Protection system against sudden infant death

Abstract

The invention is a protective system designed to prevent sudden infant death syndrome. Several studies have shown that seizures occur shortly before a child experiences apnea and subsequently dies suddenly and seemingly perfectly healthy. The invention detects these warning signs and forwards the corresponding warnings. It can detect a child's / baby's seizures as they occur and warn the parents / caregivers in a timely manner. There are also versions that can relieve seizures and also those that have a preventative effect against seizures.

Description

[0001] The invention is a protective system designed to prevent sudden infant death.

[0002] Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a tragic event in which a seemingly healthy baby dies suddenly and unexpectedly. The phenomenon of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is unfortunately not fully understood. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is believed that a combination of factors such as sleeping position, overheating, smoking during pregnancy, and other environmental factors may play a role. It may be triggered by an irregularity in breathing control. Some infants who die from SIDS show signs of low blood oxygen levels and pauses in breathing (called apnea) prior to their death.

[0003] Doctors refer to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) when a previously healthy baby or toddler dies unexpectedly and without any identifiable cause. Most cases occur between two and five months of age. Babies between 2 and 4 months of age (90%) are particularly at risk. Seasonality is an additional factor: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is more likely to occur in the winter months, and boys are more often affected than girls. The risk then steadily decreases with increasing age.

[0004] It is also important for parents to watch for signs of illness or discomfort and ensure that the baby is examined regularly by a doctor.

[0005] SIDS is one of the leading causes of death in infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. It typically occurs during sleep and cannot be predicted. Although the exact cause is unknown, there are certain risk factors that can increase the risk, such as: - Sleeping on your stomach or side - Overheating - Smoking during pregnancy or near the baby - Use of soft bedding or pillows - Premature birth or low birth weight - Lack of prenatal care - Family history of SIDS

[0006] However, there are steps parents can take to reduce the risk of SIDS. These include sleeping on their back, avoiding overheating, using a firm and flat sleeping surface, and avoiding smoking around the baby. Sleep lab studies showed that babies respond less well to the disruptive airflow when they are placed on their front than when they are placed on their back. This difference is particularly pronounced between the ages of two and three months. This is also the period of life when the risk of sudden infant death syndrome is highest.

[0007] Although rare, sudden infant death syndrome is a deeply existential fear for all parents. It's an insidious phenomenon because it strikes seemingly healthy babies. For no apparent reason, the child stops breathing and dies in their sleep. Unfortunately, this phenomenon usually occurs during a baby's sleep phase. While parents think the baby is sleeping peacefully, the baby may die unnoticed.

[0008] Although the cause is still unknown, in order to find a possible trigger, the doctors analyzed private video recordings of the children, which were recorded either by cameras in baby monitors or by other surveillance / security systems and provided by the families for examination. The videos show the children sleeping on the night or afternoon before their deaths. The scientists looked for sounds and movements that could be signs of a seizure. They also evaluated the children's medical records. A possible cause of death could be febrile seizures during sleep. According to their documented medical history, only one of the seven children had suffered from febrile seizures before their death. However, the doctors observed sounds and movements in five of the seven videos that indicated the children were having a seizure.The infants' seizures lasted only a few seconds to just under a minute each and occurred within a maximum of 30 minutes before the infant's death, the doctors report. Although this study is small, it may provide the first direct evidence that seizures could be responsible for some sudden deaths in children. The results suggest that febrile seizures occur much more frequently than documented and could be a trigger for the deaths of these children. Such brief seizures during sleep often go unnoticed by parents.

[0009] The seizures could be similar to those in epilepsy patients. It is known that epileptics often experience breathing difficulties immediately after a seizure and can even die as a result. Death occurs more frequently when patients sleep face down on their stomachs and without anyone watching. The same applies to the deaths of young children studied. Typically, the children wake up, turn over, and continue breathing. However, this does not happen in a small number of children. The reason why the children suffocate and do not wake up on their own may be provided by a finding from a 2023 study. It shows that a genetic abnormality in some children impairs the natural emergency breathing mechanism that normally prevents children or even adults from suffocating in their sleep.

[0010] To counteract sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), numerous protective systems and devices are available on the market that can monitor children's activities. Many parents today increasingly monitor their toddlers' / babies' activities using baby monitors, video cameras, sensors, etc. Breathing motion sensors, in particular, offer helpful monitoring for the infant. Such sensors are integrated into small plates that are installed under the child's mattress. They monitor the child's breathing and sound an audible and / or visual alarm as soon as the child stops breathing.

