SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY MONITORING AT LEAST ONE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF A CHILD

摘要

There is disclosed a system (700) and method for remotely monitoring at least one physiological condition of a child by detecting very low frequency acoustic signals. The apparatus comprises a sensor (100) that is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor (100) comprises a chamber (120) having portions that form a cavity (150) and a low frequency microphone (110) placed within the cavity (150). An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber (120) having portions that form a resonant cavity (440), a microphone (110) mounted in the resonant cavity (440), and a membrane (430) that covers the resonant cavity (440). Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane (430) cause the membrane (430) to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity (440). The sensor (100) provides information concerning physiological conditions of the child, such as respiration and cardiac activity. The sensor (100) in a physiological condition monitor (700) does not need to be directly coupled to the skin of the child being monitored.