Medical identification bracelet

• US 5,877,742 A
• Filed: 12/11/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Klink
• Original Assignee: James Klink
• Inventors: Klink, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US08/988,927
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1, 345/121, 345/123, 345/905, 345/973, 364/705.01, 364/708.1, 368/10, 368/281, 340/573, 340/825.54, 340/407.1
• US Class Current: 345/685
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/005 Identification bracelets, e.g. secured to the arm of a person
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

The present invention is a traditional, yet more stylish, medical identification bracelet which has electronic circuitry to display detailed, patient medical information. The bracelet is formatted using a programming station (PC) into which is entered up to 16 k bits of medical & personal information about an individual. The programming station transfers the formatted information to the bracelet via an infra-red interface device. The medical identification bracelet has an LCD view screen which displays, in a scrolling fashion, data when a button is pushed. The information may be scrolled in either direction, paused and set to free run. All information is available at the display. The character size is selected to be visible to the unaided eye. The display is illuminated for low light reading.

Claims

1. A medical identification bracelet comprising:

A) a housing, having a housing top side and a housing bottom side, the housing comprises;

i) a housing back fastener fastened to the housing which secures the bracelet electronics module firmly in place,

ii) a bracelet electronics module, contained within the housing, the bracelet electronics module comprises a bracelet electronics module microcontroller which is electrically connected to a bracelet electronics module memory functioning to store data, the bracelet electronics module microcontroller is further electrically connected to a bracelet electronics module alphanumeric display which functions to display bracelet electronics module alphanumeric display indicia selected from the bracelet electronics module memory, the bracelet electronics module microcontroller is further electrically connected to a bracelet electronics module DC/DC converter functioning to convert a voltage from a power source to a voltage usable by the bracelet electronics module, the bracelet electronics module microcontroller further comprises a bracelet electronics module microcontroller ON/OFF, backlight input which is electrically connected to a bracelet electronics module ON/OFF, backlight switch which functions to activate illumination of the bracelet electronics module alphanumeric display when the bracelet electronics module is turned on, and exhibit the bracelet electronics module alphanumeric display indicia which can be observed when ambient lighting is low, the bracelet electronics module microcontroller further comprises a bracelet electronics module microcontroller mode/send/receive input which is further electrically connected to a bracelet electronics module mode/send/receive switch connecting the bracelet electronics module microcontroller mode/send/receive input to an electrical ground, the bracelet electronics module mode/send/receive switch functions to switch the information depicted by the bracelet electronics module alphanumeric display indicia, the bracelet electronics module microcontroller further comprises a bracelet electronics module microcontroller scroll/pause/back input electrically connected to a bracelet electronics module scroll/pause/back switch connecting the bracelet electronics module microcontroller scroll/pause/back input to the electrical ground, the bracelet electronics module scroll/pause/back switch functions to scroll in a forward or a backward direction or to pause the housing display indicia on the bracelet electronics module alphanumeric display, the bracelet electronics module microcontroller further comprises a bracelet electronics module microcontroller transmit output which is further electrically connected to bracelet electronics module LED/photodiode interface circuit which is further connected to a bracelet electronics module sending photodiode functioning to transmit electronic data from the bracelet electronics module microcontroller, the bracelet electronics module microcontroller also comprises a bracelet electronics module microcontroller receiver input which is further electrically connected to a bracelet electronics module LED/photodiode interface circuit which is further connected to a bracelet electronics module receiver unit which functions to receive data and convert the data into a form recognizable by the bracelet electronics module microcontroller,

B) a bracelet precious metal bar which comprises;

i) a bracelet precious metal bar front name indicia which functions to display the user'"'"'s name,

ii) a bracelet precious metal bar front medical symbols which function to indicate that the medical identification bracelet contains personal medical information,

iii) a holding means securely attached to opposite ends of the precious metal bar, the holding means functions to removably fasten the precious metal bar to the user'"'"'s body,

C) a data transfer device which comprises;

i) a data transfer device housing which comprises a data transfer device front which is securely attached on one distal end to a front distal end of a data transfer device left side having a data transfer device left side slot therein, the data transfer device front on an opposite distal end is securely attached to a front distal end of a data transfer device right side having a data transfer device right side slot therein, the data transfer device right side slot and the data transfer device left side slot functions to removably fasten the bracelet electronics module therebetween, a back distal end of the data transfer device left side is securely attached to one distal end of a data transfer device back, the opposite distal end of the data transfer device back is securely attached to a back distal end of the data transfer device right side;

ii) a data transfer device electronics module which comprises a data transfer device electronics module microcontroller electrically connected to a data transfer device electronics module memory that functions to store an operating program and data, the data transfer device electronics module microcontroller is further electrically connected to a data transfer device electronics module LED/photodiode interface circuit which is connected to a data transfer device electronics module transmitter which functions to send data to the bracelet electronics module receiver unit, the data transfer device electronics module microcontroller is further electrically connected to a data transfer device electronics module LED/photodiode interface circuit which is connected to a data transfer device electronics module data receiver functioning to receive data from the bracelet electronics module sending photodiode, the data transfer device electronics module microcontroller is further electrically connected to a data transfer device electronics module computer interface which functions to send and receive data to a data transfer device cable, the data transfer device cable is electronically connected to a computer by a data transfer device cable connector.

2. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the fastening means securing the bracelet electronics module to the precious metal bar comprises a housing and housing back fasteners.

3. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the holding means comprises a left holding means, one distal end of the left holding means is securely attached to one distal end of the precious metal bar, the opposite distal end of the left holding means is securely attached to a left holding means fastener, the opposite distal end of the precious metal bar is securely attached to one distal end of a right holding means, the opposite distal end of the right holding means is securely attached to a right holding means fastener, the left holding means fastener and right holding means fastener are removably fastened together.

4. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 3 wherein the left holding means fastener and the right holding means fastener are selected from a group consisting of hook &

loop, hook &

eye, buckle, snaps, and button/hole.

5. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the preselected groupings of information are selected from a group consisting of personal data, medical conditions, medications &

dosages, allergies, insurance company information, next of kin, patient history, physician and pharmacy names and phone numbers, previous illnesses, blood type and pressure.

6. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the bracelet electronics module receiver unit comprises a bracelet electronics module receiver unit pullup resistor which is electrically connected at one distal end to the bracelet electronics module DC/DC converter and at the opposite distal end to a collector of a bracelet electronics module receiver unit transistor, the collector of a bracelet electronics module receiver unit transistor is further electrically connected to a bracelet electronics module microcontroller receiver input, bracelet electronics module receiver unit pullup resistor functions to maintain the bracelet electronics module microcontroller receiver input at a preselected voltage level in the absence of an incoming signal to the bracelet electronics module receiver unit, the emitter of the bracelet electronics module receiver unit transistor is electrically connected to electrical ground, the base of the bracelet electronics module receiver unit transistor is electrically connected to one distal end of a bracelet electronics module receiver unit bias resistor, the opposite distal end of the bracelet electronics module receiver unit bias resistor is electrically connected to one distal end of a bracelet electronics module receiver unit receiver photodiode, the opposite distal end of the bracelet electronics module receiver unit receiver photodiode is electrically connected to the bracelet electronics module DC/DC converter, the bracelet electronics module receiver unit receiver photodiode functions to receive a light wave input and convert it to a voltage.

7. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the bracelet electronics module microcontroller backlight input is electrically connected to one distal end of a bracelet electronics module first pull up resistor, the opposite distal end of the bracelet electronics module first pull up resistor is electrically connected to the bracelet electronics module DC/DC converter, the bracelet electronics module first pull up resistor functions to keep the bracelet electronics module microcontroller backlight input at a preselected voltage when the bracelet electronics module ON/OFF, backlight switch is not depressed.

8. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the bracelet electronics module microcontroller mode/send/receive input is electrically connected to one distal end of a bracelet electronics module second pull up resistor, the opposite distal end of the bracelet electronics module second pull up resistor is electrically connected to the bracelet electronics module DC/DC converter, the bracelet electronics module second pull up resistor functions to keep the bracelet electronics module microcontroller mode/send/receive input at a preselected voltage when the bracelet electronics module mode/send/receive switch is not depressed.

9. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the bracelet electronics module microcontroller scroll/pause/back input is electrically connected to one distal end of a bracelet electronics module third pull up resistor, the opposite distal end of the bracelet electronics module third pull up resistor is electrically connected to the bracelet electronics module DC/DC converter, the bracelet electronics module third pull up resistor functions to keep the bracelet electronics module microcontroller scroll/pause/back input at a preselected voltage when the bracelet electronics module scroll/pause/back switch is not depressed.

10. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the housing is manufactured from materials selected from a group consisting of plastic, plastic composite, rubber, rubber composite, ceramic, plastic composite, metal, metal alloy, precious metal, gems, and wood.

11. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the precious metal bar, left holding means, left holding means fastener, right holding means, and right holding means fastener are manufactured from materials selected from a group consisting of plastic, ceramic, plastic composite, metal, metal alloy, precious metal, gems, and wood.

12. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the bracelet electronics module is water proof.

13. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the bracelet electronics module scroll/pause/back switch when pressed by a user functions to control the scrolling of the preselected groupings of information across the bracelet electronics module alphanumeric display.

14. The medical identification bracelet as described in claim 1, wherein the bracelet electronics module mode/send/receive switch functions to switch between functions selected from a group consisting of display information, transmit data and receive data.