Sensor pads for patient monitoring devices

Details Sensor pads for patient monitoring devices Sensor pads for patient monitoring devices

2001-06-14

2004-04-27

Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Weight

C200S0050EA

Reexamination Certificate

active

06727445

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to patient monitoring devices, and more particularly, to improvements in sensor pads for use with patient monitoring systems for notifying medical personnel and caregivers in the event a patient or ward leaves a bed or chair unattended.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Patient monitoring devices are employed in hospitals and nursing homes, and the like to alert staff if a patient or ward gets out of bed or a chair unattended, (or falls out of bed or chair), or in the case of a infant, is removed from a crib by a unauthorized person. Referring to
FIG. 1
, a typical patient monitoring system includes a controller
10
adapted to receive a signal from a detecting pad
12
which typically is hard wired to controller
10
through line
14
. Controller
10
typically includes a power switch and a display
16
, and typically includes a visual and audible alarm
18
. Alternatively, sensor pad
12
maybe battery powered, and include a built in radio transmitter for sending a signal to controller
10
.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, sensor pad
12
typically comprises a pressure pad or membrane switch type sensor comprising a pair of flexible dielectric sheets or membranes
20
,
22
joined to one another at their periphery
24
by an adhesive or by thermal welding. Formed inwardly of periphery
4
on facing surfaces of sheets
20
and
22
are conductor strips
26
and
28
respectfully. Conductor strips
26
and
28
typically are formed of screen printed carbon or the like and together form the two poles of a membrane or pressure switch which is normally “open”, and which completes a circuit when subjected to sufficient pressure. Pad
12
also may include a pressure sensitive adhesive
30
and release sheet
32
on the back thereof so that the pad maybe fixed in place on a mattress or chair pad. Sensor pads in accordance with the foregoing are available commercially from several sources including Secure Care Products, Inc. of Concord N.H.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improvement in sensor pads of the like above discussed. More particularly, the present invention provides a sensor pad in which open circuit patterns are printed on one surface of a first dielectric sheet, while a plurality of switch closures are printed on the surface of a second dielectric sheet facing the first sheet. The second dielectric sheet includes a plurality of raised areas or pods on which the switch closures are printed. The switches are in a normally open position, and are closed by pressure from the weight of a patient.
Still are the features and advantages the present invention will be seen from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:


REFERENCES:
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patent: 4307275 (1981-12-01), Larson et al.
patent: 4317011 (1982-02-01), Mazurk
patent: 4409450 (1983-10-01), Blades
patent: 4501938 (1985-02-01), Kawauchi
patent: 4527021 (1985-07-01), Morikawa et al.
patent: 4864084 (1989-09-01), Cardinale
patent: 5137033 (1992-08-01), Norton
patent: 5521336 (1996-05-01), Buchanan et al.
patent: 5743386 (1998-04-01), Liao
patent: 5871088 (1999-02-01), Tanabe
patent: 6121869 (2000-09-01), Burgess
patent: 6373008 (2002-04-01), Saito et al.
patent: 178488 (1985-09-01), None
patent: 322515 (1987-12-01), None
patent: 322514 (1988-09-01), None
patent: 4-28125 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 4028125 (1992-01-01), None
Secure Care Brochure for Chair Tender and Bed Tender, REV-A Jan. 8, 1999.
Tender Pad Sample Product—In use at least as early as 1997.

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