System for monitoring and assisting isolated persons, and device for implementing the system

• US 6,208,251 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Laurent Poyeton, Marc Vigneron, Pierre-Henri Cadet
• Original Assignee: Laurent Poyeton, Marc Vigneron, Pierre-Henri Cadet
• Inventors: Cadet, Pierre-Henri, Vigneron, Marc, Poyeton, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/319,006
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539, 340/689, 340/506, 600/513, 600/595, 600/310, 455/521, 455/100
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

This system for monitoring and assisting isolated persons comprises: a unit (15) decentralized at the desired location for monitoring and assisting the said persons, equipped with a receiver and intended to transmit an alarm signal, in particular by way of the switched telephone network (16), to one or more defined locations (17), in particular a monitoring centre, an emergency centre, neighbours or family; and a portable unit (1) intended to be carried by the said persons, incorporating an emitter which is intended to emit one or more signals in the direction of the decentralized unit (15), the said signals being intended to initiate the transmission of the alarm signal from the decentralized unit in the direction of the said defined locations, and additionally incorporating means (2, 3, 4) for detecting that the person carrying the device has fallen, these means being able to initiate the emission, by the emitter incorporated therein, of the said signals which are intended in turn to initiate the transmission of an alarm by the decentralized unit (15), these means of detection being of the gravimetric or accelerometric type.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring an individual'"'"'s condition and summoning help when a potentially dangerous condition is sensed, said apparatus including

a decentralized unit containing a receiver,

a portable unit capable of being carried by an individual that contains an emitter means for transmitting one or more output signals to the receiver of said decentralized unit, said output signals being arranged to automatically trigger an alarm signal by said decentralized unit that is sent by a switched telephone network to one or more receiving centers,

said portable unit further including three piezoelectric accelerometers adapted to sense falls by an individual carrying the portable unit in a vertical direction, and in a lateral direction, and in a backward direction, and in response thereto initiating a transmission by said emitter means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said portable unit further includes manually activating means for initiating an output signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said manually activating means comprises a push button switch that can be cycled by an individual carrying or wearing said portable unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 that further includes a neck chain for carrying said portable unit and said activating means is mounted in a closure device for joining both ends of said chain.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 that further includes adhesive means for affixing the portable unit to the skin of an individual.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 that further includes an electrical circuit that is closed by a cutaneous impedance switch that is arranged to close when said portable unit is being worn or carried by an individual.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 that further includes circuit means for detecting and storing electrocardiogram data from an individual wearing or carrying said portable unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 that further includes a neck chain that is capable of being worn or carried by an individual for supporting the portable unit, wherein said portable unit further includes a casing containing contact electrodes on its rear face for acquiring electrocardiogram data from an individual wearing the chain when the casing is placed over the individual'"'"'s manubrium of the sternum, said data being stored by an integrated memory within said casing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said portable unit further includes a logic and control section for analyzing the acquired electrocardiogram data to detect cardiac dysfunctions, and in response thereto triggering an alarm signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the decentralized unit is mounted upon a wheelchair capable of carrying an individual wearing said portable unit, said decentralized unit containing a switched telephone network for a mobile unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 that further includes means for position finding by a satellite.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 that further includes means for informing the individual wearing or carrying the portable unit that an alarm signal has been sent by the decentralized unit to one or more receiving centers.