Abstract: A patient monitoring system with image capture functionality, wherein the system is configured such that image data is recorded in response to the sensor signal only if that sensor signal is generated more than a predefined period of time following the identification of a predefined access token. Methods for operating such a system, and computer software/hardware configured to enable the operation and/or configuration of such a system are also disclosed. The embodiments described herein are designed in particular, to assist in protecting a patient against unauthorized persons attempting to interfere with the patient.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a patient monitoring device (100). Device (100) includes a monitoring module (101), which in turn includes a field generator component. In this embodiment, the field generator component includes a pair of infrared beam sensors (102), each for generating a respective patient monitoring field (103). The monitoring module (101) is configured to generate a signal in response to a breach of that field (103). The device (100) also includes a proximity based token reader in the form of a transceiver (105) configured for remotely reading an identifier carried by a token in the form of a key card 106 when that token is located within a recognition zone (107) defined relative to the proximity based token reader (105).

Abstract: Disclosed is a self-contained portable freestanding monitoring unit (1) for an individual in the form of a human patient (not shown) in an aged-care facility (2). Unit (1) includes a transmitter (3) for generating a diffuse infrared field (4) that is bounded generally by broken lines. Field (4) defines at least part of a boundary (B-B) between a first region (5) in which the patient is preferentially disposed and a second region (6) adjacent to region (5). At least one receiver, in the form of a single infrared receiver (7), generates a movement signal in response to the patient entering field (4). Also provided is an alarm, in the form of an alarm circuit (8), which generates an alert signal in the form of an audible sequence of sounds in response to the movement signal.