Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/41—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the immune or lymphatic systems
  • A61B5/411—Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
  • G07C9/20—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass
  • G07C9/28—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Definitions

• the invention relates to identification and detection apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus for identifying and detecting an individual at a particular location without that individual's knowledge.
• Health facilities all share a common problem: some of the patients prematurely leave before completing their Q treatment and without first receiving permission to leave from an appropriate medical authority at the facility, e.g. their doctor or the like.
• the health facility remains liable to that patient and to members of the public for any harm that patient causes either to himself or to others and regardless of any reasons that patient has to prematurely leave the facility. Thus, in instances where patients prematurely leave a health facility and do not first provide an informed consent or are legally incapable of doing so, the health facility bears a very heavy legal liability.
• hospital or medical personnel may not realize a patient has prematurely left until well after that patient has physically left the facility. For example, a patient may join a crowd that is walking right past a security guard at the exit of the hospital and, as a result, not be noticed by the guard.
• the hospital or health facility bears the ultimate responsibility of first locating that patient and advising him to return and, if that patient has the mental capacity to legally provide an informed consent and insists on not returning, then obtaining such a signed informed consent against returning; or alternatively, if that patient lacks the legal capacity to give an informed consent, physically retrieving that patient and then properly confining him.
• an object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for detecting and identifying a subject without that subject's knowledge.
• a specific object is to provide such apparatus that does not need to be visually perceived in order to detect the subject at a particular location.
• Another specific object is to provide a patient identification device for use in such apparatus which is inexpensive and expendible.
• a detectable element e.g. a magnetic strip which acts as a flux-gate device or a computer controlled transceiver
• a transmitter generates an interrogating field into a localized area.
• the concealed detectable element Whenever the individual wearing the object moves through the area, the concealed detectable element generates a response, e.g. harmonics of the interrogating field from the magnetic strip or a response message from the transceiver. This response is detected by a receiver which, in turn, triggers an annunciator to alert others to the identification and location of the individual.
• FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of an identification and detection system incorporating the principles of the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the detection portion of the system shown in FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the identification portion of the system shown in FIG. 1, specifically wrist band 30;
• FIG. 4 is a side view of wrist band 30 taken along lines 4-4 shown in FIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of identification tag 350 located within wrist band 30;
• FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of identification tag 350 shown in FIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a side view of identification tag 35 ⁇ taken along lines 7-7 shown in FIG. 5;
• FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of an identification tag constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
• FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of identification tag 850 taken along lines 9-9 shown in FIG. 8;
• FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a portion of a second specific embodiment of the patient identification and detection system shown in FIG. 1.
• inventive system can be readily used to identify and detect unauthorized movement of an individual from an area of confinement in a wide- variety of different facilities. As such, this system finds use in hospitals, mental facilities, nursing homes, detention centers, prisons and other such facilities. However, for purposes of simplifying the ensuing discussion, the inventive system will be described in the context of a patient identification and detection system for use in a hospital.
• a patient identification and detection system incorporating the principles of the present invention resembles that shown in FIG. 1.
• the system utilizes wrist band 30 (shown in detail in FIG. 3) worn by patient 10 in conjuction with detection equipment.
• This detection equipment consists of detection circuitry 50 and transmitting and receiving antennas 40.
• Detection circuitry 50 in a manner to be explained shortly, is typically positioned at the side of doorway 20 and detects the passage of the patient identification tag therethrough.
• the patient identification tag includes a strip, of pre-defined dimensions, of a magnetic material having a relatively low coercivity and a relatively high permeability.
• Detection circuitry 50 operating in conjunction with a well-known transmitter (see FIG. 2) , located within transmitting and receiving antennas 4 ⁇ , emits a localized magnetic field into the opening of doorway 20. This field covers substantially the entire opening of doorway 20.
• Lead 45 carries the output of the transmitter to a transmitting antenna located within transmitting and receiving antennas 40.
• the magnetic strip located within patient identification wrist band 30 is excited by the magnetic field present in doorway 20 and, in response thereto, generates frequencies at harmonics of the frequency of the exciting field.
• Magnetic devices of this type which when excited by a magnetic field, generate harmonics of the exciting field are commonly referred to as "flux-gate” devices and are well-known in the art.
• frlux-gate devices are commonly referred to as "flux-gate" devices and are well-known in the art.
