ELECTRONIC MEDICAL WARNING DEVICE

• US 3,634,885 A
• Filed: 11/17/1969
• Issued: 01/11/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James H. Barkley
• Original Assignee: James H. Barkley
• Inventors: Barkley, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Partridge, Scott F.
• Application Number:
  US04/877,097
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 340/279,283,221,276,321 200/61.47 128/2.1,1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait

Abstract

An attitude-activated warning device for persons subject to incapacitating and prostrating medical attacks or seizures. The warning device contains a miniature tape recorder with an endless tape repeating an instructional message relating to the medical problem and emergency treatment of the patient carrying the device, a power source, an attitude switch for activating the recorder when vertically disoriented, a latching relay to maintain a power delivery to the recorder when the attitude switch is physically reoriented, and an override switch to manually deactivate the recorder.

Claims

1. A warning device adapted to be attached to a person prone to incapacitating medical conditions or prostrating seizures comprising an annunciator which when activated repeatedly broadcasts a prerecorded message to inform bystanders of the nature of such person'"'"''"'"'s condition or seizure and how he is to be treated prior to the arrival of medical aid, a power source for connecting an electrical power supply to said annunciator, control means to activate such annunciator when such person passes from an erect to a supine position and to maintain said annunciator in an activated state regardless of any nature of subsequent change of the positional attitude of such person or the warning device, and deactivating means to override the activating control means and return the warning device to a preactivated state.

2. The warning device of claim 1 wherein the annunciator comprises a miniature tape recorder having an endless magnetic tape.

3. The warning device of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises an attitude switch contained in said warning device which closes, completing an electrical circuit between the power supply and the annunciator, when said attitude switch is displaced a predetermined degree from a vertical equilibrium and a latching relay electrically connected in parallel with said attitude switch which closes, completing an alternate electrical circuit between the power supply and the annunciator, when said attitude switch closes, said latching relay remaining closed regardless of any subsequent opening of the attitude switch when returning to a vertical equilibrium.

4. The warning device of claim 1 further comprising a backup switch electrically connected between said annunciator and said power source, said backup switch having an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position for normal operational use of the warning device and an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'off'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position which totally deactivates the device regardless of the attitude of the warning device.

5. The warning device of claim 3 wherein said deactivating means comprises an override switch electrically connected between said annunciator and said power source, which, when temporarily opened, terminates the power supply through the control means to the annunciator to open the latching relay of the control means.

6. A method of safeguarding a person who may be prone to a prostrating seizure comprising attaching to such person an annunciator adapted when activated to inform bystanders of the nature of such person'"'"''"'"'s seizure and how he is to be treated pending the arrival of medical aid, activating said annunciator when such person passes from an erect to a supine position, and maintaining said annunciator activated for a predetermined period of time regardless of any nature of change of the positional attitude of such person during said period of time.

7. A method of safeguarding a person subject to incapacitating medical attacks or prostrating seizures comprising attaching to such person a warning device adapted when activated to repeatedly broadcast a prerecorded instructional message relating to such person'"'"''"'"'s condition to bystanders, activating said warning device when such person passes a predetermined degree from a vertical equilibrium, maintaining said warning device activated regardless of any nature of change of the positional attitude of such warning device, and deactivating such device by an affirmative act after the necessary information has been received.