Physiological condition monitors utilizing very low frequency acoustic
signals and signals indicative of body orientation are disclosed. The physiological
condition monitors comprise a sensor that is capable of detecting low frequency
acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The
sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency
microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises
a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a microphone mounted in
the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency
acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and
amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity. The sensor provides information
concerning physiological conditions, such as respiration and cardiac activity.
The sensor in a physiological condition monitor does not need to be directly coupled
to the skin of the person being monitored. The physiological condition monitor
simultaneously provides information concerning cardiac activity, and respiration
activity, and the movement and position orientation of the monitored person's body.