LOW COST MOTION SENSITIVE APNEA MONITOR

THIS PROPOSAL IS TO DEVELOP A LOW COST, MOTION SENSITIVE RELIABLE INFANT APNEA MONITOR FOR BOTH HOME AND HOSPITAL APPLICATIONS. THE PROPOSED APNEA MONITOR ATTACHES DIRECTLY TO THE PATIENTS, SIMPLIFYING THE MONITORING PROCESS. CURRENTLY MONITORING IS LIMITED TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HIGH-RISK INFANTS (NEAR-MISS AND SIBLINGS OF SIDS VICTIMS) BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST, COMPLEXITY AND ANXIETY INCURRED BYTHE FAMILY. IN THE HOSPITAL, INEFFICIENCIES RESULTING FROM FALSE APNEA ALARMS AND THE HIGH COSTS OF MONITORING EQUIPMENT PROHIBITS WIDESPREAD USE OF THIS MODALITY. THE PROPOSED DEVICE WILL IMPROVE RELIABILITY AND COST WHICH SHOULD ENCOURAGE WIDER APNEA SURVEILLANCE. THE PROPOSED DEVICE WILL UTILIZE THE TRANSDUCER PROPERTIES OF A CARBON DOPED ELASTOMER AND ADVANCED MICROELECTONICS WHICH CAN SENSE RESPIRATORY EFFORTS OF THE NEONATE IN A COST EFFECTIVEEFFICACIOUS MANNER.