Mobile battery powered patient bed and chair occupancy monitoring system

• US 5,654,694 A
• Filed: 09/23/1994
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JT Posey Company (TIDI Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bed-Check Corporation (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Newham, Paul F.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/311,418
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/667, 340/666, 340/529, 340/523, 340/693, 200/85 R, 200/85 A
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A system for monitoring a long term care device having a sensor thereon for detecting the presence of a patient on the device includes a microprocessor responsive to a resident program. A first circuit connected to the microprocessor and to the sensor automatically activates operation of the microprocessor to a "monitor" mode upon detection by the sensor of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device, maintains operation of the microprocessor for a predetermined time period at least equal to a running time of the program and terminates operation of the microprocessor at the expiration of the predetermined time period after detection by the sensor of termination of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device prior to expiration of the predetermined time period. A second circuit operates the system in response to commands manually applied to the second circuit to deactivate the system to a "hold/reset" mode after activating of the system to the "monitor" mode. The first circuit will also activate the system to the "monitor" mode after the system has been deactivated to the "hold/reset" mode together with subsequent detection by the sensor of termination of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device and resumption of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device. Alternatively, the microprocessor is responsive to the manually operable switch in the second circuit to activate the system to the "monitor" mode after the system has been deactivated to the "hold/reset" mode. A third circuit connected to the microprocessor provides an audio alarm upon demand by the microprocessor.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a long term care device having a sensor thereon for detecting the presence of a patient on the device comprising:

a microprocessor responsive to a program resident therein; and

first circuit means connected to said microprocessor and to the sensor for automatically activating operation of said microprocessor to a "monitor" mode upon detection by the sensor of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device, for maintaining operation of said microprocessor for a predetermined time period at least equal to a running time of said program and for terminating operation of said microprocessor at the expiration of said predetermined time period if detection by said sensor of termination of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device occurs prior to expiration of said predetermined time period.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising second circuit means for activating and deactivating said system in response to commands manually applied to said second circuit means.

3. A system according to claim 2, said microprocessor further being responsive to a manually operable switching means in said second circuit means for deactivating said system to a "hold/reset" mode after activating of said system to said "monitor" mode.

4. A system according to claim 3, said microprocessor further being responsive to said first circuit means to activate said system to said "monitor" mode after said system has been deactivated to said "hold/reset" mode and subsequent detection by the sensor of termination of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device and resumption of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device.

5. A system according to claim 3, said microprocessor further being responsive to said manually operable switching means in said second circuit means to activate said system to said "monitor" mode after said system has been deactivated to said "hold/reset" mode.

6. A system according to claim 5 further comprising third circuit means connected to said microprocessor for providing an audio alarm upon demand by said microprocessor.

7. A system according to claim 6, said microprocessor being responsive to said first circuit means to switch said system from said "monitor" mode to an "alarm" mode and trigger said third circuit means to generate an alarm after said system has been activated to said "monitor" mode and subsequent detection by the sensor of termination of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device.

8. A system according to claim 7, said microprocessor further being responsive to said program to delay switching to said "alarm" mode and generating of said alarm for a predetermined time after detection by the sensor of termination of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device.

9. A system according to claim 8, said program having a plurality of alternatives of said predetermined time and said system further comprising fourth circuit means having a plurality of switches connected to said microprocessor for manually programming said microprocessor, said microprocessor being responsive to said manual programming of said fourth circuit means to select said predetermined time from said plurality of alternatives.

10. A system according to claim 8, said microprocessor further being responsive to said first circuit means to switch said system from said "alarm" mode to said "monitor" mode and disarm said third circuit means to cease said alarm after the sensor detects resumption of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device.

11. A system according to claim 8, said microprocessor further being responsive to said switching means of said second circuit means to disarm said third circuit means to cease said alarm after manual operation of said switching means.

12. A system according to claim 8, said microprocessor further being responsive to said first circuit means to switch said system from said "alarm" mode to said "monitor" mode and disarm said third circuit means to cease said alarm after the sensor detects resumption of the patient'"'"'s presence on the device and said microprocessor further being responsive to said switching means of said second circuit means to disarm said third circuit means to cease said alarm after manual operation of said switching means, said system further comprising fourth circuit means connected to said microprocessor having a plurality of switches connected to said microprocessor for manually programming said microprocessor, said microprocessor being responsive to said manual programming of said fourth circuit means to select between said first circuit means and said second circuit means for disarming said alarm.

13. A system according to claim 6, said third circuit means having a plurality of means switchably connectable between said microprocessor and an alarm device for providing different input signals to said alarm device and said system further comprising fourth circuit means connected to said microprocessor having a plurality of switches connected to said microprocessor for manually programming said microprocessor, said microprocessor being responsive to said manual programming by said plurality of switches to connect selected ones of said input signal providing means and selected combinations of said input signal providing means to said alarm device.

14. A system according to claim 6 further comprising fifth circuit means connected to said microprocessor for providing a visual indication upon demand by said microprocessor.

15. A system according to claim 14, said microprocessor being responsive to said first circuit means to cause said fifth circuit means to provide an intermittent visual indication when said system is in said "monitor" mode.

16. A system according to claim 15, said microprocessor being responsive to said first circuit means to cause said third circuit means to generate a momentary audio alarm when said system is activated to said "monitor" mode.

17. A system according to claim 6, said microprocessor further being responsive to interruption of operation of said first circuit means after said system is activated to said "monitor" mode to cause said third circuit means to generate an alarm.

18. A system according to claim 17, said interruption of operation of said first circuit means occurring upon any of:

a. the sensor being disconnected from said first circuit means; and

b. insufficient voltage supply from a voltage source in said first circuit means to operate said system.