# US 10,945,892 B2 · Incontinence detection system and detectors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,892 B2 - Document ID: US10945892B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/407,258 - Filed: 2019-05-09 - Published: 2019-12-05 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-31 - Assignees: Hill-Rom Services, Inc. - Applicants: Hill-Rom Services, Inc. - Inventors: Ryan Severns - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945892B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/42: with wetness indicator or alarm - A61F 5/485: {Absorbent protective pads (mattress underlays A47C21/06; bed linen A47G9/02)} - G01N 27/048: {for determining moisture content of the material} - G06K 7/10366: {the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications} - G08B 21/20: responsive to moisture - A61F 2013/424: {having an electronic device} - A61F 2013/8482: {including numeric control, e.g. using computer} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract An incontinence detector includes a layer of material having uniformly distributed electrically resistive elements which impart a baseline electrical resistance to the layer. The layer also has an actual electrical resistance. The detector also includes an RFID tag having a first and second leads which extend into the material without contacting each other. The tag is responsive to deviations of the actual resistance from the baseline resistance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An incontinence detector for use in a multi-layer incontinence detection pad, the incontinence detector comprising: a layer of nonwoven material having uniformly distributed electrically resistive fiber elements that are embedded within the layer of nonwoven material so as to be dispersed uniformly throughout an entirety of a thickness, a length, and a width of the layer of nonwoven material and which impart a baseline electrical resistance to the layer, the layer also having an actual electrical resistance that varies depending upon an amount of liquid to which the layer is exposed; an RFID tag; and first and second leads which extend between the RFID tag and the material layer without contacting each other, the RFID tag being responsive to a deviation of the actual resistance when the pad is wet from the baseline resistance established when the pad is dry. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The incontinence detector of claim 1 further including a processor which evaluates the electrical resistance relative to the baseline resistance thereby causing the RFID tag to be responsive to the deviation of the actual resistance from the baseline resistance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The incontinence detector of claim 2 wherein the evaluation of electrical resistance relative to the baseline resistance includes determining if the actual resistance of the material layer is higher than or lower than a given threshold resistance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The incontinence detector of claim 1 wherein the layer of nonwoven material comprises a rectangular sheet of nonwoven material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The incontinence detector of claim 1 wherein the resistive fiber elements comprise carbon fibers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The incontinence detector of claim 1 wherein the layer of nonwoven material comprises a carbon fiber impregnated nonwoven material in which the carbon fibers establish the baseline resistance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The incontinence detector of claim 2 wherein absorption of a liquid by the layer of nonwoven material causes the actual resistance to deviate from the baseline resistance, and the processor responds to the deviation by indicating at least one of: a) presence of the liquid, or b) identity of the liquid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The incontinence detector of claim 2 wherein the actual resistance is influenced by the presence of a liquid in the layer of nonwoven material, and the detector responds by at least one of: a) indicating that the liquid is present, or b) indicating identity of the liquid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The incontinence detector of claim 1 further comprising an RFID interrogator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The incontinence detector of claim 6 wherein the RFID tag issues a signal consistent with the deviation of the actual resistance from the baseline resistance. ### Claim 11 An incontinence detection system comprising: a multi-layer pad which includes carbon fiber segments that are uniformly distributed and that are embedded within a layer of nonwoven material so as to be dispersed uniformly throughout an entirety of a thickness, a length, and a width of the layer of nonwoven material and so that the pad has a dry electrical resistance when the pad is dry and a wet electrical resistance when the pad is wet with an electrically conductive liquid, the wet electrical resistance being less than the dry electrical resistance; and a processor and machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to respond in a first way to the dry electrical resistance and to respond in a second way to the wet electrical resistance. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The incontinence detection system of claim 11 further comprising an RFID tag which includes the processor and a memory which holds the machine readable instructions; and an RFID reader for interrogating the RFID tag and receiving a return signal from the RFID tag; wherein the return signal includes information revealing the response of the processor to the electrical resistance of the pad. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The incontinence detection system of claim 12 wherein the first way of response and the second way of response distinguish between presence and absence of the electrically conductive liquid in the pad. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The incontinence detection system of claim 12 wherein the information permits the reader to determine an identity of a liquid to which the pad is exposed and the first way of response and the second way of response distinguish between liquids of different identities.