Bed signalling apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor, comprising:
- resilient means through which fluid under pressure can flow from an inlet for said resilient means to an outlet for said resilient means;
fluid supplying means connected to said inlet for continuously supplying fluid under pressure toward said resilient means;
switching means connected between said resilient means and said fluid supplying means for controlling indicating means in response to changes in said pressure; and
indicating means connected to said switching means for indicating when there has been a change in said pressure.
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Abstract
A bed signalling apparatus signals a caregiver an out of bed condition and a bottoming condition of a patient. Signalling of patient location within a bed is also provided. The bed signalling apparatus includes a fluid supplying member connected to at least one resilient member to supply fluid under pressure thereto, such fluid flowing from an inlet of the resilient member to an outlet of the resilient member. At least one switching member is connected between the resilient member and the fluid supplying member for controlling at least one indicating member attached to the switching member in response to changes in pressure within the resilient member.
102 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A sensor, comprising:
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resilient means through which fluid under pressure can flow from an inlet for said resilient means to an outlet for said resilient means; fluid supplying means connected to said inlet for continuously supplying fluid under pressure toward said resilient means; switching means connected between said resilient means and said fluid supplying means for controlling indicating means in response to changes in said pressure; and indicating means connected to said switching means for indicating when there has been a change in said pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A sensor, comprising:
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an upper surface and a lower surface of plastic film selectively heat sealed together to provide at least one continuous and collapsible fluid flow passage disposed between said upper surface and said lower surface, said at least one fluid flow passage having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; pressure responsive switching means in fluid communication with said at least one fluid flow passage by connection to said fluid inlet for actuating an indicating means in response to changes in pressure within said pressure responsive switching means; indicating means connected to said fluid responsive switching means for indicating when there has been a change in said pressure; and fluid supplying means including a pump having a pump outlet connected to said fluid inlet and to said pressure responsive switching means for continuously supplying fluid under pressure to said pressure responsive switching means and said at least one fluid flow passage, said fluid within said pressure responsive switching means being at a first pressure when said at least one fluid flow passage is not collapsed by the weight of a person and being at a second greater pressure when said at least one fluid flow passage is collapsed by the weight of a person.
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Specification