• United States Patent 2,406,870 issued to Vacquier which employs a flux-gate device in a magnetometer.
• United States Patent 3,790,945 issued to Fearon which discusses the optimal geometries and physical properties of a magnetic strip for use as a magnetic marker in an anti-theft system. The teachings of both of these patents are incorporated by reference herein.
• the magnetic strip contained within identification wrist band 30 will produce both even and odd order harmonics, with the second harmonic having the largest amplitude.
• the transmitter produced a magnetic field having only an "ac” component, then only odd order harmonics would be generated by the magnetic strip, with the third harmonic having the largest amplitude.
• a well-known receiver located within detection circuitry 50, operating in conjunction with a receiving antenna located within transmitting and receiving antennas 40, detects one of these harmonics.
• Lead 42 routes signals from the receiving antenna to detection circuitry 50 and, in particular, to the receiver contained therein.
• detection circuitry 50 supplies an appropriate indication, via leads 55, to activate an annunciator located at a central site, e.g. a central reception station or guard station, situated within the hospital. This annunciator, typically a audible alarm, alerts hospital personnel that a patient wearing an identification wrist band has just transitted through doorway 20.
• An alarm reset switch located at the central site provides a signal through lead 58, to reset ("re-arm") the receiver and thereby silence the annunciator until another person wearing an identi ication wrist band transits through the doorway.
• the receiver could be designed in a well-known fashion to silence the annunciator and re-arm itself after a given amount of time, e.g. a few minutes, has elapsed if the alarm reset switch has not been depressed during this intervening interval of time.
• FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of the system shown in FIG. 1.
• Detection circuitry 50 contains transmitter 52 and receiver 54. This transmitter, in conjunction with transmitting antenna 43, produces the exciting magnetic field. Transmitting antenna 43 can typically have one of many different geometries, a loop or a suitable coil, of appropriate dimensions.
• Receiver 54 in conjunction with receiving antenna 47, receives the harmonics generated by the magnetic strip. In response thereto, receiver 54 applies an appropriate signal, via lead 55, to annunciator 95 situated within circuitry 90 located at the central site.
• Alarm reset switch 98 also '-located at the central site, is used to re-arm the receiver, as discussed hereinabove.
• FIG. 3 depicts a top view of identification wrist band 30 used in the inventive patient identification and detection system shown in FIG. 1.
• This wrist band is generally formed of two (or more) layers of an inert very inexpensive material, typically plastic, that have been sandwiched together and joined at their edges. Access is afforded to a space existing between these layers of plastic into which the identification tag is inserted.
• the top surface of the wrist band is substantially transparent to permit anyone to view the writing on the identification tag.
• Other suitable and similar identification wrist bands are shown and described in United States Patents 2,954,620 issued to Schneider and 3,027,665 issued to St. John.
• illustrative wrist band 30 shown in FIG. 3 comprises a substantially widened section 300 which is attached at one end thereof to slender elongated section 310.
• Widened section 300 is substantially transparent with a slit 355 near one end thereof which provides access to rectangular space 358 located within this section.
• Identification tag 350 is inserted through slit 355 into space 358 so that the writing on the tag is visible through the transparent top surface of the wrist band.
• the wrist band is wrapped around a patient's wrist and then secured in place.
• a clasp comprised of eyelet 345 and mating pin 340 secures the wrist band around the patient's wrist.
• elongated section 310 is cut to an .. appropriate length so that the length of the entire wrist band approximately matches the circumference of the patient's wrist.
• one of the holes 320 which is nearest the cut end of section 310 is placed over pin 340.
• the end of the wrist band with the eyelet is then folded, along hinge 330, over the pin.
• the pin is pressed through the eyelet which locks the ends of* the wrist band together and prevents the wrist band from coming off the patient's wrist.
• a side view of wrist band 30 taken along lines 4-4 is shown in FIG. 4.
• FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of identification tag 350 located within wrist band 30.
• This tag comprises two distinct portions: a identification strip 352, which carries the patient's name and other pertinent patient information such as blood type and hospital name, and magnetic strip 351.
• the identification strip is a slender strip of paper or plastic or other suitable material with a writing surface on one side which carries the desired patient information. Patient information can either be handwritten and/or typed onto the writing surface.
