Patient movement and incontinence notification system

• US 10,722,146 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2018
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parasol Medical LLC
• Original Assignee: Parasol Medical LLC
• Inventors: Kilcran, Michael D., Eddy, Patrick E., Stephens, Jacob D., Stephens, Lucas W., Kilcran, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako K
• Application Number:
  US16/101,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20190051137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/202 Assessing bladder functions, e.g. incontinence assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6808 Diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6894 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/424 having an electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A notification system is provided that provides notification of patient events such as movement and/or incontinence. The notification system provides for a plurality of different pressure sensor pads as well as an incontinence pad to be used in association with a single monitor.

Claims

1. A patient movement notification system, comprising:

a sensor pad comprising a pressure sensor for sensing pressure applied by a patient, and a transmitter circuit for transmitting a pressure signal; and

a monitor having a receiver for receiving the pressure signal from the sensor pad, and a controller coupled to the receiver, the controller determining whether the pressure signal indicates that the patient is no longer applying pressure to the sensor pad and generating a notification of patient movement in response to the pressure signal if the pressure signal indicates that the patient is no longer applying pressure to the sensor pad; and

at least one light for illuminating an area of the floor near the patient,

wherein the controller controls the at least one light to selectively illuminate the area of the floor near the patient, wherein the monitor further comprises a housing in which the controller and the receiver are disposed, the housing including a mount for mounting the housing to a wall, and wherein the at least one light is disposed in the housing so as to project light from the housing to selectively illuminate the area of the floor near the patient, and wherein the monitor further includes a plurality of indicator lights for indicating a status of the sensor pad, the at least one light being separate from the plurality of indicator lights, and

wherein the controller activates the at least one light in response to a determination that the pressure signal indicates that the patient is no longer applying pressure to the sensor pad.

2. The patient movement notification system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is part of a transceiver and the controller wirelessly controls the at least one light through the transceiver.

3. The patient movement notification system of claim 1 and further comprising a light strip for selectively illuminating an area where the patient is located, wherein the receiver is part of a transceiver and the controller wirelessly controls the light strip through the transceiver.

4. A patient movement notification system, comprising:

a sensor pad comprising a pressure sensor for sensing pressure applied by a patient, and a transmitter circuit for transmitting a pressure signal;

a light strip for selectively illuminating a path on a floor from a bed to a bathroom; and

a monitor having a receiver for receiving the pressure signal from the sensor pad, the monitor generating a notification of patient movement in response to the pressure signal if the pressure signal indicates that the patient is no longer applying pressure to the sensor pad, the monitor having a mount for mounting the monitor to a wall,

wherein the monitor is communicatively coupled to the light strip for controlling the light strip to illuminate the path in response to the pressure signal if the pressure signal indicates that the patient is no longer applying pressure to the sensor pad, wherein the monitor wirelessly transmits control signals to the light strip.

5. The patient movement notification system of claim 4 and further comprising at least one light for illuminating an area near the patient, wherein the monitor further comprises a housing in which the receiver is disposed, and wherein the at least one light is disposed in the housing so as to project light from the housing, wherein the monitor controls the at least one light to selectively illuminate the area near the patient.

6. The patient movement notification system of claim 4, wherein the monitor further includes a touchscreen display and a controller coupled to the receiver and the touchscreen display, wherein the controller is responsive to inputs received from the touchscreen display and controls images displayed on the touchscreen display.

7. A patient movement notification system, comprising:

a sensor pad comprising a pressure sensor for sensing pressure applied by a patient, and a transmitter circuit for transmitting a pressure signal;

at least one light for illuminating an area of a floor near the patient; and

a monitor having a receiver for receiving the pressure signal from the sensor pad, the monitor generating a notification of patient movement in response to the pressure signal if the pressure signal indicates that the patient is no longer applying pressure to the sensor pad,

wherein the monitor further includes a touchscreen display and a controller coupled to the receiver and the touchscreen display, wherein the controller is responsive to inputs received from the touchscreen display and controls images displayed on the touchscreen display, wherein the monitor further comprises a housing in which the touchscreen display, the controller, and the receiver are disposed, the housing including a mount for mounting the housing to a wall, and wherein the at least one light is disposed in the housing so as to project light from the housing to selectively illuminate the area of the floor near the patient, and wherein the at least one light being separate from the touchscreen display.

8. The patient movement notification system of claim 7 and further comprising:

a light strip for selectively illuminating an area where the patient is located, and

wherein the monitor is communicatively coupled to the light strip for controlling the light strip to illuminate the area in response to the pressure signal if the pressure signal indicates that the patient is no longer applying pressure to the sensor pad.