Development of a granular strain gauge plethysmograph intended for use as a respiratory belt
Kerschhaggl, P.; Haidmayer, R.; Kenner, T.
Biomedizinische Technik. Biomedical Engineering 31(9): 200-202
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0013-5585 PMID: 3756292 Document Number: 272642
It has been postulated that the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) may be due to abnormal maturation or dysfunction of brainstem centers that regulate respiration and other autonomic functions. Clinical studies have revealed numerous apneic episodes during sleep in infants regarded to be at high risk for SIDS. Consequently, the clinical necessity of monitoring these babies has become well established both for diagnostic purposes and for subsequent home monitoring. It has become increasingly more important to develop a simple and reliable transducer for monitoring respiration and detecting apneic episodes at home. This paper describes a respiratory transducer based on granular strain gauge plethysmography, which is well suited for application in home monitoring.