GB2215466A

GB2215466A - Height-weight monitoring system

Info

Publication number: GB2215466A
Application number: GB8805271A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Whiting; Irene Mary Monaghan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-03-04
Filing date: 1988-03-04
Publication date: 1989-09-20
Also published as: GB8805271D0

Abstract

Within a base K there is accomodated a weighing platform F to which is pivotaly connected to a superstructure which can be locked into the vertical or horizontal use positions. In both positions everything within, or on, the superstructure transmits its weight to the platform F and is recorded as weight, but by tareing out the units's weight the weight of a patient can be directly recorded. When a patient is standing on platform F a cursor G can be activated to descend to contact the patient's head and record the height. In the case of young children and infants the system is used horizontally when the weight is registered as before but in the case of height the new datum line for the feet is a lift-up flap J which operates in conjunction with the same cursor G. All these measurements are automatically taken and data logged with further details via keyboard A. <IMAGE>

Description

HEIGHT-WEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEM In hospitals, clinics and paediatric institutions there is a need to periodically measure, record and compare the growth parameters of height and weight both on a routine basis and clinically as part of a patient's records in a treatment regime.

At present the measurement system which is generally in use is nothing more than two sets of weighing machines, one for infants and very young children and the other for all others including adults, and a pillar, or wall mounted, meter stick which is used to indicate height.

In most cases the height and weight is manually noted but no facilities exist which would allow these parameters to be either recorded automatically or electronically stored for archive or'comparison purposes. Further, since many clinics are held throughout the country in church halls, and similar municiple buildings, there is a need for integrated equipment which is portable but yet capable of storing the session's parameters for future computer analysis and print-out.

All the required features, which have been noted above, are present in the invention which is herein described and whose basic embodiment is illustrated in the attached drawing where: Figure 1 shows in perspective the measuring unit in the adult or standing patient mode.

Figure 2 shows in perspective the measuring unit in the infant or very young child (lying) mode.

Figure 3 shows the unit1 less keyboard, in the stowed position.

Referring to the drawing the measuring/monitoring system comprises a keyboard A which is fixed to one of castings B which in their turn house a pair of pivots C and support a pair of struts D. This mechanism enables the measuring unit E to be either held in the vertical position of Figure 1 for the measurement of the height and weight of standing patients or in the horizontal, or inclined position of Figure 2, for the measurement of the height and weight of infants and very young children. The innovation which allows the weight of the subject to be obtained in any of the two positions of the unit E relies upon the fact that all the superstructure above platform F is joined to the castings B which are themselves part of the platform F and the weighing system.

The weight of a subject is obtained by the body's downward force on the platform F which electronically transmits the value to the data recording system via a series of strain transducers which are housed in the lever system of this weighing platform.

When in vertical use, as in Figure 1, the subject stands on the platform F and the body's weight is automatically transmitted to the system's logging cassette whilst, at the same time, by depressing a command key on the board A the cursor G descends to touch the subject's head at which instant the height is automatically logged.

When in the horizontal, or inclined position as in Figure 2, the very young person can be weighed by the use of a plastic basket H which is shown in dotted outline, but in the case of height measurement it is necessary to uplift the flap J in order to create a datum line for the infant's heels so that its head is positioned for the descent of the measuring cursor G.

There are many ways by which the height measurement operation can be automated and these will be apparent to those skilled in the art, but in my experiments with monitor prototypes I have employed photoelectronic counting of equispaced holes in the circumference of a wheel which rotates with the longitudinal movement of the cursor G, or in another case I have allowed a stainless steel strip, which was drilled with a pattern of 0.5mm diameter holes, to move with the cursor G and act as a counterbalance to it. The height measurement was automatically performed by counting the holes as the strip passed a photocounting device. It is apparent that many other methods both mechanical and electrical could be devised for these measurements and accommodated in or on the backboard E.

The keyboard A accepts data from the height and weight measuring electronics, on the command of the operator via a footswitch, whilst at the same time personal records can be typed at the keyboard and stored in the device's CMOS RAM memory. In operation the data can be transferred from the RAM to an external computer by means of an operator command through a R432 type cable which connects the device to the computer.

Having regard to the pivot and linking system of the device it is obvious how, without its keyboard A, it can be made to fold and store in the instrument base K which is the carrying case L of Figure 3.

Claims

CLAIS

CLAIMS 1 A portable height-weight monitoring system comprising a box-like base which houses a weighing platform on which is pivotally mounted a superstructure in the form of a fascia panel, the 4d panel housing the necessary mechanics, electronics and cursors for use in height and weight recording.
2 A portable height-weight monitoring system as in Claim 1 wherein pivots and support strut are provided so that the system of weight and height measurement can take place when the fascia panel is in either the vertical or horizontal plane.
3 A portable height-weight monitoring system as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein all of the superstructure plus the standing, or reclining,patient contribute to the total weight recorded.
4. A portable height-weight monitoring system as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a height is indicated by the distance between the weighing platform and a moveable cursor on the fascia panel vhen the apparatus is in the vertical mode and between the same cursor and a lift-up flap,within the fascia panelwhen the apparatus is in the horizontal mode.

5 A portable height-weight monitoring system as in Claim 3 wherein the superstructure is automatically tared and the patient's weight only is recorded.

6 A portable height-weight monitoring system as in any preceding claim wherein the electrical/electronic signals representing height and weight are data processed, or data logged,together with all other patient details and the latter introduced by seance of a system mounted keyboard.

7 A portable height-weight monitoring system as in any preceding claim which is pivoted and linked in such a tanner that it can be collapsed and stowed in its own box-like base.