Wetness monitoring system for tracking wetness events in diapers

• US 6,870,479 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Lynn Gabriel
• Original Assignee: Michael Lynn Gabriel
• Inventors: Gabriel, Michael Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blount, Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/306,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 340604-5735, 200/182, 200/61.04, 200/61.05, 200/61.06
• 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 personal care monitoring system is disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, the monitoring system may include a wetness sensor configured to detect a wetness event occurring within an associated diaper, and a human life sensor configured to detect presence of human life relative to the associated diaper. A monitoring unit having a system controller in communication with the wetness and human life sensors may be utilized in such a manner that the system controller monitors the wetness and human life sensors and generates data associated with detected wetness events and presence of human life relative to the associated diaper.

Claims

1. A personal care monitoring system comprising:

a wetness sensor configured to detect a wetness event occurring within an associated diaper;

a human life sensor configured to detect a presence or absence of human life relative to said associated diaper; and

a monitoring unit comprising a system controller in communication with said wetness and human life sensors, wherein said system controller monitors said wetness and human life sensors and generates data associated with detected wetness events and the presence or absence of human life relative to said associated diaper.

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

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

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

an external display unit adapted to display said generated data; and

a wireless transmitter configured with said monitoring unit and in communication with said system controller, wherein said wireless transmitter facilitates communications between said monitoring unit and said external display unit, wherein said communications include said generated data.

4. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein said wireless transmitter facilitates communications between said monitoring unit and an external sensory alarm, wherein said external sensory alarm is responsive to a detection of a wetness event.

5. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 1, said system further comprising:

removable memory configured with said monitoring unit and in communication with said system controller, wherein said removable memory comprises said generated data.

6. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein said removable memory is a memory type selected from the group consisting of electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic memory, and flash memory.

7. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 1, said system further comprising:

a data port configured with said monitoring unit and in communication with said system controller, wherein said data port facilitates communications between said monitoring unit and an external system, wherein said communications include said generated data.

8. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said wetness and human life sensors are integrated into a single sensor device.

9. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said 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.

10. The personal care 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.

11. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said wetness and human life sensors are at least partially embedded within said associated diaper.

12. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said wetness and human life sensors are disposed onto said associated diaper.

13. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said wetness sensor comprises a wire mesh at least partially embedded within said associated diaper.

14. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said associated diaper is a disposable diaper;

and

wherein said wetness and human life sensors are at least partially embedded within said associated disposable diaper.

15. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 1, said system further comprising:

a sensory alarm configured with said monitoring unit and in communication with said system controller, wherein said sensory alarm is responsive to a detection of a wetness event.

16. A wearable article operable with a personal care monitoring system, said article comprising:

a diaper comprising a liquid impermeable layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a wetness sensor configured with said diaper, wherein said wetness sensor is adapted to detect a wetness event occurring within said diaper;

a human life sensor configured with said diaper, wherein said human life sensor is adapted to detect a presence or absence of human life relative to said diaper; and

wherein said wetness and human life sensors are adapted to responsively communicate to an associated personal care monitoring unit, detected wetness events and the presence or absence of human life relative to said diaper.

17. The article according to claim 16, wherein said personal care monitoring unit is detachably connected to said diaper.

18. The article according to claim 16, wherein said personal care monitoring unit is integrated with said diaper, and wherein said monitoring unit includes removable memory comprising data associated with said detected wetness events and the presence or absence of human life.

19. The article according to claim 16, wherein said removable memory is a memory type selected from the group consisting of electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic memory, and flash memory.

20. The article according to claim 16, wherein said wetness and human life sensors are integrated into a single sensor device.

21. The article according to claim 16, 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.

22. The article according to claim 16, wherein said wetness sensor is a sensor selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen ion sensor, urea sensor, pH measuring device, and a ammonia sensor.

23. The article according to claim 16, wherein said wetness and human life sensors are at least partially embedded within said interior surface of said diaper.

24. The article according to claim 16, wherein said wetness and human life sensors are disposed onto said interior surface of said diaper.

25. The article according to claim 16, wherein said diaper is a disposable diaper;

and

wherein said wetness and human life sensors are at least partially embedded within said interior surface of said disposable diaper.

26. The article according to claim 16, wherein said diaper is a disposable diaper;

and

wherein said wetness and human life sensors are disposed onto said interior surface of said associated disposable diaper.

27. A personal care monitoring system comprising:

means for detecting a wetness event occurring within an associated diaper;

means for detecting a presence or absence of human life relative to said associated diaper; and

means for monitoring and controlling said wetness event detecting means and said presence of human life detecting means, wherein said monitoring and controlling means generates data associated with detected wetness events and the presence or absence of human life relative to said associated diaper.

28. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 27, said system further comprising:

displaying means configured with said monitoring and controlling means, wherein said means for displaying is adapted to display said generated data.

29. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 27, said system further comprising:

external display means for displaying said generated data; and

wireless transmission means for facilitating communications between said monitoring unit means and said external display means, wherein said communications include said generated data.

30. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 27, said system further comprising:

removable memory means configured with said monitoring and controlling means, wherein said removable memory means comprises said generated data.

31. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 27, said system further comprising:

data port means configured with said monitoring and controlling means, wherein said data port means facilitates communications between said monitoring and controlling means and an external system, wherein said communications includes said generated data.

32. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 27, wherein said wetness event detecting means and said presence of human life detecting means are at least partially embedded within said associated diaper.

33. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 27, wherein said wetness event detecting means and said presence of human life detecting means are disposed onto said associated diaper.

34. A personal care monitoring system comprising:

a wetness sensor configured to detect a wetness event occurring within an associated diaper;

a human life sensor configured to detect a presence or absence of human life relative to said associated diaper;

a monitoring unit comprising a system controller in communication with said wetness and human life sensors, wherein said system controller monitors said wetness and human life sensors and generates data associated with detected wetness events and the presence or absence of human life relative to said associated diaper; and

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

35. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 34, said system further comprising:

a sensory alarm configured with said monitoring unit and in communication with said system controller, wherein said sensory alarm is responsive whenever a threshold amount of time has elapsed where no presence of human life relative to said associated diaper has been detected by said human life sensor.

36. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 34, wherein said system controller responsively provides data to said monitoring unit indicative of any instances where no presence of human life relative to said associated diaper has been detected by said human life sensor.

37. The personal care monitoring system according to claim 34, said system further comprising:

a user interface configured with said monitoring unit and facilitating retrieval of said generated data.