WO2014137482A1

WO2014137482A1 - Sids detector apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: WO2014137482A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/010453
Authority: WO
Inventors: Don Macaskill
Original assignee: Smugmug, Inc.
Priority date: 2013-03-07
Filing date: 2014-01-07
Publication date: 2014-09-12

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a SIDS detector apparatus and a method of using the apparatus. The SIDS detector apparatus is placed onto a child's finger, toe, ankle or wrist. The apparatus contains a pulse oximeter so that the child is monitored when wearing the apparatus. Through wireless technology such as Bluetooth, the apparatus sends the data collected by the pulse oximeter to a portable electronic device, such as a smartphone. An application on the portable electronic device receives the information and, if the data meets a certain threshold, produces an alert.

Description

SIDS DETECTOR APPARATUS AND METHOD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) detector apparatus and method of using the apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

[0002] SIDS has claimed the lives of numerous infants over the years. There is no known cause of SIDS. Many hypothesis have been presented as to the cause of SIDS, such as bacterial infections, bed sharing, brain disorders, genetics, vaccinations and Vitamin C deficiency to name a few. However, no hypothesis has panned out to date.

[0003] There are several risk factors that are believed to potentially increase the likelihood of SIDS. For example, placing an infant on its stomach to sleep, smoking during pregnancy, premature birth and low birth weight are believed to increase the risk of SIDS. Additionally, males have a 50 percent higher risk of SIDS than females. Leading up to a SIDS related death, caregivers are unaware in the preceding 24 hours that the infant is at risk of imminent sudden death.

[0004] Therefore, what is needed is a device for alerting the caregiver that a child is at risk of imminent death.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention generally relates to a SIDS detector apparatus and a method of using the apparatus. The SIDS detector apparatus is placed onto an infant's finger, toe, ankle or wrist. The apparatus contains a pulse oximeter so that the child is monitored when wearing the apparatus. Through wireless technology such as Bluetooth, the apparatus sends the data collected PATENT

Attorney Docket No.: SMUG/0019PCT by the pulse oximeter to a portable electronic device, such as a smartphone. An application on the portable electronic device receives the information and, if the data meets a certain threshold, produces an alert.

[0006] In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting pulse and oxygen level, comprises a housing having a female receptacle; a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing and electrically coupled with the female receptacle; a pulse oximeter disposed within the housing and electrically coupled with the rechargeable battery, the pulse oximeter containing a processor; a wireless transmitter disposed within the housing and electrically coupled with the pulse oximeter; and software containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes information obtained by the pulse oximeter to be transmitted via the wireless transmitter to a device that is not physically connected to the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus according to one embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2 is another schematic illustration of the housing for apparatus according to one embodiment.

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Attorney Docket No.: SMUG/0019PCT

[0010] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing a method of operating the apparatus according to one embodiment.

[0011] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments without specific recitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] The present invention generally relates to a SIDS detector apparatus and a method of using the apparatus. The SIDS detector apparatus is placed onto a child's finger, toe, ankle or wrist. The apparatus contains a pulse oximeter so that the child is monitored when wearing the apparatus. Through wireless technology such as Bluetooth, the apparatus sends the data collected by the pulse oximeter to a portable electronic device, such as a smartphone. An application on the portable electronic device receives the information and, if the data meets a certain threshold, produces an alert.

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus 100 according to one embodiment. The apparatus 100 includes a housing 102 and a clamp 104 that permits the apparatus to be coupled to an appendage such as a finger 106. It is to be understood that the appendage may be a finger, toe, ankle, wrist, foot, leg, arm or any other appendage.

[0014] The apparatus 100 interacts with a portable electronic device 108, such as an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, cell phone, etc. It is to be understood that the apparatus 100 may interact with any electronic device that is remote and not physically connected to the apparatus 100. For example, the apparatus 100 may interact with a desktop computer. The housing 102 is sized to prevent ingestion

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Attorney Docket No.: SMUG/0019PCT and thus, choking by an infant. A suitable size for the housing 102 may correspond to the sizing used for pacifiers.

[0015] Figure 2 is another schematic illustration of housing 102 for the apparatus 100 according to one embodiment. The housing 102 has a female receptacle 202 that is sized and shaped to receive a male end of a plug. The female receptacle 202 may be a universal serial bus (USB) receptacle; however, other female receptacles are envisioned.

[0016] The plug is used to connect the apparatus 100 to a charging source so that the rechargeable batteries 204 contained within the housing 102 may be charged. The rechargeable batteries 204 are thus electrically coupled to the female receptacle 202. It is to be understood that one or more rechargeable batteries may be present within the housing. Additionally, it is to be understood that non-rechargeable batteries are contemplated for use.

[0017] As the rechargeable batteries 204 are contained within the housing 102, the housing 102 is waterproof sealed to prevent any fluids from entering the housing 102. Additionally, the housing 102 is sealed such that the housing 102 cannot be opened without causing catastrophic damage to the apparatus 100. Thus, the housing 102 is designed to never be opened once assembled.

[0018] The apparatus 100 is designed such that whenever the plug is connected to the housing 102, the apparatus 100 will not function. As will be appreciated, the plug represents a potential choking hazard for an infant and thus, operating with the cord would be counterintuitive to the function of the apparatus 100.

