BED PRE-EXIT PATIENT MONITOR

• US 20120182148A1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PAINE, ALAN
• Original Assignee: PAINE, ALAN
• Inventors: PAINE, ALAN
• Granted Patent: US 9,013,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• 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

Abstract

Improvements in a bed pre exit patient monitor to determine when a patient has moved to an edge of a bed prior to the patient leaving the bed by measuring load on a single wheel by slightly lifting the wheel with load sensing rods that measure the wheel load. A variety of different alarm signals are used signal to warn a care giver. The device is self-contained, self-secures and removes itself from a variety of different diameter wheels. The device can auto calibration when the wheel is initially lifted and also calibrate when a patient is resting on a bed. The monitoring establishes a threshold load without a patient and with a patient to allow the software to determine when the on an edge of a bed and also when a patient has completely left the bed. Software filtering rejects patient movement to prevent false alarms.

Claims

1. A bed pre-exit patient monitor comprising:

a two-direction drive motor secured to one of at least two parallel members;

at least one of said parallel members secured to a load sensor;

wherein

at least one of said parallel members is moved by said two directional drive motor to at least partially lift a wheel of a bed placed between said at least two parallel members to allow said load sensor to determine a load on said load sensor, and

said load is measured to determine when a person on said bed is on an edge of said bed.

2. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 that further includes an alarm.

3. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 2 wherein said alarm is an audible alarm.

4. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 2 wherein said alarm is a visible alarm.

5. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 2 wherein said alarm sends a wired signal to a receiver.

6. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 2 wherein said alarm sends a wireless signal to a receiver.

7. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 6 wherein said wireless signal is RF, IR or Bluetooth.

8. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 wherein said two direction drive motor can release said at least two parallel members from said wheel.

9. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 wherein said two direction drive motor moves both of said parallel members.

10. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 wherein said measurement determines when a person is on and edge of said bed by an increase of load on said load sensor.

11. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 wherein said measurement determines when a person is on and edge of said bed by a decrease of load on said load sensor.

12. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 wherein said load sensor can be calibrated to determine the load on said at least two parallel members.

13. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 12 wherein a weight of said bed can be tarred out.

14. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 that further includes at least one display.

15. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 14 wherein said display is at least one digital readout or at least one LED.

16. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 that further includes at least one start button or switch.

17. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 wherein said bed pre-exit patient monitor is battery and or externally powered.

18. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 that further includes a low battery or power sensor and a low battery or power notification mechanism.

19. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 that further includes a digital or electrical filter to reduce false errors that are causes by a patient rolling or turning in said bed.

20. The bed pre-exit patient monitor according to claim 1 wherein said two-direction drive motor is energized by a mechanical or solid state relay.