Feedback control system to reduce the risk of pressure sores
First Claim
1. A method of reducing the risk of development of pressure sores in a patient, wherein is provided a mechanical system for automatically adjusting the patient'"'"'s position in a bed or chair, comprising the steps of:
- (a) specifying a turn interval (b) initializing a timer, thereby starting the measurement of elapsed time;
(c) determining an initial patient position;
(d) determining a then-current measurement of elapsed time;
(e) determining a then-current patient position, (f) performing steps (d) and (e) until the first to happen of (f1) the patient changes position from said initial position, or (f2) said then-current elapsed time is greater than said turn interval;
(g) if the patient has changed position and said then-current elapsed time is less than said turn interval, (g1) reinitializing said timer, thereby starting again the measurement of elapsed time, and (g2) continuing to perform steps (d) through (f) as needed to reduce the risk of pressure sores in the patient; and
, (h) if the patient has not changed position and said then-current elapsed time is greater than said turn interval, mechanically adjusting the patient'"'"'s position to a position different from said initial patient position using said mechanical system, thereby reducing the risk of development of pressure sores in the patient,
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided herein a support surface such as a bed or chair which contains a network of inelastic straps, the tension in each of which can be independently sensed and adjusted under control of an electronic monitor. Preferably, each strap will contain a plurality of sensors to allow an attached electronic monitor (preferably one with a microprocessor) to determine in real time the amount of pressure (or the duration of the pressure) applied to each strap. Based on that information, the attached monitor will periodically loosen or tighten the straps as needed to move support for the patient'"'"'s body away from current pressure points. In one preferred arrangement, each strap will preferably be loosened or tightened through the use of a worm gear drive or similar mechanical motor.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of reducing the risk of development of pressure sores in a patient, wherein is provided a mechanical system for automatically adjusting the patient'"'"'s position in a bed or chair, comprising the steps of:
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(a) specifying a turn interval (b) initializing a timer, thereby starting the measurement of elapsed time;
(c) determining an initial patient position;
(d) determining a then-current measurement of elapsed time;
(e) determining a then-current patient position, (f) performing steps (d) and (e) until the first to happen of (f1) the patient changes position from said initial position, or (f2) said then-current elapsed time is greater than said turn interval;
(g) if the patient has changed position and said then-current elapsed time is less than said turn interval, (g1) reinitializing said timer, thereby starting again the measurement of elapsed time, and (g2) continuing to perform steps (d) through (f) as needed to reduce the risk of pressure sores in the patient; and
,(h) if the patient has not changed position and said then-current elapsed time is greater than said turn interval, mechanically adjusting the patient'"'"'s position to a position different from said initial patient position using said mechanical system, thereby reducing the risk of development of pressure sores in the patient, - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for reducing the risk of development of pressure sores in a patient at rest on a support surface, comprising:
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(a) a support surface frame, said frame having a rigid periphery and an interior;
(b) a network of straps suspended from said frame periphery, (b1) said straps being for supporting at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s weight thereon, and, (b2) each of said straps having a first terminus and a second terminus;
(c) at least one tensioning device in mechanical communication with each of said first and said second strap ends, said tensioning device for adjusting a tension in various ones of said straps;
(d) a microprocessor in electronic communication with said at least one tensioning devices and controlling an amount of tension in each of said straps thereby, said microprocessor being programmed to respond to a plurality of computer instructions comprising;
(d1) identifying at least one pressure point on the patient'"'"'s body that is in contact with at least one of said support straps, (d2) identifying one or more straps proximate to each of said at least one pressure points, thereby identifying at least one support strap, (d3) determining a value representative of a tension in each of said support straps, (d4) identifying at least one strap different from said support straps, thereby identifying at least one non-support strap, (d5) determining a value representative of a tension in said at least one of said non-support straps, and, (d6) transmitting a signal to at least one of said at least one tensioning devices, said signal at least containing instructions for increasing said tension in at least one of said non-support straps and decreasing said tension in at least one of said support straps, thereby redistributing the point of pressure to a different location on the patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for reducing the risk of development of pressure sores in a patient at rest on a support surface,
wherein is provided a support surface comprised of an interleaved network of supporting straps suspended from a generally rigid frame, wherein a value representative of the weight being born by each of supporting said straps may be automatically determined, and, wherein a tension in said plurality of straps may be automatically varied, comprising the steps of: -
(a) selecting at least two of said straps;
(b) for each of said selected straps, measuring at least one value representative of a proportion of the patient'"'"'s weight being supported thereby;
(c) using at least two of said measured values to identify at least one pressure point on the patient'"'"'s body that is in contact with said straps;
(d) identifying one or more straps proximate to each of said at least one pressure points, thereby identifying at least one support strap;
(e) determining a value representative of a tension in each of said support straps;
(f) identifying at least one strap different from said support straps, thereby identifying at least one non-support strap;
(g) determining a value representative of a tension in each of said non-support straps, and, (h) transmitting a signal to at least one of said at least one tensioning devices, said signal at least containing instructions for increasing said tension in at least one of said non-support straps and decreasing said tension in at least one of said support straps, thereby moving at least one of said pressure points to a different location on the patient'"'"'s body and reducing the patient'"'"'s risk of developing pressure sores. - View Dependent Claims (15, 17)
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16. A bed for reducing the risk of development of pressure sores in a patient at rest thereon, comprising:
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(a) a hinged support surface, said support surface being sized to accommodate a patient lying thereon, said support surface having at least two longitudinal hinges therein, said hinges dividing said support surface into at least three planar support members, each of said support members being movable under control of a microprocessor with respect to an adjacent member along one of said longitudinal hinges to adjust an inclination angle therebetween;
(b) at least one sensor for detecting at least approximately the location of the patient on the support surface;
(c) a microprocessor in electronic communication with said at least one sensor, said microprocessor at least for executing computer code that implements the following instructions;
(c1) selecting a patient turn interval;
(c2) selecting a patient persistence time interval greater than or equal to zero;
(c3) determining an initial patient location;
(c4) at some point later in time after said initial patient location is determined, determining a then-current patient location;
(c5) comparing said then-current patient location with said initial patient location;
(c6) determining an approximate amount of time between said determination of said initial patient location and said determination of said then-current patient location, thereby determining an elapsed time;
(c7) if said then-current patient location is different from said initial patient location, and if said elapsed time is less than said patient turn interval, determining a new initial patient location for use thereafter;
(c8) if said then-current patient location is approximately the same as said initial patient location, and if said elapsed time is less than said patient turn interval, continuing to monitor the patient by performing at least steps (c4) through (c6);
(c9) if said then-current patient location is approximately the same as said initial patient location, and if said elapsed time is greater than or equal to said patient turn interval, (i) using one or more values representative of said then-current patient location to determine one or more of said support members on which the patient is located, (ii) selecting at least one of said longitudinal hinges adjacent to at least one of said support members on which the patient is located, and, (iii) flexing each of said selected longitudinal hinges, thereby moving the patient to a new location.
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18. An apparatus for reducing the risk of development of pressure sores in a patient at rest thereon, comprising:
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(a) a frame commensurate in size to the patient;
(b) a plurality of separately adjustable support elements mounted on said frame, each of said support elements having at least one sensor associated therewith, said sensors being at least for determining a value representative of a weight of the patient thereon and for sending a signal representative of said value;
(c) a lifting mechanism in mechanical communication with each of said support elements and, (e) a microprocessor in electronic communication with said sensors and said lifting elements, said microprocessor at least for raising and lowering said support elements in response to said sensor element signals in order to for reduce the risk of development of pressure sores in the patient - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification