Enhanced alarm system for monitoring of patients

• US 7,327,219 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2004
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles Henry Iv Lederer
• Original Assignee: Charles Henry Iv Lederer
• Inventors: Lederer, Charles Henry IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/827,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.07, 340/506, 340/524, 340/525, 340/531, 340/533, 340/539.12, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/507, 340/693.2, 340/286.02, 340/311.2, 340/326, 340/328, 340/331, 340/332, 340/333
• US Class Current: 340/286.07
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

A monitoring system for use in a building, such as a hospital provides an audible and/or visual alarm. The monitoring system includes a control unit, with a plurality of medical condition monitoring units, such as ventilators, connected thereto. A plurality of speakers and/or light sources are connected to the control unit, and are located at various different spaced-apart areas within the building. An abnormal condition, sensed at one of the plurality of medical condition monitoring units, is reported to the control unit, which in turn causes the plurality of speakers and/or light sources to issue an audible/visual alarm. An adaptor can connect a medical condition monitoring unit to the control unit. The adapter may include circuitry to render an alarm output of the medical condition monitoring unit compatible with the control unit, and to suppress an alarm output for a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring medical conditions of one or more patients in a building, said system comprising:

a control unit;

a plurality of medical condition monitoring units connected to said control unit; and

a plurality of speakers connected to said control unit, with said speakers being located at various different spaced-apart areas within the building, wherein an abnormal condition sensed at one of said plurality of medical condition monitoring units is reported to said control unit, and said control unit causes said plurality of speakers to issue an audible alarm;

wherein said control unit has a battery backup, and wherein said control unit causes said plurality of speakers to issue the audible alarm at a first tone and/or volume in response to an abnormal condition sensed at one of said medical condition monitoring units, and causes said plurality of speakers to issue the audible alarm at a second and different tone and/or volume in response to a low battery backup condition.

2. A system for monitoring medical conditions of one or more patients in a building, said system comprising:

a control unit;

a plurality of medical condition monitoring units connected to said control unit; and

a plurality of light sources connected to said control unit, with said light sources being located at various different spaced-apart areas within the building, wherein an abnormal condition sensed at one of said plurality of medical condition monitoring units is reported to said control unit, and said control unit causes said plurality of light sources to emit light, so as to issue a visual alarm;

wherein said light sources blink with a certain frequency, and wherein said certain frequency increases over time, as the visual alarm continues.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of light sources are located in the ceiling and/or walls of the building.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of medical condition monitoring units are ventilators, and are hardwired to said control unit.

5. A system for monitoring medical conditions of one or more patients in a building, said system comprising:

a control unit;

a plurality of medical condition monitoring units connected to said control unit; and

a plurality of light sources connected to said control unit, with said light sources being located at various different spaced-apart areas within the building, wherein an abnormal condition sensed at one of said plurality of medical condition monitoring units is reported to said control unit, and said control unit causes said plurality of light sources to emit light, so as to issue a visual alarm;

wherein said light sources emit light at a certain intensity, and wherein said light intensity increases over time, as the visual alarm continues.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said light sources blink with a certain frequency, and wherein said certain frequency increases over time, as the visual alarm continues.

7. A system for monitoring medical conditions of one or more patients in a building, said system comprising:

a control unit;

a plurality of medical condition monitoring units connected to said control unit;

a plurality of speakers connected to said control unit, with said speakers being located at various different spaced-apart areas within the building, wherein an abnormal condition sensed at one of said plurality of medical condition monitoring units is reported to said control unit, and said control unit causes said plurality of speakers to issue an audible alarm;

a plurality of light sources connected to said control unit, with said light sources being located at various different spaced-apart areas within the building, wherein said control unit causes said plurality of light sources to emit light, so as to issue a visual alarm, whenever an abnormal condition is sensed at one of said plurality of medical condition monitoring units; and

an adaptor connecting one of said plurality of medical condition monitoring units to said control unit of said monitoring system, said adapter including;

an input terminal for connection to an alarm output of one of said plurality of medical condition monitoring units;

an output terminal for connection to said control unit; and

circuitry including a switch, wherein in a first switch position, an alarm condition present at said alarm output of said one of said plurality of medical condition monitoring units is substantially immediately passed to said output terminal, and wherein in a second switch position, an alarm condition present at said alarm output of said one of said plurality of medical condition monitoring units is suppressed.