Patient incontinence monitoring apparatus and method of use thereof
First Claim
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1. A patient fluid discharge monitoring system comprising:
- a liquid absorbent material configured to be positioned to receive fluid discharged from at least one of a urine discharge orifice and a fecal discharge orifice of a patient; and
a first RF tag positioned in contact with or in spaced relation with the liquid absorbent material, the first RF tag responsive to a wireless excitation signal in the absence of discharged fluid in the liquid absorbent material and responsive to the excitation signal in the presence of discharged fluid in the liquid absorbent material for causing at least one of (i) a unique change in the excitation signal and (ii) a change in a unique wireless response signal output by the first RF tag in response to the wireless excitation signal.
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Abstract
A patient fluid discharge monitoring method and apparatus includes at least one article configured to be worn by a patient, the article having absorbent material and a RF tag received adjacent the absorbent material. The RF tag is excited with an excitation signal and the response of the RF tag to the excitation signal is detected. The detected response of the RF tag is compared to a predetermined response. The RF tag has a first detected response when the absorbent material has no fluid therein and a second detected response when the absorbent material has fluid therein.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A patient fluid discharge monitoring system comprising:
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a liquid absorbent material configured to be positioned to receive fluid discharged from at least one of a urine discharge orifice and a fecal discharge orifice of a patient; and
a first RF tag positioned in contact with or in spaced relation with the liquid absorbent material, the first RF tag responsive to a wireless excitation signal in the absence of discharged fluid in the liquid absorbent material and responsive to the excitation signal in the presence of discharged fluid in the liquid absorbent material for causing at least one of (i) a unique change in the excitation signal and (ii) a change in a unique wireless response signal output by the first RF tag in response to the wireless excitation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A patient fluid discharge monitoring system comprising:
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an article configured to be worn next to the skin of a patient, the article including an absorbent material for absorbing fluid discharged by the patient; and
an RF tag positioned adjacent the absorbent material, wherein the absorbent material and the RF tag are arranged whereupon in the absence of fluid in the absorbent material, the RF tag has is responsive to a wireless excitation signal and in the presence of fluid in the absorbent material, the response of the RF tag to the excitation signal changes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26)
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21. A method of monitoring patient fluid discharge comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing at least one article configured to be worn by a patient, the article having absorbent material and an RF tag received adjacent the absorbent material;
(b) exciting the RF tag with an excitation signal;
(c) detecting a response of the RF tag to the excitation signal; and
(d) comparing the detected response of the RF tag to a reference response therefor wherein, the RF tag has a first detected response when the absorbent material has no fluid therein and a second detected response when the absorbent material has fluid therein. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 28)
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27. A patient fluid discharge monitoring system comprising:
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a diaper having absorbent material received between a fluid impermeable cover and an fluid permeable lining;
a plurality of first RF tags each uniquely identifiable and each positioned near or adjacent at least one of the fluid impermeable cover and the absorbent material adjacent the fluid impermeable cover, the plurality of first RF tags distributed throughout the diaper and responsive to a wireless excitation signal for providing an indication of how much capacity of the absorbent material is available for receiving urine; and
at least one uniquely identifiable second RF tag positioned in the diaper near or adjacent the fluid permeable lining or in the absorbent material adjacent the fluid permeable lining in an area of the diaper configured to be positioned adjacent an anus of a patient when worn, the at least one second RF tag responsive to the wireless excitation signal for providing an indication of the absence and presence of feces near or adjacent the at least one second RF tag.
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Specification