Abstract: An apparatus used for reducing the incidence of aspiration in patients using a two-axis inclinometer is disclosed. The apparatus uses a two-axis inclinometer that is attached in the region of the patient's upper body to measure the absolute angular elevation of the patient's upper body, which is then transmitted to a display or other output device. In one embodiment, the instrument can be mounted to the head of a bed in a plurality of orientations and accurately measure the absolute angular elevation of the patient's upper body. In other embodiments the absolute angular elevation of the patient's upper body information is processed and transmitted to the nurses' station or to a data recorder. The disclosure also relates to a method for measuring the physical orientation of a patient, using such two-axis inclinometer apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a form of a tilt switch that solves the problem of poor electrical contact, excessive/unpredictable hysteresis, high contact resistance, short life and/or electrical bounce. The tilt switch uses conventional ball-in-tube construction and adds a graphite powder film to all electrically conductive surfaces in the switch. This non-mercury tilt switch provides additional features such as enhanced electrical contact, reduced or eliminated hysteresis, lowered contact resistance, increased contact life and eliminates electrical bounce.