Heart Rate DetectionHeart rate monitors can be a very useful tool in helping to prevent SIDS. Obviously, if the infant's heart has stopped or becomes irregular something is wrong. Heart rate monitors measure the heartbeat in two basic methods: electrical activity and pulse meters.
Electrical Activity: The 12-lead electrocardiograph (ECG) monitor is the standard monitor used by hospitals around the world to measure a patient's heartbeat. These machines record the electrical activity that results when the muscle cells in the heart contract from 12 different points of view, and transforms these readings into heartbeats. Measuring from 12 different points of view makes these monitors very accurate because no single point on the heart will give the same reading as another. However, for a reliable, accurate monitor the price range varies from $1,500 to $5,000. Chest-strap monitors with electrodes in contact with the skin can also measure the electrical activity produced by the heart. These are less accurate than the ECG monitors, but are much cheaper. The major manufacturer of monitors that measure an electrical signal is Polar, and the prices range from $50 to $500.
Pulse Meters: Heart rate monitors that use pulse meters measure the mechanical pulse of blood flow through the capillaries. These tend to be much less accurate than monitors using electrical activity. However, these monitors can be found in strapless forms (no chest-strap) and can be used in wristwatches and other attachment methods. These monitors are produced by many companies including Nike, Polar and Reebok; among others. The underlying problem in these monitors is that most (excluding ECG monitors) are designed for adults for training purposes. This is a problem because a newborn infant's heart rate is much larger than that of an adult; 100-160 beats per minute for a newborn compared to 60-100 beats per minute for an adult. However, the same principles used in these devices can still be used in our device to monitor an infant's heart rate. | 