Alarm for patient monitor and life support equipment system

Claim 2

A communications system for medical use, comprising: medical equipment associated with a patient; alarm signal generator means in communication with aid equipment for generating an alarm signal, said alarm signal identifying said equipment and readings from said equipment; control means for receiving said alarm signal and for displaying indicia relevant to patient location, patient identification and equipment readings associated with such patient; said control means having a means for transmitting a pager message to at least one paging means in the form of an identifying signal, said identifying signal providing each of said at least one paging means with information relevant to said equipment and such patient; and each of said at least one paging means having a visual indicia display, means for receiving said pager message, and means for transmitting a response to said pager message to said control means.

Claim 3

A communication system according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least one paging means further comprises a vibrational annunciator means, each of said at least one paging means displaying visually relevant information concerning said patient and said equipment while also providing a vibration annunciation.

Claim 4

A communications system according to claim 2, wherein said visual indicia display further comprises an illuminated display screen for displaying indicia indicative of room, patient and equipment relating to the particular alarm signal requiring immediate response.

Claim 5

A communications system according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least one paging means is worn by a user.

Claim 6

A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said control means further comprises: key input means for providing messaging information to said control means; memory means for storing said messaging information; processing means for processing said messaging information and said alarm signal in order to prioritize messages and route said messages to appropriate personnel; and transceiver means for communicating said processed messaging information.

Claim 7

A communications system according to claim 5, wherein said messaging information comprises up-to-date staffing information relevant to all patients, said control means further comprises means to send said processed messaging information to appropriate and available staff.

Claim 8

A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said system is used with emergency medical services and ambulance equipment whereby said control means receives said alarm signal from emergency medical equipment used by medical services and ambulances.

Claim 9

A communications system according to claim 1, further comprising an audio communication means comprising a plurality of walkie-talkies; and a corresponding plurality of portable headsets each adapted to be connected to a respective walkie-talkie, whereby the privacy of communications between said plurality of walkie-talkies is ensured.

Claim 10

A communications system according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of walkie-talkies communicates with said control means, said system further comprising an additional headset adapted to be connected to said control means.

Claim 11

A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said system is used with equipment at any one or more of a clinic, a doctor's office, a hospital, a nursing home and a patient's home.

Claim 12

A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said alarm signal generator means provides said alarm signal directly to each of said at least one paging means and to said control means.

Claim 13

A communications system according to claim 1, further comprising: an alarm signal generator signal interrupt switch connected to said alarm signal generator means and located near said equipment, wherein said alarm signal, when generated by said alarm signal generator means, continues until said interrupt switch is activated.

Claim 14

A communications system according to claim 1, further comprising a messaging controller means for prioritizing said pager message such that a higher priority message will interrupt a lower priority message transmitted to each of said at least one paging means so that the higher priority message will be transmitted to each of said at least one paging means.

Claim 15

A communications system for medical use, comprising: a sensor attached to medical equipment associated with a patient for monitoring the status of said medical equipment; an alarm signal generator in communication with the sensor for communicating an alarm signal to a remote section; an alarm signal generator signal interrupt switch connected to said alarm signal generator and located near said equipment; wherein said alarm signal when communicated by said alarm signal generator continues until said interrupt switch is activated, the interrupt switch terminating said alarm signal for a period of time, the alarm signal reactivating at the end of the period of time if the sensor is in an alarm signal condition; and a call button for paging medical personnel from the patient's bedside.

Claim 16

A communications system for medical use, comprising: a sensor attached to medical equipment associated with a patient for monitoring the status of said medical equipment; an alarm signal generator in communication with the sensor for communicating an alarm signal to a remote section; an alarm signal generator signal interrupt switch connected to said alarm signal generator and located near said equipment; wherein said alarm signal when communicated by said alarm signal generator continues until said interrupt switch is activated, the interrupt switch terminating said alarm signal for a period of time, the alarm signal reactivating at the end of the period of time if the sensor is in an alarm signal condition; and a call button for paging medical personnel from the patient's bedside.

