Patent ID: 6987232

Claim:
A patient sensor for use in monitoring a patient who is at risk of developing decubitus ulcers, said patient sensor having at least a first end and a second end, comprising: (a) a nonconductive upper member, said upper member having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein at least a portion of said upper member inner surface is electrically conductive; (b) a nonconductive lower member, said lower member having an inner surface and an outer surface, said lower member inner surface being positionable to be proximate to said upper member inner surface, wherein at least a portion of said lower member inner surface is electrically conductive, said electrically conductive portion of said lower member inner surface containing at least two electrically isolated circuits thereon, (b1) wherein a first circuit of said at least two electrically isolated circuits contains at least a plurality of spaced apart resistive elements therein, and, (b2) wherein a second circuit of said at least two electrically isolated circuits, when taken in combination with said first circuit, forms a plurality of switches, each of said switches having at least one of said resistive elements associated therewith and each of said switches being located at a predetermined distance from said first end of said patient sensor; (c) a nonconductive central spacer between said upper member and said lower member, said central spacer electrically separating at least a portion of said upper member and said lower member inner surfaces, and, allowing at least a portion of said conductive portions of said upper member and said lower member to come into electrical contact when a patient is present on said patient sensor, thereby electrically engaging at least one of said plurality of switches and the resistive elements associated therewith; and, (d) an electrical line in electrical communication with said conductive portions of said upper and lower members, said electrical line having at least three electrically isolated conductors therein, wherein (d1) a first conductor of said at least three conductors is in electrical communication with said first circuit, (d2) a second conductor of said at least three conductors is in electrical communication with said first circuit, such that by measuring the potential between said first and second conductors a total resistance in said first circuit may be determined, and (d3) a third conductor of said at least three conductors is in electrical communication with said second electrically isolated circuit, such that by measuring a total resistance between said first circuit and said second circuit a determination may be made of a location and extent of said at least one point of contact.