Device and Method for Monitoring a Patient Position

• US 20130085418A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Khalil Salhani
• Original Assignee: Khalil Salhani
• Inventors: Salhani, Khalil
• Application Number:
  US13/630,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20130085418A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0204 of power management
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• 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 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait

Abstract

A portable position safety device and method for the monitoring of a patient'"'"'s position in a number of different situations are disclosed. The device comprises a gyroscope module, a processing unit and an alarm system. The device and method are designed to monitor the patient movement. As such, a movement of the patient'"'"'s leg beyond a certain preset angle limit will trigger the device alarm system and alert the attendant. The monitoring of the patient'"'"'s position is achieved using the gyroscope function.

Claims

1. A patient position monitoring device comprising:

a housing box;

a securing means;

an alarm system;

an electronic circuit;

wherein the electronic circuit comprises a gyroscope function and a (processing, unit configured to detect the position of a patient.

2. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gyroscope is an accelerometer module.

3. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alarm system is a sound speaker.

4. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alarm system is a radio transmitter, the transmitter generating a binary signal for indicating whether the patient has triggered the alert.

5. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alarm system further comprises a radio transmitter.

6. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit further comprises at least one potentiometer for controlling the sensitivity of the gyroscope module.

7. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a reset function for disabling the alarm system.

8. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the reset function is activated by a lock and key mechanism.

9. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a touch screen.

10. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gyroscope module is configured to allow the presetting of threshold angular values.

11. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the accelerometer module is configured to allow the presetting of threshold shock values.

12. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power supply is mediated by the gyroscope module and configured to allow the power upon detection of an angle variation.

13. A patient position monitoring device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the power supply is mediated by the accelerometer module and configured to allow the power upon detection of impacts.

14. A patient monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a buckle securing means.

15. A method for monitoring a patient position comprising:

mounting a monitoring device to a patient leg;

starting the device;

monitoring angular values of a gyroscope module of the device;

comparing the angular values with preset angular values;

triggering an alarm when the angular values have reached the preset angular values.

16. A method for monitoring a patient position as claimed in claim 15, the method further comprising:

monitoring accelerometer values of an accelerometer module of the device;

comparing impact values with preset accelerometer values;

triggering an alarm when the impact values have reached the preset accelerometer values.

17. A method for monitoring a patient position as claimed in claim 15 wherein the alarm will result in a transmission of a radio signal indicating that the patient has breached preset values.