Claim 17

An alarm system comprising: a sensor for determining a status of a plurality of conditions of a patient and an operational status of life support equipment; an alarm signal generator connected to said sensor and said alarm signal generator for transmitting said signals; an alarm controller connected to a signal receiver and remotely located from said alarm signal generator for generating an audio alarm and a visual alarm indicating patient location in response to said receiver receiving said signals, each alarm being generated at a location remote from the patient; processing means connected to said alarm controller for automatically selecting one of a plurality of remote displays for activation; a controller transmitter connected to said processing means for transmitting a radio frequency signal to said selected remote display for notification of selected personnel associated with said remote displays that said alarms have been generated; and an alarm signal generator signal interrupt switch connected to said alarm signal generator and located near the bedside of the patient wherein said audio and visual alarms when generated by said alarm controller continue regardless of the receipt of further signals until said interrupt switch is activated.

Claim 18

An alarm system comprising: a sensor for determining a status of a plurality of conditions of a patient and an operational status of life support equipment; an alarm signal generator connected to said sensor and said alarm signal generator for transmitting said signals; an alarm controller connected to a signal receiver and remotely located from said alarm signal generator for generating an audio alarm and a visual alarm indicating patient location in response to said receiver receiving said signals, each alarm being generated at a location remote from the patient; processing means connected to said alarm controller for automatically selecting one of a plurality of remote displays for activation; a controller transmitter connected to said processing means for transmitting a radio frequency signal to said selected remote display for notification of selected personnel associated with said remote displays that said alarms have been generated; and an alarm signal generator signal interrupt switch connected to said alarm signal generator and located near the bedside of the patient wherein said audio and visual alarms when generated by said alarm controller continue regardless of the receipt of further signals until said interrupt switch is activated.

Claim 19

The alarm system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said alarm signal generator includes a timer circuit connected to said switch to automatically reactivate said alarm signal after a predetermined time.

Claim 20

The alarm system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said signals generated by said alarm signal generator include a coded electrical pulse indicative of relevant patient and equipment information.

Claim 21

The alarm system set forth in claim 15, wherein said alarm signal generator includes a manually-activated switch for generating an alarm signal.

Claim 22

The alarm system set forth in claim 15, further comprising a visual display unit located in the vicinity of said patient for indicating the status of said patient conditions and said equipment status.

Claim 25

An alarm system comprising: a sensor for determining a patient's condition; an alarm signal generator connected to said sensor for generating signals indicative of said patient's condition and location; an alarm controller connected to a signal receiver and remotely located from said alarm signal generator for generating an alarm indicating patient location in response to said receiver receiving said signals, said alarm being generated at a location remote from the patient; processing means connected to said alarm controller for automatically selecting at least one or more remote displays for activation; a controller transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency signal to said selected remote displays for notifying selected personnel associated with said remote displays of said alarm; and an alarm signal generator signal interrupt switch connected to said alarm signal generator and located near the bedside of the patient wherein said alarm, when generated by said alarm controller, continues regardless of the receipt of further signals until said interrupt switch is activated.

Claim 26

An alarm system comprising: a sensor for determining a patient's condition; an alarm signal generator connected to said sensor for generating signals indicative of said patient's condition and location; an alarm controller connected to a signal receiver and remotely located from said alarm signal generator for generating an alarm indicating patient location in response to said receiver receiving said signals, said alarm being generated at a location remote from the patient; processing means connected to said alarm controller for automatically selecting at least one or more remote displays for activation; a controller transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency signal to said selected remote displays for notifying selected personnel associated with said remote displays of said alarm; and an alarm signal generator signal interrupt switch connected to said alarm signal generator and located near the bedside of the patient wherein said alarm, when generated by said alarm controller, continues regardless of the receipt of further signals until said interrupt switch is activated.