Bed patient position monitor

• US 5,184,112 A
• Filed: 09/11/1991
• Issued: 02/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gaymar Industries Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Gusakov, Ignaty
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/757,621
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/691, 340/666
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring the position of a patient relative to a bed signals whether the patient is in the middle of the bed, to the left or right of center, at the left or right edge of the bed, attempting to lift himself from the bed, or completely out of the bed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring the position of a body relative to a support surface, comprising:

means for sensing movement of a body from a first position to a second position relative to a support surface, said sensing means including at least a first sensor and a second sensor;

means for providing an alarm signal including at least a first alarm member, a second alarm member and a third alarm member; and

means for electrically connecting said sensing means to said alarm signal means for selectively activating saidarm signal means in response to said movement, said connecting means comprising;

at least a first filter means having an input electrically connected to said first sensor, and an output, and a second filter means having an input electrically connected to said second sensor, and an output;

at least a first inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said first filter means, and an output, and a second inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said second filter means, and an output;

first means, having inputs electrically connected to the outputs of said first and second inverter means and an output electrically connected to said first alarm member for sending a first alarm signal to said first alarm member;

second means having inputs electrically connected to at least the outputs of said first and second filter means, and an output electrically connected to said second alarm member, for sending a second alarm signal to said second alarm member; and

third means having inputs electrically connected to the outputs of said first and second filter means and said first and second inverter means, and an output electrically connected to said third alarm member for sending a third alarm signal to said third alarm member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first means is for sending a first alarm signal to said first alarm member when said body has moved from a position of exerting a force against said support surface to a position of not exerting a force against said support surface;

wherein said second means is for sending a second alarm signal to said second alarm member when said body is centered relative to said support surface; and

wherein said third means is for sending a third alarm signal to said third alarm member when said body is off center relative to said support surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means further includes a third sensor, said connecting means further comprises a third filter means having an input electrically connected to said third sensor, and an output, and a third inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said third filter means, and an output;

and wherein said third means has inputs electrically connected to said third filter means and further includes a second output electrically connected to said third alarm member for sending an alternate third alarm signal to said third alarm member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first means is for sending a first alarm signal to said first alarm member when said body has moved from a position of exerting a force against said support surface to a position of not exerting a force against said support surface;

wherein said second means is for sending a second alarm signal to said second alarm member when said body is centered relative to said support surface; and

wherein said third means is for sending a third alarm signal to said third alarm member when said body is off center relative to said support surface or when said body is near an edge of said support surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each filter means is an R-C filter.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each sensor includes a pressure switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each sensor further includes a tubular fluid passage connected to a respective pressure switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said third sensor comprises at least one third electrical switch electrically connected to said third filter means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each filter means is an R-C filter.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each sensor includes a pressure switch.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each sensor further includes a tubular fluid passage connected to a respective pressure switch.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first sensor comprises at least one first electrical switch electrically connected to said first filter means and wherein said second sensor comprises at least one second electrical switch electrically connected to said second filter means.

13. An apparatus for monitoring the position of a body relative to a support surface, said apparatus having means for providing an alarm signal including at least a first alarm member, a second alarm member and a third alarm member, and means for sensing movement of a body from a first position to a second position relative to said support surface, said sensing means including (a) at least a first resilient means and a second resilient means through each of which fluid under pressure can flow from an inlet to an outlet, of each resilient means, (b) fluid supplying means connected to each inlet for continuously supplying fluid under pressure to each resilient means, and (c) at least a first switching means and a second switching means connected to said first resilient means and said second resilient means, respectively, for controlling said alarm signal means in response to changes in said pressure, wherein the improvement comprises means for connecting said sensing means to said alarm signal means for selectively activating said alarm signal means in response to said movement, said connecting means comprising:

at least a first filter means having an input electrically connected to said first switching means, and an output, and a second filter means having an input electrically connected to said second switching means, and an output;

at least a first inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said first filter means, and an output, and a second inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said second filter means, and an output;

first means, having inputs electrically connected to the outputs of said first and second inverter means and an output electrically connected to said first alarm member for sending a first alarm signal to said first alarm member;

second means having inputs electrically connected to at least the outputs of said first and second filter means, and an output electrically connected to said second alarm member, for sending a second alarm signal to said second alarm member; and

third means having inputs electrically connected to the outputs of said first and second filter means and said first and second inverter means, and acted to said third alarm member for sending a third alarm signal to said third alarm member.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first means is for sending a first alarm signal to said first alarm member when said body has moved from a position of exerting a force against said support surface to a position of exerting a force against said support surface;

wherein said second means is for sending a second alarm signal to said second alarm member when said body is centered relative to said support surface; and

wherein said third means is for sending a third alarm signal to said third alarm member when said body is off center relative to said support surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said sensing means further includes (a) a third resilient means through which fluid under pressure can flow form an inlet to an outlet of said third resilient means, said fluid supplying means being connected to said inlet of said third resilient means for continuously supplying fluid under pressure to said third resilient means, and (b) a third switching means connected to said third resilient means for controlling said alarm signal means in response to changes in said pressure, and further wherein said connecting means includes a third filter means having an input electrically connected to said third switching means, and an output, and a third inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said third filter means, and an output, and wherein said third means has inputs electrically connected to said third filter means and further includes a second output electrically connected to said third alarm member for sending an alternate third alarm signal to said third alarm member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first means is for sending a first alarm signal to said first alarm membe when said body has moved from a position of exerting a force against said support surface to a position of not exerting a force against said support surface;

wherein said second means is for sending a second alarm signal to said second alarm member when said body is centered relative to said support surface; and

wherein said third alarm memeber when said body is off center relative to said support surface or when said body is near an edge of said support surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each filter means is an R-C filter.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein each sensing means includes a pressure switch.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein each filter means is an R-C filter.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein each sensing means includes a pressure switch.

21. An apparatus for monitoring the position of a patient relative to a support surface, said apparatus having means for providing an alarm signal including at least a first alarm member, a second alarm member, a third movement of a patient from a first position to a second position relative to said support surface, said sensing means including (a) at least a first resilient means, a second resilient means, and a third resilient means through each of which fluid under pressure can flow from an inlet to an outlet, of each resilient means, (b) fluid supplying means connected to each inlet for continuously supplying fluid under pressure to each resilient means, and (c) at least a first pressure sensitive switching means, a second pressure sensitive switching means, and a third pressure sensitive switching means connected to said first resilient means, said second resilient means, and said third resilient means, respectively, for controlling said alarm signal means in response to changes in said pressure, wherein the improvement comprises means for connecting said sensing means to said alarm signal means for selectively activating said alarm signal means in response to said movement, said connecting means comprising:

at least a first filter means having an input electrically connected to said first switchnnected to said first switching means, and an output, a second filter means having an input electrically connected to said second switching means, and an output, and a third filter means having an input electrically connected to said third switching means, and an output;

at least a first inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said first filter means, and an output, a second inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said second filter means, and an output, and a third inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said third filter means, and an output;

first means, having inputs electrically connected to the outputs of said inverter means, and an output electrically connected to said first alarm member for sending a first alarm signal to said first alarm member when said patient has moved from a position of exerting a force against said support surface to a position of not exerting a force against said support surface;

second means having inputs electrically connected to at least the outputs of said filter means, and an output electrically connected to said second alarm member, for sending a second alarm signal to said second alarm member when said patient is centered relative to said support surface; and

third means having inputs electrically connected to the outputs of said filter means and said inverter means, a first output electrically connected to said third alarm member for sending a third alarm signal to said third alarm member when said patient is off center relative to said support surface, and a second output electrically connected to said fourth alarm member for sending a fourth alarm signal to said fourth alarm member when said body is near an edge of said support surface or when said patient has exerted a force against said support surface at the left and right of center of said support surface to raise said body off of said center of said support surface.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein each filter means is an R-C filter.

23. An apparatus for monitoring the position of a body relative to a support surface, said apparatus having means for providing an alarm signal, and means for activating said alarm signal means in response to movement of a body from a first position to a second position relative to said support surface, said activating means including at least an switch and a second switch, wherein the improvement comprises means for connecting said activating means to said alarm signal means for selectively activating said alarm signal means in response to said movement, said connecting means comprising:

at least a first filter means having an input electrically connected to said first switch, and an output, and a second filter means having an input electrically connected to said second switch, and an output;

at least a first inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said first filter means, and an output, and a second inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said second filter means, and an output;

first means, having inputs electrically connected to the outputs of said inverter means and an output electrically connected to said alarm signal means for sending a first alarm signal to said alarm signal means;

second means having inputs electrically connected to at least the outputs of said filter means, and an output electrically connected to said alarm signal means, for sending a second alarm signal to said alarm signal means; and

third means having inputs electrically connected to the outputs of said filter means and said inverter means, and a first output electrically connected to said alarm signal means for sending a third alarm signal to said alarm signal means.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said sensing means further includes a third switch, and further having an input electrically connected to said third switch, and an output, and a third inverter means having an input electrically connected to said output of said third filter means, and an output electrically connected to inputs of said first means and said second means;

and wherein said third means further includes a second output electrically connected to said alarm signal means for sending an alternate third alarm signal to said alarm signal means.