Apparatus and method for producing respiration-related data

Abstract

An apparatus for producing data concerning the respiration-related movements of the abdominal wall and/or the thorax of a person. The device comprises at least one first pair of sensor units ( 12, 14 ), which are configured for detachably fixing on the skin in an area of the person's thorax or abdomen, a first distance ( 1 ) apart; and a measuring device ( 20 ) which is connected to said first pair of sensor units and which is configured for detecting signals of the sensor units that can be evaluated electrically and for producing a distance signal corresponding to the first distance ( 1 ) and to changes in the same. Connected downstream of the measuring device is an evaluation device ( 22, 28 ) which is configured for evaluating pulsed and/or wave-shaped changes in the first distance signal, in such a way that periodical signal changes of a frequency in the range of 0.05 to 0.1 Hz are detected, distinguished from the periodical changes in the first distance signal that are due to the human heartbeat in terms of frequency, amplitude or signal shape and output in the form of a respiration display signal that can be displayed and further processed electronically.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for generating measurement data concerning respiration-related movements of the abdominal wall and/or the thorax of a person, comprising at least one first pair of sensor units which are on an intermediate layer at a first distance from each other when the intermediate layer is fixed on the skin on a thoracic or abdominal area of the person, a measuring device connected to the first pair of sensor units and configured for detecting signals of the sensor units which are capable of electrical evaluation and for generating a first distance signal corresponding to said first distance and changes in same to a second distance signal corresponding to the changes in distances between the sensors as a result of respiratory related movements of the person, the measuring device includes means for outputting the first distance signal in the frequency range of respiration, an evaluation unit is connected to the output of the measuring device and is so configured for evaluating pulsed and/or waveform changes of the first distance signal that periodic signal changes of a frequency in the range between 0.5 and 0.1 Hz can be detected, distinguished in terms of frequency, amplitude or signal form from periodic changes of the first distance signal to the second distance signal caused by the human heartbeat and outputted as a respiration display signal which can be electronically displayed or further evaluated and wherein the evaluation unit is configured for detecting an envelope curve of the first distance signal over a time interval which is long in comparison to a breathing frequency, and for determining a change in a lower and/or upper limit value of said generating curve.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the evaluation unit includes means for detecting a signal form of change in the first distance signal, the signal form detecting means being so configured that the respiration display signal is outputted only as a reaction to a signal form of change which is symmetrical in time.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 15  or  16 , wherein at least one second pair of sensor units connected to the measuring device and configured for detachable fixing on the skin on the thoracic or abdominal area of the person and spaced apart by a second distance.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured for summation or subtraction of the first distance signal with respect to a second distance signal outputted by a second pair of sensor units.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to one of claims  15 ,  16  and  17 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured for additionally generating a pulse display signal which is generated as a reaction to the detected changes in the first distance signal caused in terms of frequency, amplitude and/or signal shape by the human heartbeat, in a frequency range between 0.8 and 2.5 Hz.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein analysis and storage means associated with the evaluation unit, which are configured for electronically storing the respiration display signal and for detecting a change in terms of amplitude, frequency and/or signal form of the respiration display signal.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the analysis and storage means are configured for generating a correlation signal between the respiration display signal and a pulse display signal.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the measuring device and the evaluation unit are components of a portable, battery-powered unit which is connectable to a stationary base unit by a wireless data connection for transmission of the display signal and/or further signals.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus according  claim 22 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured for additionally detecting a change in the first distance signal generated by running or hopping of the person, and to determine a stepping or hopping frequency therefrom.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus according  claim 15 , wherein the sensor units take the form of ultrasonic sensors.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for generating measurement data concerning respiration-related movements of the abdominal wall and/or the thorax of a person, comprising at least one first pair of sensor units which are configured for detachable fixing on the skin on a thoracic or abdominal area of the person and are spaced apart by a first distance, and comprising a measuring device connected to the first pair of sensor units and configured for detecting signals of the sensor units which are capable of electrical evaluation and for generating a first distance signal corresponding to said first distance and changes in same, the measuring device includes means for outputting the first distance signal in the frequency range of respiration, an evaluation unit is connected to the output of the measuring device and is so configured for evaluating pulsed and/or waveform changes of the first distance signal that periodic signal changes of a frequency in the range between 0.5 and 0.1 Hz can be detected, distinguished in terms of frequency, amplitude or signal form from periodic changes of the first distance signal caused by the human heartbeat and outputted as a respiration display signal which can be electronically displayed or further evaluated wherein the evaluation unit includes means for detecting a signal form of change in the first distance signal, the signal form detecting means being so configured that the respiration display signal is outputted only as a reaction to a signal form of change which is symmetrical in a time domain, and wherein the sensor units take the form of ultrasonic sensors.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein at least one second pair of sensor units connected to the measuring device and configured for detachable fixing on the skin on the thoracic or abdominal area of the person and spaced apart by a second distance.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured for summation or subtraction of the first distance signal with respect to a second distance signal outputted by a second pair of sensor units.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured for additionally generating a pulse display signal which is generated as a reaction to the detected changes in the first distance signal caused in terms of frequency, amplitude and/or signal shape by the human heartbeat, in a frequency range between 0.8 and 2.5 Hz.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein analysis and storage means associated with the evaluation unit are configured for electronically storing the respiration display signal and for detecting a change in terms of amplitude, frequency and/or signal form of the respiration display signal.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the analysis and storage means are configured for generating a correlation signal between the respiration display signal and a pulse display signal.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the measuring device and the evaluation unit are components of a portable battery-powered unit which is preferably connectable to a stationary base unit by means of a wireless data connection for transmission of the display signal and/or further signals.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus according  claim 25 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured for additionally detecting a change in the first distance signal generated by running or hopping of the person, and to determine a stepping or hopping frequency therefrom.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured for detecting a generating curve of the envelope of the first distance signal over a time interval which is long in comparison to a breathing frequency, and for determining a change in a lower and/or upper limit value of said generating curve.