POWER LATCH FOR USE WITH AN
ELECTRONIC PATIENT MONITOR
Inventor: Toby E. Smith, Broken Arrow, OK
(US)
Assignee: Bed-Check Corporation, Tulsa, OK
(US)
Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
Appl. No.: 10/390,936
Filed: Mar. 18, 2003
Prior Publication Data
US 2004/0183681 Al Sep. 23, 2004
Int. CI.
G08B 23/00 (2006.01)
U.S. CI 340/573.1; 340/573.4;
340/573.7; 340/687; 340/286.02; 340/286.07
Field of Classification Search 340/573.1,
340/573.4, 573.7, 667, 286.02, 286.07 See application file for complete search history.
References Cited
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5,990,799 A * 11/1999 Boon et al 340/667
6,065,727 A 5/2000 Fitzgerald et al.
6,111,509 A 8/2000 Holmes
6,292,102 Bl 9/2001 Smith
6,307,476 Bl * 10/2001 Smith et al 340/573.1
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OTHER PUBLICATIONS
NERAC Patent Search.
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Daryl C Pope
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Terry L. Watt; Fellers, Snider, Blankenship, Bailey & Tippens, PC.
(57) ABSTRACT
There is provided herein an electronic patient monitor that utilizes a latch or similar power circuit that automatically activates an electronic patient monitor when a patient's presence is indicated by the sensor, that maintains power to the unit so long as the patient is indicated to be present, and that maintains power to the monitor until a valid reset command is issued after the patient is sensed to be no longer present. Power to the unit is maintained, and the unit continues to monitor the patient, e so long as the patient is present, even if an attempt is made to power down/disable the unit during that time.
12 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets