US5137033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Patient monitoring device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-07-15
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Granted: 1992-08-11
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Expires: 2011-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A patient monitoring device for notifying through an alarm, a nurse or health care provider of a wet or distressed condition of a patient that involves a detecting pad for a bed or wheelchair to conduct an electric current when wet with urine. The monitoring device that is hard wired in one embodiment to provide for alerting a nurse at a nurses station of a bed ridden patient's wet condition and in a wheelchair embodiment to notify through a ratio linkage, a nurse of patient's wet condition or that the wheelchair has tipped over.
Inventors
- 👤 John L. Norton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:42
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/18; G08B21/20; A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A patient monitoring device comprising, a detecting pad means that includes electrically conductive sections separated by a non-conductive material that will become conductive when wetted with human urine and is of a shape to allow it to be arranged as a wheelchair seat pad; a system power supply; a controller connected for receiving electrical power when said detecting pad means is in a conductive state that includes a locking relay that, on receipt of electrical power, can be reset only when the conducting detecting pad means is removed and replaced with a non-conducting detecting pad means, said controller is connected to a transmitter means to transmit an alarm signal to an alarm means located at a nurse station; and alarm means that is operated on receipt of said alarm signal from said controller.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A patient monitoring device comprising, a detecting pad means that includes electrically conductive sections separated by a non-conductive material that will become conductive when wetted with human urine and is of a shape to allow it to be arranged as a wheelchair seat pad; a system power supply; a controller connected for receiving electrical power when said detecting pad means is in a conductive state that includes a locking relay that, on receipt of electrical power, can be reset only when the conducting detecting pad means is removed and replaced with a non-conducting detecting pad means, said controller is connected to a transmitter means to transmit an alarm signal to an alarm means located at a nurse station; and alarm means that is operated on receipt of said alarm signal from said controller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A patient monitoring device as recited in claim 1, wherein the detecting pad means is made up of a pair of electrically conductive sections consisting of individual conductive strips that for each section are connected in parallel, and are separated by a pad of fabric material that is electrically non-conductive when dry and becomes electrically conductive when wet with urine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A patient monitoring device as recited in claim 1, further including a sensitivity switch within the controller whereon sensing a certain minimum voltage presence at the detecting pad means the sensitivity switch operates to conduct current to the relay.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A patient monitoring device as recited in claim 1, wherein the alarm means is an audio alarm and light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A patient monitoring device as recited in claim 4, further including a base station operated by the alarm means to transmit a signal to a nurse's pager.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A patient monitoring device as recited in claim 1, further including a call button means for patient operation hard wire connected through the controller to operate the alarm means when activated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A patient monitoring device as recited in claim 1, further including, with the controller a timer circuit and tilt switch means for sensing a displacement of a wheelchair, wherein the detecting pad means is arranged as a seat, from the vertical that, after a passage of a set period of time, operates the controller to transmit the alarm signal to operate the alarm means at the nurses station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A patient monitoring device as recited in claim 7, further including a call button means wired to the controller for the patient to depress to cause the controller to transmit the alarm signal to the nurses station receiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A patient monitoring device as recited in claim 7, wherein the nurses station receiver is connected to a base station to transmit a signal to a nurse's pager on receipt of an alarm signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-11 | 1996-02-10 | 1996-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-11 | 2000-02-10 | 2000-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-11 | 2004-02-10 | 2004-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |