Call system and methods and apparatus for operating same
First Claim
1. A call system for use in hospitals, nursing homes and the like, wherein services provided may be classified in three groups in terms of importance in responding to the patient'"'"'s needs including services lowest in importance by a nurse'"'"'s aide, services of greater importance rendered by a nurse or a doctor and services of greatest importance rendered by an emergency unit or team, said call system comprising signal generating means to be located at a nurse'"'"'s call station, electrical means for enabling a patient to operate the signal generating means from a patient'"'"'s place of occupancy which is at a distance from the call station, said electrical means including a portable call box located within reach of the patient at the patient'"'"'s place of occupancy, said call box having constructed therein a plurality of switches operable by the patient for selectively energizing the signal generating means to produce coded signals of differing message characteristics which are prioritized or coded in ascending order of importance and which are correlated with the said three classified groups of services.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved call system has a signal sending apparatus, a message receiving station located at a distance from the sending apparatus, and signal generating means located at the receiving station. The signal sending apparatus includes a call box for selectively energizing the generating means and producing a set of coded signals, each of which, when in communication with the receiving station, calling for a response which is determined by the specific message characteristics of the communicating signal. The signals may be generated in the form of light, sound or both, controlled in duration and intensity, and communication may be through electrical conductors, by radio, by telephone and other means.
In one specific aspect the message receiving station may be a nurses call station in a hospital and the call box may be operated by a person in need of assistance in a hospital room or other area. The call box includes switch means for energizing the signal generating means and producing a set of coded signals which are prioritized in terms of urgency of need and the needee may select a specific signal calling for (A) a hospital aide, (B) a nurse, or (C) emergency treatment, thus substantially increasing efficiency of use of hospital personnel as well as enhancing patient'"'"'s security.
134 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A call system for use in hospitals, nursing homes and the like, wherein services provided may be classified in three groups in terms of importance in responding to the patient'"'"'s needs including services lowest in importance by a nurse'"'"'s aide, services of greater importance rendered by a nurse or a doctor and services of greatest importance rendered by an emergency unit or team, said call system comprising signal generating means to be located at a nurse'"'"'s call station, electrical means for enabling a patient to operate the signal generating means from a patient'"'"'s place of occupancy which is at a distance from the call station, said electrical means including a portable call box located within reach of the patient at the patient'"'"'s place of occupancy, said call box having constructed therein a plurality of switches operable by the patient for selectively energizing the signal generating means to produce coded signals of differing message characteristics which are prioritized or coded in ascending order of importance and which are correlated with the said three classified groups of services.
Specification