Smart binary switch for use with an electronic patient monitor

• US 6,307,476 B1
• Filed: 04/02/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JT Posey Company (TIDI Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bed-Check Corporation (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Toby E., Lovely, Patrick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/285,956
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/644, 340/650, 340/651, 340/652
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

This invention relates generally to monitoring systems and more particularly concerns devices and systems used to monitor bed patients in hospital or other care-giving environments. In accordance with a first aspect of the instant invention, there is provided a binary switch-type device (e.g., a “mat”) for use in patient monitoring situations which contains, in addition to a conventional patient detection circuit, identification circuitry that can be sensed by an attached electronic monitor. The identification circuitry can be sensed by the electronic monitor and is designed to be configured to serve many different purposes, including, by way of example only, identification of the type of mat attached thereto, detection of connectivity problems, tracking mat usage time, and identifying mats that are nearing the end of their useful lives.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a presence or an absence of a patient, comprising:

(a) a binary switch, said binary switch being responsive to at least two conditions,

(a1) a first condition corresponding to said presence of said patient on said binary switch, and,

(a2) a second condition corresponding to said absence of said patient from said binary switch;

(b) a validation circuit;

(c) a first electrical connection, said first electrical connection being in electrical communication with said binary switch;

(d) a second electrical connection, said second electrical connection being in electrical communication with said validation circuit; and

,

(e) an electronic patient monitor in electrical communication with said first electrical connection and said second electrical connection, wherein,

(e1) said electronic patient monitor is responsive to at least said binary switch and said validation circuit, and,

(e2) said electronic patient monitor has a microprocessor in electrical communication with at least said second electrical connection, said microprocessor at least for reading said validation circuit and being responsive thereto.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is in electrical communication with said first electrical connection and said second electrical connection, said microprocessor

detecting at least said first and second condition of said binary switch and being responsive thereto, and,

reading said validation circuit and being responsive thereto.

3. A method by which an electronic patient monitor may identify a patient sensor attached thereto, wherein is provided the apparatus of claim 1, said microprocessor programmed to perform the steps of:

(a) causing a signal to be generated;

(b) transmitting said signal to said validation circuit;

(c) sensing a response to said signal from said validation circuit;

(d) comparing said sensed response with at least one predetermined response; and

,

(e) causing said electronic monitor to indicate an alarm condition if said sensed response does not at least approximately correspond to at least one of said at least one predetermined responses.

4. A method identifying a patient sensor, wherein is provided an electronic patient monitor in electrical communication with a binary switch, said binary switch having a validation circuit associated therewith, comprising the steps of:

(a) causing a signal to be generated within said electronic patient monitor;

(b) transmitting said signal to said validation circuit;

(c) sensing a response to said signal from said validation circuit;

(d) comparing said sensed response with at least one predetermined response; and

,

(e) causing said electronic monitor to indicate an alarm condition if said sensed response does not at least approximately correspond to at least one of said at least one predetermined responses.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said signal is a constant voltage signal.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein said signal conforms to an I²C protocol.