ACTIVE ON-PATIENT SENSOR, METHOD AND SYSTEM
First Claim
1. Apparatus to sense a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:
- a sensor to sense a condition adjacent a human body;
a signal processing circuit to which the sensor connects;
a transmitter connected to the signal processing circuit;
a power supply connected to provide electricity for operation of the sensor, the signal processing circuit, and the transmitter; and
a flexible printed circuit substrate having at least the signal processing circuit, the transmitter, and the power supply mounted thereon in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor (which could be detachable) to sense a condition (including pressure from body weight or moisture from incontinence; applied by adhering to skin of a human body or by putting a diaper on the human body, for example), a signal processing circuit, a periodic or continuous transmitter, and a power supply (typically including a battery) are associated with a flexible substrate in low profile enabling disposition adjacent the human body. A transmitter antenna is on the substrate. Insulator film between battery contacts and a switch-and-transistor combination are two power-on techniques. A bedside monitor, a transceiver configured to receive signals from and transmit signals to the bedside monitor, and a computer connected with the transceiver can be included. Other features include: notification signaling; differently responsive antennas; unique identification; low battery detection; anti-collision transmission; patient protocol scheduling; local data transfer from the bedside monitor; and out-of-range transmission detection.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. Apparatus to sense a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:
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a sensor to sense a condition adjacent a human body; a signal processing circuit to which the sensor connects; a transmitter connected to the signal processing circuit; a power supply connected to provide electricity for operation of the sensor, the signal processing circuit, and the transmitter; and a flexible printed circuit substrate having at least the signal processing circuit, the transmitter, and the power supply mounted thereon in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus to sense a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:
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a sensor to sense a condition adjacent a human body; a transmitter configured to operatively associate with the sensor to transmit a signal digitally encoded with a unique identifier responsive to the sensor, the transmitter including an antenna; and a flexible substrate having the antenna disposed thereon and connected with the sensor and transmitter in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus to sense a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:
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a sensor to sense a condition adjacent a human body; a transmitter configured to operatively cooperate with the sensor to transmit a signal responsive to the sensor; a power supply for providing electricity to operate to the sensor and the transmitter, wherein the power supply includes a removable insulator film and a battery having a terminal initially electrically isolated from the sensor and transmitter by the insulator film such that the apparatus is energized by the battery upon pulling the insulator film out; and a flexible printed circuit substrate having at least the transmitter and the power supply mounted thereon in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of sensing a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:
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disposing in low profile adjacent a human body, by adhering to skin of the human body or by putting a diaper on the human body, apparatus to sense a condition adjacent the human body, the apparatus including a sensor, a transmitter, a power supply, and a flexible substrate having at least the transmitter and the power supply connected thereto in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body; energizing the apparatus solely with the battery; sensing a condition using the sensor; and transmitting a wireless link signal from the transmitter in response to the sensed condition. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A patient monitoring system, comprising
a sensing apparatus including a sensor, a transmitter responsive to the sensor, a power supply, and a low profile flexible substrate having at least the transmitter and the power supply connected thereto; -
a bedside monitor configured to receive signals transmitted from the transmitter such that the sensing apparatus and the bedside monitor are in wireless communication, the bedside monitor including a first transceiver; a second transceiver configured to receive signals from and transmit signals to the first transceiver such that the first transceiver and the second transceiver are in wireless communication with each other; and a computer connected in communication with the second transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of monitoring a patient, comprising:
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connecting a condition sensing apparatus to a patient, including performing at least one from the group consisting of adhering a flexible substrate of the condition sensing apparatus to skin of the patient and putting diapers having the flexible substrate on the patient, the flexible substrate having a sensor, a transmitter and a battery connected thereto; collecting data transmitted from the condition sensing apparatus when the condition sensing apparatus senses a pressure or incontinence condition adjacent the patient; and replacing the sensor of the condition sensing apparatus, including disconnecting the sensor from the condition sensing apparatus and connecting a replacement sensor thereto such that the flexible substrate, the transmitter and the battery are reused. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. Apparatus to sense a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:
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a sensor to sense a condition adjacent a human body; a transmitter configured to operatively cooperate with the sensor to transmit a signal responsive to the sensor; a power supply for providing electricity to operate to the sensor and the transmitter, wherein the power supply includes a battery, a switch and transistors connected for maintaining a powered on state upon a one-time closure actuation of the switch such that the apparatus is energized by the battery upon the one-time closure actuation; and a flexible printed circuit substrate having at least the transmitter and the power supply mounted thereon in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body.
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49. Apparatus to sense a condition adjacent a human body, comprising:
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a dual-mode sensor to sense both pressure and moisture adjacent a human body; a signal processing circuit to which the sensor connects; a transmitter connected to the signal processing circuit; a power supply connected to provide electricity for operation of the sensor, the signal processing circuit, and the transmitter; and a flexible printed circuit substrate having at least the signal processing circuit, the transmitter, and the power supply mounted thereon in low profile enabling disposition of the apparatus adjacent a human body.
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Specification