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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for
sensing the presence and movement of bed patients, and more specifically
improved sensor switch apparatus for electronically sensing the presence,
and the absence location of a person's weight on a bed, chair or the like
and sensing a person's movements while in bed, all to assist patient care
personnel in monitoring patient safety from a remote location.
2. Description of Prior Art
A common and continuous problem encountered in hospitals, nursing homes,
and home care settings is that of patients getting out of bed at a time
when their condition, because of medication, disorientations, dizziness,
disease, age, or other reasons, is such that unassisted ambulation may
create a risk to that person's safety. And, further, that a patient's
movement while in bed may indicate a change in their physical condition or
that such movement may jeopardize medical treatment or medical monitoring
attachments to the patient. Thus it is important that patient care
personnel be apprised of any attempted arising of such patients or any
movements that may produce complications. This concern is particularly
acute in situations of staff reductions in institutions, or in a home care
setting where round-the-clock care may be a family responsibility.
Monitoring devices have been developed to address some of these concerns.
Such devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,179,692, 4,295,133,
4,484,043 and 4,565,910.
Generally, these sensing devices have employed electronic means to activate
signals or alarms for the purpose of alerting care givers to the patient's
attempts to arise. In order for the electronic circuitry to fulfill its
function, however, a convenient and dependable sensor switch must be
provided to actuate the circuitry. Such a switch must be reliable in
providing signals when the patient is leaving the bed or when the patient
is moving in bed, and in the case of switches placed in the bed must avoid
false signals from the switch being twisted or contorted over uneven
support surfaces, such as rumpled bed linens, mattresses, chair seats, and
the like. There is therefore, a need for an elongated sensor switch that
is economical to construct, easy to use, dependable, and adaptable to use
on curved or irregular supporting and actuating surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a
single sensor switch device that can provide output data to conventional
monitoring circuitry indicative of the presence, the location, the
absence, or motion of a patient.
A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a device that
is self-conforming to curved or irregular supporting and activating
surfaces, and does not cause discomfort or skin pressure points to the
patient.
Still another specific object of the invention is to provide a sensor
switch that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and sufficiently cost
effective to be disposable at the option of the user.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a sensor switch device
that can, after use with a noninfectious patient, be cleaned for re-use
with another noninfectious patients at the option of the user.
A further object of this invention is to provide a sensor switch device
which is detachable from its associated processing and monitoring
circuitry in such a manner that facilitates cleaning, disposal,
replacement, and use with a variety of signal processing and monitoring
means.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of this invention are set
forth in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to
those skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification
or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The objects and
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the
instrumentalities and in combination particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the
purposes of the present invention as embodied and broadly described
herein, the apparatus of this invention may include a sensor switch
comprised of two elongated, thin sensing members of flexible material,
such as vinyl, coated with an electrically conductive material, such as
graphite-based ink, metal foil, or tape, to create electrical circuits.
The electrical circuits of one of the sensing members terminate at one end
member in connecting terminals which are attached to the sensing member
material in such a way that the connector terminals make contact with the
electrically conductive material. The connector terminals extend outside
of the sensor so as to provide access and attachment points for electrical
wire or cable leads from signal processing or pickup devices. The sensing
strips, circuits, and a sensing strip seperator are enclosed within a flat
casing of flexible material, such as polyethylene, through which the
connector terminals extend. Separating the flexible sensing members is a
flexible, compressible strip of electrically nonconductive material, such
as polyurethane foam, of a thickness to prevent electrical contact of the
sensing members when no weight is applied, and being of such thickness
that when compressed by weight, the sensing members make contact,
permitting the flow of electrical signals.
The apparatus can be positioned beneath a patient, more particularly
between the mattress and bed sheets, mattress pads, or decubitus ulcer
pads. The device need not come in contact with the patient. When the
device receives the weight of the patient, the apparatus will compress,
causing the conductive elements to make contact. As long as the patient
remains on the sensor, a "closed" signal will occur and provide an
indication of presence of the patient. When the patient leaves the bed,
the normal rigidity of the compressible sensing strip separator is
sufficient to cause the conductive elements to seperate from each other,
providing an open circuit to indicate the absence of the patient. Further,
certain "cells" of the conductive ink circuits can be activated or
interrogated by the electronic control system so as to observe the
location of a patient on the apparatus. In conjunction with a timer, in a
remote electronic control system the apparatus may thus function to
identify motion or restlessness of the patient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in, and form a part of,
the specifications illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the
principals of the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a top view of an apparatus for monitoring patient presence in a
bed incorporating the principles of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view as in FIG. 1 broken away to show the
internal construction of the device;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1
showing more details of the construction of the apparatus;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1
illustrating more details of construction of the apparatus and showing
that when pressure is applied to the outer surfaces, the foam member 32 is
compressed and the circuits are forced into contact to perform the
necessary sensing functions;
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the arrangement of electrical
sensing circuits on the upper sensing member;
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical circuit
arrangement of the lower sensing member; and
FIG. 7 is a side elevation view that illustrates the assembly deformed in a
complex shape.
