Fitted Mattress Cover with Integrated Sensor Elements for Monitoring the Presence of a Person on a Mattress

Abstract

A bedding system component that provides for the incorporation of sensor elements into a fitted mattress cover for the detection of dielectric shift induced capacitance changes for the monitoring of the presence or absence of a person in a medical bed. The mattress cover is preferably fitted so as to be securely retained over and around the standard sized hospital patient beds. A variety of sizes are anticipated. The sensor elements are unobtrusively placed on the underside of the mattress cover and are provided with conductive snap connectors for connection to one or more of the patient monitoring systems described in the references cited above. The sensors are preferably configured using conductive ink and may be printed onto the underside surface of the fabric mattress cover. The fabric of the cover is preferably Tyvek® material or another inexpensive (disposable) material with similar strength and water resistant characteristics. An alternate embodiment of the present invention includes an array of perforations on the top surface to permit use of the cover on low air loss mattresses.

1 . A bedding system component comprising a fitted mattress cover for placement over a bed sized mattress support surface, the mattress cover comprising:
 a top panel sized and shaped to generally cover the support surface of the bed sized mattress, the top panel comprising a sheet of flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers;   a plurality of elastic members attached to the top panel for securing the top panel to the support surface of the bed sized mattress;   first and second sensor elements extending in a spaced relationship to each other at least partially across the top panel, the sensor elements each comprising printed areas of conductive ink deposited on a surface of the top panel; and   first and second electrical connectors, each connector electrically engaging one of the first or second sensor elements;   wherein connection of the electrical connectors to a patient monitoring system allows the mattress cover to function as a sensor for the detection of dielectric shift induced capacitance changes for the monitoring of the presence or absence of a person.