Abstract: There is provided herein a sensor for use in patient monitoring, wherein the level of patient activity in a chair or bed is tracked to determine whether or not that patient has exhibited sufficient activity to merit eliminating a scheduled assisted relocation to a new position. The instant device senses the time since a patient last relocated into a different sitting or lying position. If the patient has not moved during some predetermined time period, the nursing staff will be notified that it is time to manually reposition the patient. On the other hand, if the patient has significantly changed position, the device will not signal to the caregiver that a move is necessary, thereby eliminating the need in some cases to rouse the patient from an otherwise sound sleep.

Abstract: There is provided herein an electronic patient monitor that utilizes a latch or similar power circuit that automatically activates an electronic patient monitor when a patient's presence is indicated by the sensor, that maintains power to the unit so long as the patient is indicated to be present, and that maintains power to the monitor until a valid reset command is issued after the patient is sensed to be no longer present. Power to the unit is maintained, and the unit continues to monitor the patient, e so long as the patient is present, even if an attempt is made to power down/disable the unit during that time.

Abstract: There is provided herein a sensor for use in connection with an electronic patient monitor, wherein the sensor preferably uses a linearly configured resistive ladder with spaced-apart resistors as a means of determining at least approximately a location of the patient on the sensor as well as an approximate length of the sensor which is compressed by the patient. By continuously determining both of these quantities over time it is possible to track the patient's movement and determine to what extent the patient needs to be manually turned and/or the extent to which a next-scheduled turn can be skipped.

Abstract: According to a preferred embodiment, there is provided an electronic patient monitor for use in reducing the risk of decubitus ulcers. The monitor utilizes a separate sensor which senses the position of the patient in the bed or chair for purposes of determining when the patient moves. Additionally, the monitor broadcasts masking noise through its own, or through a remote, speaker, thereby enabling the patient to rest more comfortably in a noisy institutional environment. If the patient does not move on his or her own accord within a predetermined turn interval, the masking sound broadcast will be terminated which will gently encourage the patient to move. An alarm may additionally be sounded to notify the caregiver that the patient needs to be manually turned to reduce the risk of decubitus ulcers.

Abstract: There is provided herein an electronic patient monitor that includes indirect lighting of its control panel. Preferably, a splash guard is affixed to the monitor in a position proximate to one or more light sources, none of which directly illuminate the control panel. Light from the light sources is received by the splash guard and transmitted internally to the control panel, where the light that is emitted from the splash guard provides illumination for the user. In another variation, there is provided an electronic patient monitor with one or more light sources affixed thereto, which light sources are used to signal the operating characteristics of the monitor including its alarm volume setting, whether or not it is sounding an alarm, etc. In another variation, there is provided an electronic patient monitor that uses an environmental sensor to adapt its operating characteristics based on conditions proximate to the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for the manufacture of binary switches for use in the medical monitoring field and membrane switches for use in a variety of contexts. More particularly, the instant invention involves the construction, manufacture, and operation of pressure sensitive patient sensors of the sort commonly used in medical settings which can be used, for example, to detect when a patient has exited a chair or a bed. The instant application additionally teaches the construction of membrane switches for use in, for example, electronic instrument control panels. Both the binary switches and membrane switches taught herein are preferably formed from alternating layers of polyester and polyethylene.

Abstract: According to a preferred embodiment, there is provided an electronic patient monitor for use in reducing the risk of decubitus ulcers. The monitor utilizes a separate sensor which senses the position of the patient in the bed or chair for purposes of determining when the patient moves. Additionally, the monitor broadcasts masking noise through its own, or through a remote, speaker, thereby enabling the patient to rest more comfortably in a noisy institutional environment. If the patient does not move on his or her own accord within a predetermined turn interval, the masking sound broadcast will be terminated which will gently encourage the patient to move. An alarm may additionally be sounded to notify the caregiver that the patient needs to be manually turned to reduce the risk of decubitus ulcers.

Abstract: There is provided herein an electronic patient monitor that utilizes a latch or similar power circuit that automatically activates an electronic patient monitor when a patient's presence is indicated by the sensor, that maintains power to the unit so long as the patient is indicated to be present, and that maintains power to the monitor until a valid reset command is issued after the patient is sensed to be no longer present. Power to the unit is maintained, and the unit continues to monitor the patient, e so long as the patient is present, even if an attempt is made to power down/disable the unit during that time.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to monitoring systems and more particularly concerns devices and systems used to monitor patients the presence and absence of a patient from a bed, chair, etc. The preferred environment in which the instant invention would be used would be a hospital or other care giving facility, wherein patients who are at risk of falling might left unattended while they are seated or lying. According to a first aspect of the instant invention, a microprocessor-based patient monitor is disclosed which includes a loudspeaker that emits alarms synthesized by the microprocessor. The microprocessor synthesizes any one of multiple alarm sounds under software control and activates and deactivates the alarm in response to the electronic signals received from an attached sensor and a user interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for the manufacture of binary switches for use in the medical monitoring field and membrane switches for use in a variety of contexts. More particularly, the instant invention involves the construction, manufacture, and operation of pressure sensitive patient sensors of the sort commonly used in medical settings which can be used, for example, to detect when a patient has exited a chair or a bed. The instant application additionally teaches the construction of membrane switches for use in, for example, electronic instrument control panels. Both the binary switches and membrane switches taught herein are preferably formed from alternating layers of polyester and polyethylene.

