Elimination-absorber monitoring system
First Claim
1. A sensor for use with an elimination-absorber monitoring system, said sensor comprising sensing means and a flow-baffling layer disposed to prevent said sensing means from detecting a liquid to be sensed until such liquid has flowed around said flow-baffling layer and into an elimination-absorber to such an extent that the elimination-absorber requires replacement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An elimination-absorber monitoring system addresses diaper-monitoring problems with a unique, low cost, multi-layer disposable sensor structure that absorbs small volumes of urine, yet allows most urine volume to flow unimpeded through it, and into the diaper below. When connected with a reusable, miniature monitor/indicator unit, the sensor presents a clear and on-going change of measurement condition upon experiencing a rapid influx into the diaper of a significant volume of urine, and/or upon a significant reduction in the available absorbency of the diaper'"'"'s top surface. The sensor additionally provides recessed, protected elements for similarly presenting a clear and on-going change in measurement condition upon experiencing the presence of fecal matter. Further provided is the monitor unit employing narrow, widely-spaced, fast rise-time, fast transition-time pulses for conductivity measurement and alarm activation. The monitor and sensor are interconnected and attached to a diaper by particularly effective and unique means, and the monitor is equipped with a highly intuitive and convenient control interface, as well as improved assemblies for the transmission of audible and visual alarm indications. Also described is a convenient test-strip device which, when connected to the monitor/alarm unit of the system, can selectively simulate either a soiled or unsoiled elimination-absorber/sensor for test, caregiver-training or demonstration purposes.
490 Citations
43 Claims
- 1. A sensor for use with an elimination-absorber monitoring system, said sensor comprising sensing means and a flow-baffling layer disposed to prevent said sensing means from detecting a liquid to be sensed until such liquid has flowed around said flow-baffling layer and into an elimination-absorber to such an extent that the elimination-absorber requires replacement.
- 24. A sensor for use with an elimination-absorber monitoring system, said sensor comprising a layer, sensing means disposed beneath said layer and a series of openings through said layer, said openings being of sufficient size, shape and thickness to permit the passage of fecal matter to contact said sensing means, while deterring contact between said sensing means and the skin of a wearer of the elimination-absorber.
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31. A monitor/alarm unit retainer for use with an elimination-absorber monitoring system having an elimination-absorber/sensor unit and a monitor/alarm unit, said retainer comprising:
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an elastic or semi-elastic flap adapted to be stretched over said monitor/alarm unit, said flap having a monitor/alarm unit contacting portion that is substantially free of adhesive, said monitor/alarm unit contacting portion being at least partially surrounded by second portion having sufficient adhesive for retention on an elimination-absorber, thereby facilitating ready and clean release of the monitor/alarm unit from the retainer when desired; and
a locating block and a reciprocally shaped receiving portion disposed respectively on said elimination-absorber/sensor unit or said monitor/alarm unit to prevent movement of said monitor/alarm unit and maintain alignment between protruding tab and barbless receiving slot connection means of said units while said flap is stretched over said elimination-absorber/sensor unit.
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32. A releasable electrical circuit connector, said connector comprising a flexible tab portion and a tab-receiving portion,
said tab portion having two or more conductive members disposed on a resilient support, and said tab-receiving portion having two or more protruding contacts arranged to complete a circuit with said conductive members, lateral surfaces for guiding and positioning said tab, and having means to deform said resilient support into a substantially wave-like cross-section thereby releaseably retaining said tab portion, such deformation of said resilient support maintaining said tab portion'"'"'s orientation and pressure against said contacts to ensure continuous electrical connection of said conductive members with said contacts.
