Patent Publication Number: US-7916036-B1

Title: Patient position monitor with timer

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/875,289, titled “Patient Monitoring System with Timer” to Pope et al., filed Dec. 15, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/875,288, titled “Patient Monitoring System” to Murray et al., filed Dec. 15, 2006, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to patient monitoring systems. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description of the drawing particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a patient monitoring system; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a patient monitoring system; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the use of the patient monitoring system in connection with a wheelchair; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the use of the patient monitoring system in connection with a bed; and 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a timer provided with the patient monitoring system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimed invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. 
     In  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a patient monitoring system  10  having a pressure pad  12 , a cord switch  14 , and a monitor  16 . A microprocessor (not show) within monitor  16  is electrically connected to pressure pad  12  (a first sensor) to cooperate with it and receive a signal when pressure is applied to pad  12  or released from pad  12 . Cord switch  14  (a second sensor) includes an alligator clip  18 , a cord  20  and a magnetic shunt  22  adapted to fit into a slot  24  in monitor  16 . Alligator clip  18  is on one end of cord  20  and shunt  22  on the other. 
     According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, pad  12  is configured to provide a notification to a care provider or other personnel when pad  12  is approaching or has reached its predetermined end of useful life. When a care giver notices pad  12  is approaching or has reached its predetermined end of life, it is replaced with a new pad  12 . 
     Alligator clip or other connector  18  is fastened to the clothing of the patient and disk  22  put into slot  24 . When it is removed such as by the person moving a distance greater than that of cord  20 , an alarm and/or voice is sounded. Similarly, when pressure is placed on either pad  12  in a wheelchair embodiment or in a bed near the shoulders or buttocks of a patient, a flag on the microprocessor is set so that when the patient releases the pressure such as by getting up from the seat of the wheelchair or sitting up if on a bed, the microprocessor receives a signal resulting in an alarm or voice message and alarm. 
     The input circuits for the microprocessor may be incorporated within monitor  16  and its role is to develop a signal for the microprocessor when pressure is applied on pressure pad  12 , which in the exemplary embodiment is a pad that reduces resistance when pressure is placed upon it. Other types of pressure pads and other components of patient monitoring systems are known in the art and any of them may be used, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,166,644; 5,796,059; 4,263,586; and 4,020,482, the disclosure of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. These sensor may be configured to detect changes in fluid or air pressures, capacitance, inductance, electrical resistance, optical properties, or any other detectable changes in condition. 
     The pressure pad described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,059 is able to provide signals indicating the location on the pad of pressure and thus, with the aid of the microprocessor detect and indicate shifts in position of the patient such as tilting in a wheelchair or moving to the edge of a bed. While in the preferred embodiment the pressure pad is placed under the bedding it can be placed at other locations such as under the mattress. Moreover, it may be used with an analyzer such as the microprocessor to detect direction of movement such as whether a patient is moving toward a door or away from a door by detecting directional changes in pressure. 
     In  FIG. 2 , there is shown a block diagram of patient monitoring system  10  having a sensor  26  (such as pad  12  or cord switch  14 ), monitor  16 , a station alarm system  28 , a station control and interface system  30 , and a remote station alarm  32 . Patient-station monitoring monitor  16  may include a voice record system in the manner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,046 for providing verbal instructions to a patient under certain sensed conditions. As in the case of the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,046, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein for reference, an alarm is given at the station with the patient and/or a nurses station before a voice carries a message to the patient so that immediately upon the sensing of an alarm condition, the attendants receive notification and can proceed to the aid of the patient. 
     Station alarm  28  may include a lamp or a buzzer or the like and remote station alarm  32  may be connected with or without wires  34  to receive an alarm such as at a remote location such as a nursing station or may have an antenna  36  which receives a signal from the station alarm or transmits a signal to other stations so as to provide an alarm at those stations. The alarms at the remote stations may also be any type of indicator such as a lamp, a buzzing sound, a ringing sound, a horn-like sound, or a voice. 
