System for detecting probe dislodgement

Claim 2

Apparatus for sensing skin contact probe dislodgement, comprising: (a) housing means defining a skin contact surface for said probe; (b) photoreceptive means located on said skin contact surface of said housing means; (c) alarm means energized by reception by said photoreceptive means of light, said light having an intensity exceeding a predetermined level, said alarm means being placed a distance away from said housing means; and (d) photo transmitting means extending out from said housing means for connecting said photoreceptive means and said distant light receptive alarm means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said alarm means comprises: a transducer means for converting light, received from said photoreceptive means, to an electrical signal; and circuit means for detecting said electrical signal and for displaying a condition corresponding to a change in surface contact.

Claim 4

Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said phototransmitting means comprises: a fiber-optic bundle extending to said transducer means from said photoreceptive means; and an opaque conduit surrounding said fiber-optic bundle.

Claim 5

Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said photoreceptive means includes: an optically polished fiber-optic end.

Claim 6

Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said circuit means includes: a threshold detection circuit, responsive to said transducer means electrical signal, said threshold corresponding to the level of background light reaching said photoreceptive means when there is intimate contact between the patient's skin and said skin contact surface; and light emitting alarm means energized by said threshold circuit.

Claim 7

Apparatus for sensing probe dislodgement comprising: a probe housing having a contact surface adapted for contact with a body and also having means for carrying a probe; transducer means having a radiation receiving portion located in said contact surface for (1) sensing an increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said probe housing is dislodged from said body and said contact surface is exposed to said increased radiation level, and (2) developing a radiation signal representative of the radiation level impinging upon said contact surface; means for supplying a threshold signal representative of a predetermined radiation level less than said increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said probe housing is dislodged from said body; and alarm means responsive to said radiation signal and said threshold signal for developing an indication when said radiation level impinging upon said contact surface exceeds said predetermined radiation level.

Claim 8

Apparatus for sensing probe dislodgement comprising: a probe housing having a contact surface adapted for contact with a body and also having means for carrying a probe; transducer means having a radiation receiving portion located in said contact surface for (1) sensing an increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said probe housing is dislodged from said body and said contact surface is exposed to said increased radiation level, and (2) developing a radiation signal representative of the radiation level impinging upon said contact surface; means for supplying a threshold signal representative of a predetermined radiation level less than said increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said probe housing is dislodged from said body; and alarm means responsive to said radiation signal and said threshold signal for developing an indication when said radiation level impinging upon said contact surface exceeds said predetermined radiation level.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said predetermined radiation level corresponds to the level of background radiation reaching said radiation receiving portion when said contact surface is in contact with said body.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said alarm means include a light emitting device which is energized when said radiation level impinging upon said contact surface exceeds said predetermined level.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said transducer means include light responsive means for sensing light impinging upon said contact surface and developing a light signal representative of the light level impinging upon said contact surface.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said light responsive means include (1) a fiber-optic bundle having an input end in said contact surface and an output end distant from said contact surface, and (2) a photo-detector positioned at said output end of said fiber-optic bundle and responsive to light transmitted from said contact surface by said fiber-optic bundle.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said apparatus also includes a thermistor embedded in said probe housing for sensing the temperature of said body and developing a signal representative of said temperature and means for transmitting said temperature signal to a distant location.

Claim 14

A probe for sensing a body function comprising: a probe housing having a contact surface adapted to contact with a body; sensor means located in said contact surface and responsive to said body function for developing an output representative of said body function; radiation receiving means located in said contact surface for sensing an increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said probe housing is dislodged from said body and said contact surface is exposed to said increased radiation level and for developing an output representative of said increased radiation level; and means emanating from said housing for transmitting said outputs of said sensor means and said radiation receiving means to a distant location.

Claim 15

A probe for sensing a body function comprising: a probe housing having a contact surface adapted to contact with a body; sensor means located in said contact surface and responsive to said body function for developing an output representative of said body function; radiation receiving means located in said contact surface for sensing an increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said probe housing is dislodged from said body and said contact surface is exposed to said increased radiation level and for developing an output representative of said increased radiation level; and means emanating from said housing for transmitting said outputs of said sensor means and said radiation receiving means to a distant location.

Claim 16

A probe according to claim 12 wherein said sensor means is a thermistor which develops a signal representative of the temperature of said body and said transmitting means include electrical connection means for conducting said signal to said distant location.

Claim 17

A probe according to claim 13 wherein said transmitting means further include a fiber-optic bundle which transmits said radiation impinging upon said contact surface to said distant location.

