Patent · US Expired

Patient/nurse call system

US5561412A · kind A · utility

329Cited by
56References
35Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 12, 1993
Grant dateOct 1, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 12, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61G2203/70
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

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

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.