PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150045630A1
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Enhanced Surface Dynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enhanced Surface Dynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: Poliakine-Baruchi, Ruth, Greenstein, Lior, Ben Shalom, Amir
• Application Number:
  US13/985,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20150045630A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• 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 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• 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 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• 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 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/445 : in a horizontal position

Abstract

A pressure wound prevention system operable to prompt at least one caregiver to reposition a subject at risk of developing pressure wounds. A pressure detection apparatus comprising a plurality of sensors monitors pressure exerted upon the subject by a surface. A processor is operable to interpret and analyze data from the sensors and a notification mechanism such as a display, an alert, alarm or the like is provided to notify a caregiver when the subject requires repositioning.

Claims

1. A pressure wound prevention system operable to prompt at least one caregiver to reposition a subject at risk of developing a pressure wound, said system comprising:

at least one pressure detection apparatus comprising at least one layer of an insulating material sandwiched between a first layer of conducting strips and a second layer of conducting strips, said conducting strips of the first layer and said conducting strips of the second layer overlapping at a plurality of intersections, said plurality of intersections being a plurality of capacitive sensors configured to monitor pressure exerted upon said subject by a surface;

at least one processor operable to interpret and analyze data from said sensors; and

at least one notification mechanism in communication with the processor that is configured to provide an alert to said at least one caregiver when said subject requires repositioning.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a timer in communication with the processor wherein said notification mechanism is triggered by said timer when an elapsed time has exceeded an elapsed time limit.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said elapsed time limit is determined according to data received from said sensors.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising a timer override operable to pause and restart said timer.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said timer override is triggered to pause said timer when said pressure detection apparatus senses that the subject has left the surface.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said timer override is triggered to restart said timer when said pressure detection apparatus senses that the subject has returned to the surface.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a notification override operable to disable said notification mechanism.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said notification mechanism comprises an alert selected from a group consisting of:

audio alerts, visual alerts, text alerts, graduated alerts and combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said notification mechanism is configured to communicate with a remote control center via a wireless communication channel.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a reset button via which the caregiver may reset the notification mechanism after repositioning the subject.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said pressure detection apparatus is configured to detect repositioning and said notification mechanism is further operable to provide an alert if said reset button is activated without the subject being repositioned.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said notification mechanism is further operable to prompt the caregiver to confirm that the subject has been repositioned.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said pressure detection apparatus is configured to detect repositioning and said notification mechanism is further operable to provide an alert if the caregiver confirms that the subject has been repositioned without the subject being repositioned.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said pressure detection apparatus is further configured to detect pressure from a plurality of body zones.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a shutdown guard operable to shut down power to the system only if a caregiver enters an identification code.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising a reserve power storage unit for providing power to the system if a primary power supply is cut off.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display unit configured to display pressure distribution data in a plurality of scales.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure detection apparatus further comprises a weight sensor operable to measure a weight of the subject while supported upon the surface.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure detection apparatus further comprises at least one vital sign sensor operable to monitor at least one of a heart rate or respiration of the subject.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure detection apparatus further comprises at least one orientation sensor operable to monitor the angle of at least one body section of the subject.

7. (canceled)