Claim 18

Apparatus for indicating the dislodgement of an article from a body surface, said apparatus comprising: an article having a contact surface adapted for contact with a body surface and a second surface removed from said contact surface; first transducer means having a radiation receiving portion located in said contact surface for (1) sensing an increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said article is dislodged from said body surface and said contact surface is exposed to said increased radiation level, and (2) developing a first radiation signal representative of the radiation level impinging upon said contact surface; second transducer means having a radiation receiving portion located in said second surface for (1) sensing a decreased radiation level impinging upon said second surface when said article is covered and said second surface is exposed to said decreased radiation level, and (2) developing a second radiation signal representative of the radiation level impinging upon said second surface; means for supplying a first threshold signal representative of a first predetermined radiation level less than said increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said article is dislodged from said body; means for supplying a second threshold signal representative of a second predetermined radiation level greater than said decreased radiation level impinging upon said second surface when said article is covered; and alarm means responsive to said first and second radiation signals and said first and second threshold signals for developing an indication where said radiation level impinging upon said contact surface exceeds said predetermined first radiation level or said radiation level impinging upon said second surface falls below said predetermined second radiation level.

Claim 19

Apparatus for indicating the dislodgement of an article from a body surface, said apparatus comprising: an article having a contact surface adapted for contact with a body surface and a second surface removed from said contact surface; first transducer means having a radiation receiving portion located in said contact surface for (1) sensing an increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said article is dislodged from said body surface and said contact surface is exposed to said increased radiation level, and (2) developing a first radiation signal representative of the radiation level impinging upon said contact surface; second transducer means having a radiation receiving portion located in said second surface for (1) sensing a decreased radiation level impinging upon said second surface when said article is covered and said second surface is exposed to said decreased radiation level, and (2) developing a second radiation signal representative of the radiation level impinging upon said second surface; means for supplying a first threshold signal representative of a first predetermined radiation level less than said increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said article is dislodged from said body; means for supplying a second threshold signal representative of a second predetermined radiation level greater than said decreased radiation level impinging upon said second surface when said article is covered; and alarm means responsive to said first and second radiation signals and said first and second threshold signals for developing an indication where said radiation level impinging upon said contact surface exceeds said predetermined first radiation level or said radiation level impinging upon said second surface falls below said predetermined second radiation level.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said predetermined first radiation level corresponds to the level of background radiation reaching said radiation receiving portion of said first transducer means and said predetermined second radiation level corresponds to the level of radiation impinging upon said second surface when said article is uncovered.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said alarm means include a light emitting device which is energized when said radiation level impinging upon said contact surface exceeds said background radiation or said radiation level impinging upon said second surface falls below the level or radiation impinging upon said second surface when said article is uncovered.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said second surface is on the opposite side of said article from said contact surface.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said first and second transducer means include light responsive means for sensing light impinging upon said contact surface and said second surface.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein (1) said first transducer means include (a) a first fiber-optic bundle having an input end on said contact surface and an output end distant from said contact surface, and (b) a first photo-detector positioned at said output end of said first fiber-optic bundle and responsive to light transmitted from said contact surface by said first fiber-optic bundle; and (2) said second transducer means include (a) a second fiber-optic bundle having an input end in said second surface and an output end distant from said second surface, and (b) a second photo-detector positioned at said output end of said second fiber-optic bundle and responsive to light transmitted from said second surface by said second fiber-optic bundle.

Claim 25

A probe for sensing a body function comprising: a probe housing having a contact surface adapted for contact with a body and a second surface removed from said contact surface; sensor means located in said contact surface and responsive to said body function for developing an output representative of said body function; first radiation receiving means located in said contact surface for sensing an increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said probe housing is dislodged from said body and said contact surface is exposed to said increased radiation level and for developing an output representative of said increased radiation level; second radiation receiving means located in said second surface for sensing a decreased radiation level impinging upon said second surface when said probe housing is covered and said second surface is exposed to said decreased radiation level and for developing an output representative of said decreased radiation level; and means emanating from said housing for transmitting said outputs of said sensor means and said first and second radiation receiving means to a distant location.

Claim 26

A probe for sensing a body function comprising: a probe housing having a contact surface adapted for contact with a body and a second surface removed from said contact surface; sensor means located in said contact surface and responsive to said body function for developing an output representative of said body function; first radiation receiving means located in said contact surface for sensing an increased radiation level impinging upon said contact surface when said probe housing is dislodged from said body and said contact surface is exposed to said increased radiation level and for developing an output representative of said increased radiation level; second radiation receiving means located in said second surface for sensing a decreased radiation level impinging upon said second surface when said probe housing is covered and said second surface is exposed to said decreased radiation level and for developing an output representative of said decreased radiation level; and means emanating from said housing for transmitting said outputs of said sensor means and said first and second radiation receiving means to a distant location.

Claim 27

A probe according to claim 21 wherein said sensor means is a thermistor which develops a signal representative of the temperature of said body and said transmitting means include electrical connection means for conducting said signal to said distant location.

Claim 28

A probe according to claim 22 wherein said transmitting means further include first and second fiber-optic bundles which transmit said radiation impinging upon said contact surface and said second surface to said distant location.