Systems, Devices and Methods for the Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers, Bed Exits, Falls, and Other Conditions

• US 20160275776A1
• Filed: 11/17/2014
• Published: 09/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leaf Healthcare, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Leaf Healthcare, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: SHEN, Daniel Z., LARSON, Barrett J., WECKWERTH, Mark V
• Granted Patent: US 10,140,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• 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 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• 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 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• 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: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• 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: G08B 21/22 : responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 : relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 : for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices for monitoring patient orientation, direction, altitude and location to determine the need for turns as well as to detect impending or actual bed exits or falls. A patient-worn sensor communicates with at least one host server through a mesh network of relay antennae to provide data representative of various patient characteristics. The sensor comprises one or more of an accelerometer, a magnetometer and an altimeter, along with optional other sensors. Various user interfaces are provided for managing patient care using the information developed by algorithms processed at the server based on data received from the patient sensors.

Claims

1. A mesh network for patient monitoring comprising a plurality of relay antennae for receiving signals from one or more patient-worn sensors and from other relay antennae, one or more of the relay antennae in communication with a server for receiving and processing data from the patient worn sensors, the patient-worn sensors comprising at least two of a group comprising an accelerometer, a magnetometer and an altimeter.

2. A method for evaluating the probability of a bed exit by a patient comprising the steps of

establishing the compass orientation of a patient'"'"'s bed,

affixing to the patient a patient-worn sensor comprising at least two of a group comprising an accelerometer, an altimeter and a magnetometer,

receiving at a server data sent wirelessly from the patient-worn sensor, the data indicating orientation of the patient relative to the bed, including at least two of altitude, direction, and orientation, and

evaluating the data to predict the probability of a bed exit.

3. A method for evaluating the probability of a fall by a patient comprising the steps of

affixing to the patient a patient-worn sensor comprising at least an altimeter,

establishing the altitude of a patient when recumbent in the patient'"'"'s bed,

receiving at a server data sent wirelessly from the patient-worn sensor, the data indicating changes in altitude of the patient relative to the altitude of the patient in a recumbent position,

providing to the server altitude data representative of a known reference altitude derived from the altitude of one or more relay antenna,

comparing from time to time the altitude of the patient-worn sensor to the known reference altitude, and

evaluating the comparison to determine whether the altitude of the patient-worn sensor indicates the probability of a fall.