FIG. 8 is an elevation view that illustrates the assembly deformed in a
complex arcuate and torqued form.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An apparatus for monitoring bed patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and
home care settings is shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 8, and is indicated generally
by the numeral 10. It includes a base sensing member 12 and a contact
sensing member 22, both formed of non-electrically conductive flexible
thin material, (for example, 10 mil vinyl). The base sensing member 12 is
of generally rectangular configuration having opposed sides 14,16 and ends
18, 20 and it has sensing circuits comprising components 44, 45 preferably
of silkscreened conductive ink, bonded to its inner surface 14. The width
of the base member 12 may be approximately 3 inches, and its length may be
approximately 32 inches.
A contact member 22 positioned in a facing relationship to base member 12
is of generally rectangular configuration having opposed sides 24, 26 and
ends 28, 30 and it is of approximately the same size, thickness, and
composition as the base sensing member 12. The contact member 22 has a
contact circuit 43, preferably of silkscreened conductive ink, bonded to
its inner surface 24 and positioned in facing relation to the circuit
members 44, 45 on member 12. The contact circuit member 43 is also of
sufficient width to contact both the circuit members 44, 45 at the same
time. Base sensing member 12 and contact sensing member 22 mat have
rounded corners if desired.
Affixed to the inner surface 14 of base member 12 is the first surface 34
of an elongated thin separator member 32 having a generally rectangular
cross section. The second surface 36 of the separator member 32 contacts
the inner surface 24 of contact member 22, but is not affixed to it. The
separator strip is preferably an open-cell, low density polyurethane foam,
preferably of 1 to 2 pounds per cubic foot density with dimensions which
may be approximately 3/8 of an inch in width by 32 inches in length by
3/16 of an inch in thickness, and serves to cause conductive surfaces 43,
44 and 45 of sensing members 12 and 22 to be supported in a spaced-apart
relationship as shown by FIG. 3, until a downward force F is applied, as
shown in FIG. 4. Such a downward force F of sufficient magnitude can
compress the foam strip 32 to allow connecting member 43 to contact
members 44, 45 to complete or close an electric circuit. The seperator
strip is affixed to only one of the sensing members, in order to allow
movement of the sensing members in relationship to each other when the
sensor is flexed, as shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 8 as illustrated in FIG. 3 the members 12, 22 are separate strips and
the edges 15, 17 of member 12 are not connected to the edges 25, 27 of
member 22. Therefore, when the apparatus 10 is put into an arcuate
flexure, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, a slight longitudinal differential
movement X of the ends is possible, thus allowing a space to be maintained
between members 12, 22 and preventing connector circuit member 43 from
contacting circuit members 44, 45 when no force F is applied. If the edges
15, 17 were connected to respective edges 25, 27 the members 12, 22 or if
ends 18, 28 were connected to respective ends 20, 30 the two sensing
members 12 and 22 would be forced to occupy the same plane during flexure
and thus, flexure and not said force F would cause the circuit member 43
to contact circuit members 44, 45 and give a false closed circuit signal;
this type of false signaling being inherent in the inventions of Musick et
al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,910, N. K. Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,540, N.
K. Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,989, Dickey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,458,
Koenig, U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,600 and Hatayama, U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,025.
In order for members 12 and 22 to flex and have slight longitudinal
differential movement, an outside cover member 40 is positioned over the
members 12, 22. The cover member 40 can be fabricated of a material such
as polyethylene plastic in the form of an elongated sleeve or tube, and
the members 12, 22 can be inserted together into the cover member 40. The
covering member closely fits the outside surfaces 16 and 26 of the base
member 12 and contact member 22. The fit of the encasing member is such as
to bring the entire lengths of the edges 15, 25, 17, 27 of the sensing
members 12, 22 into linear alignment with each other.
