Tracheal breath sounds for detection of apnea in infants and children.

Impedance respiratory monitoring is the standard technique for detecting apnea in infants. A miniature microphone/amplifier system has been used to sense breath sounds over the trachea in order to detect both central and obstructive apnea episodes in infants and children. The tracheal microphone has several advantages over other devices that sense airflow (thermistors, CO2 sampling catheters) because it is not easily dislodged during restless sleep. This simple device may be used in monitoring of neonates and infants; it may eventually replace impedance monitoring.