Patient monitoring system and method
Inventors
Thomas, Justin K. • McCarthy, Samantha L. • Hernandez, Eduardo Villagran • Young, Brian Nathan • Waldroup, Melissa • Samz, Joseph
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12402807-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A monitoring apparatus and method includes a monitor, a sensor comprising a wireless connection with the monitor, and an adapter comprising the wireless connection with the monitor and a wired or wireless connection with a remote monitoring station. The monitor is designed to wirelessly pair with the sensor and/or the adapter when being only positioned by a user in a closed proximity to the sensor and/or the adapter or in a direct contact with the sensor and/or the adapter and without an additional action by the user and/or a wired connection between the monitor and the sensor and/or the adapter. A pairing alignment mark may be provided on each of the monitor, sensor and adapter.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a patient monitoring system that includes a monitor, a wireless patient sensor, and an adapter that interfaces to a remote monitoring station via wired or wireless links. The monitor wirelessly pairs with the sensor and/or adapter when the devices are brought into close proximity or direct contact, without extra user actions, and the paired state remains after the pairing alignment marks are moved out of proximity.
The sensor is a pressure-sensitive multi-layer pad with conductive layers separated by a non-conductive middle layer. Changes in contact and electrical resistance define activated versus deactivated conditions corresponding to patient present versus absent, and the monitor communicates sensing versus non-sensing signals to the adapter, which forwards the information over a wired nurse-call or monitoring connection to a remote monitoring station.
The system also includes NFC-based pairing, with optional subsequent short-range communication using Bluetooth or BLE. Wireless transmission can include patient condition and optional status information such as battery status or an identifier, and the document further describes automatic reconnect or repairing behavior and alarm or notification logic tailored to sensed conditions, including low battery and lost communication.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover two major inventive areas: a wireless monitoring system that pairs and maintains pairing using pairing alignment marks between a sensor-adapter and a monitor, and a pressure sensitive sensor construction with layered conductive/non-conductive structure enclosed in a cover with a neck portion, combined with wireless communication to a monitor that includes a user interface and monitor controller. Across the families, the claims include multiple inventive features.
Pairing using pairing alignment marks to remain paired out of proximity
A sensor-adapter comprising a first pairing alignment mark and a sensor-adapter controller including a first wireless transceiver; a monitor comprising a monitor controller disposed within a hollow interior housing, a second pairing alignment mark on an exterior of the housing, and a second wireless transceiver in wireless communication with the first wireless transceiver, where the first and second wireless transceivers pair when the first and second pairing alignment marks are positioned in proximity to one another and remain paired when the first and second pairing alignment marks are moved out of proximity to one another.
Wireless sensor-to-monitor communication of activated sensing versus non-sensing conditions
A sensor-adapter controller includes a first wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit a signal indicating either a sensing condition or a non-sensing condition.
Pressure sensitive sensor with selectively engageable conductive layers separated by non-conductive layer
A pressure sensitive sensor comprising a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer selectively engageable with the first conductive layer; and a non-conductive layer disposed between and separating the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
Enclosed sensor with cover defining neck portion and sensor controller in the neck portion
A cover enclosing the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, and the non-conductive layer, wherein the cover defines a neck portion having an opening in an end portion; and a sensor controller disposed within the neck portion of the cover and coupled to at least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
Wireless transceiver in the sensor controller and wireless monitor architecture
The sensor controller includes a first wireless transceiver; and the monitor comprises a user interface, a monitor controller, and a second wireless transceiver.
Overall, the claims define a monitoring system with alignment-mark-based wireless pairing between a sensor-adapter and a monitor that remains paired after the marks separate, and a pressure sensitive layered sensor with a non-conductive middle layer and a sensor controller located in a neck portion of an enclosing cover, where wireless transceivers enable the monitor to receive sensing versus non-sensing conditions and operate with a user interface and monitor controller.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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