Abstract: There is provided herein a sensor for use in patient monitoring, wherein the level of patient activity in a chair or bed is tracked to determine whether or not that patient has exhibited sufficient activity to merit eliminating a scheduled assisted relocation to a new position. The instant device senses the time since a patient last relocated into a different sitting or lying position. If the patient has not moved during some predetermined time period, the nursing staff will be notified that it is time to manually reposition the patient. On the other hand, if the patient has significantly changed position, the device will not signal to the caregiver that a move is necessary, thereby eliminating the need in some cases to rouse the patient from an otherwise sound sleep.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to binary switches for use in the medical monitoring field and to methods for manufacturing same. More particularly, the instant invention involves the construction, manufacture, and operation of pressure sensitive patient monitors of the sort commonly used in medical settings to detect when a patient has, for example, exited a chair or a bed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, an apparatus for patient monitoring is disclosed herein that contains one or more therein which resiliently collapse in response to weight, thereby completing an electrical circuit and indicating a presence or absence of a patient on the mat. Other preferred embodiments include hermetically sealed mats and methods of manufacturing same.

Abstract: There is provided herein a sensor for use in patient monitoring situations, wherein the level of patient motion activity is tracked for purposes of determining whether or not that patient has exhibited sufficient activity to merit eliminating a scheduled assisted relocation to a new position. The instant device broadly operates to sense the length of time since a patient has last moved from a previous sitting or lying position. If the patient has not moved during some predetermined time interval, it is preferred that the nursing staff be notified that it is time to manually reposition the patient. On the other hand, if the patient has changed position within the specified time period, the device will note that fact and inform the attending nurse or other caregiver that the patient need not be moved at the next scheduled relocation, thereby eliminating the need in some cases to rouse the patient from an otherwise sound sleep.

Abstract: There is provided herein an electronic patient monitor that includes indirect lighting of its control panel. Preferably, a splash guard is affixed to the monitor in a position proximate to one or more light sources, none of which directly illuminate the control panel. Light from the light sources is received by the splash guard and transmitted internally to the control panel, where the light that is emitted from the splash guard provides illumination for the user. In another variation, there is provided an electronic patient monitor with one or more light sources affixed thereto, which light sources are used to signal the operating characteristics of the monitor including its alarm volume setting, whether or not it is sounding an alarm, etc. In another variation, there is provided an electronic patient monitor that uses an environmental sensor to adapt its operating characteristics based on conditions proximate to the patient.

Abstract: There is provided herein an electronic patient monitor that is suitable for use with a variety of different sensors and which automatically configures itself depending on the sensor that is used and/or the environment in which the electronic monitor is placed. In a first preferred embodiment, the electronic monitor determines whether it is being used on a bed or a chair by sensing whether or not a nurse call connector is present. If such a connector is plugged into the monitor, the unit will assume that it is being used with a sensor that has been placed on a bed and will configure its internal parameters appropriately. Such configuration would include changing a delay time to provide for longer delays before sounding an alarm than would be used with a chair monitor.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to monitoring systems and more particularly concerns devices and systems used to monitor patients the presence and absence of a patient from a bed, chair, etc. The preferred environment in which the instant invention would be used would be a hospital or other care giving facility, wherein patients who are at risk of falling might left unattended while they are seated or lying. According to a first aspect of the instant invention, a microprocessor-based patient monitor is disclosed which includes a loudspeaker that emits alarms synthesized by the microprocessor. The microprocessor synthesizes any one of multiple alarm sounds under software control and activates and deactivates the alarm in response to the electronic signals received from an attached sensor and a user interface.

Abstract: A method of performing a supervisory function for a self-checkout system including sending a request for supervisory assistance from a self-checkout system to a portable, handheld wireless terminal, receiving the request by the wireless terminal, presenting the request via a display provided with the wireless terminal to a supervisory individual, determining whether the assistance request can be remotely performed through input by the supervisory individual, responding to the request through input by the supervisory individual. The input results in a response being sent from the wireless terminal to the self-checkout system. The response results in the supervisory assistance being performed when the assistance request is remotely performable, and the response results in a notification that supervisory personnel are being dispatched to a location of the self-checkout system when the assistance request can not be remotely performed.

Abstract: A heating element that can be incorporated into a molded foam article closely adjacent to the outer cover sheet without showing any evidence that a heating element is encapsulated within the foam portion of the article and provides essentially the same relatively softness and “feel” that would be obtained if the heating element was not part of the article.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to monitoring systems and more particularly concerns devices and systems used to monitor patients lying in hospital beds or in other care giving environments. According to a first aspect of the instant invention, a microprocessor based patient monitor is disclosed which includes a loudspeaker driven by a power amplifier responsive to an input signal derived from a programmable volume control. The microprocessor synthesizes any one of multiple alarm sounds under software control, operates the programmable volume control of the alarm system and activates and deactivates the alarm in response to the electronic signals received from the sensor and a user interface. An electrically erasable programmable read-only memory accessible by the processor stores data which can be modified to tailor the operations of the monitor to suit a variety of different needs.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to patient monitoring systems and more particularly concerns devices and systems used to monitor bed patients in hospital or other care-giving environments. In accordance with a first aspect of the instant invention, there is provided a pressure sensitive mat which has been completely sealed around its exterior edges. The interior of the mat is kept in communication with the atmosphere by way of a section of flexible tubing which encloses the attached electrical line. One end of the tubing is sealed inside of the mat and the other end is open to the atmosphere, thereby providing a passageway for air to reach the interior of the mat. This arrangement, however, protects the interior of the mat from exposure to fluids near the perimeter of the mat and allows the mat-portion of the invention to be completely submersed without adverse effect, if that should become necessary.