[0011] Devices for monitoring sleep based on physiological parameters are now commercially available for non-clinical purposes. These devices, which are placed on a bedside table, for example, use microphones and / or cameras to record sounds and / or movement during sleep. From the recorded information, a sleep state is derived, the chronological progression of which is recorded. The recorded sleep history can be subsequently retrieved and evaluated. It can provide information about how deep and restful the sleep was.

[0012] In addition to systems that use a camera and / or microphone, a sensor-based system is known in which a pressure-sensitive sensor strip is placed over the mattress and connected to a mobile phone (smartphone), which records the sensor data. Heart rate and respiratory rate, among other parameters, are derived from the sensor data.

[0013] A disadvantage of these non-clinical systems is that the reliability of detection depends heavily on the correct positioning of the monitoring devices on a bedside table or on or against the mattress. This limits the reliability and ease of use of these devices.

[0014] The application EP3461374B1 describes a calming / sleeping aid for small children, a device for preventing sudden infant death syndrome and methods for use.The device is a sleep system comprising: a baby soothing / sleep aid device comprising a crib device including a platform operatively coupled to a motor for moving the platform in a reciprocating motion, a sleep bag and an attachment mechanism for removably attaching the sleep bag to the crib device to securely position a baby held in the sleep bag on the platform, and a control system for controlling movement of the platform in an operating mode, wherein the control system includes a sensor for detecting whether the sleep bag is securely attached to the attachment mechanism, and wherein movement of the platform with respect to an operating mode is terminated or not initiated if the sleep bag is not detected as being securely attached to the attachment mechanism.

[0015] Application EP2257200B1 describes a mattress for preventing sudden infant death syndrome. The infant mattress is a core mattress comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, the top surface including a first recess sized to at least partially receive the torso and head of a child; and a mattress cover comprising a first mesh material disposed over at least a portion of the recess, the first mesh material forming a hammock over a bottom surface of the recess, and upon which the child's head, torso, or both can be placed.

[0016] The invention EP 33 971 19 B1 relates to a piece of sleeping or resting furniture with a plate-shaped support element for supporting a cushion or mattress and at least one sensor for detecting vibrations, movement, and / or sound. In the clinical field, monitoring devices are known that monitor a patient's breathing and / or heart rate during sleep in order to intervene in the event of alarming cardiac function and circulatory parameters. This creates a piece of sleeping or resting furniture of the type mentioned above, in which the sensor can be reliably used to monitor a user's sleep behavior and detects signals with good signal strength.

[0017] US 2010 / 0101022 A1 discloses a hospital bed in which a sensor for detecting vibrations is mounted on a support element of the bed under the mattress and is decoupled from the support element to such an extent that the vibrations can be detected despite being mounted on the (fixed) support element. This creates a reliable sensor system that does not depend on the correct positioning of the monitoring devices on a bedside table or on or at the mattress. However, the mattress located between the patient and the sensor leads to signal attenuation.

[0018] Further relevant prior art documents that contribute to the understanding of the invention are cited below: JP 2005 177 471A, JP 2005 253 957A, JP 2004 344 675A, US2012 / 253142A1, US2008 / 005838A1, WO2013 / 173640A1.

[0019] EP-A-1731094 discloses a garment for detecting respiratory movement. The garment is made of an elastic, non-conductive material. A respiratory information sensor running around the thorax at chest height is made of a conductive material incorporated into the garment. Additionally, a respiratory information sensor is also present at abdominal height, made of a conductive material incorporated into the garment. The respiratory information sensors are made of a conductive material with metal particles. To detect respiratory movement, an electric current is passed through each respiratory information sensor.

[0020] US-B1-6341504 describes an elastic band made of an elastic material into which at least one rigid, electrical wire is sinusoidally incorporated. The band can be used to monitor predetermined physiological functions, such as monitoring respiratory movement. For this purpose, such a band can be combined with a piece of clothing, for example. The garment shown comprises a first band with three rigid wires, which is arranged to run around the chest of a wearer of the garment. The wires provide output signals that are fed to evaluation electronics.

[0021] FR-A-2821262 discloses a device for determining an individual's stress level. Variations in respiratory volume are measured as a function of time and converted into an electrical signal representing the respiratory cycles.

[0022] The application DE 602005012707D1 describes an alarm device for preventing sudden infant death syndrome. The invention relates to a device with means for remotely transmitting an active control signal for triggering alarm means to a person caring for a child. This alarm control signal is generated by controlling sensor means that respond to the spatial orientation of a plate mounted in a carrier that is to be attached to the clothing of the child to be monitored. The support is attached to the child's navel in such a way that the signal that triggers the alarm means is automatically generated when the sensor means detect a deviation in the orientation of the plate that exceeds a predetermined threshold. The carrier is arranged in a remote unit that disables the alarm device.

