Claims
- 1. A more hygienic diaper, sensor pad, and or sensing belt with alert, readout, transmission, paging, software and patient information database recording means for treating and caring for wetness, feces, and disease comprising:
a) a disposable or re-useable diaper having a wetness alert system and porous material within the body of the diaper containing sensors for detecting and analyzing wetness or the contents of a full diaper including the skin condition of the wearer and or to analyze and detect materials, gasses and or liquids expelled into the diaper; b) a diaper, sensor pad, or sensor belt with a porous inner lining, encased by a non-permeable or a semi-permeable outer lining with one or more electronic, electrochemical, or chemical sensors positioned throughout the diaper to sense wetness, medical conditions, drugs, or other variables; c) a diaper, sensor pad or sensor belt with one or more removable and or reusable or disposable “sensors” placed and attached either with adhesive(s), velcro, snaps, or other attachment means, within absorbent layers of the diaper or to touch the skin in communication with the diaper, and or to insert into body cavities such as the anal, vaginal and penile canals, to detect and analyze and report body temperature, skin condition, ketone levels, sugar levels, blood, body fluids, liquids, gasses, drugs, bacteria, viruses, toxins, diseases, parasites, viruses, etc., or other agents that can be detected by sensor means and to display said findings detected from sensor(s) on readouts on the “circuit card unit(s)” and on the “nurse remote wand(s);
i) certain diaper models also have temperature sensors or sensor probes for disease that are securely held in position on the skin and or in the anal, vaginal or penile canals for better temperature or disease, toxin or other readings by means of the user wearing the diaper, whereby wearing the diaper the user is prevented from ejecting the sensor(s) from the skin, and or from anal, vaginal, or penile canal(s) from involuntary or voluntary muscle contractions; d) a reusable or disposable “circuit card unit” releasably attachable and connected to the diaper and connected to sensors in the diaper with a power source to drive circuits to alert caregivers when diaper becomes wet or when there is a bowel movement; said “circuit card unit” further contains and is comprised of:
i) scrollable functions on the “circuit card unit” and a user interface to allow scrolling means to view “read-outs” on a LCD or LED readout of sensor findings on the “circuit card unit”; ii) a user interface on the “circuit card unit” to be “reset” for the next alert; iii) memory on the “circuit card unit” to store sensor findings; iv) a user interface on the “circuit card unit” that will allow the “circuit card unit” to be reset for viewing the next wetness or full diaper alert and sensor finding readouts and to allow nursing or medical staff to enter, program and or display a patient ID into the “circuit card unit that can later be transmitted to the “Nurse Remote Wand” as specified in claim 1;v) a user interface on the “circuit card unit” that will allow the “circuit card unit” to be “reset” for the next wetness or full diaper alert and sensor finding readouts for home models not having transmission needs or patient ID entering needs thereby omitting the need for having buttons on the circuit card unit for entering patient ID information; vi) a transmitting circuit and an RF modulating circuit with an antennae on deluxe hospital units that will send sensor findings from the “circuit card unit” to either the “Nurse Remote Wand” or directly to a computer database on a separate computer or programmable digital computer through wired or wireless means; vii) an internal clock to store in memory when wetness or material such as feces or other agents were expelled or detected by sensor(s) and to report the same on the “circuit card unit's” readouts or to transmit said information to the “Nurse Remote Wand” or to computer database(s) through wired or wireless means on the deluxe “circuit card unit” models and push button or other means to cause the circuit card unit to go into a mode to program the internal clock of the “circuit card unit” whereby the user can enter the current time and date and specify “A.M.” or “P.M.” utilizing the patient identification push buttons to enter said time and date information; viii) a speaker for audible alerts and or a LED or LCD or other visual indicator for wetness or full diaper alerts, and readout means for sensor findings; ix) means to stop the audio-visual alert on the “circuit card unit” by resetting the unit by depressing a button on the “circuit card unit”. x) means to clear the memory of the “circuit card unit” to purge sensor data from all sensor findings data received from sensor(s). xi) means to have sensor signals adjusted through circuitry in the “circuit card unit” to adjust their sensitivity to be more or less sensitive through adjustment means on the “circuit card unit” by applying amplification or resistance to the signals as desired through control means that a caregiver can adjust through selective control means, a dial, or buttons on the “circuit control card”. xii) means to provide a “circuit card unit” to be placed on the diaper to connect to the sensor(s) of the diaper that will be water-resistant or water-proof connecting and functioning with the sensors so that it will not short circuit and that it will continue to operate even when a diaper becomes wet. xiii) means to provide a “circuit card unit” to be placed on the diaper that will be small and flexible for the comfort and safety of the wearer. xiv) means