• Magnetic strip 351 is affixed, usually by means of a well-known adhesive, to the rear side of identification strip 352. As noted, this magnetic strip is relatively long and has a very thin cross-section. As such, the magnetic strip imparts little additional cross- sectional area to identification strip. Hence, for purposes of illustration, the cross-sectional area of magnetic strip 351 shown in the figures has been grossly exaggerated.
• FIG. 6 shows a front perspective view of the identification tag shown in FIG.5.
• FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view of identification tag 350 taken along lines 7-7 shown in FIG.5.
• identification tag 350 could be formed of two laminated strips which together sandwich the magnetic strip thereby hiding the magnetic strip from- view. In this manner, the patient does not realize that the identification tag contains a magnetic strip and is thus less likely to realize that the wrist band is part of a patient identification and detection system.
• a laminated identification tag is shown in FIG. 8.
• tag 850 contains strips 820 and 830 which together sandwich magnetic strip 351. Both strips 820 and 830 have an outwardly facing surface (e.g. surface 840 on strip 830) on which patient information can be written and as such patient information can be written on either side of identification tag 850. For that reason, the tag shown in FIG. 8 is easier to use than that shown in FIG. 5.
• a cross-sectional view of identification tag 850, taken along lines 9-9, is shown in FIG. 9.
• the system shown in FIG. 9 can be utilized to monitor the movement of a patient at home and alert others inside whenever the patient leaves the home. For example, Alzheimer patients frequently wake up during the night and wander about. Rarely, if ever, do these patients realize the risk they are taking if they leave their home.
• a patient identification tag into a wrist band, or other device as described below
• other members of the family can be alerted whenever the patient attempts to leave the house. These family members are then in a position to stop the patient and thereby prevent any
• transponder 1 generate harmonics when excited, could be used in lieu of the magnetic strip described above.
• a well-known passive transponder could be used in place of the magnetic strip.
• Such a transponder in its simpliest form, generally comprises two resonant
• One ciscuit which is pre-tuned to the frequency of a locally transmitted field, receives energy from this field and, in turn, couples this energy to the second tuned circuit.
• the second tuned circuit oscillates at a different resonant frequency 5 and couples its energy to a small transmitting antenna located within the device which radiates this energy. The receiver would respond to the transmitted frequency and activate the annunciator.
• FIG. 30 A block diagram of a sophisticated patient identification and detection system incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown in FIG. 10.
• a "dumb” detectable device e.g. the magnetic strip as described is hereinabove
• identification tag 700 is no longer just a magnetic strip as depicted above, but instead comprises a computer controlled transceiver which is interrogated by detection and indentification equipment in order to detect movement through an area, e.g. a particular doorway, and identify the individuals moving therethrough.
• this transceiver can be implemented using only a few chips or even just one custom large scale integrated (LSI) chip that is embedded within the identification tag, similar to that shown in FIG.9.
• LSI large scale integrated
• a microprocessor system contains pre-stored medical and other pertinent patient information.
• the microprocessor system is connected to a transceiver which, as described in detail shortly, responds to a particular message carried on an interrogating field. Once this message is received, the microprocessor retrieves requested stored patient information and applies it to the transceiver for transmission on a carrier frequency which is the same as or different from that of the interrogating field. Detection equipment receives this message and processes the information transmitted by the identification tag in order to identify the person wearing the identification wrist band containing the transceiver system. If unauthorized individuals are moving through the area, the detection and identification system would activate the annunciator.
• the system comprises transmitting and receiving antennas 40, detection circuitry 600, processing circuitry 800 and identification tag circuitry 700.
• transmitting and receiving antennas 40 and detection circuitry 600 are situated at a particular area, e.g. a doorway, to be monitored.
• Processing cirucitry 800 is located at a central site, e.g. a reception area or security station.
• Processing circuitry 800 contains a microprocessor system that operates transmitter 52, receiver 54 and annunciator 95, and display and operator controls 698. This system is also used to store pertinent information in the memory contained within patient identification tag circuitry 700 ⁇ r
• an identification tag is first connected to processing circuitry 800 through small well-known terminals 618. Once the identification tag is connected to processing circuitry 800, bi-directional serial communication is established between microprocessor 630 located within processing circuitry 800 and. microprocessor 720 located within identification tag circuitry 700. In response to this, microprocessor 630 signals the operator that the identification tag is ready to be programmed and then queries the operator for patient information using the display and operator controls 698. The desired information is then entered by the operator using display and operator contrpls 698 — typically a video terminal and a keyboard. Because a relatively large amount of integrated memory can be incorporated into the identification tag, significantly more information than patient name, blood type and hospital name can be entered into the memory.
