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Patient ambulation motion detector with multiple switch motion detection

  • US 5,146,206 A
  • Filed: 04/12/1991
  • Issued: 09/08/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A motion detector to be attached to a portion of a patient'"'"'s body so as to signal impending ambulation of the patient, the motion detector comprising:

  • motion sensor circuit means including at least first, second and third switch means;

    each switch means comprising portions defining an elongated chamber having first and second spaced ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, a mercury ball contained within said chamber for gravitational movement between said first and second ends, and spaced electrical contacts disposed at said first end of said chamber, each switch means being closed when said first end of said chamber is below said second end such that said mercury ball conductively connects said contacts, and otherwise being open;

    said first, second and third switch means being electrically connected in series whereby said motion sensor circuit means is completed to provide a signal of impending ambulation only when all of said first, second and third switch means are closed;

    support means defining a first reference plane, and having a proximal end and a distal end, a first reference line on said first reference plane extending between said proximal and distal ends, and side portions laterally spaced from said first reference line;

    attachment means for securing the motion detector to a portion of a patient'"'"'s body with said proximal end of said support means proximal the patient'"'"'s head relative to said distal end;

    said first, second and third switch means being carried by said support means in a fixed three-dimensional configuration with respect to each other and with respect to said first reference plane;

    said first switch means being fixedly carried by said support means with its longitudinal axis aligned with said first reference line and inclined with respect to said first reference plane, said second end of said first switch means being lower than said first end when said motion detector is in a first position wherein said first reference plane is generally horizontal, whereby said first switch means is open in said first position, and closed only when the motion detector is pivoted about said distal end of said support means from said generally horizontal first position to a second position wherein said proximal end of said support means is raised above said distal end past a predetermined threshold indicative of impending ambulation of the patient;

    said second and third switch means being fixedly carried by said support means on opposite sides of said first reference line with their longitudinal axes inclined toward said first reference line, each of said second and third switch means having its first end lower than its second end when the motion detector is in said second position, one or the other of said second and third switch means having its second end lower than its first end when the motion detector is rotated about said first reference line to raise one side of said support means substantially above the other.

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