US6095991A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ambulatory body position monitor
Assignee: Individual Monitoring Systems Inc
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Filing: 1998-07-23
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Granted: 2000-08-01
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Expires: 2018-07-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides apparatus and methods for monitoring and recording the position and extent of motion of the body of a human or a lower animal. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it comprises: (1) a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor, (2) a programmable control unit that receives as input the output from the sensor and has the capability to sufficiently interpret said input so as to determine the position and related movements with respect to gravity of the measurement site at which said sensor is located on its user's body, (3) a storage device, operable by said control unit, that stores time-stamped, data regarding the user's body position and related movements, and (4) an interface device that has the capability of transferring the stored data to an external computer. The present invention for ambulatory recording eliminates the requirement that such monitors be connected through cables to external data storage and processing devices, thereby often effectively dictating that such monitoring activities be conducted in clinical laboratories.
Inventors
- 👤 David T. Krausman
- 👤 Richard P. Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/103; A61B5/11; A61B5/1116; A61B5/1118; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/02; A61B2562/0219; A61B2562/16; A61B2562/168; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6813; A61B5/6823; A61B5/6828; A61B5/683; A61B5/6831
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
An ambulatory body position monitor that is located at a measurement site on a user whose position is to be monitored, comprising: a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor, a programmable control unit that receives as input the output from the sensor and has the capability to sufficiently interpret said input so as to determine the position and extent of motion with respect to gravity of the measurement site at which said sensor is located on its user's body, a storage device, operable by said control unit, that stores time-stamped, data regarding the user's body position, an interface device, operable by said control unit, that has the capability of transferring said stored data to an external computer, a display unit, operable by said control unit, that visually communicates information regarding the user's body position, wherein, for monitoring subjects with sleepwalking and other sleep disorders and for which it is necessary to distinguish between the user's positions of sitting, walking or standing, a first monitor is situated on the user's chest and a second monitor is situated at a location chosen from among the group consisting of locations on the thigh and the ankle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
An ambulatory body position monitor that is located at a measurement site on a user whose position is to be monitored, comprising: a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor, a programmable control unit that receives as input the output from the sensor and has the capability to sufficiently interpret said input so as to determine the position and extent of motion with respect to gravity of the measurement site at which said sensor is located on its user's body, a storage device, operable by said control unit, that stores time-stamped, data regarding the user's body position, an interface device, operable by said control unit, that has the capability of transferring said stored data to an external computer, a display unit, operable by said control unit, that visually communicates information regarding the user's body position, wherein, for monitoring subjects with sleepwalking and other sleep disorders and for which it is necessary to distinguish between the user's positions of sitting, walking or standing, a first monitor is situated on the user's chest and a second monitor is situated at a location chosen from among the group consisting of locations on the thigh and the ankle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An ambulatory body position monitor as recited in claim 1, wherein: said interface device includes a smart cable that allows for duplex communications between said monitors and an external computer that is used to synchronize and analyze the outputs of said monitors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ambulatory body position monitor as recited in claim 2, wherein: said programmable control unit includes a microprocessor having solid-state programmable, resident memory, an analog to digital converter and a serial communication interface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ambulatory body position monitor as recited in claim 3, wherein: said storage device includes nonvolatile, solid-state memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ambulatory body position monitor as recited in claim 3, wherein: said programmable control unit further includes the capability to interpret said sensor input so as to determine the extent of the user's physical motion in each body position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
An ambulatory body position monitor that is located at a measurement site on a user whose position is to be monitored, comprising: a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor, a programmable control unit that receives as input the output from the sensor and has the capability to sufficiently interpret said input so as to determine the position with respect to gravity of the measurement site at which said sensor is located on its user's body, an alarm unit with audio output device, operable by said control unit, that can generate an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor, a selection input device, connected to said control unit, for setting the desired operating parameters of said monitor, including the capability to disarm said alarm unit, and a radio frequency transmitter, connected to said control unit, for signaling a remote, wireless receiver to sound an alarm at said remote location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
An ambulatory body position monitor that is located at a measurement site on a user whose position is to be monitored, comprising: a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor, a programmable control unit that receives as input the output from the sensor and has the capability to sufficiently interpret said input so as to determine the position with respect to gravity of the measurement site at which said sensor is located on its user's body, an alarm unit with audio output device, operable by said control unit, that can generate an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor, a selection input device, connected to said control unit, for setting the desired operating parameters of said monitor, including the capability to disarm said alarm unit, and a radio frequency transmitter, connected to said control unit, for signaling a remote, wireless receiver to sound an alarm at said remote location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
167 words
