Patient ambulation motion detector with multiple switch motion detection
April 12, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 2713159 Apparatus to indicate when a patient has evacuated a bed or demonstrates a restless condition Mercury switch for monitoring position of patient Position sensitive mercury switch Apparatus for detecting unauthorized egress by patient from position of confinement Patient monitor Patient bed alarm system Fixture for actuating alarm upon change to upright position of recumbent patient Patent #: 4972177 InventorApplicationNo. 683958 filed on 04/12/1991US Classes:340/573.7, Posture alarm340/573.4, House arrest system, wandering, or wrong place600/595Body movement (e.g., head or hand tremor, motility of limb, etc.)ExaminersPrimary: Ng, Jin F.Assistant: Oda, Christine K. Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassG08B 023/00AbstractA patient ambulation motion detector intended for attachment to a patient's body. The detector includes a motion sensor switch and a detachment detector switch which are mounted on a circuit board, the circuit board being in turn enclosed within an attachment casing which is attachable to a lateral surface of the patient's body. The motion sensor comprises three SPST mercury switches mounted to the circuit board and oriented so as to be responsive to declination of that portion of the patient's body to which the detector is attached and which declination is indicative of impending ambulation, but non-responsive to positions in which the posture of the patient is not indicative of impending ambulation. The detachment detector switch is a spring contact switch which is openable and closable by a plunger acting thereon and sensitive to detachment of the detector from the patient's body. The detector may be wired to a conventional switched nurse call system. When multiple mercury switches are employed, the switches are connected in series so as to prevent false alarms. | |
