SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING A SUBJECT AT REST
First Claim
1. A device for monitoring a subject at rest comprising:
- a sensing unit having a fluid-filled bladder configured to be placed under a substrate on which the subject lays and a sensor in fluid communication with the bladder, wherein the sensor is configured to sense pressure variations within the bladder generated by one or more of a heart beat, respiration and body weight of the subject and to generate signals indicative of the pressure variations;
a processor configured to receive the signals and to determine and generate output indicative of one or more of the subject'"'"'s heart beat and respiration and presence on the substrate; and
an external device configured to display one or more of the output.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods and devices for monitoring a subject at rest. One such device comprises a sensing unit having a fluid-filled bladder configured to be placed under a substrate on which the subject lays and a sensor in fluid communication with the bladder. The sensor is configured to sense pressure variations within the bladder generated by a heart beat, respiration and body weight of the subject and to generate signals indicative of the pressure variations. A processor is configured to receive the signals and to determine and generate output indicative of the subject'"'"'s heart beat and respiration and presence on the substrate. An external device is configured to display one or more of the output.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A device for monitoring a subject at rest comprising:
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a sensing unit having a fluid-filled bladder configured to be placed under a substrate on which the subject lays and a sensor in fluid communication with the bladder, wherein the sensor is configured to sense pressure variations within the bladder generated by one or more of a heart beat, respiration and body weight of the subject and to generate signals indicative of the pressure variations; a processor configured to receive the signals and to determine and generate output indicative of one or more of the subject'"'"'s heart beat and respiration and presence on the substrate; and an external device configured to display one or more of the output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for monitoring a subject comprising:
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a sensing unit having a fluid-filled bladder configured to be placed on a substrate and a sensor in fluid communication with the bladder for generating signals in response to pressure variations within the bladder; a processing unit configured to receive the signals from the sensor and to generate from the signals one or more of a heart rate, respiration rate and static pressure of the subject; and means for providing to a user analyses based on one or more of the subject'"'"'s heart rate, respiration rate and static pressure, wherein the analyses includes an indication of the subject in bed or out of bed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for monitoring a subject comprising:
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sensing with a sensor incident pressure waves generated by the subject resting on a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device comprises a fluid-filled bladder configured to be placed on a substrate with the sensor in fluid communication with the bladder; generating signals indicative of the incident pressure waves and sending the signals to a processor; discriminating heart beat, respiration and static pressure of the subject from analysis of the signals and determining an individual fingerprint based on heart beat, respiration and static pressure for the subject; determining if the subject is in an assigned bed, not in the assigned bed, or in a different bed based on the presence or absence of the individual fingerprint; and communicating the determination to an external device.
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15. A device for preventing pressure ulcers in subjects comprising:
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a sensing unit having a fluid-filled bladder configured to be placed on a substrate and a sensor in fluid communication with the bladder for generating signals in response to pressure variations within the bladder, wherein the pressure variations are generated from a heart rate, respiration rate and body weight of the subject; a processing unit configured to receive the signals from the sensor and to determine from the signals a baseline heart rate, respiration rate and static pressure and to determine changes in strength of each of the heart rate, respiration rate and static pressure; and means for providing to a user analyses based on the changes, wherein the analyses includes an indication of a need for a user action to prevent a pressure ulcer on the subject. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of preventing pressure ulcers comprising:
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sensing with a sensor incident pressure waves generated by the subject resting on a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device comprises a fluid-filled bladder configured to be placed on a substrate with the sensor in fluid communication with the bladder; generating signals indicative of the incident pressure waves and sending the signals to a processor; determining a baseline heart rate, respiration and static pressure of the subject from the signals; determining an amount of time the subject is resting on the monitoring device; determining data indicating amount of movement and degree of movement of the subject while the subject is resting based on changes in static pressure of the bladder, changes in strength of heart beat and changes in strength of respiration; determining if the subject requires an action by a user to prevent a pressure ulcer based on the data; and communicating the required action to the user.
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18. A portable biosensing device for use by a subject at home, the device comprising:
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a bladder configured to be filled with a fluid and placed on a substrate; a sensor in fluid communication with the bladder and configured to generate signals in response to pressure variations within the bladder, wherein the pressure variations are generated from a heart rate, respiration rate and body weight of the subject resting on the fluid-filled bladder; a means for filling the bladder with fluid; a processor configured to receive the signals from the sensor and determine the subject'"'"'s heart rate and respiration rate; and a database for storing the heart rate and respiration rate data. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification