Methods and systems for monitoring a patient to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers
First Claim
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1. A system for monitoring a patient to prevent and treat pressure ulcers, the system including:
- a sensor array configured to be disposed between a patient and a support surface, the sensor array including a plurality of individual nodes forming a two-dimensional matrix of nodes that is configured to cover at least a portion of the support surface, each individual node including at least a pressure sensor and an oxygen saturation sensor configured to transmit signals indicative of interfacial pressure and blood oxygen saturation levels in tissue in the patient'"'"'s body, wherein strands of different sensor types are woven together to create the sensor array; and
a processor coupled to the sensor array and configured to;
receive the signals transmitted by the nodes in the sensor array,monitor the signals transmitted by the nodes in the sensor array to measure values of at least interfacial pressure and blood oxygen saturation of the patient,determine whether a measured value exceeds a threshold value of at least one of interfacial pressure and blood oxygen saturation, anddetermine an undesirable condition exists in response to the measured value exceeding the threshold value.
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for preventing and treating pressure ulcers in bedfast patients. The invention includes monitoring a bedfast patient using a sensor array disposed between a patient and a support surface, the sensor array adapted to transmit signals indicative of interfacial pressure and blood oxygen saturation levels; and a processor coupled to the sensor array and adapted to receive the signals from the sensor array to determine if an undesirable condition exists. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring a patient to prevent and treat pressure ulcers, the system including:
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a sensor array configured to be disposed between a patient and a support surface, the sensor array including a plurality of individual nodes forming a two-dimensional matrix of nodes that is configured to cover at least a portion of the support surface, each individual node including at least a pressure sensor and an oxygen saturation sensor configured to transmit signals indicative of interfacial pressure and blood oxygen saturation levels in tissue in the patient'"'"'s body, wherein strands of different sensor types are woven together to create the sensor array; and a processor coupled to the sensor array and configured to; receive the signals transmitted by the nodes in the sensor array, monitor the signals transmitted by the nodes in the sensor array to measure values of at least interfacial pressure and blood oxygen saturation of the patient, determine whether a measured value exceeds a threshold value of at least one of interfacial pressure and blood oxygen saturation, and determine an undesirable condition exists in response to the measured value exceeding the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of monitoring a patient to prevent and treat pressure ulcers, the method including:
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disposing a sensor array between a patient and a support surface, the sensor array including a two-dimensional matrix of individual nodes that cover at least a portion of the support surface, each individual node including at least a pressure sensor and an oxygen saturation sensor adapted to transmit signals indicative of at least interfacial pressure and blood oxygen saturation levels in tissue in the patient'"'"'s body, wherein strands of different sensor types are woven together to create the sensor array; receiving the signals transmitted by the nodes in the sensor array; monitoring the signals transmitted by the nodes in the sensor array to measure values of at least interfacial pressure and blood oxygen saturation of the patient; and determining whether a measured value exceeds a threshold value of at least one of interfacial pressure and blood oxygen saturation; and determining an undesirable condition exists in response to the measured value exceeding the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification