Paul F Newham

Author:

Paul Newham

ISBN #:

0877739978

US Patent:

6778090, Aug 17, 2004

Filed:

Oct 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/969497

Inventors:

Paul Newham - San Antonio TX 78245

International Classification:

G08B 2300

US Classification:

3405731, 3406866, 340562, 73862046, 600535

Abstract:

A capacitive array is housed within a polyester mat or other appropriate nonconductive substrate material which is interconnected with a control module. The control module supplies to the capacitive array a suitable oscillator driver current and concurrently senses capacitance value changes within the capacitive array induced through dielectric shifts within the array brought about by the proximity or absence thereof of the patients body mass. The monitor/control module generally comprises a power supply, a driver/sensor circuit, a calibration/comparator logic circuit, a system interconnection integrity circuit, and an alarm generation circuit. It may also optionally contain a nurse call relay circuit for interconnection to a facilitys nurse call system.

US Patent:

7940187, May 10, 2011

Filed:

Jan 30, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/362539

Inventors:

Paul Newham - San Antonio TX, US

International Classification:

G08B 23/00

US Classification:

3405734, 3405731

Abstract:

A capacitive sensor element for use with a patient monitoring system and a method for manufacturing and dispensing such sensor elements for use. The sensor elements include a flat, flexible, substrate layer that is manufactured into a roll that also includes at least two longitudinal conductive elements printed or layered onto one side of the substrate layer material. Individual capacitive sensor elements comprising a section of the substrate material with corresponding sections of the conductive elements may be separated from the manufactured roll by tearing along perforations across the width of the substrate layer material. Once an individual capacitive sensor element has been separated from the roll for use, one end of the element is folded over to align pairs of connector apertures positioned through the conductive elements and the associated substrate layer. Dual snap electrical connectors are positioned over and through the apertures to provide the necessary electrical connections between the capacitive sensor and the instrumentation of the patient monitoring system. The present invention further includes a method of manufacturing the roll of capacitive sensor elements according to the structures described above and providing such rolled elements in a dispenser configuration for use in facilities utilizing the patient monitoring systems.

US Patent:

20110279276, Nov 17, 2011

Filed:

May 10, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/104968

Inventors:

Paul NEWHAM - San Antonio TX, US

International Classification:

G08B 23/00

US Classification:

3405734

Abstract:

A capacitive sensor element for use with a patient monitoring system and a method for manufacturing and dispensing such sensor elements for use. Sensor elements include a flat, flexible, substrate layer that is manufactured into a roll that also includes at least two longitudinal conductive elements printed onto one side of the substrate layer material. Disclosed also is an integrated interconnect cable component for allowing the operation of dielectric shift sensor elements with a variety of control monitors associated with pressure switch based patient alarm systems. The interconnect cable component may be used for connecting a dielectric shift sensing mat with any of a variety of different pressure switch based control unit modules used with patient occupancy alarm systems. The interconnect includes an integrated driver, sensor, comparator, calibration, logic circuit; a relay activation circuit; and power supply. Various embodiments in different sleeping (bed) and sitting (chair) environments are described.

US Patent:

20110308015, Dec 22, 2011

Filed:

Mar 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/053442

Inventors:

Paul NEWHAM - San Antonio TX, US

International Classification:

A47C 31/12
A47G 9/00
A47C 31/00

US Classification:

5499

Abstract:

A bedding system component that provides for the incorporation of sensor elements into a fitted mattress cover for the detection of dielectric shift induced capacitance changes for the monitoring of the presence or absence of a person in a medical bed. The mattress cover is preferably fitted so as to be securely retained over and around the standard sized hospital patient beds. A variety of sizes are anticipated. The sensor elements are unobtrusively placed on the underside of the mattress cover and are provided with conductive snap connectors for connection to one or more of the patient monitoring systems described in the references cited above. The sensors are preferably configured using conductive ink and may be printed onto the underside surface of the fabric mattress cover. The fabric of the cover is preferably Tyvek material or another inexpensive (disposable) material with similar strength and water resistant characteristics. An alternate embodiment of the present invention includes an array of perforations on the top surface to permit use of the cover on low air loss mattresses.

US Patent:

55548350, Sep 10, 1996

Filed:

Jul 27, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/281431

Inventors:

Paul F. Newham - San Antonio TX

Assignee:

Bed-Check Corporation - Tulsa OK

International Classification:

H01H 314

US Classification:

200 85R

Abstract:

A pressure sensitive switch has upper, middle and lower laminar elongated members, the middle member having an opening therethrough defining a cavity between the upper and lower members. A first array of substantially parallel, spaced-apart electrically conductive bands is fixed to a lower surface of the upper member and traverses the cavity. A second array of substantially parallel, spaced-apart electrically conductive bands is fixed to an upper surface of the lower member and traverses the cavity and the upper member bands, selected lower member bands being discretely connected to an electrical input lead and other lower member bands being discretely connected to an electrical output lead. An array of substantially parallel, spaced-apart dielectric bands narrower than the conductive bands is fixed to the lower member upper surface and traverses the cavity between the arrays of conductive bands at alternate overlapping points thereof and partially separates the arrays of conductive bands from electrical contact therebetween at said alternate overlapping points. The upper and lower members are resiliently flexible to permit the overlapping points of the arrays of conductive bands to close into and open out of electrical contact therebetween upon exertion and removal, respectively, of a threshold external compressive force to the cavity.

US Patent:

D3614620, Aug 22, 1995

Filed:

Aug 4, 1994

Appl. No.:

D/026708

Inventors:

Paul F. Newham - San Antonio TX

Assignee:

Bed-Check Corporation - Tulsa OK

US Classification:

D 6567

US Patent:

56001088, Feb 4, 1997

Filed:

Aug 29, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/297402

Inventors:

Paul F. Newham - San Antonio TX

Assignee:

Bed-Check Corporation - Tulsa OK

International Classification:

H01H 900
A61G 700
H01R 1370

US Classification:

200 5028

Abstract:

An enclosure is provided for mounting a bed monitoring docking module on a bed frame structure. The enclosure has an elongated sleeve-like housing with an interior cross-section substantially complimentary to the outer cross-section of the docking module. The docking module is slidably insertable into and removable from a supported position within the sleeve-like housing through an open forward end of the housing. A connector housing mounted within a back end of the sleeve-like housing contains enclosure power, control and sensor connectors which are matable with respective externally accessible docking module and sensor mat connectors. The connector housing has an aperture through a wall thereof for mounting the enclosure sensor connector for interfacing with the mat sensor connector and a pair of apertures through a forward wall thereof for mounting the enclosure power and control connectors in alignment for interfacing with the docking module power and control connectors as the module is inserted into the sleeve-like housing. The forward wall of the connector housing is contoured to position the enclosure power and control connectors such that, during insertion and removal, the control interface is connected before the power interface and the power interface is disconnected before the control interface, respectively.

US Patent:

56336276, May 27, 1997

Filed:

Sep 23, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/311588

Inventors:

Paul F. Newham - San Antonio TX

Assignee:

Bed-Check Corporation - Tulsa OK

International Classification:

G08B 2300

US Classification:

340573

Abstract:

A system connectible to an electrical power source for monitoring a short term care device having a sensor thereon for detecting the presence of a patient on the device includes a microprocessor and a plurality of circuits connected to the microprocessor. A first circuit connected to the microprocessor and to the sensor automatically initiates operation of the microprocessor upon detection by the sensor of the patient's presence on the device. A second circuit connected to the microprocessor provides an alarm upon demand by the microprocessor. A third circuit connected to the microprocessor is adapted to be interfaced with a nurse call station for generating signals to the station upon demand by the microprocessor. A fourth circuit connected to the microprocessor programs the system in response to commands manually applied to the fourth circuit. The interrelationship of the resident program with the manual commands permits the system to activate to a "monitor" mode after a predetermined time delay following detection by the sensor of the patient's presence on the device, to deactivate to a "hold/reset" mode after the system has been activated to the "monitor" mode and to trigger to the "alarm" mode when the patient's presence on the device terminates while in the "monitor" mode.