     While in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , alarms are provided before the message is played both near the patient and at a remote location, the alarm nearby from the station alarm may be omitted and the signal transmitted directly to the remote station or alarm  32  or the message may be played simultaneously with either or both the station alarm  28  and remote alarm  32  or before either or both alarms. The voice system may be any standard commercial arrangement such as are now commonly used to play a fixed or variable message. 
     In  FIG. 3 , there is shown a pressure pad  12  positioned under a patient on a wheelchair  38 . Pressure pad  12  is intended to be on the seat of wheelchair  38  to provide a signal if the patient leaves wheelchair  38 . With this arrangement, if the patient were to move further away from pressure pad  12 , such as leaving wheelchair  38 , pressure is released on pad  12  and a signal would be given to provide an alarm. If the patient slumps forward, pressure is released on pressure pad  12 , monitor  16  provides an alarm signal to a caretaker, preferably at a remote location. The recorded message in an embodiment of this type may request the patient to remain stationary until aid arrives. 
     In  FIG. 4 , there is shown a perspective view of a bed  40  equipped with a patient monitor  16 . If the patient moves away from bed  40  or attempts to leave, pressure pad  12  receives less weight and generates a signal. Pressure pad  12  is preferably placed under the shoulders of the patient, but may be placed in other locations. A message may be played requesting the patient to remain in bed  40  and/or an alarm may be transmitted to a caretaker who can attend to the matter. 
     Pressure pad  12  includes a switch or sensor portion  42 , cord  44 , timer  46 , and plug  48 . Timer  46  provides an indication of how long pad  12  has been in service and/or how much predetermined useful life pad  12  has left. As shown in  FIG. 5 , timer  46  includes an character indicator, such as exemplary LCD display  50 , and an binary indicator, such as exemplary LED  52 . LCD display  50  and LED  52  may be provided together or separately on timer  46 . 
     Timer  46  also includes an internal timer (not shown) that determines the amount of remaining useful life of the particular pad  12 . The internal timer may include a logic device, such as a microprocessor or other logic device with its own clock or a separate clock circuit. Each pad  12  includes a designed period of useful life, such as 45 days, 90 days, 180 days, or 365 days that is programmed into the microprocessor or other logic device. The useful life is preferably programmed into the logic device at the site of manufacture of timer  46  before shipment to the care provider, but may be programmed at any other time. 
     Once pad  12  is plugged into monitor  16  with plug  48 , timer  46  is automatically triggered to begin counting down the number of useful days left for pad  12 . Similarly, timer  46  may also count the number of days that pad  12  has been in use. When plugged in, the microprocessor of timer  46  detects that pad  12  has been plugged in and begins to count down the remaining useful life of pad  12 . Other triggering devices, such as mechanical, electrical, or other switches and other trigger devices, may also be provided to start the countdown of the internal timer. Before being activated, LCD display  50  is blank and LED  52  remains off to conserve energy. 
     After timer  46  is plugged into monitor  16  (or otherwise triggered), LCD display  50  indicates the remaining useful life of pad  12 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , LCD display  50  of pad  12  is indicating that pad  12  has 99 days of useful life remaining. Timer  46  also includes a battery (not shown) so that if pad  12  is unplugged from monitor  16 , it will continue to countdown and display the number of days remaining. If pad  12  is plugged into the same monitor  16  or another monitor  16 , the exemplary timer  46  will not reset, but continue to countdown the remaining useful life based on the original trigger event. 
     When 3 days of useful life are left on the exemplary pad  12 , LED  52  will begin to flash on and off indicating that it is near time to change pad  12  with a new pad  12 . LCD display  50  will continue to count down the days until it reaches zero days. When there are zero days remaining, LED  52  will continue to flash and LCD display  50  will display 00 days. Time periods other than 3 days may also be used to activate LED  52  or any other indicator. 