to provide a “circuit card unit” and sensors that will track the frequency and time of gas discharge and report the same via sensor(s) either through sensors that can sense gas discharge through chemical analyses through audible means, or through sensor(s) designed to detect gas through other means. xv) pre-programmed means through hard-wired circuitry in the circuit card unit having the functionality to be able to turn sensor(s) on or off selectively on the circuit card unit(s) to pinpoint what area(s) on the diaper or the sensor pad should be sensed by depressing “sensor select” button to select a desired sensor, whereby a desired sensor is selected and a sensor location is displayed on the circuit card unit's readout, and where depressing the “cancel button” within a time frame will toggle that sensor on or off; and where the circuit card unit will automatically identify the sensor(s) with an area ID so when they report their data they will also report their sensor location, as their sensor ID, and or the area they are sensing to help assist data gathering information and analyses needs whereby this feature shall apply to all embodiments of the present invention and models of the deluxe “circuit card unit” for the diaper version of the present invention and to the “sensing pad” and or to the “sensor belt” versions of the present invention (shown in FIGS. 18 and 18A) by depressing a button to select sensor(s). For each diaper or sensor pad there is a Master ID for each Diaper and or Sensor Pad versions of the present invention whereby the type and location of each sensor are programmed into the attached circuit card unit allowing not only sensor reading findings data but also location data of the sensor and the type of sensor being used as information to be provided with each transmission of the data event. Each sensor and each location on the diaper or sensor pad will have its own ID and or code and these will be coded into the master ID of the diaper or sensor pad; xvi) means for the “circuit card unit” to receive sensor information from the diaper, from the sensor pad, or from the “sensor belt”, the circuit card unit further having a wired or wireless port to connect to a computer to download its “sensor findings and clocked information”, patient identification, sensor type identification; sensor area location(s) information; diaper, sensor pad identification, and or sensor belt identification to a computer or to the “nurse remote wand” either through a wireless or through a wired connection either through a USB connection or through other wired or wireless connection means; e) a circuit and an antennae in the circuit card unit that will allow transmission means in the circuit system of the diaper to transfer sensor data findings and alerts of wetness and bowel movements to caregivers or medical staff; f) audible and or visual alert alarm means to warn caregivers that wetness of the diaper or bowel movements have occurred on the diaper “circuit card unit” system itself whereby a user can selectively choose to select to use “audible alerts only”, “visual alerts only”, “readouts of sensors only” for the patients or a desired combination thereof; g) audible and or visual alert alarm means to warn caregivers that wetness of the diaper or bowel movements have occurred on the “Nurse Remote Wand” unit(s)” whereby a user can selectively choose to select to use “audible alerts only”, “visual alerts only”, “readouts of sensors only” or a desired combination thereof for any, all, or for specific patient(s); h) algorithm(s) to identify what sensors discover and report it to the caregivers on the “Nurse Remote Wand” and or directly to wireless receiver links to computer database(s); and further, algorithm(s) to report concentration(s) of item(s) sensed by sensor(s) in the diaper(s); i) a software interface to allow staff to input data relating to treatment plans, diagnoses, notes, and to track patient data which is editable and which has multiple security and access levels; j) a software and a database system where sensor information on each patient is dumped and stored from transmission(s) sent from diaper(s); k) a battery operated portable “Nurse Remote Wand”, with circuitry to accommodate rechargeable and regular batteries, that receives sensor data through transmission means from the diaper's circuit system which also allows the data it receives to be downloaded through a port to a computer patient treatment, patient progress, diagnosis, and planning database; said “Nurse Remote Wand” further contains and is comprised of:
i) scrollable functions on the “Nurse Remote Wand” and a user interface to allow scrolling means to view “read-outs” on a LCD or LED readout of sensor findings on the “Nurse Remote Wand”; ii) a user interface on the “Nurse Remote Wand” to be “reset” for the next alert; iii) a memory circuit on the “Nurse Remote Wand” to store sensor findings for optional transmission of sensor data or uploading to a computer; iv) a user interface on the “Nurse Remote Wand” that will allow the “Nurse Remote Wand” to be reset for the next wetness or full diaper alert and or to view sensor finding readouts; v) a transmitting receiving circuit and antennae on the “Nurse Remote Wand” on deluxe hospital units that will receive sensor findings from the “circuit card unit” and or a receiving circuit designed to interface to a computer through a port to connect to a computer database on a separate computer or on a programmable digital computer through wired or wireless means; vi) means for the “Nurse Remote Wand” to receive sensor information from the “circuit card unit” on the diaper and a wired or wireless port to