[0019] The rechargeable batteries 204 are used to power the apparatus 100. More specifically, the rechargeable batteries 204 provide power so that the pulse oximeter 206 that is contained within the housing 102 will operate. The pulse

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Attorney Docket No.: SMUG/0019PCT oximeter 206 is electrically coupled to the rechargeable batteries 204 and operates by directing light of two different wavelengths through the finger 106. The wavelengths are detected by a photodector so that the absorbance of the wavelengths is measured. Based upon the absorbed wavelength, the oxygenated blood and deoxygenated blood is measured.

[0020] The data collected by the pulse oximeter 206 is transmitted to the portable electronic device 108 to alert the child's parent or caregiver that action needs to be taken immediately. To transmit the data, the pulse oximeter is electrically coupled to a wireless transmitter 208. An example of a suitable wireless transmitter is a wireless transmitter with Bluetooth technology. In order to operate, the apparatus 100 has a processor 212 that contains software 210 that, when executed, causes the rechargeable batteries 204 to deliver power to the pulse oximeter 206, causes the pulse oximeter 206 to operate, causes the processor to execute the software, and causes the wireless transmitter 208 to transmit data collected by the pulse oximeter 206. The rechargeable batteries 204, the pulse oximeter 206, the software 210, the wireless transmitter 208 and the processor 212 are all contained within the housing 102.

[0021] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing a method of operating the apparatus according to one embodiment. The apparatus operates by initially connecting a power cord to the apparatus and plugging the power cord into an outlet to charge the rechargeable batteries (Step 302). Once the rechargeable batteries are charged, the power cord is decoupled from the apparatus (Step 304) and the apparatus is placed onto an appendage of an individual (Step 306). It is contemplated that the apparatus will not function while the power cord is coupled to the apparatus. Prior to or after placing the apparatus on the appendage, the apparatus is turned on (Step 308). It is contemplated that the apparatus may be turned on by receiving a signal from the remote device.

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Attorney Docket No.: SMUG/0019PCT

[0022] Once turned on, the pulse oximeter begins to function, as does the processor and the wireless transmitter. The pulse oximeter collects data (Step 310) by taking measurements based upon the instructions from the processor, and the wireless transmitter begins to transmit the collected data (Step 312). The collected data is received at a location remote and physically disconnected from the apparatus (Step 314). As discussed above, the remote location may comprise a portable electronic device or any electronic device that is capable of receiving wireless signals {e.g., a Bluetooth enabled device or an IEEE 802.1 1 enabled device).

[0023] The data is analyzed and compared to a predetermined threshold (Step 316). If the data is above, or in some cases below, a predetermined threshold, an alert is triggered (Step 318) on the device that is remote from the apparatus. The alert may be phone call, a text message, an audible sound emitted from the device, a physical movement {e.g., vibration) of the device, a message displayed on the device, an emergency call initiated from the device to 91 1 , or combinations thereof.

[0024] It is to be understood that the predetermined threshold may be preset by the manufacturer or may be preset by the parent/caregiver. It is also to be understood that in the case where the data is not above or below the predetermined threshold, the information may simply be displayed on the remote device without any alert.

[0025] By constantly monitoring a sleeping infant with a pulse oximeter, a parent or caregiver may know valuable information that may help save the life of their child. Remote connection to the pulse oximeter allows the parent and/or caregiver the peace of mind necessary to step away from the child knowing that the parent and/or caregiver will have timely, life-saving information necessary to save their child.

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Attorney Docket No.: SMUG/0019PCT

[0026] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

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Claims

PATENT Attorney Docket No.: SMUG/0019 PCT Claims:

1 . An apparatus for detecting pulse and oxygen level, comprising:

a housing having a female receptacle;

a rechargeable battery disposed within the housing and electrically coupled with the female receptacle;

a pulse oximeter disposed within the housing and electrically coupled with the rechargeable battery, the pulse oximeter containing a processor;

a wireless transmitter disposed within the housing and electrically coupled with the pulse oximeter; and

software containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes information obtained by the pulse oximeter to be transmitted via the wireless transmitter to a device that is not physically connected to the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a clamping mechanism sized to permit coupling the housing to a finger or toe.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the device comprises a portable electronic device containing software that, when executed by a processor of the device, receives the information obtained by the pulse oximeter and causes the information to be displayed on the device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the software of the portable electronic device, when executed, causes an audible alarm to be emitted by the portable electronic device.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the software of the portable electronic device, when executed, causes a text message or phone call to be placed to the portable electronic device.

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Attorney Docket No.: SMUG/0019 PCT

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the female receptacle is sized and shaped to receive a male plug and wherein the female receptacle enables connection of the apparatus to a power source for recharging the rechargeable battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus will not function when a male plug is inserted into the female receptacle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a portable electronic device containing software that, when executed by a processor of the device, receives the information obtained by the pulse oximeter and causes the information to be displayed on the device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the software of the portable electronic device, when executed, causes an audible alarm to be emitted by the portable electronic device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the software of the portable electronic device, when executed, causes a text message or phone call to be placed to the portable electronic device.

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