BED EXIT AND PATIENT DETECTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. Bed patient monitoring apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of discrete pressure sensors for installation at multiple locations along the length and width of a bed proximate areas occupied by the torso, hips and leg portions of a patient reclining on the bed for detecting the presence thereon and absence thereof of the patient'"'"'s anatomy;
a first defined set of sensor state combinations indicating the presence of a patient in a central portion of the bed;
a second defined set of sensor state combinations indicating that the patient is in a location on the bed wherein the patient is approaching exiting the bed at the side of the bed;
a third defined set of sensor state combinations indicating that the patient is in a location on the bed wherein the patient is approaching exiting near the foot of the bed;
a fourth defined set of sensor state combinations indicating the absence of the patient from the bed;
a signal processor in communication with the sensors for receiving electrical signals from the sensors indicative of the sensor states and for determining whether the sensor states are in said first, second, third or fourth set of sensor state combinations; and
an alarm processor in communication with the signal processor configured to produce one or more alarm indications when the sensor states remain within one of said second, third or fourth set of sensor state combinations for a continuous, predetermined minimum period of time.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bed exit and patient detection system especially adapted for use in the general medical or surgical floor area of a hospital or other healthcare facility as part of a vital signs monitoring and remote warning system includes a plurality of pressure sensors disposed in the patient'"'"'s bed in a series of rectangular strips or zones that run laterally across the bed in the area of the patient'"'"'s mid-back, hips and mid-legs, respectively. Each zone contains a plurality of sensors, arranged symmetrically about the centerline of the bed, with the corresponding sensors on opposite sides of the centerline in each zone being connected in parallel. The sensors are connected to a processor with multiple input channels that continuously monitors the sensor states to determine, from the pattern of sensor states observed, whether the patient is in bed, out of bed or is actively attempting to ext the bed at the sides or foot of the bed. At least three different sets of bed exit logic rules are available for user selection to configure the system for high, medium or low sensitivity, or bed exit privileges, for any particular patient. In some embodiments, the system also is capable of detecting when a patient is attempting to assume certain prohibited in-bed positions, such as sitting positions or slumping positions. An alarm in the form of a pre-recorded voice announcement or an alarm over a pre-existing nurse call system is provided when the sensor states are indicative of an out-of-bed or an exiting bed condition, or other prohibited in-bed positions, for a predetermined minimum period of time.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. Bed patient monitoring apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of discrete pressure sensors for installation at multiple locations along the length and width of a bed proximate areas occupied by the torso, hips and leg portions of a patient reclining on the bed for detecting the presence thereon and absence thereof of the patient'"'"'s anatomy; a first defined set of sensor state combinations indicating the presence of a patient in a central portion of the bed; a second defined set of sensor state combinations indicating that the patient is in a location on the bed wherein the patient is approaching exiting the bed at the side of the bed; a third defined set of sensor state combinations indicating that the patient is in a location on the bed wherein the patient is approaching exiting near the foot of the bed; a fourth defined set of sensor state combinations indicating the absence of the patient from the bed; a signal processor in communication with the sensors for receiving electrical signals from the sensors indicative of the sensor states and for determining whether the sensor states are in said first, second, third or fourth set of sensor state combinations; and an alarm processor in communication with the signal processor configured to produce one or more alarm indications when the sensor states remain within one of said second, third or fourth set of sensor state combinations for a continuous, predetermined minimum period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for monitoring at least one bed patient, comprising:
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providing a plurality of discrete pressure sensors on a bed surface at multiple locations along the length and width of the bed proximate areas occupied by the torso, hips and leg portions of a patient reclining on the bed for detecting the presence thereon and absence thereof of the patient'"'"'s anatomy; placing a patient in the bed; sensing the presence of a patient in a central portion of the bed with a first defined set of sensor state combinations; sensing that the patient is in a location on the bed wherein the patient is approaching exiting at the side of the bed with a second defined set of sensor state combinations; sensing that the patient is in a location on the bed wherein the patient is approaching exiting at the foot of the bed with a third defined set of sensor state combinations; sensing the absence of the patient from the bed with a fourth defined set of sensor state combinations; analyzing signals received from the sensors to determine whether the sensor states are in the first, second, third or fourth set of sensor state combinations; and providing an alarm when the sensor states remain within one of said second, third or fourth set of sensor state combinations for a continuous, predetermined minimum period of time. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. Bed patient monitoring apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of discrete pressure sensors for installation at multiple locations along the length and width of a bed proximate areas occupied by the torso and hip portions of a patient reclining on the bed for detecting the presence thereon and absence thereof of the patient'"'"'s anatomy; a first defined set of sensor state combinations indicating the presence of a patient in a central portion of the bed; a second defined set of sensor state combinations indicating that the patient is in the bed in a position selected from the group consisting of sitting up in bed and slumping down in bed; a third defined set of sensor state combinations indicating the absence of the patient from the bed; a signal processor in communication with the sensors for receiving electrical signals from the sensors indicative of the sensor states and for determining whether the sensor states are in said first, second or third set of sensor state combinations; and an alarm processor in communication with the signal processor configured to produce one or more alarm indications when the sensor states remain within one of said second or third set of sensor state combinations for a continuous, predetermined minimum period of time.
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37. Bed patient monitoring apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of discrete pressure sensors for installation at multiple locations along the length and width of a bed proximate areas occupied by the mid-back, hips and leg portions of a patient reclining on the bed for detecting the presence thereon and absence thereof of the patient'"'"'s anatomy; a first defined set of sensor state combinations indicating the presence of a patient in the bed; a second defined set of sensor state combinations indicating that the patient is approaching exiting the bed; a third defined set of sensor state combinations indicating the absence of the patient from the bed; a signal processor in communication with the sensors for receiving electrical signals from the sensors indicative of the sensor states and for determining whether the sensor states are in said first, second or third set of sensor state combinations; an alarm processor in communication with the signal processor configured to produce one or more alarm indications when the sensor states remain within one of said second or third set of sensor state combinations for a continuous, predetermined minimum period of time; and wherein said pressure sensors are arranged for installation in a series of strips extending across the width of the bed, at least one strip being provided in said mid-back area of the bed, and at least one strip being provided in said hip area of the bed, the area between said strips in the mid-back and hip areas being free of said pressure sensors.
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Specification