connect to a computer and dump its “sensor findings and clocked information” to a computer either through wireless or wired connection(s) either through a USB connection or through other wired or wireless connection means; vii) means to stop the audio-visual alert on the “Nurse Remote Wand” by resetting the unit by depressing a button on the “Nurse Remote Wand”; viii) means to clear the memory of the “Nurse Remote Wand” to purge sensor data from all sensor findings data tables stored on the “Nurse Remote Wand” received from circuit card unit transmission(s); ix) means to provide a “nurse remote wand” with an optional “magnetic card reader” built into it for reading patient identification cards containing medical information that can be stored into the “nurse remote wand” and also later downloaded to a computer to a patient database along with sensor information picked up from diaper sensor(s); x) means to provide a “nurse remote wand” with an optional “magnetic card reader” jack built into it for attaching a separate “magnetic card reader” to the “nurse remote wand” for reading patient identification cards containing medical information that can be stored into the “nurse remote wand” and also later downloaded to a computer to a patient database along with sensor information picked up from diaper sensor(s). l) an audio-visual alarm and indicator on the “circuit card unit” for wetness and bowel movement alerts, and a LCD or LED or other readout means to display what sensors have detected, and a “battery” or other power source to drive the “circuit card unit” on the diaper to apply safe low voltage to drive sensor, analysis, alert and transmission circuits, with the circuitry to allow the use of regular and rechargeable batteries; m) an audio-visual alarm and indicator on the “Nurse Remote Wand” for wetness and bowel movement alerts, and a LCD or LED or other readout means to display what sensors have detected, and a “battery” or other power source to drive the “Nurse Remote Wand” unit circuits; n) a LED or LCD or other readout means to convey what diseases, toxins, ketone levels, sugar levels, bacteria types, viruses, drugs, or other abnormalities that the sensors have found to caregivers or to otherwise report a healthy condition; o) a diaper with an attached and sanitary sealable watertight “tear-off stool-urine-materials collection pouch” that can be torn off, or detached from the diaper and used for stool, urine or materials collection purposes, and made for specimen collection purposes and for refrigeration and to withstand temperatures required in analysis, having a sealable water-tight sanitary closure means to seal urine, blood, secretions, body fluids, loose or solid stools, or other biological samples and to prevent leakage, also having an area upon the pouch that can be written upon and marked with patient data identification and laboratory information and or notes, to be incorporated in optional various models of the subject invention for medical collection and laboratory analysis purposes; p) a software and database system to allow caregivers and or medical staff to input and edit individual patient data; to input and edit diagnoses; to input and edit treatment plans; to view edit or change notes to sensor findings; to view or enter notes; to graph progress; to view, edit, add or change fields in the database, to print reports, and to allow the automatic receipt of data from the “Nurse Remote Wand” into the database relating to patient sensor data from received diaper transmission(s), and q) “electrode snaps” and or other connection means to connect sensors to the “circuit card unit” of the diaper;
- 2. A more hygienic diaper, sensor pad, and or sensing belt with alert, readout, transmission, paging, software and patient information database recording means for treating and caring for wetness, feces, and disease comprising:
a) one or more sensor(s) comprising one or more biosensor(s) having at least one immunosensor, or other types of inorganic electronic, electrochemical, or chemical sensors; the sensor(s) being adapted to detect and or analyze bodily waste contamination or other variables that can be sensed such that might be of interest such as: drugs, toxins, bacteria, blood, blood sugar levels, ketone levels, organisms, pathogens, viruses, parasites, disease, gasses, liquids, body fluids, such as may be present in urine or in matter expelled into the diaper from skin, penile, or vaginal secretions, or fecal material on surface(s) contacted by the diaper in communication with said sensor(s) and to provide a signal to indicating the presence of the waste contamination on the surface wherein the surface is skin; b) a diaper wetness alert system with a portable “Nurse Remote Wand” as claimed in claim 1 that can receive wetness and full diaper alerts and readouts containing sensor findings for treating wetness and diseases that nurses and doctors can carry around as a portable device or keep handy at nursing stations to monitor the condition of patients; c) a diaper wetness alert system with a portable “Nurse Remote Wand” as claimed in claim 1 that can receive wetness and full diaper alerts and readouts containing sensor findings for treating wetness and diseases, and so that caregivers can change diapers promptly to treat patients with rashes, skin conditions, diarrhea, diseases and problems associated with urine and fecal expulsion; d) a diaper wetness alert system with a portable “Nurse Remote Wand” as claimed in claim 1 that can receive wetness and full diaper alerts and readouts containing sensor findings for treating wetness and diseases that can download sensor findings to a patient database.
