SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PRESSURE MAPPING AND 3-D SUBJECT REPOSITIONING FOR PREVENTING PRESSURE WOUNDS

• US 20150173667A1
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Enhanced Surface Dynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enhanced Surface Dynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: Ben Shalom, Amir, Zaritzky, Efrat, Greenstein, Lior, Thurman, Kristen
• Application Number:
  US14/419,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20150173667A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• 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 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6894 Wheel chairs
• 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 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• 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: A61G 2203/16 Touchpads
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/14 : by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/26 : Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with the measurement of force, e.g. for preventing influence of transverse components of force, for preventing overload
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 : worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 : integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

A pressure wound prevention system operable to prompt at least one caregiver to reposition a subject at risk of developing a pressure wound. The system includes a pressure-detection surface comprising a plurality of pressure sensors configured to monitor pressure exerted upon the pressure-detection surface by the subject as well as orientation sensors configured to monitor an angle of the pressure-detection surface. A processor is operable to interpret and analyze data from the sensors and to provide indications to a caregiver when the subject requires repositioning.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A method for processing pressure wound prevention system measurements comprising:

providing a pressure wound prevention system configured to detect pressure and orientation;

providing at least one pressure-detection surface comprising a plurality of pressure sensors configured to detect pressure distribution and at least one orientation sensor configured to detect angle indication;

identifying surface sections of said pressure-detection surface;

receiving pressure data from said pressure sensors for each surface section;

receiving orientation data from said orientation sensor for each surface section; and

presenting a notification indication to a caregiver.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said presenting a notification to a caregiver comprises:

filtering random movement of said orientation sensors for each surface section;

calculating vertical forces and shear forces of a subject over each said surface section of said pressure-detection surface;

calculating a risk of a subject developing pressure wounds;

providing an output based upon calculated data; and

sending an alert to a caregiver indicating a repositioning requirement.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising storing said data in at least one data storage unit.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein said providing an output includes displaying a pressure distribution map for each said section on said at least one display unit.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein said providing an output includes displaying a current orientation indication and a suggested orientation indication for each said section on said at least one display unit.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said orientation indication is three dimensional indicating lateral tilt values.

40. 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 surface comprising a plurality of pressure sensors configured to monitor pressure exerted upon said subject;

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

at least one data storage unit operable to store said data from said sensors and said processor;

at least one notification mechanism in communication with said at least one processor, said notification mechanism operable to initiate at least one repositioning alert ;

a power supply unit operable to provide operational power;

a data recording manager in communication with said at least one data storage unit and said at least one processor and operable to manage data collection;

a communication unit operable to provide access to said data; and

at least one display unit configured to present said repositioning alert.

41. The pressure wound prevention system of claim 40, wherein said pressure-detection surface comprises a plurality of adjustable sections.

42. The pressure wound prevention system of claim 40, wherein said data recording manager comprises at least one memory unit configured to store said data from said sensors and said processor according to a recordation schedule.

43. The pressure wound prevention system of claim 40, wherein said notification mechanism is operable initiate a display of a series pressure distribution maps representing said data sequentially.

44. The pressure wound prevention system of claim 40, wherein said pressure-detection surface further comprises at least one orientation sensor configured to monitor an angle of said pressure-detection surface.

45. The pressure wound prevention system of claim 44 wherein said at least one orientation sensor comprises at least one accelerometer.

46. The pressure wound prevention system of claim 44, wherein said at least one orientation sensor comprises at least one three dimensional accelerometer.

47. A method for processing pressure wound prevention system measurements comprising:

providing a pressure wound prevention system configured to detect pressure;

providing at least one pressure-detection surface comprising a plurality of pressure sensors configured to detect pressure distribution;

identifying surface sections of said pressure-detection surface;

receiving pressure data from said pressure sensors for each surface section;

storing data records in at least one data storage unit according to a recordation schedule; and

presenting a notification indication to a caregiver wherein said notification indication comprises a three dimensional indication of lateral tilt values.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said presenting a notification to a caregiver comprises the steps of:

calculating vertical forces and shear forces of a subject over each said surface section of said pressure-detection surface;

determining a risk of a subject developing pressure wounds;

providing an output; and

sending an alert to a caregiver indicating a repositioning requirement.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said providing an output comprises displaying on a display unit a series of pressure distribution maps representing said data sequentially at regular time intervals.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein said providing an output comprises displaying on a display unit a recommendation plan of a weight shift schedule for each said section.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein said providing an output comprises generating a daily target achievement plan displayed on at least one display unit.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein said providing an output comprises displaying a current orientation indication and a suggested orientation indication for each said section on at least one display unit.

53. The method of claim 47 further comprising:

receiving from said at least one orientation sensor orientation data for each surface section; and

filtering random movement of said at least one orientation sensor for each surface section.