Cable management and contact monitoring system

• US 20040149533A1
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joanne Milano
• Original Assignee: Joanne Milano
• Inventors: Milano, Joanne
• Application Number:
  US10/762,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20040149533A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 191/12.4
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

This invention relates to a cable management and contact monitoring system. This system allows a user to quickly, easily and neatly store the conductive cables of various devices such as computers, fetal monitors, defibrilators, heart monitors and therapeutic electrical stimulation machines in a clinical setting and aids in detecting and troubleshooting connection problems which may occur with these devices. The system is comprised of a spring powered cable retraction device with a manual or automatic stop mechanism, a slip ring connector, contact sensors and an indicator light and/or audible signal circuit.

Claims

1. A cable management and contact monitoring system comprised of:

at least one conductor means;

at least one retraction means about which the conductor means may be retracted to a stored state;

at least one locking means attached to the retraction means capable of locking the locking means when a user draws the conductor means from the retracted stored state to a desired length for use and then maintaining the desired length and the locking means being further capable of unlocking the locking means by the user when the user returns the conductor means to the retracted stored state;

the conductor means further comprising at least one electronically attached contact detection means capable of detecting the integrity of the contact of the conductor means with that of user selected objects to which the conductor means has been attached; and

the contact detection means is electronically attached to at least one indicator means wherein the indicator means communicates to the user the condition of the integrity of the contact of the conductor means with that of the user selected objects to which the conductor means has been attached.

2. The cable management and contact monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the user selected objects are a computer connected by the conductor means to at least one computer electronically attached input and/or output device.

3. The cable management and contact monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the user selected objects are:

a patient;

a fetal monitor;

a fetal monitor detection means electronically attached by the conductor means to the fetal monitor and being capable of electronic attachment by the conductor means to the patient; and

a fetal monitor results printer electronically attached by a separate conductor means to the fetal monitor.

4. The cable management and contact monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the user selected objects are:

a patient;

a defibrillator; and

at least one pair of defibrillator paddles electronically attached by the conductor means to the defibrillator and being capable of electrically conductive connection by the conductor means to the patient.

5. The cable management and contact monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the user selected objects are:

a patient;

a heart monitor; and

at least one heart monitor detection means electronically attached by the conductor means to the heart monitor and being capable of electronic attachment by the conductor means to the patient.

6. The cable management and contact monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the user selected objects are:

a patient;

a therapeutic electrical stimulation machine; and

at least one pair of electrical stimulation patient connectors electronically attached by the conductor means to the therapeutic electrical stimulation machine and being capable of electronic attachment by the conductor means to the patient.

7. The cable management and contact monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the user selected objects are:

an electrical device; and

an electrical power supply connected to the electrical device by the conductor means.

8. The cable management and contact monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the indicator means is a light.

9. The cable management and contact monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the indicator means is an LED display.

10. The cable management and contact monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the indicator means is an audible alarm.

11. The cable management and contact monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the indicator means is a computer.

12. The cable management and contact monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the contact detection means is comprised of:

at least one electrical current sensor;

at least one microprocessor electronically attached to the electrical current sensor such that the microprocessor communicates a signal to the indicator means respecting the integrity of the contact with the user selected objects.