[0023] The numerous systems available on the market are more or less reliable. However, conventional systems usually only react when the child stops breathing. In this case, rapid intervention by the parents is required to save the child's life. Parents must react within minutes and initiate resuscitation measures.

[0024] The invention specified in patent claims 1 to 16 is based on the problem of creating a protection system against sudden infant death syndrome that is able to detect the life-threatening situation before the child stops breathing and to report this to the parents or caregivers as quickly as possible.

[0025] This problem is solved by the features listed in patent claims 1 to 16.

[0026] Advantages of the invention are: - the device can detect the life-threatening situation of the child / baby even before breathing stops and sound the alarm, - prevents cramps by discharging excess electrical charges in the muscle tissue and balances the electrical potentials in the body, - if the cramps occur, the system can release them immediately after they occur and raise an alarm, - If all else fails, the system is able to trigger a remote warning that is sent to the parent or caregiver before the child stops breathing.

[0027] This system is capable of detecting a child's seizures or febrile convulsions and also initiating countermeasures to actively stop them. Simultaneously with these countermeasures, it can trigger an alarm to notify parents so they can rush to the child's aid before respiratory arrest occurs.

[0028] Examples of implementation are shown on the Fig. 1 to 7. They show: Fig. 1 an embodiment in which the changes in the electrical voltage (electrostatic charges) on the child’s skin are detected, Fig. 2 the sensor systems that measure the electrical conductivity of the skin, Fig. 3 a recording of seizures by optical systems Fig. 4 an embodiment in which the magnesium deficiency is registered. Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, each a simple system that works preventively against cramps by permanently “discharging” the child’s body, Fig. 7 a system equipped with a control system that initiates a “discharge” at time intervals.

[0029] The invention is a complex device that is capable of detecting a seizure in a child lying on a bed using various sensor systems.

[0030] The seizures occur shortly before the child stops breathing. A seizure causes muscle twitches in the body, which can be recorded by sensors. Recording is done using various measuring methods and sensor systems. A simple method is to measure changes in electrical skin resistance. During muscle contraction, the skin resistance in the affected region changes suddenly, which can also be measured externally. As soon as sudden changes are detected, this is registered by an evaluation unit that is linked to the sensor, and an alarm is triggered. The alarm can be audible or transmitted wirelessly to a mobile phone. As soon as the parents receive this information, they should go to the place where the child is (e.g. nursery or bedroom) and check on the child's well-being.Although you still have some time, personal monitoring should take place as soon as possible because infant death may be imminent.

[0031] The example from the Fig. Figure 1 shows a measurement of the electrical voltage on the skin 2 of the child 1. An electrode 3, attached to a wristband or ankle band 4, with corresponding evaluation electronics (evaluation unit) 5, can detect the voltage on the skin. A sudden change in the voltage values ​​may indicate the onset of a seizure. In this case, the alarm system sends a signal to the parents / caregivers via the built-in wireless device 6 (radio emitter, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.). Mobile phones (smartphones) 7 are also very suitable as receivers.

[0032] On the Fig. 2 is a similar system, but here the electrical conductivity of the skin (or additionally the electrostatic potential) is measured. For this purpose, two ring-shaped electrodes 8 are installed on the inner surface 9 of the wristband or ankle band 4. The skin resistance between the two rings 8 is determined when they come into contact with the skin. The measurement can be taken every few seconds, for example.

[0033] In some models, the seizure detection sensors can be integrated into the wristband or ankle band (or into a ring) and placed on the child so that they do not disturb them while they sleep. The wireless connection via a built-in wireless device 6 eliminates the need for cables. The wristband is charged using a charging station, for example. Multiple wristbands can be added, and each time one is charging, the other is placed on the child's arm, ensuring continuous monitoring.

[0034] The sensor signals are evaluated by an evaluation unit or AI software and when a seizure is registered, the signal is sent, for example, to a stationary device or to a smartphone.

[0035] The example from the Fig. 3 is a detection system that visually / optically registers seizures. Here, the child's twitches are captured by a camera (or image sensor) 10, and this data is then evaluated by AI software or an evaluation unit. If these indicate a seizure, an alarm is triggered or a signal is transmitted to a smartphone.

[0036] Laser sources, such as IR laser diodes 11 and laser light sensors 12, or even cameras / IR cameras 10, can also be used for optical detection. A laser source shines onto the child's blanket 13 or onto their clothing 14. When the laser reflections suddenly change, the signals are evaluated by AI software or an evaluation unit, and an alarm is triggered if a seizure is detected.