In constructing the apparatus, the base member is first provided with the
dimensions as previously set out. Then, according to FIG. 5, conductive
ink circuits are applied to surface 14 of member 12, in a manner to
provide seperate contact cells. Circuits are applied in such a manner that
they are arranged in longitudinal fashion along one side of the center
line of member 12. Similarly, according to FIG. 6, contact member 22 is
provided with the dimensions as previously set out and silkscreened onto
it an electrically conductive circuit which is one continuous longitudinal
circuit that extended from edge 25 of member 22 to approximately its
center line and from end 26 to end 28.
The width and configuration of the conductive layers is such as to provide
electrical circuits for the electrically conductive layer of approximate
line widths of 1/8" to 1/4" affixed to the upper surface of the base
sensing strip 12. The structure can include a plurality of circuit sets
along the length of members 12, 22 for sensing and discriminating weight
or forces applied at different locations along the length of the apparatus
10. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a set of circuits 44 divided
into five equally sized cells spaced along the length of the base sensing
strip and may be gathered to a convenient connector location for plugging
these five circuits into appropriate wires or leads to a monitoring
station or signal processing alarm (not shown). Another portion of this
electrically conductive layer 45 comprises the negative pole of the
circuit or a ground strip. This conductive layer 45 of approximate widths
between 1/4" to 1/2" runs continuously along the entire length of the
upper surface of the base sensing strip 12. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6,
another conductive layer 43 is affixed to the lower surface 24 of the
contact sensing strip 22 and forms a single circuit pattern of a shape and
size that when a force F is applied will be forced to contact the circuits
44, 45 of the lower member 12 and bridge its positive to its negative
poles and act as a latch.
The five leads 91, 93, 95, 97 and 99 connected to each of the five contacts
cells 141, 143, 145, 147, 149 are all positioned to run on the opposite
side of foam strip 32 from the contacts 43, 44, 45. This configuration
prevents unwanted short circuits or contacts between the leads 91, 93, 95,
97, and 99 with the contacts 43, 44, 45 in the event the apparatus 10 is
extremely twisted, contorted or bent and insures that only signals from
forces F as shown in FIG. 4 causes completed of closed circuit signals.
According to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the foam strip member 32 is applied to base
member 12 along its center line by means of a self-adhesive contact
surface 34 of foam member 32 being applied directly to surface 14 of base
member 12. The contact member 22 is positioned over the base member 12 in
a manner such that conductive circuits 44, 45 of member 12 are directly
opposed to contact member 43 of member 22. This assembly is then placed
into the polyethylene sleeve member 40. The two ends 42 and 46 of the
polyethylene sleeve 40 are then heat sealed to form the complete enclosure
and snap connectors 91 and 93 project through the sleeve end 46.
Connecting means, such as a cable 130 having six conductors, is required to
connect the circuits of the sensing members to the signal processor or
alarm (not shown). The conductor 115 is engaged with the said conductive
layer 45 referred to as a negative or ground strip on the upper surface of
the base member. The second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth conductors
111, 112, 113, 114 and 116 are engaged with the respective conductive
layer circuit lines 44 and 46 which connect the five identically sized
circuit cells 141, 143, 145, 147 and 149 spaced along the length of the
upper surface of the base sensing strip 12 by means of conductive layer
circuit lines 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96.
The function of the device is such that when no pressure is placed on the
device conductive member 43 is not in contact with members 44, 45.
However, with the weight of the patient on the device, compression of foam
strip 32 is sufficient to cause the silkscreened conductive circuit
surfaces 43, 44, 45 of respective ones of the five circuit cell 141, 143,
145, 147, and 149 of members 12 to contact at one place or another or at
plurality of places along the length of the device and thus provide a
closed circuit and an output which can be utilized a signal processor
alarm (not shown).
Manufacturing in the fashion herein described, the sensor can be easily,
expeditiously, and inexpensively assembled so that the device can be
utilized as a disposable item, used principally for a single patient.
However, because of its sealed, durable, construction, a user may elect to
sanitize the device for reuse. Further, the invention can be applied to
use in beds for individuals in other types of settings as well as for
other types of switching purposes where pressure or distortion is to be
detected.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred
embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to
that embodiment. Various alterations and modifications in specific shape,
texture, material or manufacture, dimensions, and so forth will no doubt
become apparent to those skilled in the art after having read the
disclosure above. Accordingly it is intended that the following claims be
interpreted as covering all alternate and modifications as fall within the
scope of the invention.
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