Patents by Inventor Toby E. Smith

Toby E. Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20030197614
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: BED-CHECK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toby E. Smith, Craig L. Cooper, Trevor L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6544200
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Bed-Check Corporation
    Inventors: Toby E. Smith, Craig L. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20030063010
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: BED-CHECK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toby E. Smith, Craig L. Cooper, Fred H. Holmes, Patrick W. Lovely
  • Patent number: 6441742
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Bed-Check Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick W. Lovely, Fred H. Holmes, Toby E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6417777
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Bed-Check Corporation
    Inventors: Sanford G. Fitzgerald, Toby E. Smith
  • Publication number: 20020014968
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Sanford G. Fitzgerald, Toby E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6307476
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to 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 binary switch-type device (e.g., a “mat”) for use in patient monitoring situations which contains, in addition to a conventional patient detection circuit, identification circuitry that can be sensed by an attached electronic monitor. The identification circuitry can be sensed by the electronic monitor and is designed to be configured to serve many different purposes, including, by way of example only, identification of the type of mat attached thereto, detection of connectivity problems, tracking mat usage time, and identifying mats that are nearing the end of their useful lives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Bed-Check Corporation
    Inventors: Toby E. Smith, Patrick W. Lovely
  • Patent number: 6292102
    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 wetness detector for use in patient monitoring situations and which is adjustable in its degree of sensitivity to wetness. It contains at least two conductive regions placed on a non-conductive base and which are preferably separated laterally by some distance. Isolated electrical leads are attached to each conductive region. Electrical current passes much more readily between the two conductive regions when an electrolytic solution such as urine is present within the switch, thereby making it possible for a separate electronic monitor to determine when wetness is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Bed-Check Corporation
    Inventor: Toby E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4823042
    Abstract: Sonic transducer and method for making the same. A sonic transducer of the type used in generating ultrasound frequencies for medical therapy includes a substantially planar circular piezoelectric crystal which is bonded to the rear surface of a circular metal diaphragm. The diaphragm front surface includes a substantially planar applicating face and an annular non-parallel surface surrounding the applicating face. The transducer may be excited to produce maximum ultrasound energy over a relatively broad frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Rich-Mar Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Coffey, Toby E. Smith
  • Patent number: D299747
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Rich-Mar Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Wilson, Kenneth W. Coffey, Toby E. Smith, David Richards, Maqsood Mohd, Lee Cody