Tag and system for patient safety monitoring
First Claim
1. A tag for monitoring the security of a patient, the tag comprising:
- a housing having a wall, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
an electronic circuit located in the housing, the electronic circuit including an alarm circuit, including a capacitance measuring circuit, the capacitance measuring circuit having first and second electrodes, the first and second electrodes located adjacent the inner surface and in spaced relation from one another to form a capacitor, the alarm circuit having means for generating an alarm signal upon the capacitance measuring circuit detecting a level of capacitance corresponding to an alarm condition, whereby the outer surface of the housing is placed in contact with the patient, with the first and second electrodes capacitively coupled to the patient, but without the first and second electrodes in physical contact with the patient, the capacitance measuring circuit detects an alarm condition when the patient is no longer in contact with the outer surface of the tag.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The tag includes: a tag for monitoring the security of a patient, the tag comprising,
a housing having a wall, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface,
an electronic circuit located in the housing, the electronic circuit including an alarm circuit, including a capacitance measuring circuit, the capacitance measuring circuit having first and second electrodes, the first and second electrodes located adjacent the inner surface and in spaced relation from one another to form a capacitor, the alarm circuit having means for generating an alarm signal upon the capacitance measuring circuit detecting a level of capacitance corresponding to an alarm condition, whereby the outer surface of the housing is placed in contact with the patient, with the first and second electrodes capacitively coupled to the patient, but without the first and second electrodes in physical contact with the patient, the capacitance measuring circuit detects an alarm condition when the patient is no longer in contact with the outer surface of the tag.
183 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A tag for monitoring the security of a patient, the tag comprising:
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a housing having a wall, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface; an electronic circuit located in the housing, the electronic circuit including an alarm circuit, including a capacitance measuring circuit, the capacitance measuring circuit having first and second electrodes, the first and second electrodes located adjacent the inner surface and in spaced relation from one another to form a capacitor, the alarm circuit having means for generating an alarm signal upon the capacitance measuring circuit detecting a level of capacitance corresponding to an alarm condition, whereby the outer surface of the housing is placed in contact with the patient, with the first and second electrodes capacitively coupled to the patient, but without the first and second electrodes in physical contact with the patient, the capacitance measuring circuit detects an alarm condition when the patient is no longer in contact with the outer surface of the tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A tag for monitoring the security of a patient, the tag comprising:
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a housing having a wall, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface; a receiver antenna; a receiver having an input and an output, the input coupled to the receiver antenna; a means for detecting when the receiver receives a predetermined data stream via the receiver antenna, the detecting means having an input coupled to the output of the receiver, and an output; a microprocessor having a data input, a data output and a power input; a means for switching on and off the power to the power input, the switching includes a NAND gate means having a first control input, a second control input, and an output, the first control input is coupled to the output of the detecting means, the output is coupled to the power input; a transmitter having an input and an output, the input is coupled to the data output of the microprocessor, a transmitter antenna, the transmitter antenna being coupled to the output of the transmitter, a capacitance measuring circuit having a first and second electrode located adjacent the inner surface and in spaced relation from one another to form a capacitor, a comparator having a first input, a second input, and an output, each input including an RC network, the capacitor forming part of the RC network for the first input, the comparator having means for developing an oscillating signal at the output the comparator when the comparator detects an offset between the first and second inputs of the comparator; a frequency detector having an input and an output, the input is coupled to the output of the comparator, the output is coupled to the second control input of the switching means and to the detecting means; whereby the power to the microprocessor is switched off until the detection of either a received predetermined signal or an alarm condition, whereupon the transmitter transmits an RF signal to indicate that either the tag has been removed from the patient or that the tag has entered an unauthorized zone. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A system for monitoring the security of a patient, the system including a tag capable of being placed in contact with and secured to a patent, the system comprising:
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at least one monitor, each of the at least one monitor to be located in the proximity of a respective one of at least one restricted area, each of said at least one monitor having transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal and receiver means for receiving a signal; a tag including, a housing, the housing having a wall, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, an electronic circuit located in housing, the electronic circuit including a receiver means for receiving an interrogation signal, an alarm circuit including a capacitance measuring circuit, the capacitance measuring circuit having first and second electrodes, the first and second electrodes located adjacent the inner surface and in spaced relation from one another to form a capacitor, the alarm circuit having means for generating an alarm signal upon the capacitance measuring circuit detecting a level of capacitance corresponding to an alarm condition, the electronic circuit having a transmitter means for transmitting a signal upon either the generation of the alarm signal or the receiver means receiving an interrogation signal, whereby the outer surface of the housing is placed in contact with the patient, with the first and second electrodes capacitively coupled to the patient but without the first and second electrodes in physical contact with the patient, the capacitance measuring circuit detects an alarm condition when the patient is no longer in contact with the outer surface of the tag, the tag will notify the one monitor whenever the tag housing is no longer in contact the patient or when the tag enters a restricted area in which the one monitor is located. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification