Nurse call button

A nurse call, also common among nurse or patient call, is an electro-optical detection system that is applied in nursing in hospitals, hospitals and other care facilities. The basic principle is still used today was designed in the 1880s by the entrepreneur and inventor Alois Zettler.

The nurse call system, the summoning of the nursing staff should be made possible by the patient in detail. In principle, a light signal at the location of the relevant person or to a Schwestern-/Pflegerzimmer is triggered when call light by means of electrical signal transmission of a signal generator in a hospital room. They can also be acoustic signals are used in place of or in addition to the light signals. The signal triggering pulse is typically transmitted by an electric cable or by a radio signal. Besides the traditional nurse call systems, the only trigger a light signal, many variations have been developed over time, which also allow over intercoms an acoustic communication. Except in Nursing Nurse call systems in many areas have become indispensable, for example, in industry, in the areas of telecommunications and telecommunications, air transport and the military.

• 3.1 Lamp Module
• 3.2 Call Module
• 3.3 Reputation and Presence panel or door combination
• 3.4 bed module with ancillary plug contact
• 3.5 Wet room module
• 3.6 Signal Summer
• 3.7 indicator panel

Legal classification

Fall for the requirements and the design according to the prior art nurse call systems in the catchment area of the standards DIN VDE 0834 " call systems in hospitals, nursing homes and similar facilities " and DIN V VDE V 0825-1 "Wireless Personal alarm systems for hazardous Single Working " and the DIN EN 50131-1 and DIN VDE 0830-1 " Guide for Facilities of alarm systems for achieving compliance with EC directives " as German version of EN 50131-1:2006 A1: 2009 " people - social alarms ".

Nurse call systems are not medical devices within the meaning of the Medical Devices Act, as they are not meant for direct monitoring of patients.

Transmission systems

LON bus

On the wired way the LON bus system (previously only designs since 2008) widespread ISO ISO / IEC DIS 14908-1 to -4, the international standard is, however, yet been adopted in any of the four parts. According to ISO 14908-2 through 4 cores in two pairs, the connected modules to be connected. Two wires are responsible here for the call forward for the power supply, the remaining two wires. According to ISO 14908-4 IP wiring is taken into account. A solution according to ISO / IEC 14908-3 with signaling via the power supply is likely to remain, at least for the signaling path from the call transmitter incompatible with VDE 0834 and is therefore more economical for the signaling path for each light signal.

ISO / IEC 14908-1 defines the standard fixed for a transfer protocol. Each module has its own LON number identifying the module in the system. To configure the type of module and the LON - number is written to the CPU to the call to declare correctly.

Local Bus

Another possibility is proprietary bus systems from different vendors. This usually 4 or 8 conductors are installed, depending on the manufacturer and product. The core distribution is similar in principle among providers, only the configuration of the components is different, since the system can be completely configured through a web interface.

IP cabling

Newer systems leave the cabling concepts of traditional telephone technology and use a compliant with international standards infrastructure for local networking. The standard VDE 0834 calls for the nurse call signaling separate wiring, so for reasons of operational reliability of the prior art, a stand-alone, industrial standards IEEE 802.3 corresponding cabling is required.

Wireless solutions

The transfer of the functions of the call buttons on a no longer bound to cable design is not explicitly excluded in the standard VDE 0834, thus formally corresponds also the recognized state of the art. However, it must be considered that the reliable message by the call button by the way the user is wearing it or holding, is dependent. A viable solution must also take into account the propagation characteristics of each device transmit frequency.

Module types

The diversity level shown the slightest selection dar. Other modules related to the cabling, the functions of the control panel and more for special adaptation to patients of different risk groups.

The assignment of the modules to the category of medical devices according to the Medical Device Directive ( short MPG) in Germany and Austria is not uniquely determined. The national implementation of the European Directive 90/385/EEC on active implantable medical devices 93/42/EEC for medical devices does the functional distinction open. As medical devices are classified for

• Diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of disease;
• Diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of or compensation for an injury or handicap;
• Investigation, replacement or modification of the anatomy or of a physiological process;

Meet all of the features explicitly mentioned formal devices for the expression of will of the patient, and consequently for the call modules not to.

Lamp module

The eye-catching lamp module as the namesake of the system concept of nurse call systems is in the hallway or passageway mounted on the door of each patient room light signal, lamp or lamp module that signals the actual reputation with different colored lamps or LEDs.

Call module

The call module or bed module ' is the triggering device for the nurse call. It is usually connected near the bed wired. It is executed at least as so-called pear button, so a combination of call button and feedback light, their status at least locally can be reset with further keystroke.

Call and presence button or door combination

This module is usually mounted near the door in the patient room and serves mainly the call acknowledgment by the nurse / the nurse or call for further assistance. The operation resets the light signal in the hallway or reports an additional requirement with a color change of the light signal. In recent call systems, there is also to report a medical emergency, which in all rooms where presence is then adjusted and runs the station doctor's room the way. Partly this is with the resuscitation team requested the same. In some installations may also cause the security to be alerted.

Bed module with ancillary plug contact

The bed module is a simple call module without the presence button. The ancillary plug contact is used to connect a passive device for call, this can be a removal contact, a bed control unit, or a diagnostic device to be.

Wet room module

Used in sanitary areas this type of module is equipped with pull cord switch or pneumatic switch with a contact who does not conduct electrical line to the patient and does not respond to key press, but with a spring or an attached hose to train or pneumatic actuation.

Signal buzzer

To improve the perception of the hidden light signals, a buzzer is activated upon triggering of a Lichtrufs that does not support further localization.

Indicator panel

In modern solutions a display device is provided in the nurse or caregiver rooms, it saves the staff to look at acoustic signal in order to localize after you activated the lamp module in the hallway. Then available, for example on the display Normal call Z. 3 B. 1 or alarm call Z. 1 toilet.