Consolidated monitoring cable arrangement

• US 6,193,655 B1
• Filed: 04/25/1995
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John McGrath
• Original Assignee: John McGrath
• Inventors: McGrath, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddy, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/429,298
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 439/638, 439/639, 439/540.1, 439/701, 439/909, 439/502, 128/668, 128/710, 248/51, 600/373, 600/481
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/005 Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A consolidated monitoring cable arrangement allows multiple cables extending between a surgical gurney, or other type of patient support platform, and a peripheral monitoring stand to be consolidated into a single cable. The present use of multiple cables has the disadvantage that the region between a gurney and a monitoring stand is cluttered. This can present a hazard to medical personnel, particularly when an emergency situation requires that concentration be focused on the needs of the patient. In a primary form, the subject cable arrangement uses two boxes, one on the gurney and another on the monitoring stand; a detachable cable connects the two boxes. Shorter cables of uniform length are used to connect a patient on the gurney and equipment on the monitoring stand to a respective box. Besides the aforementioned safety advantage, this cable arrangement reduces the expense of frequent replacement of damaged cables.

Claims

1. A patient monitoring system comprising a patient support platform, a peripheral stand, monitoring displays on the peripheral stand, monitoring probes for attaching to a patient and a cable arrangement carrying monitoring data between the patient support platform and the monitoring displays, the cable arrangement comprising:

(a) a base unit positioned at the peripheral stand and having a series of first connection points each connected to a respective one of the monitoring displays in the stand, the base unit also having one or more second connection points, each one of a series of input lines of each first connection point being internally connected directly to one of a series of input lines of the one or more second connection points;

(b) a satellite unit positioned on the patient support platform and having a series of third connection points each connected to a respective monitoring probe, the satellite unit also having one more fourth connection points, each one of a series of input lines of each third connection point being internally connected directly to one of a series of input lines of the one or more fourth connection points; and

(c) a cable connecting the one or more second connection points in the base unit directly to the one or more fourth connection points on the satellite unit, the cable being readily detachable from the one or more fourth connection points;

wherein all of the probes are connected to the satellite unit over the patient support platform, all of the monitoring displays are connected to the base unit at the peripheral stand; and

the platform and stand are connected solely by said cable, the region between the patient support platform and the peripheral stand being thereby maintained in a less cluttered state than if each probe was independently connectable to the respective display.

2. A cable arrangement as in claim 1, wherein there is only a single second connection point and a single fourth connection point.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the patient support platform is a surgical gurney.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the cable is detachable only from the satellite unit.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the cable is detachable from both the base unit and the satellite unit.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein each of the input lines is adapted to carry electrical signals.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the satellite unit is secured by fastening means to the patient support gurney.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the satellite unit has a series of hook members extending therefrom, each of the hook members being adapted to support a probe cable extending between a probe and a respective one of the third connection points on the satellite unit.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein the satellite unit has a series of hook members extending therefrom, each of the hooked members being adapted to support a probe cable extending between a probe and a respective one of the third connection points on the satellite unit.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the probes comprise temperature, blood pressure, oxygen level and heart electrical activity measurement devices.

11. A patient monitoring system comprising a patient support platform, a peripheral stand, monitoring displays on the peripheral stand, monitoring probes for attachment to a patient, and a cable arrangement carrying monitoring data between the patient support platform and the monitoring displays, the cable arrangement comprising:

(a) a connection box on the patient support platform, the box having a series of first plug receptacles and one or more second plug receptacles, each one of a series of input lines for each first plug receptacle being directly internally connected to one of a series of input lines of the one or more second plug receptacles, each of the first plug receptacles receiving a plug from a respective patient monitoring probe; and

(b) a cable having a plug on its one end connected detachably with the one or more second plug receptacles of the connection box, the other end of the cable terminating in a series of plugs each connected to a respective monitoring display on the peripheral stand;

wherein all of the probes are connected to the connection box over the patient support platform, and the platform stand are connected solely by the cable, the region between the patient support platform and the peripheral stand being thereby maintained in a less cluttered state than if each probe was independently connected to the respective display.

12. A system as in claim 11, wherein the patient support platform is a surgical gurney.

13. A system as in claim 11, wherein each of the input lines is adapted to carry electrical signals.

14. A system as in claim 11, wherein the connection box has a series of hook members extending therefrom, each of the hook members being adapted to support a probe cable extending between a probe and a respective one of the first plug receptacles.

15. A system as in claim 11, wherein the probes comprise temperature, blood pressure, oxygen level and heart electrical activity measurement devices.

16. A patient monitoring probe connection system used in conjunction with a patient support platform and remote monitoring equipment, said system comprising multiple probes each applied at one end to a patient on the patient support platform, a satellite connection bar on the platform establishing connections between opposite ends of the probes and the remote monitoring equipment, said satellite connection bar comprising first external connectors for releasably receiving opposite ends of said probes over the platform, a second external connector, and internal connections within the bar directly between said fist external connectors on the one hand and said second external connector on the other hand;

and

a consolidated connection cable having two ends with a connector at one end complementary to and releasably connected to said second external connector, and means at the other end connected to said remote monitoring equipment.

17. A patient support platform according to claim 16, wherein the consolidated connection cable includes a connector at its other end for connection to a connection bar adjacent the monitoring equipment.