Mattress or Chair Sensor Envelope with an Antenna

• US 20100225489A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telehealth Sensors LLC
• Original Assignee: Telehealth Sensors LLC
• Inventors: HINTERLONG, STEPHEN JOSEPH
• Granted Patent: US 8,081,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.400
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6894 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A pressure-actuated floor mat, mattress or chair pressure sensor is enclosed within a flexible protective envelope that is provided with active electronic devices that can monitor the state of the sensor but which can also wirelessly transmit signals carrying information from the sensor-detecting electronics. Radio signals carrying information about the sensor are transduced or emitted from a small antenna within, or attached to the one of the envelopes surfaces. A receiver receives the signals emitted from the antenna and relays the information to a remote patient monitoring system is realized by the electronics and sensor within a disposable protective envelope.

Claims

1. A mattress or chair sensor comprised of:

a dielectric envelope that defines an interior volume and which includes therein, a sensor to detect a person on a mattress or a chair; and

an antenna within said interior volume.

2. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 1, wherein the envelope is comprised of polyethylene.

3. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 1 wherein the antenna is a patch antenna.

4. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 1 wherein the antenna is a loop antenna.

5. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 1 wherein the antenna is a fractal antenna.

6. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a dipole antenna.

7. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 1, wherein the antenna is an end-fed antenna.

8. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 1 wherein the antenna is configured to transduce radio signals for a Bluetooth-compliant transmitter.

9. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 1 wherein the antenna is configured to transduce radio signals for an IEEE 802.11-compliant transmitter.

10. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 1 wherein the antenna is configured to transduce radio signals for an IEEE 802.15-compliant transmitter.

11. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 1 wherein the antenna is configured to transduce radio signals for an Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM)-band compliant transmitter.

12. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 3, further including a dielectric substrate for a sensor and wherein said antenna is formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate for the sensor.

13. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 4, further including a dielectric substrate for a sensor and wherein said antenna is formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate for the sensor.

14. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 5, further including a dielectric substrate for a sensor and wherein said antenna is formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate for the sensor.

15. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 6, further including a dielectric substrate for a sensor and wherein said antenna is formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate for the sensor.

16. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 7, further including a dielectric substrate for a sensor and wherein said antenna is formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate for the sensor.

17. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 8, further including a dielectric substrate for a sensor and wherein said antenna is formed on a surface of said dielectric substrate for the sensor.

18. The mattress or chair sensor of claim 1, further including a sensor comprised of first and second conductive panels and wherein the antenna is attached to a surface of one of said conductive panels.

19. A sensor comprised of:

a plastic dielectric envelope having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the envelope defining an interior volume, which includes therein at least one of;

a sensor configured to detect a person on a mattress; and

a sensor configured to detect a person sitting in a chair; and

an antenna attached to one of said exterior surface and said interior surface of said envelope.

20. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the antenna is coupled to said exterior surface of said envelope.

21. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the antenna is coupled to said interior surface of said envelope.

22. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the antenna is a fractal antenna.

23. The sensor of claim 19, wherein the antenna is a dipole antenna.

24. The sensor of claim 19, wherein the antenna is an end-fed antenna.

25. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the fractal antenna is attached to the exterior surface of said envelope.

26. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the fractal antenna is attached to the interior surface of said envelope.

27. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the antenna is configured to transduce radio signals for a Bluetooth-compliant transmitter.

28. The sensor of claim 19 wherein the antenna is configured to transduce radio signals for an IEEE 802.11-compliant transmitter.

29. The sensor of claim 19, wherein the antenna is configured to transducer radio signals for an Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM)-band transmitter.