[0037] It is worth mentioning that a very simple method can potentially prevent sudden infant death syndrome: If magnesium deficiency is diagnosed, the child should be given additional magnesium, or the breastfeeding mother should take an appropriate magnesium dose. Taking magnesium in the appropriate dose for a baby or toddler can prevent cramps from occurring in the first place, thus preventing sudden infant death syndrome and saving the lives of children at risk. The use of magnesium in appropriate doses could actually help prevent cramps in babies and toddlers and thus prevent sudden infant death syndrome. It is important that parents and caregivers inform themselves about such possible preventative measures to protect the lives of children at risk. Magnesium can be given directly to the baby through food or can also pass to the baby via breast milk if the breastfeeding mother consumes enough of it.Daily magnesium requirements are: Infants up to 4 months: approximately 24 mg. Infants 4 to 12 months: approximately 60 mg. Children 1 to 4 years: approximately 80 mg. Children 4 to 7 years: approximately 120 mg.

[0038] The variant from the Fig. 4 can prevent seizures by optically detecting precisely such symptoms of magnesium deficiency in the child. AI software observes the child via a camera 10 and compares the child's behavior, their movements in bed, or their facial features with thousands of previously stored images of children who have such symptoms of magnesium deficiency, in order to determine whether the same applies to the child. As soon as such an optical screening is completed and a deficiency is detected, a notification can be sent to the parents via mobile phone so that they can initiate countermeasures in a timely manner, such as administering magnesium. This variant can also be used in hospitals / children's clinics, for example.

[0039] The last embodiments aim to resolve seizures immediately upon their onset by electrostatically / electrically discharging the child. This is achieved by connecting their skin to an electrical conductor 15, which is grounded at one end 16. Of course, the child's / baby's skin is not wired, but their clothing should be designed so that it is partially covered with fibers that can conduct electricity. Today, there is a wide variety of textiles that have built-in, flexible conductors 17, which are not even noticeable to the wearer. These are used in particular in electronics laboratories or chip manufacturers to electrostatically discharge employees, preventing sparks from jumping from the employee's body to sensitive electronic components. In this invention, it is important that the bed mattress 18 also have such conductive fibers 17 or conductive points 19.Likewise, an electrical cable that is grounded, which dissipates an electrostatic charge from the child's body.

[0040] On the Fig. Figure 5 shows a mattress 18 and the clothing 14 on child 1, each of which has areas or conductor points 19 made of a material that conducts electrical current. A conductive network 20 made of fine conductors can also be integrated into the mattress and cause the discharge. As soon as the child lies on the mattress, the electrical connections between their skin and the grounded wire are created via their clothing and the mattress. A permanent connection is not necessary. It is sufficient to briefly establish a connection to the grounded wire every few minutes. An electronic control 21 can be helpful for this, establishing the connection at short intervals and discharging the body.

[0041] The cable end 16 can be connected to a socket 22 via a plug 23 or can be equipped with a metal clamp 24 for coupling to a brass point on a radiator. Of course, the current pins 25 of the plug must not be connected. They serve only to mechanically hold the plug in the socket. Inside the plug housing 26, they are exposed or well insulated from the environment by an insulating layer 27. The current pins can also be made of an electrically non-conductive material, such as plastic or ceramic. Only the ground pins 28, which come into contact with the ground 29 of the socket 22 (ground pins), must be connected to the conductor end 16, because they are the ones through which the current is supposed to flow from the body to earth.

[0042] The earthing of the conductors does not have to be permanent. An electronic control 21 can make the connection for a short time every few minutes and then break it again ( Fig. 7). LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 child / baby 2 skin 3 Electrode 4 Bracelet or anklet 5 Evaluation electronics (evaluation unit) 6 Wireless device (radio emitter, WLAN, Bluetooth, etc.) 7 Mobile phone (smartphone) 8 ring-shaped electrodes / ring electrodes 9 Interior area 10 cameras / IR cameras / image sensor 11 Laser source, IR laser diode 12 laser light sensors 13 Duvet 14 clothes 15 Electrical conductor 16 Cable end / conductor end 17 Flexible conductor, conductor fibers 18 bed mattress 19 ladder points 20 Conductive network 21 Electronic control 22 socket 23 plugs 24 metal clips 25 power pins 26 connector housings 27 Insulation layer 28 ground pins 29 Grounding the socket QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3461374B1

