AURA: a new respiratory monitor

The Aberdeen University Respiratory Alarm (AURA) is designed to monitor the respiratory rate and the inter- expiratory period (respiratory gap) in the spontaneously breathing patient using polarised polyvinylidene fluoride sensors incorporated in the Oxygen delivery mask. The monitor is composed of three modules--the sensor module includes a pair of polyvinylidene film strips mounted on the inner surface of the Oxygen mask. The difference in temperature between the ambient Oxygen enriched air and the warmer expired air allows the pyroelectric property of the sensors to be harnessed. The sensor arrangement allows a differential signal to develop between them which is amplified, filtered and rectified prior to triggering a counter. The timing module is based on a 32,768 Hz crystal oscillator that generates pulses allowing the period between expirations to be measured and compared to the maximum allowable period set by the user. The respiratory rate is also measured and compared to the minimum set by the user using EPROMS and comparators. The display module consists of a bar-graph display of the level of the sensed signal with each breath with a soft audible click. Eight segment LEDs are used to provide a digital display of the respiratory rate and the respiratory gap. Audiovisual alarms are triggered when the rate falls short of the set rate and/or when the gap exceeds the set gap. The need for continuous respiratory monitoring of the spontaneously breathing adult in hospital practice led us to develop this prototype with sensors whose design and configuration can be considerably improved.