MONITORING, PREDICTING AND TREATING CLINICAL EPISODES

• US 20110046498A1
• Filed: 11/03/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EarlySense Ltd.
• Inventors: KLAP, Tal, LEVKOVICH, Shiraz
• Granted Patent: US 8,585,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/447 specially adapted for aiding the prevention of ulcer or pressure sore development, i.e. before the ulcer or sore has developed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for use with a subject who is undergoing respiration. A motion sensor senses motion of a subject. A breathing pattern analysis unit analyzes components of the sensed motion that result from the subject'"'"'s respiration. The breathing pattern analysis unit includes double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality that designates respiration cycles as being double-movement-respiration-cycles (DMRC'"'"'s) by determining that the cycles define two subcycles. Double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality of the breathing pattern analysis unit identifies a DMRC event by detecting that the subject has undergone a plurality of DMRC'"'"'s. An output is generated that is indicative of the subject having used accessory muscles in breathing, in response to identification of the double-movement-respiration-cycle event. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with a subject who is undergoing respiration, the apparatus comprising:

a motion sensor configured to sense motion of a subject;

a control unit comprising;

a breathing pattern analysis unit that is configured to analyze components of the sensed motion that result from the subject'"'"'s respiration, the breathing pattern analysis unit comprising;

double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality that is configured to designate respiration cycles as being double-movement-respiration-cycles by determining that the cycles define two subcycles;

double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality configured to identify a double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that the subject has undergone a plurality of double-movement-respiration-cycles; and

output-generation functionality configured to generate an output that is indicative of the subject having used accessory muscles in breathing, in response to identification of the double-movement-respiration-cycle event; and

a user interface configured to display the output.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to sense motion of the subject without contacting the subject or clothes the subject is wearing.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to sense motion of the subject without contacting or viewing the subject or clothes the subject is wearing.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to distinguish between a first cycle that defines two subcycles, and a second cycle that does not define two subcycles, even if the first and second cycles have substantially similar amplitudes to one another.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to distinguish between a first cycle that defines two subcycles, and a second cycle that does not define two subcycles, even if the first and second cycles have substantially similar frequencies to one another.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to determine that a cycle defines two subcycles at least partially in response to an amplitude of the cycle.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to determine that a cycle defines two subcycles at least partially in response to a frequency of the cycle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to determine that a cycle defines two subcycles by identifying two adjacent peak and trough sets of a respiration motion signal of the subject, the sets being substantially asymmetrical with respect to one another, and, in response thereto, designating the adjacent peak and trough sets as being two subcycles of a single respiration cycle.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to determine that a cycle defines two subcycles at least partially in response to a slope of a respiration motion signal of the subject.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality is configured to identify the double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that at least 30% of respiration cycles of the subject over a period of time of at least one minute define two subcycles.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality is configured to identify the double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that at least 60% of respiration cycles of the subject over the period of time of at least one minute define two subcycles.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality is configured to identify the double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that at least 30% of respiration cycles of the subject over the period of time of at least ten minutes define two subcycles.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality is configured to identify the double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that at least 30% of respiration cycles of the subject over the period of time of at least 30 minutes define two subcycles.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality is configured to identify the double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that at least 30% of respiration cycles of the subject over the period of time of at least 60 minutes define two subcycles.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to predict an onset of a clinical condition of the subject in response to the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality identifying the double-movement-respiration-cycle event.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control unit is configured to predict the onset of the clinical condition by predicting the onset of a clinical condition selected from the group consisting of:

elevated heart rate and elevated respiration rate.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control unit is configured to predict the onset of the clinical condition at least 30 minutes before the onset of the clinical condition.

18. Apparatus for use with a subject who is undergoing respiration, the apparatus comprising:

a motion sensor configured to sense motion of a subject;

a control unit comprising;

a breathing pattern analysis unit that is configured to analyze components of the sensed motion that result from the subject'"'"'s respiration, the breathing pattern analysis unit comprising;

double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality that is configured to designate respiration cycles as being double-movement-respiration-cycles by determining that the cycles define two subcycles; and

double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality configured to identify a double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that the subject has undergone a plurality of double-movement-respiration-cycles; and

output-generation functionality configured to generate an output that is indicative of an onset of an episode of respiratory distress, in response to the double-movement-respiration-cycle event; and

a user interface configured to display the output.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the output-generation functionality is configured to generate the output by generating an output that is indicative of the onset of an elevated respiration rate.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality is configured to predict the onset of the respiratory distress at least 30 minutes before the onset of the respiratory distress, in response to the double-movement-respiration-cycle event, and wherein the output-generation functionality is configured to generate the output, in response thereto.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the output-generation functionality is further configured to generate an output that is indicative of the onset of an elevated heart rate of the subject, in response to the double-movement-respiration-cycle event.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the sensor is configured to sense motion of the subject without contacting the subject or clothes the subject is wearing.

23. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the sensor is configured to sense motion of the subject without contacting or viewing the subject or clothes the subject is wearing.

24. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to distinguish between a first cycle that defines two subcycles, and a second cycle that does not define two subcycles, even if the first and second cycles have substantially similar amplitudes to one another.

25. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to distinguish between a first cycle that defines two subcycles, and a second cycle that does not define two subcycles, even if the first and second cycles have substantially similar frequencies to one another.

26. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to determine that a cycle defines two subcycles at least partially in response to an amplitude of the cycle.

27. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to determine that a cycle defines two subcycles at least partially in response to a frequency of the cycle.

28. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to determine that a cycle defines two subcycles by identifying two adjacent peak and trough sets of a respiration motion signal of the subject that are substantially asymmetrical with respect to one another, and, in response thereto, designating the adjacent peak and trough sets as being two subcycles of a single respiration cycle.

29. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality is configured to determine that a cycle defines two subcycles at least partially in response to a slope of a respiration motion signal of the subject.

30. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality is configured to identify the double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that at least 30% of respiration cycles of the subject over a period of time of at least one minute define two subcycles.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality is configured to identify the double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that at least 60% of respiration cycles of the subject over the period of time of at least one minute define two subcycles.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality is configured to identify the double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that at least 30% of respiration cycles of the subject over the period of time of at least ten minutes define two subcycles.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality is configured to identify the double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that at least 30% of respiration cycles of the subject over the period of time of at least 30 minutes define two subcycles.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality is configured to identify the double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that at least 30% of respiration cycles of the subject over the period of time of at least 60 minutes define two subcycles.

35. A method for use with a subject who is undergoing respiration, the method comprising:

sensing motion of a subject;

analyzing components of the sensed motion that result from the subject'"'"'s respiration, by;

designating respiration cycles as being double-movement-respiration-cycles, by determining that the cycles define two subcycles;

identifying a double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that the subject has undergone a plurality of double-movement-respiration-cycles; and

in response to identification of the double-movement-respiration-cycle event, generating an output that is indicative of the subject having used accessory muscles in breathing.

36. A method for use with a subject who is undergoing respiration, the method comprising:

sensing motion of a subject;

analyzing components of the sensed motion that result from the subject'"'"'s respiration, by;

designating respiration cycles as being double-movement-respiration-cycles by determining that the cycles define two subcycles;

identifying a double-movement-respiration-cycle event by detecting that the subject has undergone a plurality of double-movement-respiration-cycles; and

in response to identifying the double-movement-respiration-cycle event, generating an output that is indicative of an onset of an episode of respiratory distress.