Electronic inclinometer

• US 7,117,607 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Robert Horgan
• Original Assignee: David Robert Horgan
• Inventors: Horgan, David Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): BENNETT, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US10/900,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20060021240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 33/1.N, 333/65, 333/661.1, 333/662.7, 335/12, 702/150, 702/151
• US Class Current: 33/366.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/057 Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor ventilation openings in mattresses A47C21/042; pneumatic or hydraulic mattresses A47C27/08

Abstract

An apparatus used for notifying a user of a patient'"'"'s upper body physical orientation. The apparatus uses an inclinometer that is attached in the region of the patient'"'"'s upper body to measure the physical orientation of the patient'"'"'s upper body, which is then transmitted to a display. In one embodiment, the display can be set to display a plurality of alarm conditions. In other embodiments the patient upper body orientation information is transmitted to a processor and then to the nurses'"'"' station or to a ventilator. The invention also relates to a method for measuring the physical orientation of a patient, using such an apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for notifying a user of the physical orientation of a bedridden patient'"'"'s upper body comprising:

an inclinometer for attachment in the region of the patient'"'"'s upper body; and

a display unit in electrical communication with said inclinometer wherein said display unit indicates the orientation of the patient'"'"'s upper body and alerts the caregiver if the orientation falls outside a predetermined range selected for the purpose of inhibiting complications associated with bedridden patients.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inclinometer is attached to a bed frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inclinometer is attached to patient.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said display unit contains a red and a green colored backlight.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said red colored backlight blinks to alert the user of incorrect physical orientation of the patient'"'"'s upper body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a processor in communication with said inclinometer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said processor sends patient upper body orientation information to a nurses'"'"' station.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said processor sends patient upper body orientation information to a ventilator.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said display unit has no corners.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said processor is programmed by the user to alert the user of a plurality of patient upper body orientation conditions.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plurality of patient upper body orientation conditions are selected from the group consisting of a predetermined angle for aspiration precaution, immobility precaution and ventilation precaution.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bedridden patient is on mechanical ventilation and the inhibiting complications are associated with the mechanical ventilation.

13. A method for measuring the physical orientation of a bedridden patient'"'"'s upper body comprising:

measuring physical orientation of patient using an inclinometer;

displaying said inclination with a display unit and;

alerting the caregiver if the orientation falls outside a predetermined range selected for the purpose of inhibiting complications associated with bedridden patients.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising indicating correct patient orientation with a green backlight on said display unit.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting patient upper body orientation information to a processor.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising transmitting patient upper body orientation information to a nurse'"'"'s station.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising transmitting patient upper body orientation information to a ventilator.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising programming processor to indicate an alarm condition.

19. A method of preventing complications in a bedridden patient comprising alerting a caregiver in the event that the patient'"'"'s upper body is in an inappropriate orientation for more than a predetermined period of time, wherein the predetermined period of time is greater than zero.

20. An apparatus for preventing complications in a bedridden patient comprising a display that alerts the caregiver in the event that the patient'"'"'s upper body is in an inappropriate orientation for more than a predetermined period of time, wherein the predetermined period of time is greater than zero.