     In addition to LED  52  flashing and display  18  indicating 00 days, timer  46  may also generate an audible alarm through use of a speaker, buzzer, or other audio device indicating that the end of the useful life is approaching and/or has been reached. Alternatively, timer  46  may also send a signal or other indication to monitor  16  that the end of life is approaching or has been reached. This causes monitor  16  to also provide an audible alarm. The audible alarm of timer  46  and/or monitor  16  may be a “beep” that occurs at regular intervals, such as every minute. The audible alarm may be provided with or without the visual indicators. Further, timer  46  and/or monitor  16  may send a wired or wireless signal to a remote location, such as a nurse call station, indicating that pad  12  is approaching and/or has reached the end of its useful life. The communication may include the ID of pad  12 , location of pad  12 , patient information, remaining useful life of pad  12 , if any, or any other information useful in identifying the respective pad  12 . 
     When the care provider notices it is time to replace pad  12 , the care provider removes the old pad  12  and replaces it with a new pad  12 . Once new pad  12  is plugged into monitor  16  or otherwise activated, its timer  46  begins to countdown the remaining days of its useful life. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , timer  46  is located relatively close to plug  48  to provide a convenient location for viewing by a care provider. However, timer  46  may be positioned anywhere on pad  12  or monitor  16 . Similarly, the various components and features may be provided at different locations on pad  12 , monitor  16 , or elsewhere rather than concentrated in the single housing of timer  46 . According to the exemplary embodiment, timer  46  is positioned about seven inches from plug  48 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , timer  46  will hang below monitor  16 , making it relatively easy for a care provider to view. 
     To keep display  50  facing outward toward a care provider, cord  44  (or any other portion of pad  12 ) is optionally coupled to the head board of bed  40  or to any other suitable portion of bed  40 , such as the bed frame. Cable ties, hook-and-loop type fasteners, or other suitable fasteners may be used to couple cord  44  to bed  40 . Similarly, cord  44  (or any other portion of pad  12 ) may be coupled to wheelchair  38  or any other structure, such as a support for monitor  16 , an IV-pole, or any other structure, to keep display  50  facing outward toward the care provider. 
     To further enhance the ability to see the information provided by timer  46 , multiple displays  50  and LED&#39;s  52  may be provided on timer  46  on different sides of timer  46 . By providing multiple displays  50  and LED&#39;s  52 , the likelihood of one of sets of displays  50  and LED&#39;s  52  is facing out toward the care provider is increased. Preferably, when only two sets of displays  50  and LED&#39;s  52  are provided, they are positioned on opposite sides of timer  46 . 
     Timer  46  may also include additional or alternative visual devices (such as incandescent lights, OLED&#39;s, and other known visual devices) that provide the same or different information that is provided by display  50  and LED  52 . For example, a series or line of LED&#39;s may be provided for indicating how many days are left in the useful life of timer  46 . After a day (or other time period) passes, one of the series of LED&#39;s no longer lights up to indicate that less time is left in the useful life. Other visual, audio, or other sensory means of indicating how much useful life is left (or spent) for pad  12  may also be provided. Similarly, scrolling text may be provided on display  50  to provide additional information and instructions to the care providers or others. LED&#39;s positioned adjacent to preprinted condition text may be provided to indicate that the printed condition exists when the LED is on. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , “Change Pad” is positioned adjacent to LED  52  to indicate that it is time (or about time) to change pad  12 . Different color LED&#39;s could also be provided to indicate the status of pad  12 . For example, a green LED could indicate that pad  12  is several days from the end of its useful life, a yellow LED could indicate that pad  12  is approaching the ends of its useful life, and a red LED could indicate that pad  12  has reached the end of its useful life. Many other devices or methods of communicating the above described information may also be used. 
     In addition to the features described herein, pad  12  and/or monitor  16  may include other features, such as dual reset buttons; remote reset and other features described in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/875,288, filed on Dec. 15, 2006, entitled “Patient Monitoring System” to Murray et al., the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein; selectable alarm tones and volumes; or any other features suitable for a patient position pad and/or monitor.