Apparatus and method for reducing the risk of decubitus ulcers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for reducing the risk of occurrence of decubitus ulcers in a patient at rest on a support surface, wherein is provided a predetermined patient turn interval, comprising:
- (a) a patient location sensor for determining at least approximately a location of the patient on the support surface;
(b) a time circuit;
(c) a microprocessor in electronic communication with said patient location sensor and said time circuit, said microprocessor at least for (c1) determining from said time circuit and said patient location sensor a time since the patient last significantly changed location, and, (c2) initiating a signal indicative of a state of the patient depending on at least said patient location and said time since the patient last significantly changed location; and
, (d) an alarm in electronic communication with said microprocessor and responsive thereto, said alarm at least for responding to said signal indicative of a state of the patient to produce an alarm signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided herein a sensor for use in patient monitoring, wherein the level of patient activity in a chair or bed is tracked to determine whether or not that patient has exhibited sufficient activity to merit eliminating a scheduled assisted relocation to a new position. The instant device senses the time since a patient last relocated into a different sitting or lying position. If the patient has not moved during some predetermined time period, the nursing staff will be notified that it is time to manually reposition the patient. On the other hand, if the patient has significantly changed position, the device will not signal to the caregiver that a move is necessary, thereby eliminating the need in some cases to rouse the patient from an otherwise sound sleep.
183 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reducing the risk of occurrence of decubitus ulcers in a patient at rest on a support surface, wherein is provided a predetermined patient turn interval, comprising:
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(a) a patient location sensor for determining at least approximately a location of the patient on the support surface;
(b) a time circuit;
(c) a microprocessor in electronic communication with said patient location sensor and said time circuit, said microprocessor at least for (c1) determining from said time circuit and said patient location sensor a time since the patient last significantly changed location, and, (c2) initiating a signal indicative of a state of the patient depending on at least said patient location and said time since the patient last significantly changed location; and
,(d) an alarm in electronic communication with said microprocessor and responsive thereto, said alarm at least for responding to said signal indicative of a state of the patient to produce an alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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7. An apparatus for reducing the risk of occurrence of decubitus ulcers in a patient according to claim 7, wherein said bed has four legs and wherein said location sensor includes at least four weight sensors, one weight sensor being positioned under each of said four bed legs.
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13. A method for reducing the risk of occurrence of decubitus ulcers in a patient, comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting a patient turn interval;
(b) selecting a persistence time period;
(c) determining a first position of the patient;
(d) determining a start time contemporaneously with the determination of step (c);
(e) determining a current position of the patient;
(f) comparing said first position and said current position to determine if the patient has changed position;
(g) if the patient has not changed position, (g1) determining an elapsed time since said start time, (g2) comparing said elapsed time with said selected turn interval, and, (g3) activating an alarm if said elapsed time exceeds said selected turn interval;
(h) if the patient has changed position, (h1) continuing to monitor the patient for a period of time at least equal to the persistence time period, (h2) if the patient returns at least approximately to said first position before the end of the persistence time period, continuing to monitor the patient until at least the end of said selected turn interval. (h3) if the patient does not return to said first position before the end of the persistence period, (i) determining a new first position, (ii) determining a new start time contemporaneously with said determination of said new first position, and, (iii) continuing to monitor the patient according to steps (e) though (h) using said new start time in place of said start time and said new first position in place of said first position.
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14. A method for reducing the risk of occurrence of decubitus ulcers in a patient at rest on a support surface, comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting a patient turn interval;
(b) selecting a persistence time period, said persistence time period being less than said patient turn interval and greater than zero;
(c) determining an initial position of the patient on the support surface;
(d) continuously monitoring a patient'"'"'s position on a support surface for a period of time at least as long as said patient turn interval;
(e) if, during the monitoring period, the patient did not move from said initial position, activating an alarm at the end of the patient turn interval;
(f) if, during the monitoring period, the patient moved from said initial position to a new position, but said new position was not maintained for a period of time at least as long as said persistence time, activating an alarm at the end of the patient turn interval;
(g) if, during the monitoring period, the patient moved from said initial position to said new position, and said new position was maintained for a period of time at least as long as said persistence time, continuing to monitor the patient until at least the end of the patient turn interval; and
,(h) performing at least steps (c) through (g) as necessary to reduce the risk of occurrence of decubitus ulcers in the patient.
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15. An apparatus for reducing the risk of occurrence of decubitus ulcers in a patient at rest on a support surface, wherein is provided a predetermined patient turn interval, comprising:
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(a) a patient location sensor for determining at least approximately a location of the patient on the support surface;
(b) a time circuit;
(c) a monitor circuit in electronic communication with said patient location sensor and said time circuit, said monitor circuit at least for (c1) determining from said time circuit and said patient location sensor a time since the patient last significantly changed location, and, (c2) initiating a signal indicative of a state of the patient depending on at least said patient location and said time since the patient last significantly changed location; and
,(e) an alarm in electronic communication with said monitor circuit and responsive thereto, said alarm at least for responding to said signal indicative of a state of the patient to produce an alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification