Patent attributes
A combined respiratory and heart rate sensor for a mammal has a flexible support with a surface adapted to be positioned over the skin of a mammal. A pair of inductive coil or capacitive plate elements, spaced apart by a foam spacer having openings therein, are attached to the support surface and are capable of independently sensing respiratory movement of the mammal in a direction perpendicular to the support surface and producing an output signal proportional thereto. The heart rate sensor includes an LED attached to the flexible support capable, and at least two light-detecting elements spaced apart from the LED, each capable of independently sensing light radiation reflected through the skin and capillaries from the light-emitting element and producing an output signal proportional thereto. A barrier layer attached to the support shield from the light-detecting elements light radiation that is not emitted from the LED.
