Communication system, device and method

Abstract

A communication system for conveying needs between two individuals who cannot verbally communicate with one another. The system is especially useful for use with incapacitated patients and includes a plurality of items which represent several conditions that the patients may experience and which may be corrected by a caregiver. The items are bound together such that an incapacitated patient may easily access an appropriate item and point to it to indicate to the caregiver that corrective action needs to be taken. In this manner, a communication system is developed between the incapacitated patient and the caregiver that does not rely on verbal communications.

1 . A communication system for incapacitated patients who cannot verbally communicate with a caregiver, said communication system comprising: a plurality of charms bound together, each charm having an individual shape such that an incapacitated patient can determine a shape of each by touching the charms and without seeing the charms, each charm representative of a condition that a patient may experience, the plurality of charms maintained near an incapacitated patient such that said incapacitated patient may easily access one or more of the plurality of charms to convey to a caregiver an adverse condition being experienced by the incapacitated patient by selecting a charm by tactile feel; and, an instruction manual having a key that explains the meaning of each charm, wherein said plurality of charms each having one or more meanings selected from a group consisting of a temperature in the incapacitated patient's room is too hot, the temperature in the incapacitated patient's room is too cold, the incapacitated patient is wet and needs to undertake a change of clothing, the incapacitated patient is in need of an object, where is a family member of the incapacitated patient, the incapacitated patient cannot reach a first object and needs assistance in retrieving the first object, the incapacitated patient has dropped a second object and cannot retrieve the second object, and the incapacitated patient wants a third object. 
     
     
         2 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of charms are bound together on a bracelet that is worn about the incapacitated patient's wrist. 
     
     
         3 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of charms are bound together on a necklace that is worn about the incapacitated patient's neck. 
     
     
         4 . The communication system of  claim 3  wherein said necklace comprises a bracelet and an add-on piece of wire having a split ring at one end and a catch at an opposite end. 
     
     
         5 . The communication system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of charms include one or more selected from a group consisting of a hot pepper, an ice cube, a star, a teardrop, a doughnut, a heart and a hand. 
     
     
         6 . A communication device comprising: a loop of material that is arranged around a part of a wearer's body; a plurality of trinkets arranged on the loop of material, each trinket having an individual shape and meaning to convey a need from the wearer of the communication device to an individual who can alleviate the need being experienced by the wearer; a plurality of beads separating each trinket of the plurality of trinkets such that the wearer may recognize each trinket through tactile feeling of the wearer's fingertips; and, an instruction manual providing a meaning that is associated with each of the trinkets and having the trinkets displayed thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The communication system of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of trinkets are bound together on a bracelet that is worn about the wearer's wrist. 
     
     
         8 . The communication system of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of trinkets are bound together on a necklace that is worn about the wearer's neck. 
     
     
         9 . The communication system of  claim 8  wherein said necklace comprises a bracelet and an add-on piece of wire having a split ring at one end and a catch at an opposite end. 
     
     
         10 . The communication system of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of trinkets include one or more selected from a group consisting of a hot pepper, an ice cube, a star, a teardrop, a doughnut, a heart and a hand. 
     
     
         11 . The communication system of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of beads comprises plastic beads. 
     
     
         12 . The communication system of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of beads comprises glass beads. 
     
     
         13 . A method for providing a communication system between a caregiver and an incapacitated patient who cannot verbally communicate with the caregiver, said method comprising:
 providing an article of manufacture that includes a plurality of items that represent a variety of needs of a patient, said plurality of items include one or more selected from a group consisting of a hot pepper, an ice cube, a star, a teardrop, a doughnut, a heart and a hand, each item of the plurality of items having an unique shape that assists sight impaired incapacitated patients in identifying each item through tactile feel;   providing an instruction guide on operating the communication system to the incapacitated patient and arranging for the instruction guide to be maintained within a room in which the patient is maintained;   securing the article of manufacture to a particular part of the incapacitated patient that is within reach by the incapacitated patient; and,   indicating through the incapacitated patient to the caregiver by touching or pointing towards an item of the article of manufacture to represent a particular need when an associated need is experienced by the incapacitated patient.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further including: providing instructions to the incapacitated patient through one of displaying the communication system to the user and placing the communication system into a hand of the incapacitated patient such that incapacitated patients who are visually impaired use tactile feel and an audible command from the caregiver to describe each item in the article of manufacture and associated meaning. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further including: the caregiver querying the incapacitated patient with a series of questions relating to a particular meaning of an item after the incapacitated patient has pointed towards or touched an item on the article of manufacture.