- 3. A more hygienic diaper, sensor pad, and or sensing belt with alert, readout, transmission, paging, software and patient information database recording means for treating and caring for wetness, feces, and disease comprising:
a) a diaper system that can use reusable or disposable sensor(s) for detecting and analyzing specific desired medical conditions or analysis needs where sensors are in communication with the “circuit card unit” in claim 1 and the matter expelled in the diaper and the patient's skin whereby the sensor(s) can be one or more in number and can be mixed in number in the diaper to detect and analyze a variety of condition(s), agents, or variables that staff might be interested in, and where sensors may be removed or changed on the diaper through “electrode snaps” or connections as specified in claim 1 to accommodate any sensor desired for targeting and accommodating desired sensing needs; b) means to provide a diaper with one or more sensor(s) to sense, detect and analyze and report on one or more variables, such as disease, drugs, antibodies, blood, proteins, wetness, bowels, urine, ketone levels, sugar levels, parasites, bacteria, viruses, sebum, secretions, body fluids, gasses, liquids, materials, toxins, or any item that might be of interest that sensor(s) might detect including item(s) such as concentrations as sensors may be designed to sense; c) means to strategically attach and position removable and or adjustable anal, vaginal, and penile temperature thermometers and or disease sensor(s) or probes to the diaper so they will be easily inserted into the anal, vaginal and penile canals through flexibly fitting and positional sensors to a patient in fixed and or adjustable strategic position(s) with flexibility having at least three comfortable flexible sensor(s): an anal sensor of “x” length and “y” thickness, a vaginal sensor of “x” length and “y” thickness, and or a penile sensor of “x” length and “y” thickness [where “x” and “y” can be the same and or different number(s) for any and all sensor(s)], to be positioned and inserted into anal, vaginal, and penile canals respectively, where upon the wearer being fit with the diaper with sensors in place wearing the diaper prevents the sensors from being expelled from voluntary or involuntary muscular contraction(s) by virtue of holding the sensors securely into place after insertion by the patient wearing the diaper; d) means where removable and adjustably positional anal, vaginal, and penile sensor(s) all have their anchor socket “heads” secured, stitched and or fabricated between two absorbent layers comprised of fibrous material sandwiched between absorbent layer(s) of the diaper with socket(s) or “heads” residing in a groove cut out of the absorbent fibrous material of the diaper in the middle layer where the sockets or “heads” rest in a groove cut out in the middle absorbent layer of diaper to accommodate the size of the socket heads (to prevent the socket(s) from escaping into the rest of the diaper), with the diaper having an upper absorbent layer above each grooved area with a smaller groove opening so as to only allow the sensor probe stem to protrude from the groove; a middle absorbent layer having a groove cut out area that is larger than the groove cut out area of the upper absorbent layer to accommodate the socket “heads”, and an optional lower absorbent layer underneath the middle absorbent layer to provide a floor for the socket “heads” to travel on; with the sensing probe portion of the sensor(s) protruding inwardly towards the patient through the absorbent layers of the diaper through open groove(s) so they can be inserted into the anal, vaginal or penile canal(s), and whereby the anchor socket head(s) of the sensor(s) where said sensor(s) probe stems connect into the sockets and where the sensors can slide bi-directionally in a either a continuous groove or in separate grooves cut out in absorbent layers of the diaper whereby the sensors may slide bi-directionally within said groove(s) (so as not to allow the sensor(s) to escape into the rest of the diaper) within the absorbent layer(s) of the diaper to comfortably adjust and correctly position and insert the sensor(s) into the anal, vaginal, and penile canals respectively in a comfortably fitting manner for different size requirements of specific individuals, and whereby the heads of the sensor(s) are large enough and tight-fitting enough within said groove(s) that once adjusted they remain in their adjusted position(s) and where the sensor(s) remain supported in their upright and or in their functional flexible position(s) for a comfortable fit or insertion into their anal, vaginal or penile canals for temperature, disease or other detection interest(s); and where the anal, vaginal, and penile sensor probes may be plugged into or removed from a socket or wire connection within the groove(s) in a secure fashion through attachment means having electronic connectivity, said sockets having electrodes or wires connecting to electrode or wire connections to other sensors within the sensor layer or directly to the electrode or wire connections leading to connection(s) or “electrode snaps” on the outer portion of the diaper where the circuit card unit may be attached to said electrodes to communicate with said sensor(s); and whereby in the case of the