Patent ID: 6858811

Claim:
A membrane switch for use in patient monitoring, comprising: (a) an upper polyester member, said upper polyester member having an inner surface and an outer surface; (b) a first polyethylene bonding member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said first bonding member upper surface being positionable to be in contact with said upper member inner surface, and, at least a portion of said first bonding member lower surface being electrically conductive; (c) a second polyethylene bonding member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said second bonding member upper surface facing said first bonding member lower surface, at least a portion of said second bonding member upper surface being electrically conductive, (d) a nonconductive polyester central spacer positionable to be between said first bonding member and said second bonding member, said central spacer separating said electrically conductive portions of said first and second bonding members, and, allowing said electrically conductive portions of said first and second bonding members to come into contact when pressure is applied to said membrane switch; (e) a lower outer member made of polyester, said lower outer member having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said lower outer member being positionable to be in contact with said lower surface of said second bonding member; and, (f) an electrical line in electrical communication with said conductive portions of said first and said second bonding members, said electrical line having at least two electrically isolated conductors therein, wherein a first electrically isolated conductor is in electrical communication with said conductive portion of said first bonding member, and wherein a second electrically isolated conductor is in electrical communication with said conductive portion of said second bonding member.