US 3,946,159 A · Hospital communication system

Abstract

A communication system that uses a separate single coaxial cable to link a nurse's station to each of a plurality of patient rooms is disclosed. Each cable carries DC message signals from the patient rooms to the nurse's station to alert the nurse on duty that her assistance is needed either on an emergency or on a non-emergency basis. The coaxial cables also carry AC power to power TV receivers located in the patient rooms. In addition, the coaxial cables carry normal video signals to the receiver; audio and visual communication signals between patients and the nurses station; and, telemetry from patient sensors to the nurses station. Further, the system is adapted to automatically allow a patient to view the nurse at the nurses station on the TV receiver located in the patient's room when the patient is communicating with the nurse regardless of whether or not the TV receiver was on or off at the time such communication commences.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A communication system suitable for use in a hospital and the like to provide communication between patients and a central nurse station, said communication system comprising:

1. a nurse unit including:
a. a first indicator means suitable for activation by a patient generated DC signal of a first magnitude to indicate a request for assistance on a non-emergency basis;
b. a second indicator means suitable for activation by a patient generated DC signal of a second magnitude to indicate a request for assistance on an emergency basis;
c. a power supply means suitable for powering the nurse unit and suitable for supplying power to at least one patient unit;
and,
2. at least one patient unit including:
a. a patient controllable first DC signal means for generating a DC signal of a first magnitude for activating said first indicator means of said nurse unit;
b. a patient controllable second DC signal means for generating a DC signal of a second magnitude for activating said second indicator means of said nurse unit;
said first and second magnitudes being different;
and,
c. patient communication means suitable for transmitting audio communication signals and suitable for receiving audio communication signals;
and
3. a single coaxial cable connecting said nurse unit to said at least one patient unit, said single coaxial cable adapted to carry:
power from said nurse unit to said at least one patient unit;
DC signals from said patient unit to said nurse unit for activation of said first and sdcond indicator means;
and, audio communication signals between said nurse unit and said at least one patient unit.

13 more elements

A communication system suitable for use in a hospital and the like to provide communication between patients and a central nurse station, said communication system comprising:

a nurse unit including:
a first indicator means suitable for activation by a patient generated DC signal to indicate a request for assistance on a non-emergency basis;
a second indicator means suitable for activation by a patient generated DC signal to indicate a request for assistance on an emergency basis;
a power supply means suitable for powering the nurse unit and suitable for supplying power to at least one patient unit;
and,
at least one patient unit including:
a patient controllable first DC signal means for generating a DC signal suitable for activating said first indicator means of said nurse unit;
a patient controllable second DC signal means for generating a DC signal suitable for activating said second indicator means of said nurse unit;
and,
a patient communication means suitable for transmitting audio communication signals and suitable for receiving audio communication signals;
and,
a single coaxial cable connecting said nurse unit to said at least one patient unit, said signal coaxial cable adapted to carry:
power from said nurse unit to said at least one patient unit;
DC signals from said patient unit to said nurse unit for activation of said first and second indicator means;
and, audio communication signals between said nurse unit and said at least one patient unit,
said nurse unit including a television transmitter including a TV camera mounted so as to view a nurse;
said patient unit including a TV receiver, said communication system including means for automatically transmitting a video picture of said nurse to said patient TV receiver when said nurse is in audio communication with a patient whereby said patient receives visual as well as audio communication from said nurse unit;
said nurse unit being adapted to receive commercially generated TV signals and transmit them to said patient TV receiver via said coaxial cable and wherein said patient TV receiver is adapted to normally receive said commercial TV signals, said patient TV receiver being adapted to automatically switch from displaying said commercial TV signals to a view of said nurse when said nurse is in communication with a patient;
and
said means for automatically switching from a regular or normal TV program to display a nurse's image on the receiver of said patient TV receiver comprising a relay means activated by said nurse unit, said relay means when activated automatically:
turning on said patient TV receiver, if said patient TV receiver was not previously on;
tuning said patient TV receiver to receive the frequency of the video transmission from the nurse unit;
switching the loudspeaker of said patient TV receiver to an active state;
and, controlling the volume of the sound emitted from said patient TV receiver.

21 more elements

A communication system suitable for use in a hospital and the like to provide communication between patients and a central nurse station, said communication system comprising:

a nurse unit including:
a plurality of indicator means suitable for activation by a patient generated DC signal to indicate a request for assistance on a non-emergency basis;
a plurality of second indicator means suitable for activation by a patient generated DC signal to indicate a request for assistance on an emergency basis;
a power supply means suitable for powering the nurse unit and suitable for supplying power to at least one patient unit;
and
a plurality of patient units each of which includes:
a patient controllable first DC signal means for generating a DC signal suitable for activating a related first indicator means of said nurse unit;
a patient controllable second DC signal means for generating a DC signal suitable for activating a related second indicator means of said nurse unit;
and,
patient communication means suitable for transmitting audio communication signals to and suitable for receiving audio communication signals from said nurse unit;
a single coaxial cable connecting said nurse unit to each patient unit, said coaxial cables adapted to carry:
power from said nurse unit to said patient units;
DC signals from said patient units to said nurse unit for activation of said first and second indicator means;
and, audio communication signals between said nurse unit and said patient units,
said nurse unit including a television transmitter including a TV camera mounted so as to view a nurse;
and,
each of said plurality of patient units including a TV receiver, said communication system including means for automatically transmitting a video picture of said nurse to a patient TV receiver when said nurse is in audio communication with a patient whereby said patient receives visual as well as audio communication from said nurse unit;
said nurse unit being adapted to receive commercially generated TV signals and transmit them to all of said patient TV receivers via said coaxial cables and wherein said patient TV receivers are adapted to normally receive said commercial TV signals, said patient TV receivers being adapted to automatically switch from displaying said commercial TV signals to a view of said nurse when said nurse is in communication with a patient;
and,
said means for automatically switching from a regular or normal TV program to displaying a nurse's image on said patient TV receiver comprising a relay means activated by said nurse unit, said relay means when activated automatically:
turning on said patient TV receiver, if said patient TV receiver was not previously turned on;
tuning said patient TV receiver to receive the frequency of the video transmission from the nurse unit;
switching the loudspeaker of said patient TV receiver to an active state;
and, controlling the volume of the sound emitted from said patient TV receiver.

21 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hospital communication system

Life of this patent

Hospital communication system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14