CUSHIONING SUPPORT FOR MONITORING USER ACTIVITY

• US 20160128623A1
• Filed: 09/09/2015
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PRS Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PRS Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: BHAT, Nikhil, LI, Allen J., CHOI, George Y.
• Granted Patent: US 9,808,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• 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 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• 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 5/6892 Mats
• 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: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Multi-layer cushion supports are described which may generally comprise a first support having a first contact surface for contacting a portion of a body and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first support defining a central chamber and a peripheral chamber surrounding the central chamber, wherein the first support is filled with a first gas or liquid and a second support attached to the first support along the first contact surface. The second support may be filled with a second gas or liquid which is relatively more viscous than the first gas or liquid. In particular, the first support may be filled with a volume of air and the second support may be filled with oil which is less than the volume of air.

Claims

1. A monitoring system, comprising:

a support for supporting at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body;

at least one pressure sensor in communication with the support; and

an electronics unit in communication with the at least one pressure sensor,

wherein the electronics unit is configured to transmit information relating to pressure sensed from the at least one pressure sensor to a remote device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the support comprises:

a first support having a first contact surface for contacting a portion of a body and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first support defining a central chamber and a peripheral chamber surrounding the central chamber, wherein the first support is filled with a first gas or liquid; and

,

a second support attached to the first support along the first contact surface, wherein the second support is filled with a second gas or liquid which is relatively more viscous than the first gas or liquid.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first gas or liquid comprises a volume of air.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the second gas or liquid comprises a volume of oil.

5. The system of claim 2 further comprising a foam layer positioned adjacent to the second surface opposite to the second support.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a cover configured to envelope the first support, second support, and the foam layer.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronics unit comprises a microprocessor.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronics unit is further configured for wireless communication with the remote device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote device comprises a smart phone, tablet, PDA, laptop, or computer.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to track a duration of time upon loading of the support.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to provide a warning or alert to the user when the duration of time reaches or exceeds a predetermined level.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the support comprises at least two fluid chambers separated from one another, each fluid chamber in communication with a corresponding pressure sensor which are in communication with the electronics unit.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to determine a pressure differential between the fluid chambers and to provide a warning or alert if the pressure differential exceeds a predetermined level.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor is further configured to detect and/or monitor one or more biometric parameters comprising heart rate, respiration, or body movement.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one biometric sensor in communication with the electronics unit and configured to detect and/or monitor one or more biometric parameters comprising heart rate, respiration, or body movement.

16. A method of monitoring use of a support, comprising:

providing a support for supporting at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body;

sensing a pressure within the support via at least one pressure sensor when the portion of the user'"'"'s body is positioned upon the support; and

,

transmitting information relating to the pressure sensed by the at least one pressure sensor to a remote device via an electronics unit in communication with the at least one pressure sensor.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein providing a support comprises:

providing a multi-layer cushion support comprising a first support having a first contact surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface where the first support defines a central chamber and a peripheral chamber surrounding the central chamber, and a second support attached to the first support along the first contact surface, wherein the first support is filled with a first gas or liquid and the second support is filled with a second gas or liquid which is relatively more viscous than the first gas or liquid.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing a foam layer positioned adjacent to the second surface opposite to the second support such that the foam layer is positioned away from the portion of the body.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a cover configured to envelope the first support, second support, and the foam layer.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising, detecting and/or monitoring one or more biometric parameters of the user.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein sensing a pressure comprises sensing pressure from at least two pressure sensors in communication with a corresponding fluid chamber.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the two pressure sensors are configured to optimize a sitting position of the user.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising calculating a pressure difference between the at least two pressure sensors.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising actuating a warning or alert to the user if the pressure difference exceeds a predetermined level.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein sensing a pressure comprises tracking a time duration of the portion of the user'"'"'s body remaining upon the support.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising actuating a warning or alert to the user if the time duration exceeds a predetermined level.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein transmitting information comprises wirelessly transmitting the information to the remote device.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the remote device comprises a smart phone, tablet, PDA, laptop, or computer.