Wireless patient ambulation motion detector and second call system

• US 7,071,820 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James J. Callaway
• Original Assignee: James J. Callaway
• Inventors: Callaway, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/801,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12, 340/573.1, 340/686.1, 340665-666, 340/689, 600534-536
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• 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 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A patient ambulation motion detector designed to be worn on the body. The detector incorporates a wireless transmitter, a motion sensor switch and a second call switch. It may be enclosed in a plastic case and attached most commonly to the upper anterior chest by a non-allergic double-backed tape.

Claims

1. A multi-functional patient detection system comprising:

a housing including

a motion sensor automatically sensing movement of a patient'"'"'s body to an angle of 85°

–

90°

from the horizontal and generating a signal indicative of sensed movement of the patient'"'"'s body to the angle of 85°

–

90°

from the horizontal,

a wireless transmitter transmitting a coded identifying signal indicating sensed movement of the patient'"'"'s body to the angle of 85°

–

90°

from the horizontal generated by the motion sensor, and

a power supply powering the motion sensor and the wireless transmitter, and

a receiving station receiving the coded identifying signal from the wireless transmitter.

2. The multi-functional patient detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving station includes at least one of a nursing station patient monitoring display and a dedicated nurse receiver display.

3. The multi-functional patient detection system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the nursing station patient monitoring display and the dedicated nurse receiver display include patient identifying indicia.

4. The multi-functional patient detection system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the patient identifying indicia include an indication of the nature of generation of the coded identifying signal.

5. The multi-functional patient detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coded identifying signal is indicative of one of impending patient movement and a patient initiated nurse call.

6. The multi-functional patient detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a manually actuated call button is included in the housing and connected to the wireless transmitter for generating a second coded identifying signal different from the coded identifying signal indicative of patient movement, the second coded identifying signal is indicative of a need for patient comfort care.

7. The multi-functional patient detection system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the receiving station includes at least one of a nursing station patient monitoring display and a dedicated nurse receiver display.

8. The multi-functional patient detection system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the coded identifying signal is indicative of one of impending patient movement and a patient initiated nurse call.

9. A patient alert system comprising:

a housing including

a motion sensor automatically sensing when a patient'"'"'s body is at an angle of 85°

–

90°

from the horizontal and generating a signal indicative of sensed movement of the patient'"'"'s body to the angle of 85°

–

90°

from the horizontal,

a call button for manual operation by a patient when comfort care is desired and for generating a signal when the call button is actuated,

a wireless transmitter transmitting a coded identifying signal indicating sensed movement of the patient'"'"'s body to the angle of 85°

–

90°

from the horizontal generated by the motion sensor and indicating actuation of the call button, and

a power supply powering the motion sensor, the call button and the wireless transmitter, and

a receiving station receiving the coded identifying signal from the wireless transmitter.

10. The patient alert system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the receiving station includes at least one of a nursing station patient monitoring display and a dedicated nurse receiver display.

11. The patient alert system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the nursing station patient monitoring display and the dedicated nurse receiver display include patient identifying indicia.

12. The patient alert system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the patient identifying indicia include an indication of the nature of generation of the coded identifying signal.