• microprocessor 630 For example, information relating to the patient's medical affliction, allergies and medication could also be stored.
• display and operator control circuitry 698 routes this information over leads 675 to microprocessor 630.
• This microprocessor then applies this information in parallel to serial interfaces 620 via bus 628.
• This interface applies this information in serial form to port 2 output lead 611. From there, this information is accepted through port 1 of serial interfaces 730 located within identification tag circuitry 700.
• Microprocessor 720 accepts this information in parallel form, via bus 725, from serial interfaces 730 and thereafter appropriately stores this information within memory 710.
• Port 1 output lead 615 carries acknowledgement signals and other communication from microprocessor 720, via serial interfaces 730 and 620, to microprocessor 630.
• Battery 705 provides power, via lead 707, for the circuitry located within the identification tag. To conserve battery life, this battery may be connected through a well-known power switch (not shown) which is turned on just before the tag is to be programmed. Once the tag is fully programmed, the operator enters an appropriate command into display and operator controls 698. In response thereto, microprocessor 630 instructs microprocessor 720 to first activate its transceiver and then terminate serial communication with microprocessor 720.
• patient data is written or typed onto the tag and it is then inserted into a wrist band which, in the manner described above, is then secured around a patient's wrist.
• Transmitter 52 generates the interrogating signal which is radiated into the doorway as the interrogating field by transmitting antenna 43.
• This interrogating signal rather than being a simple carrier, includes a serial digital message produced by microprocessor 630.
• transceiver 750 receives the interrogating signal and the digital message generated by microprocessor 630.
• microprocessor 730 supplies an response sequence previously stored within memory 710 and instructs transceiver 750 to transmit this sequence.
• this markedly reduces spurious responses thereby ensuring accurate detection of patient movement.
• the identification tag and the processing circuitry have established serial radio communication therebetween.
• Microprocessor 630 then instructs transmitter 52 to send appropriate instructions to cause microprocessor 730 to transmit certain items of its previously patient information, such as name.
• microprocessor 630 accesses memory 640 and determines whether that patient can pass through the doorway. If not, microprocessor 630 activates annunciator 95 to warn hospital personnel to prevent the patient from exiting the area. In addition, a record of the patient's movement through the area is also displayed on display and operator controls 698.
• identification tag circuitry 700 can also be embedded into an employee badge as well as into an identification tag. In this manner, information can be stored within each badge regarding who that employee is and what areas of the hospital he can access and how many times he can do so during a given interval, e.g. an hour, a day, a week.
• Microprocessor 630 within processing circuitry 800 can determine the names of those individuals, wearing a badge or wrist band, transitting through a monitored doorway and can keep track of the number of times each such individual has gone through that doorway during a given interval. If unauthorized movement of an individual is detected, annunciator 95 will sound and an appropriate message identifying the specific individual will appear on the display.
• a number of the systems shown in FIG. 10 can be networked together in a variety of well-known ways, e.g. through serial communication lines inter-connecting the processing circuit of each system with that of another.
• Each system would moni,tor a different area, e.g. passageway, in the hospital.
• a separate communeiations and processing circuit would manage the network and display all the information generated by each of the networked monitoring systems to provide overall building surveillance.
• the detection circuitry could be encased in a hand held enclosure which allows it to be carried in the field.
• the police and other authorities can use the hand held unit to scan a near by area in order to locate an individual who improperly left a facility.
• magnetic strips, other "dumb” tags or “intelligent” tags could be incorporated into hospital clothing that a patient wears to dispense with the need to place either of these items within the patient identification wrist band. Inasmuch as concealing the tag eliminates the need for any separate identification devices to be worn, an identification tag can be advantageously incorporated into prison clothing as a means of monitoring prisoner movement without their immediate knowledge.

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• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
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• 1986
  • 1986-02-03 AU AU54538/86A patent/AU5453886A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1986-02-03 WO PCT/US1986/000244 patent/WO1987003119A1/en unknown
  • 1986-02-03 EP EP86901261A patent/EP0246237A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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