Method For Analyzing Support Pressure

• US 20080194995A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Grady Onderzoek An Advies B.V.
• Original Assignee: Grady Onderzoek An Advies B.V.
• Inventors: Grady-Van Den Nieuwboer, Johanna Hendrika
• Application Number:
  US11/569,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20080194995A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1043 Cushions specially adapted for wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/057 Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor ventilation openings in mattresses A47C21/042; pneumatic or hydraulic mattresses A47C27/08

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for analyzing support pressure of a support for a human body, which method comprises the steps of: -providing an array of pressure sensors at the support for measuring pressure values; -registering pressure values measured by the pressure sensors during a time interval; -dividing the registered pressure values of at least one pressure sensor into at least two pressure ranges; and -calculating the contribution of each range over the time interval.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing support pressure of a support for a human body, which method comprises the steps of:

providing an array of pressure sensors at the support for measuring pressure values;

registering pressure values measured by the pressure sensors during a predefined time interval;

dividing the registered pressure values of at least one pressure sensor into at least two pressure ranges; and

calculating a contribution of each range over the predefined time interval.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculated contribution of each range is expressed in an indicator.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the indicator is a combination of the calculated contribution of each range in terms of a percentage.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the registered pressure values are divided into three pressure ranges, wherein a first pressure range is 0-60 mmHg, a second pressure range is 60-100 mmHg and a third pressure range is defined as pressures above 100 mmHg.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

dividing the support surface into at least two areas; and

combining the registered pressure values of sensors within an area.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the dividing of the registered pressure values and the calculating of the contribution is based on the combined pressure values per area.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of determining sensors having registered pressure values exceeding a predetermined value of a predetermined quantity.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising the steps of dividing the support surface into at least two areas;

and determining areas having sensors with registered pressure values exceeding a predetermined value of a predetermined quantity.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of calculating the center of pressure based on registered x- and y-coordinates of the pressure values and the geometry of the array of pressure sensors.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of calculating the contact area based on the sensors measuring a pressure and the geometry of the array of pressure sensors.

11. A method for analyzing support pressure of a support for a human body, which method comprises the steps of:

providing at least one pressure sensor for measuring pressure values;

registering pressure values measured by the pressure sensor during a time interval;

dividing the registered pressure values of the pressure sensor into at least two pressure ranges; and

calculating a contribution of each range over the time interval.

12. The method according to claim 11, where the pressure sensor is one of an array of pressure sensors and the registering pressure values are measured by the array of pressure sensors during the time interval.