CA1208330A

CA1208330A - Patient signalling device

Info

Publication number: CA1208330A
Application number: CA000487255A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Frank Demizio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: DEMIZIO FRANK
Priority date: 1985-07-22
Filing date: 1985-07-22
Publication date: 1986-07-22

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The need for means available to bedridden or other non-ambulatory persons to summon assistance when required, is well known. Often such patients do not have the necessary vocal strength or muscular ability to summon attendant personnel without the aid of electrically operated audio or visual signalling devices. Further, such devices permit the personnel to be located some distance from the patient and yet be readily available when the signal is given. It is well known to provide switches near the patient for manual operation to initiate the activation of such signalling devices. In this invention, a signalling device consisting of a magnetic glass reed switch and magnet are separately encased in rectangular acrylic boxes. The boxes are adhered to the skin above the patient's brow using double-faced foam adhesive The signalling device is operable solely by furrowing the brow and requires minimal physical ability or manual dexterity.

Description

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SPEO~FICATION

This invention relates to signalling devices, and more particularly, to a magnetic glass reed signalling device especially adapted for use by persons having greatly impaired 10 ability of movement.
The need for means available to bedridden or other non-ambulatory persons to summon assistance when required, is well known. Often such patients do not have the necessary vocal strength or muscular ability to summon attendant personnel 20 without the aid of electrically operated audio or visual signalling devices. Further, such devices permit the personnel to be located some distance from the patient and yet be readily available when the signal is given. It is well known to provide switches near the patient for manual operation to 30 initiate the activation of such signalling devices.
A common feature with conventional switches however, is that a certain amount of physical ability and manual dexterity is required to physically engage the switch for shifting it from its inoperated to its operated condition. Attempts have heen made to 40 minimize the effort necessary, but some ability to manipula-te the switches has conventicnally been required. There are, however, many persons who have not been able to avail themselves of the much needed signalling devices because their physical impairment has been of a degree which precluded even that amount of mobility 50 required for manipulating the switches. Included in this group have been paralytics, victims of multiple sclerosis and other diseases where resultant disability may, in many cases, permit only slight movement of the head and no effective control of the movement of the arms or legs. Heretofore, so far as applicant has ~0 8 ~;3~3 been able to determine, no e-ffective sisnalling device has been provided for people jacking even tile al~ility to physically manipulate the simplest of conventional swi-tches that does not require proper patient positioning.
It is, therefore, the most important object of the instant invention to provide a signal device operable solely by furrowing of the patient's brow and requiring minimal physical ability or manual dex-terity, with no concern for posltioning.
It is another important object of my invention to provide a signal device which may be returned to its unoperated condition by relaxing the brow of the patient.
A ye-t further object of this invention is -to provide an electically-powered signal device wherein an independent source of current may be utilized for energizing the signal lights from that employed in the control circuitry, therby permitting the light to be conveniently located remote from the control unit.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a signalling device where a hospital annunciator system is not available. A battery operated buzzer box i â used in conjunction with the switching device, which can be also be utilized while the patient is in transit or at home.

33~i In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating the electrical and magnetic connections of the patient signalling device.

FIGURE 2 is a diagram of the patient signalling device embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating the electrical connections of the buzzer box.

FIGURE is a diagram of the buzzer box embodying the principles of the portable buzzer box.

Referring initially to FIG. and 2, the signal device of this invention includes a magnetic glass reed switch (1) l5 mrn in length, and 2.5 mm in diameter, and a magnet (2) which is 15 mm in length, 1.5 mm height and 5 mm in width.
Both magnetic glass reed switch (1) and magnet(2) are encased in rectangular acrylic boxes with outer dimensions of:
width 1Q mm, height 5 mm, length 25 mm. The acrylic material will prevent damage to glass reed switch, and provides a flat surface for adhering the device to the brow of the patient. Conducting wire of 22 guage size ~4) is soldered to a 1/4 inch mono male jack (5) to complete the circuit.
The rectangular boxes are joined together by a 6 cm 8 pound monofilament line (3~. The rectangular boxes are then placed on the patient's brow using double-faced foam adhesive. The position of the boxes is as follow:
(a) above right or left eyebrow (b) the flattest portion of the brow anatomy (c) the patient should furrow their brow and the rectangular boxes should be placed close enough to activate the patient signalling device.

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(d) the boxes should then be adhere to the forehead securely using the double-faced foam adhesive.
When the patient relaxes this postion the signal device will return to its unoperated condition (e) When the patient wishes to activate signalling device7 all that is required is furrowing the brow which by physical movement of the magnetic reed switch into the magnetic field of the magnet, will activate the signalling device.

The patient signalling device can be plugged into an 20 annunciator system or hospitals or a buzzer box (6)o Referring to FITS. 3 and 4, the portable buzzer box (6).
The buzzer box consists of a 2 piece louvered metal cabinet -with rubber mounting feet with outer dimensions:
10.2 W x 6 H x 14.9 cm D. The buzzer box is battery 30 operated (7) using two 1.5 Volt batteries wired to a 3Y DC
mini-buzzer (8). The mini-buzzer and battery source are connected to a female 1t4 inch jack (9) using 24 gauge wire (10).
The patient signalling device can be plugged into the buzzer box when a hospital annunciator system is not 40 available or the patient is in transit.

In operation with an anunciator system for hospitals, a patient desiring a nurse may furrow their brow, activating the annunciator system. When the nurse attends to the patient she may re-establish the idle condition of the annunciator by pushlng the reset button.

In conjunction with buzzer box, a patient desiring a nurse my furrow their bow activating the buzzer and by relaxing their brow return the signal device to its unoperated condition. 60 I, t

Claims

" The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:"

(1) A patient signaling device consisting of a magnetic glass reed switch and magnet, separately encassed in rectangular acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene boxes, affixed to the skin horizontally parallel above the patient's brow using double-face foam adhesive or equivalent, operable simply by furrowing and unfurrowing the brow thereby activating and deactivating respectively requiring minimal physical ability with no concern of patient positioning.

(2) A patient switching device as defined in claim 1, can be utilized in conjunction with an annunciator system for hospitals or buzzer box for portable use.