Multi-sensor baby care monitoring system

• US 7,295,125 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Lynn Gabriel
• Original Assignee: Michael Lynn Gabriel
• Inventors: Gabriel, Michael Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/536,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/605, 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/573.6, 340/573.5, 340/602, 340/618, 128/885, 128/886, 604/361
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A multi-sensor baby care monitoring system includes a wetness sensor configured to generate a first signal relating to an occurrence of a wetness event relative to a wetness containment device, such as a diaper. The monitoring system further includes a human life sensor configured to generate a second signal relating to a presence or absence of a human relative to the wetness containment device. If desired, a system controller may be used for receiving the first and second signals and generating data associated with the wetness event and the presence or absence of said human.

Claims

1. A monitoring system, comprising:

a wetness sensor configured to generate a first signal relating to an occurrence of a wetness event relative to a wetness containment device;

a human life sensor configured to generate a second signal relating to a presence or absence of a human relative to said wetness containment device; and

a system controller for receiving said first and second signals and generating data associated with said wetness event and said presence or absence of said human.

2. The monitoring system according to claim 1, said system further comprising:

a display in communication with said system controller, wherein said display is adapted to display said generated data.

3. The monitoring system according to claim 1, said system further comprising:

a display adapted to display said generated data; and

a wireless transmitter in communication with said system controller, wherein said wireless transmitter facilitates communications between said system controller and said display.

4. The monitoring system according to claim 3, said system further comprising:

a sensory alarm responsive to a detection of said wetness event, wherein said wireless transmitter facilitates communications between said system controller and said sensory alarm.

5. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said wetness and human life sensors are integrated to form a single sensor component.

6. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said human life sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of a heat sensor, salinity sensor, heart rate monitor, conductance device, and a pH measuring device.

7. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said wetness sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen ion sensor, urea sensor, pH measuring device, and an ammonia sensor.

8. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said wetness and human life sensors are at least partially embedded within said wetness containment device.

9. The monitoring system according to claim 1, said system further comprising:

a sensory alarm responsively generating an alarm indicating a detection of said wetness event.

10. A monitoring system, comprising:

a first sensor configured to generate a first signal relating to an occurrence of a wetness event relative to a wetness containment device; and

a second sensor configured to generate a second signal relating to a presence or absence of a human relative to said wetness containment device.

11. The monitoring system according to claim 10, said system further comprising:

a circuit for receiving said first and second signals, and responsively generating data associated with said wetness event and said presence or absence of said human.

12. The monitoring system according to claim 10, said system further comprising:

a system controller for receiving said first and second signals, and responsively generating data associated with said wetness event and said presence or absence of said human.

13. The monitoring system according to claim 12, said system further comprising:

a display in communication with said system controller, wherein said display is adapted to display said generated data.

14. The monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein said wetness and human life sensors are integrated to form a single sensor component.

15. A diaper operable with a monitoring system, said monitoring system comprising:

a wetness sensor configured to generate a first signal relating to an occurrence of a wetness event occurring within said diaper; and

a human life sensor configured to generate a second signal relating to a presence or absence of a human relative to said diaper.

16. The diaper according to claim 15, wherein said wetness sensor and said human life sensor are detachably connected to said diaper.

17. The diaper according to claim 15, wherein said monitoring system further comprises:

a system controller for receiving said first and second signals, and responsively generating data associated with said wetness event and said presence or absence of said human.

18. The diaper according to claim 17, wherein said monitoring system further comprises:

a monitoring unit in communication with said system controller; and

removable memory associated with said monitoring unit, said removable memory adapted to store data associated with said detected wetness events and said presence or absence of said human.

19. The diaper according to claim 17, wherein said monitoring system further comprises:

a sensory alarm in communication with said system controller, wherein said sensory alarm responsively generates an alarm whenever no presence of said human relative to said diaper has been detected for a threshold amount of time.

20. The diaper according to claim 17, wherein said monitoring system further comprises:

a display unit in communication with said system controller and responsively displays data indicating instances in which no presence of human life relative to said diaper has been detected by said human life sensor.