The present invention is generally directed to a system for monitoring a variety of environmental and/or other conditions within a defined remotely located region. In one aspect, a system is configured to monitor utility meters (613) in a defined area. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless transmitters (614), each integrated into a sensor (612) adapted to monitor a particular data input. The system also includes a plurality of transceivers (221) that are dispersed throughout the region at defined locations. The system uses a local gateway (210) to translate and transfer information from the transmitters to a dedicated computer (260) on a network (230). The dedicated computer collects, compiles and stores the data for retrieval upon client demand across the network. The computer further includes means for evaluating the received information and identifying an appropriate control signal to be applied at a designated actuator.

System and method for monitoring and controlling remote devices

The present invention relates to a patient care and communication system which utilizes a central processing system and a plurality of remote stations electrically connected to the central processing system to facilitate visual and data communications. Each remote station includes telephone circuitry which is connected to a private branch exchange for telephone communications between stations. In addition, the private branch exchange is connected to a telephone exchange and a plurality of telephones for facilitating telephone communication therebetween. The central processing system facilitates the visual and data communications between the plurality of remote stations, and includes a system for determining which of the plurality of remote stations are transmitting the visual and data communications and which of the plurality of remote stations are to receive the visual and data communications. The central processing system also includes a system which establishes a communication link between the transmitting stations and the receiving stations. The remote stations include a processing system which also facilitates the visual, data and telephone communications and a display for displaying the visual communications. The present invention also includes a staff and/or patient locator system, in which each remote station includes an infrared receiver that receives infrared transmissions from a portable transmitter worn by a staff member or patient. The infrared transmissions include identity information associated with the person wearing the transmitter. The identity information is then transferred to the central processing system which determines the identity and location of each person wearing a portable transmitter.

Patient care and communication system

This new and unique method and apparatus is used for the distribution and administration of medical services, entertainment services, electronic medical records, educational information, etc. to a patient's individual electronic patient care station (PCS) interconnected to a master library (ML) which stores data in digital compressed format, through a local medical information network. The patient/medical personnel interact with this medical information network through the unique PCS and receives the requested service or data from the master library. The data is then displayed either on the associated television set or video monitor or through wireless/IR communications to a peripheral personal data assistant (pen based computer technology) The data for text, audio, and video information is all compressed digitally to facilitate distribution and only decompressed at the final stage before viewing/interaction.

Method and apparatus for electronically accessing and distributing personal health care information and services in hospitals and homes

A point-of-care computer system includes a display (24, 2014) positioned in a point-of-care location, a computer (12, 2006) coupled to the display, and a network (34, 2004) coupled to the computer to enable the computer to access information stored in a remote location (2002).

Patient point-of-care computer system

Apparatus and methods are provided for use with a subject who is undergoing respiration. A motion sensor senses motion of a subject. A breathing pattern analysis unit analyzes components of the sensed motion that result from the subject's respiration. The breathing pattern analysis unit includes double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality that designates respiration cycles as being double-movement-respiration-cycles (DMRC's) by determining that the cycles define two subcycles. Double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality of the breathing pattern analysis unit identifies a DMRC event by detecting that the subject has undergone a plurality of DMRC's. An output is generated that is indicative of the subject having used accessory muscles in breathing, in response to identification of the double-movement-respiration-cycle event. Other embodiments are also described.

Monitoring, predicting and treating clinical episodes

A bed monitoring system that remotely monitors a patient bed. The bed monitoring system comprises a bed status system and a master station. The bed status system is coupled to the patient bed and is configured to monitor at least one condition of the bed, and to generate a bed message indicating the status of the monitored condition. The master station, remote from the patient bed, is operatively coupled to the bed status system to receive bed status information. The bed message can include a bed identifier, bed type identifier, patient exit detection signal, bed occupied signal, or various other status signals. The system can also include locating stations that receive the bed messages from any beds within its monitored location, and generates a station message including information from the bed messages. The master station receives the station messages and can determine the status and location of any bed.

Bed status information system for hospital beds

A patient/nurse call system (10) for a hospital includes patient stations (18) capable of generating hospital calls and a remote master station (32) which prioritizes and stores the calls. Hall units (28) outside patient rooms (14) identify the rooms (14) from which the calls originate and the type of call. Each patient station (18) allows selective retrieval and display of unanswered calls, and the system (10) further permits audio interconnection between any two of the stations (18, 32). Nurse-worn badges (26) transmit pulse-coded infrared signals which are received by receivers (121) at the patient stations (18) and in response, the system (10) generates identity and location signals which are stored at the master station (32). The nurse location and identity information may also be retrieved and displayed at any patient station (18). Receipt of a nurse's (11) infrared signal at a room station (18) automatically cancels a patient call originating from the room (14) and display thereof by the respective hall unit (28), while actuating a display (122) to indicate nurse (11) presence. By using the nurse call button (22), the patient can establish telephonic communications between the patient station (18) and a wireless telephone (64) being carried by a remotely located nurse.

Patient/nurse call system

A personnel and asset tracking system for locating and tracking personnel and assets throughout an awareness area (2). The system includes a central server (10), a communication network to which the central server (10) is connected, a tag (50, 52) associated with each person (51) and asset (55) to be tracked, and at least one monitoring system (25) to locate and track tags (50, 52) within a sub-area (4) of the awareness area (2). The tags (50, 52) include a transmitter for periodically transmitting a unique identifier for each person (51) and asset (55). The monitoring system includes a router (14) connected to the communication network, at least one intermediate location processor (16) that transmits location messages to the router (14), and at least one receiver node (18) connected to each intermediate location processor (16), such that when the receiver node receives a transmission from the tag (50, 52), the receiver node (18) creates and sends a location message to the intermediate location processor (16), the intermediate location processor (16) transmits the location message to the router (14), and the router (14) transmits the location message to the central server (10) over the network.

Personnel and asset tracking method and apparatus

A person support surface (72, 130, 272, 274, 600) comprises a multitude of inflatable cells (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610). The cells (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610) are inflated and deflated to adjust an interface pressure between the person support surface (72, 130, 272, 274, 600) and a person supported by the surface (72, 130, 272, 274, 600).

Dynamic cellular person support surface

A patient/nurse call system (10) for a hospital includes patient stations (18) capable of generating hospital calls and a remote master station (32) which prioritizes and stores the calls. Hall units (28) outside patient rooms (14) identify the rooms (14) from which the calls originate and the type of call. Each patient station (18) allows selective retrieval and display of unanswered calls, and the system (10) further permits audio interconnection between any two of the stations (18, 32). Nurse-worn badges (26) transmit pulse-coded infrared signals which are received by receivers (121) at the patient stations (18) and in response, the system (10) generates identity and location signals which are stored at the master station (32). The nurse location and identity information may also be retrieved and displayed at any patient station (18). Receipt of a nurse's (11) infrared signal at a room station (18) automatically cancels a patient call originating from the room (14) and display thereof by the respective hall unit (28), while actuating a display (122) to indicate nurse (11) presence. Bed monitoring units (149) also interconnect to the patient stations (18) to generate signals related to bed status.

Daniel J. Ulrich

Papers

Bed status information system for hospital beds

Patient/nurse call system

Personnel and asset tracking method and apparatus

Dynamic cellular person support surface

Improved patient/nurse call system