Patient incontinence monitoring apparatus and method of use thereof

A patient fluid discharge monitoring system comprising:

• a liquid absorbent material configured to be positioned to receive fluid discharged from at least one of a urine discharge orifice and a fecal discharge orifice of a patient;
• and
• a first RF tag positioned in contact with or in spaced relation with the liquid absorbent material, the first RF tag responsive to a wireless excitation signal in the absence of discharged fluid in the liquid absorbent material and responsive to the excitation signal in the presence of discharged fluid in the liquid absorbent material for causing at least one of (i) a unique change in the excitation signal and (ii) a change in a unique wireless response signal output by the first RF tag in response to the wireless excitation signal, wherein:
• the first RF tag is formed on a flexible substrate;
• the first RF tag includes two circuits, with each circuit responsive to the liquid absorbent material receiving discharged fluid for causing at least one of (i) the unique change in the excitation signal and (ii) the unique change in the wireless response signal output by the first RF tag in response to the excitation signal, the two circuits having a difference in the unique changes in the excitation signal caused thereby or a difference in the unique changes in the wireless response signal caused thereby;
• and
• flexing of the substrate alters together the unique changes in the excitation signal or the unique changes in the wireless response signal caused by the circuits whereby the difference therebetween remains substantially the same.

A patient fluid discharge monitoring system comprising:

• an article configured to be positioned adjacent a patient, the article including an absorbent material for absorbing fluid discharged by the patient;
• an RF tag positioned adjacent the absorbent material, the RF tag having one of (i) an inductor—capacitor resonator formed on a flexible insulating substrate wherein the capacitor includes conductive areas in alignment on opposite sides of the substrate and (ii) an antenna coupled to an RFID tag, the RF tag operative for absorbing a wireless excitation signal;
• and
• a dry electrolyte adjacent at least part of the RF tag, wherein the the dry electrolyte and the RF tag are arranged whereupon in the absence of discharged fluid in the absorbent material, the RF tag exhibits a first characteristic absorption of the energy of the wireless excitation signal that is detectable remotely in the absence of detecting energy radiated by the RF tag and in the presence of discharged fluid combined with the dry electrolyte in the absorbent material, the RF tag exhibits a second characteristic absorption of the energy of the wireless excitation signal that is detectable remotely in the absence detecting energy radiated by the RF tag.

A patient fluid discharge monitoring system comprising:

• an article configured to be worn next to the skin of a patient, the article including an absorbent material for absorbing fluid discharged by the patient;
• and
• an RF tag positioned adjacent the absorbent material, wherein the absorbent material and the RF tag are arranged whereupon in the absence of fluid in the absorbent material, the RF tag is responsive to a wireless excitation signal and in the presence of fluid in the absorbent material, the response of the RF tag to the excitation signal changes, wherein:
• the RF tag is positioned in the article to provide a first delay between the first and second detected responses thereof when the article initially receives discharged fluid in the form of urine;
• and
• the system further includes another RF tag positioned in the article to provide a second delay between the first and second detected responses thereof when the article initially receives discharged fluid in the form of moist fecal discharge.

A method of monitoring patient fluid discharge comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing at least one article configured to be worn by a patient, the article having absorbent material and an RF tag adjacent the absorbent material, the RF tag having one of (1) an inductor—capacitor resonator formed on a flexible insulating substrate wherein the capacitor includes conductive areas in alignment on opposite sides of the substrate and (2) an antenna coupled to an RFID tag;
• (b) exciting the RF tag with an excitation signal;
• (c) wirelessly detecting an absorption of energy of the excitation signal by the RF tag at at least one frequency in the absence of detecting energy radiated by the RF tag when patient discharged fluid is present in the absorbent material;
• and
• (d) determining from the detected absorption of the energy of the excitation signal at the at least one frequency that patient discharged fluid is present in the absorbent material.

A patient fluid discharge monitoring system comprising:

• a diaper having absorbent material received between a fluid impermeable cover and a fluid permeable lining;
• a plurality of first RF tags each uniquely identifiable and each positioned near or adjacent at least one of the fluid impermeable cover and the absorbent material adjacent the fluid impermeable cover, the plurality of first RF tags distributed throughout the diaper and responsive to a wireless excitation signal for providing an indication of how much capacity of the absorbent material is available for receiving urine;
• and
• at least one uniquely identifiable second RF tag positioned in the diaper near or adjacent the fluid permeable lining or in the absorbent material adjacent the fluid permeable lining in an area of the diaper configured to be positioned adjacent an anus of a patient when worn, the at least one second RF tag responsive to the wireless excitation signal for providing an indication of the absence and presence of feces near or adjacent the at least one second RF tag.

A patient fluid discharge monitoring system comprising:

• a first liquid absorbent material configured to be positioned to receive fluid discharged from a patient;
• and
• an RF tag having a magnetostrictive element biased in a magnetic field of a magnet, the RF tag positioned in contact with or in spaced relation with the first liquid absorbent material, wherein:
• in response to receiving a wireless excitation signal in the absence of the discharged fluid in the liquid absorbent material, the RF tag re-radiates energy received from the wireless excitation signal as a first RF response signal;
• and
• in response to receiving a wireless excitation signal in the presence of the discharged fluid in the liquid absorbent material, the RF tag re-radiates energy received from the wireless excitation signal as a second RF response signal.