An ambulatory body position monitor that is located at a measurement site on a user whose position is to be monitored, comprising: a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor, a programmable control unit that receives as input the output from the sensor and has the capability to sufficiently interpret said input so as to determine the position with respect to gravity of the measurement site at which said sensor is located on its user's body, an alarm unit with audio output device, operable by said control unit, that can generate an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor, a selection input device, connected to said control unit, for setting the desired operating parameters of said monitor, including the capability to disarm said alarm unit, and a radio frequency transmitter, connected to said control unit, for signaling a wireless receiver, that is situated at a first remote location, to dial a telephone to announce at a second remote location the alarm condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
167 words
An ambulatory body position monitor that is located at a measurement site on a user whose position is to be monitored, comprising: a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor, a programmable control unit that receives as input the output from the sensor and has the capability to sufficiently interpret said input so as to determine the position with respect to gravity of the measurement site at which said sensor is located on its user's body, an alarm unit with audio output device, operable by said control unit, that can generate an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor, a selection input device, connected to said control unit, for setting the desired operating parameters of said monitor, including the capability to disarm said alarm unit, and a radio frequency transmitter, connected to said control unit, for signaling a wireless receiver, that is situated at a first remote location, to dial a telephone to announce at a second remote location the alarm condition.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for monitoring and recording the position of the body of a fully ambulatory subject, comprising the steps of: locating a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor on a selected measurement site of the subject, generating, by using inherent contact of the mercury with electrode posts within said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies the position with respect to gravity of said measurement site, generating, by using inherent splashing of the mercury in said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies motion activity with respect to gravity of said measurement site, calibrating sensor output data so as to distinguish between and define selected positions of interest of the measurement site, sampling sensor output data at prescribed time intervals, using said sensor calibration, associating with each data sample a determination of which of the defined positions is in existence at the measurement site at the time of the data sample, sounding an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor, and using a radio frequency transmitter to signal a remote, wireless receiver so that said alarm is sounded at a remote location.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for monitoring and recording the position of the body of a fully ambulatory subject, comprising the steps of: locating a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor on a selected measurement site of the subject, generating, by using inherent contact of the mercury with electrode posts within said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies the position with respect to gravity of said measurement site, generating, by using inherent splashing of the mercury in said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies motion activity with respect to gravity of said measurement site, calibrating sensor output data so as to distinguish between and define selected positions of interest of the measurement site, sampling sensor output data at prescribed time intervals, using said sensor calibration, associating with each data sample a determination of which of the defined positions is in existence at the measurement site at the time of the data sample, sounding an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor, and using a radio frequency transmitter to signal a remote, wireless receiver so that said alarm is sounded at a remote location.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for monitoring and recording the position of the body of a fully ambulatory subject, comprising the steps of: locating a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor on a selected measurement site of the subject, generating, by using inherent contact of the mercury with electrode posts within said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies the position with respect to gravity of said measurement site, generating, by using inherent splashing of the mercury in said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies motion activity with respect to gravity of said measurement site, calibrating sensor output data so as to distinguish between and define selected positions of interest of the measurement site, sampling sensor output data at prescribed time intervals, using said sensor calibration, associating with each data sample a determination of which of the defined positions is in existence at the measurement site at the time of the data sample, sounding an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor, and using a radio frequency transmitter to signal a remote, wireless receiver, that is situated at a first remote location, to dial a telephone to announce at a second remote location the alarm condition.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for monitoring and recording the position of the body of a fully ambulatory subject, comprising the steps of: locating a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor on a selected measurement site of the subject, generating, by using inherent contact of the mercury with electrode posts within said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies the position with respect to gravity of said measurement site, generating, by using inherent splashing of the mercury in said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies motion activity with respect to gravity of said measurement site, calibrating sensor output data so as to distinguish between and define selected positions of interest of the measurement site, sampling sensor output data at prescribed time intervals, using said sensor calibration, associating with each data sample a determination of which of the defined positions is in existence at the measurement site at the time of the data sample, sounding an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor, and using a radio frequency transmitter to signal a remote, wireless receiver, that is situated at a first remote location, to dial a telephone to announce at a second remote location the alarm condition.
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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) | 2003-08-01 | 2004-01-31 | 2004-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-01 | 2008-01-31 | 2008-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-01 | 2012-01-31 | 2012-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |