Incontinence detection optimization using directional wicking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11278457-B2
Application number	US-201815879865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2018
Priority date	Feb 9, 2017
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

An incontinence detection pad for detecting incontinence events includes a moisture absorbent layer that has non-embossed areas and embossed areas. The non-embossed areas have a first density of fibers of the layer, and the embossed areas have a second density of fibers of the layer that is greater than the first density. The incontinence detection pad further includes a plurality of electrodes positioned beneath the moisture absorbent layer and a transmitter connected to the plurality of electrodes and configured to transmit a signal indicative of a status of the moisture absorbent layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An incontinence detection pad comprising:
a moisture absorbent layer having (i) non-embossed areas with a first density of fibers of the moisture absorbent layer and (ii) embossed areas with a second density of fibers of the moisture absorbent layer, the second density being greater than the first density, wherein the embossed areas comprise grooves that are provided in a top surface and a bottom surface of the moisture absorbent layer with respective pairs of the grooves in the top and bottom surfaces being aligned with each other,
a plurality of electrodes positioned beneath the moisture absorbent layer, wherein the plurality electrodes are arranged in an interdigitated pattern,
a transmitter connected to the plurality of electrodes and configured to transmit a signal indicative of a status of the moisture absorbent layer, wherein the transmitter includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and antenna, and
a pair of quarter wave resonant stubs each being spaced from the antenna and coupled to a respective one of the electrodes of the plurality of electrodes.

2. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , wherein the embossed areas are configured to draw moisture toward a peripheral region of the incontinence detection pad.

3. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , further including a top layer positioned atop the moisture absorbent layer, wherein the top layer includes a nonwoven moisture-wicking material that is oriented horizontally along the top layer.

4. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes is printed on a barrier layer positioned underneath the moisture absorbent layer.

5. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , wherein the moisture absorbent layer includes a moisture absorbent material forming an increasing density gradient and wherein the increasing density gradient is formed from a top surface to a bottom surface of the moisture absorbent layer.

6. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag.

7. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is configured to communicate with a reader that evaluates the transmitted signal to determine the status of the moisture absorbent layer.

8. The incontinence detection pad of claim 7 , wherein the reader is an RFID reader.

9. The incontinence detection pad of claim 7 , wherein the reader is further configured to wirelessly communicate with a server to alert a caregiver of the status of the moisture absorbent layer.

10. The incontinence detection pad of claim 9 , wherein the server is included in a nurse call system or in an electronic medical record (EMR) system.

11. The incontinence detection pad of claim 7 , wherein the reader is further configured to communicate with a server to alert a caregiver of the status of the moisture absorbent layer via a wired connection.

12. The incontinence detection pad of claim 11 , wherein the wired connection comprises a nurse call cable.

13. The incontinence detection pad of claim 7 , wherein the reader is further configured to communicate with a notification system to alert a caregiver of the status of the moisture absorbent layer.

14. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , wherein the embossed areas are compressed into a pre-determined pattern.

15. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , wherein the embossed areas form a sinusoidal wave pattern.

16. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , wherein the embossed areas form a zig-zag pattern.

17. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , wherein the embossed areas form a pattern having non-intersecting lines.

18. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , wherein the embossed areas form a pattern having non-intersecting lines that horizontally extend along the moisture absorbent layer.

19. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , wherein each quarter wave resonant stub is interposed between the RFID tag and each respective electrode of the plurality of electrodes.

20. The incontinence detection pad of claim 1 , further comprising a phasing and matching network coupled to the plurality of electrodes.

Assignees

• Hill Rom Services Inc

Inventors

• Benz Eric D
• Lachenbruch Charles A
• Monson Gavin M
• Severns Ryan S
• Tallent Dan R
• Weidman Bryan
• Williams Joshua A

Classifications

• A61F2013/424

  having an electronic device · CPC title

• A61F13/53717

  the layer having a promotional function on liquid propagation in the horizontal direction · CPC title

• A61F2013/15154

  for hospitalised patients · CPC title

• A61F2013/8479

  including electric or magnetic devices · CPC title

• A61F13/42 Primary

  with wetness indicator or alarm · CPC title