[0014] EP 2257200B1

[0015] EP 33 971 19 B1

[0016] US 2010 / 0101022 A1

[0017] JP 2005 177 471A

[0018] JP 2005 253 957A

[0018] JP 2004 344 675A

[0018] US 2012 / 253142A1

[0018] US 2008 / 005838A1

[0018] WO 2013 / 173640A1

[0018] US-B1-6341504

[0020] DE 602005012707D1

[0022]

Claims

[1] Protection system against sudden infant death, characterized by that it consists of at least, - a sensor system that can detect the child's / baby's seizures through a sensor, - a control and evaluation system that evaluates the seizures as such and wirelessly transmits the information about seizures in real time to a monitoring system or external device, - an alarm system that is linked to the control and evaluation system and emits or sends an alarm signal when seizures are detected. [2] Protection system against sudden infant death syndrome according to claim 1, characterized bythat a laser source is installed which is directed at the child's skin or at his clothes or bedding and a sensor which can optically or via infrared technology detect the twitching movements of the child / baby based on the fluctuations in the laser beam surface reflection and is coupled with an evaluation unit or AI software which evaluates these twitching movements based on the sensor signals in real time and thereby identifies the cramps of the toddler's or baby's muscles as such. [3] Protection system against sudden infant death syndrome according to claim 2, characterized by that an electronic control is installed that controls short scans by laser beams at time intervals. [4] Protection system against sudden infant death according to claim 1, characterized bythat the sensor is an image sensor or a camera that can record the twitching movements of the child / baby optically or via infrared technology and is coupled with an evaluation unit or AI software that evaluates these twitching movements based on the image sensor signals or camera recordings in real time and thereby determines the spasms of the muscles of the toddler or baby. [5] Protection system against sudden infant death according to claim 1, characterized by that the detection of cramps is carried out by sensor recording of changes in the electrical conductivity of the skin or muscles of the child / baby. [6] Protection system against sudden infant death according to claim 1, characterized bythat the sensor can detect the tension changes on the skin of the child / baby and is coupled with an evaluation unit or Kl software that evaluates the tension changes in real time and thereby identifies the cramps in the muscles of the toddler or baby as such. [7] Protection system against sudden infant death according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it is equipped with a control that controls the alarm system. [8] Protection system against sudden infant death according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the AI ​​software is equipped with optical or child behavioral recognition features that indicate magnesium deficiency symptoms in the child or baby shown in the image or video recordings. [9] Protection system against sudden infant death syndrome according to claim 8, characterized bythat the AI ​​software transmits a detected magnesium deficiency in the child or baby captured by the camera to their parents or caregivers via a wirelessly connectable device. [10] Protection system against sudden infant death syndrome according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by that the alarm due to seizures or an indication of magnesium deficiency can be transmitted to a mobile phone or PC system via a built-in wireless device. [11] Protection system against sudden infant death according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it is linked to a remote warning system that reaches parents or caregivers wirelessly via mobile phone technology. [12] Protection system against sudden infant death according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sensor is integrated into a bracelet or ankle band or ring that fits the child / baby. [13] Protection system against sudden infant death according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it can be connected wirelessly via WLAN or Bluetooth to an external device or a smartphone for the purpose of data transmission or evaluation of the data and detection of seizures or magnesium deficiency symptoms in the child. [14] Protection system against sudden infant death according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it consists of at least - Toddler or baby clothes that contain fibers or areas or contact points that can conduct electrical currents from the skin of the toddler or baby, - Toddler or baby bed mattress equipped with electrically conductive areas or points or fibers that are in electrical contact with the skin of the toddler or baby lying on the bed through his clothes, - a power plug that is connected to the mattress via an electrical cable, which can be plugged into a socket, the pins in the power plug are not connected, are insulated from each other and from the environment and are free-standing or the pins are made of an electrically non-conductive material, and the earth pin is connected to the electrical cable, whereby the electrostatic charges from the body of the toddler or baby are discharged from the body via the earthing. [15] Protection system against sudden infant death according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by that it consists of at least - Toddler or baby clothes that contain fibers or areas or contact points that can conduct electrical currents from the skin of the toddler or baby, - Toddler or baby bed mattress equipped with electrically conductive areas or points or fibers that are in electrical contact with the skin of the toddler or baby lying on the bed through his clothes, - a metal clamp that is connected to the mattress via an electrical wire, which can be connected to a radiator or a grounded metal part in the home, which is connected to the electrical wire, whereby the electrostatic charges from the body of the toddler or baby are discharged via the grounding from the body. [16] Protection system against sudden infant death syndrome according to claim 14 or 15, characterized by that it is equipped with a control that creates the electrical connection of the child's / baby's body and the earth through the wire at time intervals for a short time.

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