SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND PROVIDING THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT FOR A USER

• US 20160256100A1
• Filed: 03/07/2016
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tc13-Pressure Applications Llc, TCI3-Pressure Applications LLC
• Original Assignee: TCI3-Pressure Applications LLC
• Inventors: JACOFSKY, Marc C., JACOFSKY, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,368,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/123 for beds or mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• 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 5/7275 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: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 Controlled or regulated
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring pressure exerted on an individual at one or more points by a support structure and adjusting the support structure in response to the monitored pressure are disclosed. The method for monitoring pressure may include the step of periodically receiving with at least three radio frequency readers, localized contact pressure data from a radio frequency addressable sensor placed on an individual. The method may further include, when an adjustment is required, calculating a radial distance defining a radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the at least three radio frequency readers, and calculating an intersection location or overlap of the radii such that the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined. The method may also include, when the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined, adjusting cells within a zone or subzone corresponding to the location.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring pressure at a point on an individual and automatically adjusting a section of a support structure having a plurality of adjustable cells, wherein the support structure is divided into a plurality of zones and one or more of the zones is divided into a plurality of subzones, the method comprising:

periodically receiving with at least three radio frequency readers, localized contact pressure data from a radio frequency addressable sensor placed on an individual;

determining whether an adjustment in the support structure is required using the received localized contact pressure data;

when an adjustment is required, calculating a radial distance defining a radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the at least three radio frequency readers, and calculating an intersection location or overlap of the radii such that the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined; and

when the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined, adjusting cells within a zone or subzone corresponding to the location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a time delay between when an antenna of a radio frequency reader is energized and when a response signal from the radio frequency addressable sensor is received to calculate the radial distance defining the radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the radio frequency reader.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the antennae of the at least three radio frequency readers are energized in series.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the antennae of the at least three radio frequency readers are energized in parallel.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring signal intensity received at the radio frequency reader; and

applying a decay function to the signal intensity to calculate the radial distance defining the radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the radio frequency reader.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the antennae of the at least three radio frequency readers are energized in series.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the antennae of the at least three radio frequency readers are energized in parallel.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying wave front interferometry such that the resolution of the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is increased.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an identifier corresponding to a body position of an individual of the radio frequency addressable sensor; and

applying the identifier to identify a likely position of the radio frequency addressable sensor on the support structure.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing an interference pattern of at least two discrete signals transmitted by the radio frequency addressable sensor to the calculate the radial distance defining the radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the radio frequency reader.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the adjustments for a predetermined period of time; and

receiving updated localized contact pressure data from the one or more radio frequency addressable sensors.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

returning one or more of the adjustable sections to a pre-adjusted level if the localized contact pressure data is not improved after the predetermined period of time.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

adjusting an adjacent adjustable section if the localized contact pressure data is not improved after the predetermined period of time.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

alerting an external monitoring station if the localized contact pressure data does not approve after a predetermined number of adjustments.

15. A system for preventing and/or treating pressure wounds on an individual, the system comprising:

a support structure including a plurality of adjustable cells, wherein the support structure is divided into a plurality of zones and one or more of the zones is divided into a plurality of subzones;

at least three radio frequency sensor readers configured to receive localized contact pressure data from an radio frequency addressable sensor placed adjacent to the skin of the individual;

a processor coupled to the support structure and each of the radio frequency sensor readers, wherein the processor is configured to;

determine whether the localized contact pressure data in the radio frequency addressable sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold, and

isolate a location on the individual of the radio frequency addressable sensor by calculating a radial distance defining a radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the at least three radio frequency readers, and calculating an intersection location or overlap of the radii such that the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined, and

when the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined, adjusting cells within a zone or subzone corresponding to the location.

16. The system of claim 15, the processor further configured to measure a time delay between when an antenna of a radio frequency reader is energized and when a response signal from the radio frequency addressable sensor is received to calculate the radial distance defining the radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the radio frequency reader.

17. The system of claim 15, the processor further configured to maintain the adjustments for a predetermined period of time, and to receive updated localized contact pressure data from the radio frequency addressable sensor.

18. The system of claim 17, the processor further configured to return one or more of the adjustable sections to a pre-adjusted level if the localized contact pressure data is not improved after the predetermined period of time.

19. The system of claim 17, the processor further configured to adjust an adjacent adjustable section if the localized contact pressure data is not improved after the predetermined period of time.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the radio frequency addressable sensor is included in a bandage affixed to the skin of the individual.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the support structure is selected from a bed, pad configured for use on a bed, chair, wheel chair, or pad configured for use on a chair.