Abstract: A patient carestation for providing care to a patient including at least one environmental sensor sensing information concerning the environment surrounding the patient and providing electronic signals indicative of that environment. There are also physiological sensors sensing information relating to physiological conditions of the patient other than skin temperature and providing electronic signals indicative of physiological conditions of the patient. There may also be therapeutic sensors providing data based on therapy administered by peripheral apparatus and an input receiving patient information. A signal processor receives the signals from the physiological sensors, the environmental sensor, the therapeutic sensor and the patient information input and combines those signals into an integrated combination of signals for use by the caregiver. The integrated combination of signals can be used in a smart alarm or to generally appraise the caregiver at a central location as to the status of the patient.

Abstract: A blanket or article of wearing apparel for a subject such as an infant. A fiber optic temperature sensing element is integrated into the fabric by a process such as weaving. The temperature sensing element is a optic fiber having inscribed therein one or more fiber Bragg grating sensors such that a light is introduced into the optic fiber and that light directed onto the subject at a grating interface. A return light signal is received, either by a reflectance mode or a transmission mode, where the return light signal has a wavelength shift indicative of the temperature of the subject by Bragg resonant effect. Higher temperature sensitivity is obtained with a metal material of a high thermal expansion coefficient that is coated around the fiber sensor cladding.

Abstract: A patient carestation for providing care to a patient including at least one environmental sensor sensing information concerning the environment surrounding the patient and providing electronic signals indicative of that environment. There are also physiological sensors sensing information relating to physiological conditions of the patient other than skin temperature and providing electronic signals indicative of physiological conditions of the patient. There may also be therapeutic sensors providing data based on therapy administered by peripheral apparatus and an input receiving patient information. A signal processor receives the signals from the physiological sensors, the environmental sensor, the therapeutic sensor and the patient information input and combines those signals into an integrated combination of signals for use by the caregiver. The integrated combination of signals can be used in a smart alarm or to generally appraise the caregiver at a central location as to the status of the patient.

Abstract: A blanket or article of wearing apparel for a subject such as an infant. A fiber optic temperature sensing element is integrated into the fabric by a process such as weaving. The temperature sensing element is a optic fiber having inscribed therein one or more fiber Bragg grating sensors such that a light is introduced into the optic fiber and that light directed onto the subject at a grating interface. A return light signal is received, either by a reflectance mode or a transmission mode, where the return light signal has a wavelength shift indicative of the temperature of the subject by Bragg resonant effect. Higher temperature sensitivity is obtained with a metal material of a high thermal expansion coefficient that is coated around the fiber sensor cladding.

Abstract: An infant warming apparatus for supporting an infant upon an infant bed. The apparatus has a sensor that is affixed to the skin of the infant to detect one or more physiological functions of the infant. A transmitter is located within the enclosure of the sensor and which transmit the information detected by the physiological sensor to a receiver that is located on the infant care apparatus and which can then convert that information into a recognizable or usable medium. An alternative embodiment includes the transmitter located proximate to the infant within an infant scale located beneath the infant. The sensor is hardwired to the transmitter in the infant scale and signals relating to weight and/or a condition of the infant are transmitted by wireless telemetry to a monitor or other display device to display that information to the caregiver.