Ambulatory body position monitor

An ambulatory body position monitor that is located at a measurement site on a user whose position is to be monitored, comprising:

• a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor,
• a programmable control unit that receives as input the output from the sensor and has the capability to sufficiently interpret said input so as to determine the position with respect to gravity of the measurement site at which said sensor is located on its user's body,
• an alarm unit with audio output device, operable by said control unit, that can generate an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor,
• a selection input device, connected to said control unit, for setting the desired operating parameters of said monitor, including the capability to disarm said alarm unit, and
• a radio frequency transmitter, connected to said control unit, for signaling a remote, wireless receiver to sound an alarm at said remote location.

An ambulatory body position monitor that is located at a measurement site on a user whose position is to be monitored, comprising:

• a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor,
• a programmable control unit that receives as input the output from the sensor and has the capability to sufficiently interpret said input so as to determine the position with respect to gravity of the measurement site at which said sensor is located on its user's body,
• an alarm unit with audio output device, operable by said control unit, that can generate an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor,
• a selection input device, connected to said control unit, for setting the desired operating parameters of said monitor, including the capability to disarm said alarm unit, and
• a radio frequency transmitter, connected to said control unit, for signaling a wireless receiver, that is situated at a first remote location, to dial a telephone to announce at a second remote location the alarm condition.

A method for monitoring and recording the position of the body of a fully ambulatory subject, comprising the steps of:

• locating a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor on a selected measurement site of the subject,
• generating, by using inherent contact of the mercury with electrode posts within said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies the position with respect to gravity of said measurement site,
• generating, by using inherent splashing of the mercury in said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies motion activity with respect to gravity of said measurement site,
• calibrating sensor output data so as to distinguish between and define selected positions of interest of the measurement site,
• sampling sensor output data at prescribed time intervals,
• using said sensor calibration, associating with each data sample a determination of which of the defined positions is in existence at the measurement site at the time of the data sample,
• sounding an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor, and
• using a radio frequency transmitter to signal a remote, wireless receiver so that said alarm is sounded at a remote location.

A method for monitoring and recording the position of the body of a fully ambulatory subject, comprising the steps of:

• locating a three-dimensional-position monitoring, mercury sensor on a selected measurement site of the subject,
• generating, by using inherent contact of the mercury with electrode posts within said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies the position with respect to gravity of said measurement site, generating, by using inherent splashing of the mercury in said sensor, sensor output data that quantifies motion activity with respect to gravity of said measurement site, calibrating sensor output data so as to distinguish between and define selected positions of interest of the measurement site,
• sampling sensor output data at prescribed time intervals,
• using said sensor calibration, associating with each data sample a determination of which of the defined positions is in existence at the measurement site at the time of the data sample,
• sounding an audible alarm signal in response to a set body position being detected by said sensor, and
• using a radio frequency transmitter to signal a remote, wireless receiver, that is situated at a first remote location, to dial a telephone to announce at a second remote location the alarm condition.