MOTION MONITORING APPARATUS

• US 20080091122A1
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colin Dunlop
• Original Assignee: Colin Dunlop
• Inventors: DUNLOP, Colin
• Granted Patent: US 7,883,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1106 to assess neuromuscular blockade, e.g. to estimate depth of anaesthesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motion monitoring apparatus and method for monitoring a patient under medical care. A sensor arrangement is provided in the form of a pad which the patient lies on. The sensor arrangement provides a signal which can be monitored to observe motion of the patient and provide an alarm should the motion meet certain predetermined conditions. The invention is particularly applicable for monitoring patients under sedation, recovering from anaesthesia, or in intensive care. The device is particularly useful for veterinary patients.

Claims

1-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A method of monitoring a patient under medical care, the method comprising steps of:

providing a sensor arrangement which is arranged to detect motion of the head, limbs and trunk of the patient, and respiratory motion of the patient and produce a motion signal in response to the motion,

monitoring the motion signal,

analysing the motion signal to determine the rate of the motion signal and determine whether the rate of the motion signal is indicative of patient arousal, and

providing an alarm should the monitored motion be indicative of patient arousal.

48. The method in accordance with claim 47, wherein the patient is a non-human animal.

49. The method in accordance with claim 47, wherein the patient is a human.

50. A device for monitoring a patient under medical care, the device comprising a sensor arrangement which is arranged to detect motion of the head, limbs and trunk of the patient, and respiratory motion of the patient and produce a motion signal in response to the motion, and a control means which is arranged to process signals received from the sensor arrangement and analyse the motion signal to determine the rate of the motion signal and determine whether the rate of the motion signal is indicative of a patient arousal, and to provide an alarm should the detected motion be indicative of patient arousal.

51. The device in accordance with claim 50, arranged for use with non-human animal patients.

52. The device in accordance with claim 50, wherein the device is arranged for a human patient.

53. A method of monitoring a patient under medical care, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor arrangement which is arranged to detect motion of the head, limbs and trunk of the patient, and produce a motion signal in response to the motion of a patient, and

analysing the motion signal to determine whether or not the patient is displaying signs of painfulness.

54. The method in accordance with claim 53, wherein if the analysis of the motion signal determines that the motion includes rhythmic, repetitive motion of the limbs, head, or trunk, a determination is made that the patient is displaying signs of painfulness.

55. The method in accordance with claim 53, wherein the step of detecting motion of the patient includes detecting respiratory motion of the patient and producing a motion signal in response to the respiratory motion.

56. The method in accordance with claim 55, wherein the respiratory motion and head, limb, trunk motion are monitored by the same sensor arrangement.

57. The method in accordance with claim 55, wherein the respiratory motion and head, limb, trunk motion are monitored by separate sensor arrangements.

58. The method in accordance with claim 55, wherein the motion signal is a single motion signal generated from a combination of head, limb, trunk motion and respiratory motion.

59. The method in accordance with claim 55, wherein the motion signal includes a first motion signal generated from the head, limb, trunk motion and a second motion signal generated from the respiratory motion.

60. The method in accordance with claim 59, wherein the patient is a non-human animal patient.

61. The method in accordance with claim 59, wherein the patient is a human patient.

73. The method in accordance with claim 53, comprising the further step of controlling operation of a peripheral device in response to the analysis.

62. A device for monitoring a patient under medical care, the device comprising a sensor arrangement which is arranged to detect motion of the head, limbs and trunk of the patient and produce a motion signal in response to the motion, and a control means which is arranged to process the motion signal and analyse the motion signal, to determine whether or not the patient is displaying signs of painfulness.

63. The device in accordance with claim 62, wherein the control means is arranged to determine that the patient is displaying signs of painfulness if the motion signal is determined to include rhythmic repetitive motion.

64. The device in accordance with claim 62 wherein the device includes a sensor arrangement for detecting respiratory motion of the patient and producing a motion signal in response to the respiratory motion.

65. The device in accordance with claim 64, wherein the respiratory motion and head, limb, trunk motion are monitored by the same sensor arrangement.

66. The device in accordance with claim 64, wherein the respiratory motion and head, limb, trunk motion are monitored by a separate sensor arrangement.

67. The device in accordance with claim 64, wherein the motion signal is a single motion signal generated from a combination of head, limb, trunk motion and respiratory motion.

68. The device in accordance with claim 64, wherein the motion signal includes a first motion signal generated from the head, limb, trunk motion and a second motion signal generated from the respiratory motion.

69. The device in accordance with claim 62, wherein the patient is a non-human animal patient.

70. The device in accordance with claim 62, wherein the patient is a human patient.

71. The device in accordance with claim 62, arranged to output a graphical output which indicates the rate of motion over a time period of the patient, which can be used to determine the painfulness of the patient.

74. The device in accordance with claim 62, further comprising means for controlling operation of a peripheral device, responsive to the control means.

72. The device in accordance with 62, wherein the sensor arrangement is arranged to monitor respiratory motion of the patient.