be configured to be unobtrusively worn by the subject.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for monitoring selected physiological parameters of a subject, such as respiration and/or ECG information, and alerting a care giver at a remote location when an irregularity is recognized. The apparatus includes a sensor or sensors, a dual frequency, asynchronous transmitter unit for transmitting plural signals indicative of the sensed information, a local receiver/transmitter unit, and a remote receiver. The physiological parameters being monitored are sensed and processed to provide signals which are provided to a pair of transmitters. Transmission is selectively enabled at each transmitter, the first transmitting at a first frequency a signal indicative of real time monitored events and the second, under normal circumstances, transmitting, periodically, at a second frequency a signal indicative of monitored event count and updated subject status.

Abstract: Personal security monitoring apparatus system and method are disclosed, the apparatus including a breath detector and signal processor worn by the user. The signal processor distinguishes between the user's normal breathing patterns and a preselected other breathing pattern intentionally executed by the user when in distress, an alarm output being generated when the other breathing pattern is recognized, The alarm output is transmitted to a local receiver for retransmission over local telephone service to a remote monitoring station. The other breathing pattern may be selected by the user from a plurality of possible other patterns.

Abstract: A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device provides significantly improved patient results by supplying high frequency electrical pulses at frequencies in a range of 2.5 to 60 kilohertz. The frequency and intensity of the pulses can be adjusted, to treat the patient at the optimal frequency and amplitude in order to treat chronic or acute pain or to block the pain caused by a traumatic or medical procedure. Starting at a mid-level of intensity where no stimulation occurs, the frequency is adjusted downwardly until there is some nerse sensation. At this point, the procedure may be performed while the frequency is adjusted downwardly as needed to maintain nerve sansation. The wave form characteristic of the pulses is an AC wave form with a square wave portion with rapid rise time and slower fall time followed by a pulse portion of the opposite polarity compared to the square wave portion.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for achieving improved dental anesthesia utilizing electronic stimulation applied through electrodes positioned inside the mouth of a patient. Each electrode includes an insulating base of foam material with an adhesive at one side thereof to retain one end of an electrical lead in contact with an electrically conductive elastomer, which elastomer has a surrounding outer layer of adhesive for maintaining the elastomer positioned inside the mouth of a patient. A transcutaneous nerve stimulator is utilized to generate the stimulating output signal, which signal may be a pulsed DC signal, an AC signal, a pulsed DC signal followed by an AC signal, or various other combinations of such signals, and the pulsed DC signal is offset to a fixed quiescent DC level above a zero voltage reference when applied to the patient.