penile sensor, the penile sensor probe may have its distance extended from the diaper by utilizing a probe having a wired connection of “x” length connecting the penile sensor probe to the diaper at a socket or a wire contact location where the penile sensor can be attached to the diaper and where the penile sensor may then be placed manually into the penile canal to accommodate the easy placement of the penile sensor into the penile canal; and where the wired version of the penile sensor connector can also be removed or detached from the socket as desired and replaced with other types of sensor(s) with extendable wires such that can be run and placed unto different parts of the body to measure different things such as respiration, heartbeat, pulse, skin condition, bleeding, sinus trouble or wheezing, or other detection needs as mentioned, or as may be desired. Whereas anal, vaginal and penile sensor(s) can also be designed to operate in alternate models of the diaper it may be fashioned to have a plurality of sensor(s) or one or more of such sensors in addition to the anal, vaginal, or penile sensor(s) or in lieu of anal, vaginal or penile sensor(s) or a diaper may be designed to be incorporated in absence of said anal, vaginal or penile sensor(s) where there are “x” number of sensor(s) with extendable wires connected to the diaper that can be used for detection requirements; e) means to provide a strap-on diaper with built-in attached strategically placed sensors designed for anal, vaginal or penile canal readings whereby a patient is prevented from expelling the sensor(s) from said canals through voluntary or through involuntary muscular contractions because the diaper holds the sensor(s) in their inserted position(s) as the diaper is strapped on the patient or the wearer; f) a signal processor connected to the readout means for processing the output electrical signals from the readout means, wherein the sensor detecting and analyzing means comprise a singular sensor or an array or sensor(s) or a plurality of sensor(s) placed strategically within the diaper's absorbent layers, or to come into contact with the skin of the diaper wearer, or to be placed within anal, vaginal, or penile canals for sensing functions, wherein each detecting sensor element detects and converts signals received to electrical signals that can be processed and be transmitted to yield valuable information from sensors that can be stored, displayed and or transmitted and or downloaded or uploaded into a “Nurse Remote Wand” or directly to a computer or to the circuit card unit's readout. g) means to provide a either one or more connector(s) on either the diaper, the sensor pad or a sensor belt type system of the present invention that will allow a caregiver or a user to connect additional or optional sensor(s) to either the diaper, the sensor pad or to the sensor belt system(s) respectively, said connector(s) to have connection means to allow the user to connect either one or more sensor(s) to each connector.
- 4. An alternative embodiment of the present machine, system, or device for hygiene and care requirements providing a Sensing Pad (As Opposed To A Diaper) With Alert Means For Treating And Caring For Wetness, Feces, & Disease” comprising:
a) Means to provide all the functionality of the present invention of the aforementioned claims to a sensing pad (as opposed to a diaper) having “X” length and “Y” width”, or any shape and size, having absorbent layer(s) embedded with one or more sensor(s) that can be applied to a wound, to contaminated areas or to spills, for sensing, detection and reporting application applications the same way the diaper works; whereby sensor(s) are embedded in the absorbent layers and or where sensor(s) are exposed to the surface of the pad and are connected through “n” number of electrodes or wires to “n” number of electrode snaps whereby the “circuit card unit” can be attached, and whereby the pad has optional adhesive attachment means on its edges to attach the pad to the skin, or other attachment means, and whereby the pad can be applied to an area for sensing, analyses, and reporting functions. b) means to provide all the functionality of the present invention of the aforementioned claims to a sensing pad (as opposed to a diaper) having “X” length and “Y” width”, or any shape and size, having absorbent layer(s) embedded with one or more sensor(s) that can be worn as a belt around a body or around a wrist, or an ankle or otherwise tied to a body, or to an object, or to contaminated areas, or to spills, for sensing, detection and reporting application applications the same way the diaper works; whereby sensor(s) are embedded in the absorbent layers of the belt and or where sensor(s) are exposed to the surface of the pad and are connected through “n” number of electrodes or wires to “n” number of electrode snaps whereby the “circuit card unit” can be attached, and whereby the pad has optional adhesive attachment means on its edges to attach the pad to the skin, or other attachment means, and whereby the pad can be applied to an area for sensing, analyses, and reporting functions.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on provisional application serial No. 60/464,420, filed on Mar. 22, 2003.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60464420 |
Apr 2003 |
US |