Ambient sensing of patient discomfort

• US 10,034,979 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Bechtel, Stephanie Palmer, Nolte, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Nganga, Boniface N
• Application Number:
  US14/244,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20140213845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0252 Load cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/029 Humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6889 Rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/00 Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons stretchers with facilities for picking up patients or disabled persons A61G1/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/002 having adjustable mattress frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 : by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 : by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 : images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 : for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0241 : Anaesthetics; Analgesics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 : with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 : Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 : Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 : Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 : using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 : by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 : by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 : by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 : providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 : Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 : Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/80 : voice-operated command
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/12 : Blood circulatory system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 : Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/62 : Posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 : Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 : electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 : Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/22 : Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/174 : Facial expression recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 : Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 : detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 : Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0492 : Sensor dual technology, i.e. two or more technologies collaborate to extract unsafe condition, e.g. video tracking and RFID tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 : with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 : relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 : for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 : for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/00 : ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical references

Abstract

Methods, computer systems, and computer-readable storage media for monitoring and managing patient discomfort are provided. Inputs are received from ambient sensors located in a clinical care room. Based on a determination that the inputs exceed predetermined thresholds, it is determined that the patient is experiencing discomfort. Various measures are automatically initiated to help diminish the patient'"'"'s discomfort. The measures include aromatherapy, visual relaxation therapy, audio therapy, and automatic administration of pain relief.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having embodied thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method for minimizing a patient'"'"'s discomfort, the method comprising:

receiving vital signs data from one or more vital signs monitors associated with the patient;

upon receiving an indicator of potential patient discomfort from the vital signs data, automatically receiving one or more inputs from ambient sensors in a clinical care room, the ambient sensors comprising at least a camera positioned to record an image of the patient'"'"'s facial expression, the one or more inputs comprising at least a first image of the patient'"'"'s facial expression captured by the camera;

determining that the patient is experiencing discomfort by analyzing the first image of the patient'"'"'s facial expression; and

based on determining that the patient is experiencing discomfort, automatically and without human intervention adjusting settings for components within the clinical care room such that the patient'"'"'s discomfort is diminished.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein the camera is positioned on the ceiling of the clinical care room over the patient'"'"'s bed.

3. The media of claim 1, wherein the camera is positioned on a wall at the head of the patient'"'"'s bed.

4. The media of claim 1, wherein the camera is programmed to record an image of the patient'"'"'s facial expression at preset intervals upon receiving the indicator of potential patient discomfort from the vital signs data.

5. The media of claim 4, wherein the preset intervals comprise at least one of every five minutes or every ten minutes.

6. The media of claim 1, wherein the indicator of patient discomfort is received incident to the one or more the vital signs monitors detecting that the patient'"'"'s heart rate and respiratory rate are elevated.

7. The media of claim 1, further comprising determining a severity level of the patient'"'"'s discomfort based on the analyzing of the first image of the patient'"'"'s facial expression.

8. The media of claim 1, wherein the ambient sensors further comprise one or more of a depth camera, an audio sensor, a vital signs monitor, a weight sensor, or a moisture sensor.

9. The media of claim 1, further comprising based on determining that the patient is experiencing discomfort, automatically and without human intervention notifying one or more clinicians that the patient is experiencing discomfort.

10. The media of claim 1, wherein automatically and without human intervention adjusting the settings for the components within the clinical care room comprises at least one of:

1) initiating aromatherapy;

     2) initiating audio therapy;

or

     3) initiating visual therapy.

11. The media of claim 10, wherein the at least one of aromatherapy, the audio therapy, or the visual therapy are pre-selected by the patient.

12. A computerized method carried out by at least one server having at least one processor for automatically and without human intervention transitioning a patient'"'"'s clinical care room from a first scene to a second scene in order to facilitate patient pain management, the method comprising:

presenting the first scene in the clinical care room, the clinical care room having one or more zones comprising a clinician zone, a patient zone, and a family zone, and the first scene being associated with a first group of settings for components within at least the patient zone;

receiving vital signs data from one or more vital signs monitors associated with the patient;

upon receiving an indicator of potential patient discomfort from the vital signs data, automatically receiving one or more inputs from a camera located in the clinical care room, the one or more inputs comprising at least an image of the patient'"'"'s face;

determining, using the at least one processor, that the patient is experiencing pain based on the image of the patient'"'"'s face; and

based on determining that the patient is experiencing pain, automatically and without human intervention transitioning to the second scene in the patient zone to facilitate management of the patient'"'"'s pain, wherein transitioning to the second scene in the patient zone comprises implementing a second group of settings for the components in the at least the patient zone.

13. The computerized method of claim 12, wherein the second group of settings comprises at least one of:

adjusting one or more lights in the clinical care room to facilitate management of the patient'"'"'s pain,

displaying on a digital room sign located outside the clinical care room'"'"'s entrance an indication that the patient is experiencing pain,

initiating play of pre-selected music selections,

displaying a pre-selected scene on at least one of a digital window or a digital ceiling, or

establishing a communication path between the patient and a clinician associated with the patient.

14. The computerized method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving an indication from the patient that pain management was successful; and

incident to receiving the indication from the patient that the pain management was successful, automatically providing the first scene in the clinical care room.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method of monitoring a patient in a clinical care room to detect patient discomfort, the method comprising:

receiving vital signs data from one or more vital signs monitors associated with the patient;

upon receiving an indicator of potential patient discomfort from the vital signs data, automatically capturing a facial image of the patient using a camera;

determining that the facial image indicates that the patient is experiencing discomfort;

accessing an image of the patient'"'"'s normal resting face stored in association with the patient'"'"'s electronic medical record (EMR);

determining a severity level of the patient'"'"'s discomfort by comparing the facial image to the image of the patient'"'"'s normal resting face; and

when the severity level of the patient'"'"'s discomfort is above a predefined threshold, automatically and without human intervention, adjusting settings for components within the clinical care room such that the patient'"'"'s discomfort is diminished.

16. The media of claim 15, wherein adjusting the settings for components within the clinical care room such that the patient'"'"'s discomfort is diminished comprises at least configuring a medical device to automatically administer pain relief.

17. The media of claim 16, wherein the pain relief is automatically administered after receiving verification and authorization from a clinician.

18. The media of claim 16, wherein the pain relief is automatically administered after:

accessing the patient'"'"'s EMR to;

determine that a predetermined period of time has passed since the patient was last administered pain relief,

determine that appropriate safety measures are in place, and

determine a dosage of pain relief that was last administered to the patient; and

determining that a severity level of the discomfort exceeds a predetermined threshold.