METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING POSITION AND MOVEMENT OF HUMAN BEINGS

• US 20080094226A1
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: O'Shea, Michael D., Lindsay, Jeffrey D., Madsen, Gary F., Mingerink, Corey B., Onderko, John C., Clement, Gary A., Buss, Scott J., Carey, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,733,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/06 Children, e.g. for attention deficit diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6808 Diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

Methods and systems for detecting a predetermined position of a user wearing a disposable absorbent article are given. The methods and systems may include detecting that the user of the disposable absorbent article is in the predetermined position, wherein the predetermined position is determined to be a potentially life-threatening position. In response to determining that the user is in the predetermined position, an operation of a transmitter located on the disposable absorbent article is controlled. Movement, location and/or various biometrics of the user may also be monitored.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a position of a user wearing a disposable absorbent article, comprising:

providing a body position detection system operable according to whether the user is in a predetermined position predetermined to be a potentially life-threatening position, wherein at least one component of the body position detection system includes transmitting circuitry and is located on the disposable absorbent article; and

in response to the user assuming the predetermined position, controlling wireless communication with the at least one component by performing one of;

(i) allowing wireless communication with the at least one component; and

(ii) preventing wireless communication with the at least one component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component is a wirelessly readable tag.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to the controlling wireless communication with the at least one component, indicating by a monitoring station that the predetermined position of the user is detected;

wherein indicating by the monitoring station occurs only if the user is in the predetermined position longer than a predetermined period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposable absorbent article is a diaper and wherein the predetermined position corresponds to a heightened risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component is at least partially disposed between an outer layer and an inner layer of the disposable absorbent article.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component is an RFID device and wherein the body position detection system further includes a controller located on the disposable absorbent article and configured to control the wireless communication with the RFID device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component is releasably attached to the disposable absorbent article in a manner allowing removal of the at least one component from the disposable absorbent article and subsequent reuse of the at least one component.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, detecting that the user has assumed the predetermined position;

wherein the detecting is performed by one or more sensors of the body position detection system, the one or more sensors operable to detect one or more of force and orientation according to whether the user is in the predetermined position.

9. A method for detecting a predetermined position of a user wearing a wearable item, comprising:

detecting, by a position detector of a body position detection system, that the user of the disposable absorbent article is in the predetermined position, wherein the predetermined position is determined to be a potentially life-threatening position; and

in response to determining that the user is in the predetermined position, controlling wireless communication with an RFID device of the body position detection system;

wherein the RFID device is located on the wearable item and wherein controlling wireless communication is performed by a controller located on the wearable item.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling wireless communication comprises allowing wireless communication with the RFID device by a RFID device reader.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising, responsive to the controlling wireless communication with the RFID device, indicating by a monitoring station that the predetermined position of the user is detected;

wherein indicating by the monitoring station occurs only if the user is in the predetermined position longer than a predetermined period of time and wherein the detection of the predetermined position indicates a heightened risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the wearable item is a diaper.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the wearable item is a disposable absorbent article and wherein the position detector and the RFID device are at least partially disposed between layers and of the disposable absorbent article.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the position detector consists of one or more pressure switches communicatively coupled to the controller in a manner operable to control the wireless communication with the RFID device.

15. A system for detecting a predetermined position of a user wearing a wearable item, comprising:

a position detector configured to detect that the user of the wearable item is in the predetermined position, wherein the predetermined position is determined to be a potentially life-threatening position; and

a transmitter located on the wearable item, wherein operation of the transmitter is controlled in response to the position detector detecting that the user is in the predetermined position by performing one of;

(i) establishing wireless communication with a receiving unit; and

(ii) terminating wireless communication with the receiving unit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the detection of the predetermined position indicates a heightened risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a monitoring station configured to indicate detection of the predetermined position of the user according to the state of wireless communication between the receiving unit and the transmitter;

wherein the monitoring station indicates the predetermined position only if the user remains in the predetermined position longer than a predetermined period of time.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the position detector and the transmitter are attached to the wearable item.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the position detector consists of one or more pressure switches communicatively coupled to the transmitter in a manner operable to control the wireless communication between the transmitter and the receiving unit.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the position detector consists of one or more sensors operable to detect one or more of force, orientation, a physical property, and position.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the transmitter comprises a plurality of transmitters;

and further comprising a controller located on the wearable item and configured to control the wireless communication between the receiving unit and the plurality of transmitters according to an output of the position detector.

22. A system for detecting a predetermined position of a user wearing a disposable absorbent article, comprising:

a position detector configured to detect that the user of the disposable absorbent article is in the predetermined position, wherein the predetermined position is determined to be a potentially life-threatening position; and

an RFID tag located on the disposable absorbent article, wherein operation of the RFID tag is controlled in response to the position detector detecting that the user is in the predetermined position by performing one of;

(i) establishing wireless communication between the RFID tag and a receiving unit; and

(ii) terminating wireless communication between the RFID tag and the receiving unit.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the disposable absorbent article is a diaper and the RFID tag is at least partially disposed between an outer layer and an inner layer of the diaper.