The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 15, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 25, 1996
Jeffrey P Wiley, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Thomas E Scott, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Hill-Rom, Inc., Batesville, IN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting the presence or absence of a patient adjacent to a patient-carrying surface of a patient-support device including at least one sensing element spaced apart from the patient-carrying surface, defining a detection space adjacent to the patient-carrying surface and providing an input signal in response to the dielectric constant within the detection space. A control unit provides an output signal indicating the presence or absence of the patient within the detection space in response to the input signal. A booster element including a plate positioned to lie adjacent the patient-carrying surface for shaping and positioning the detection space and a connector electrically coupling the plate to the sensing element may be provided.