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33. A monitor/alarm unit for use with an elimination-absorber monitoring system, said monitor/alarm unit comprising:
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a power source, an alarm means, a releasable sensor connector, and electronic circuitry employing directly driven, relatively narrow, relatively low duty-cycle pulses applied directly across a pair of spaced conductors or semiconductors that are disposed within or that span an appropriate measurement path relative to the elinination-absorber to be monitored, to measure conductivity or capacitance therebetween and actuate said alarm means when the elimination-absorber requires replacement. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
a waterproof case enclosing said power source, said alarm means, said electronic circuitry, said releasable sensor connector being fabricated as part of said case, said case having control surfaces with access for said alarm means and control means, said access being sealed by a thin, at least partially flexible membrane, visible alarm means comprising an electro-optical source disposed in a through-opening in said control surface, said through opening being sealed by a relatively thin, substantially optically-permeable covering, audible alarm means comprising a shallow recess in said case disposed behind an audibly transmissive, relatively thin flexible membrane with said recess having a sound permeable, structurally supportive, relatively rigid, perforated bottom, said recess allowing said membrane to vibrate freely in response to acoustic pressure waves from the outermost vibrating member of an electro-acoustic transducer disposed within said case but whereby said bottom limits the maximum deflection of said membrane to within its elastic limit thereby protecting said membrane from mechanical damage without excessively attenuating the sound transmission from said transducer during intended operation, and, control means disposed through a surface of said case that both changes and indicates the alarm or indicative function selected for the system'"'"'s operation in response to actuation of said control means, where said indication is by means of activating the visible or audible alarm to emit a representative signal, said control means providing such indication only upon proper connection of an elimination-absorber sensor through said releasable sensor connector.
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38. An elimination-absorber monitoring system comprising monitoring means and an electronic monitor/alarm unit releaseably attachable to said elimination-absorber, said monitor/alarm unit comprising:
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a power source, alarm means, electronic elimination-absorber monitoring means wherein said monitoring means actuates said alarm means when the elimination-absorber requires replacement, and wherein said alarm means comprises both an audible and a visible/silent indicative mode for purposes of alarm indication, and a single control means which, upon actuation both;
(a) causes a change in said indicative mode employed by said monitor/alarm unit, from said audible to said visible/silent mode and vice-versa, and (b) substantially simultaneous with actuation causes said monitor unit to produce an audible or visible/silent representative alarm indication demonstrating the mode selected and verifying said change. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A fluid-sealed or contaminant-resistant audible signal transmission means for the enclosure of an electronic device, said signal transmission means comprising:
a shallow recess in said enclosure disposed behind an audibly transmissive, relatively thin flexible sealing membrane with said recess having a sound permeable, structurally supportive, relatively rigid, perforated bottom, said recess allowing said membrane to vibrate freely in response to acoustic pressure waves traveling either to or from the outermost vibrating member of an electro-acoustic transducer disposed within said enclosure, but whereby said bottom limits the maximum deflection of said membrane to within its elastic limit, thereby protecting said membrane from mechanical damage without excessively attenuating the sound transmission to or from said transducer during intended operation.
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42. A test device for use with an elimination-absorber monitoring system, said system comprising:
- a sensor, and an electronic monitor/alarm unit releaseably connectable to said sensor, and said monitor/alarm unit comprising;
a power source, an alarm means, a releasable sensor connector and electronic means to measure conductivity or capacitance between a pair of spaced conductors or semiconductors that are disposed within or that span an appropriate measurement path relative to the elimination-absorber to be monitored and wherein said electronic means actuates said alarm means when the elimination-absorber requires replacement, said test device comprising;a support, two or more conductive contacts disposed on said support whereby said contacts are releaseably connectable to said electronic means of said monitor/alarm unit by means of engagement of said support with said sensor connector, a circuit disposed on said support and communicating with said contacts whereby the relative physical orientation of the support upon its engagement with said monitor/alarm unit substantially determines the conductivity or capacitance presented by said test device to said electronic means, said test device thereby simulating either a relatively unsoiled or soiled elimination-absorber, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (43)
- a sensor, and an electronic monitor/alarm unit releaseably connectable to said sensor, and said monitor/alarm unit comprising;
Specification