Patient Movement Detection System and Method

• US 20170053083A1
• Filed: 06/20/2016
• Published: 02/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leaf Healthcare, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Leaf Healthcare, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: PERLMAN, David
• Application Number:
  US15/187,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20170053083A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/18 Shielding or protection of sensors from environmental influences, e.g. protection from mechanical damage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• 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 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• 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 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• 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: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A monitoring system and method tracks a patient'"'"'s position over time and ensures that proper turning or other manipulation is done within the time prescribed. Preferably, the techniques herein continuously monitor patient position and alert medical or other personnel of the need for turning or other patient manipulation. The system may be implemented within a medical or other care facility, or within a patient'"'"'s home.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A monitoring system for monitoring a patient'"'"'s orientation for patients who have conditions that require changes of their body orientation with respect to a support surface comprising:

a sensor having a unique ID, adapted to be physically wearable by a patient and outputting information representative of the patient'"'"'s body orientation with respect to a support surface; and

a monitor configured to associate the unique sensor ID with the patient and in communication with the sensor to receive the sensor information, the monitor configured to store and to use the unique sensor ID and the body orientation information to determine whether the orientation of the patient with respect to the support surface should be changed.

11. The monitoring system of claim 10 wherein the association of the unique ID with the patient results from associating the unique ID with the bed to which the patient is assigned.

12. The monitoring system of claim 10 wherein the association of the unique ID with the patient results from associating the unique ID with at least the room to which the patient is assigned.

18. The monitoring system of claim 10 wherein the association of the unique ID with the patient results from associating the unique ID with a record number for the patient.

13. A method for monitoring a patient'"'"'s compliance with a patient turn protocol for patients who have conditions that require changes of their body orientation with respect to a support surface such as a bed, chair, or wheelchair, comprising the steps of,

affixing to the patient a wearable sensor for outputting information representative of changes in the patient'"'"'s body orientation with respect to a support surface, the wearable sensor having a unique ID,

associating, in a processor, the unique sensor ID with the patient, and

monitoring changes in orientation of the sensor linked to the patient by means of the unique sensor ID as a representation of changes in the patient'"'"'s body orientation.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of associating with the patient a patient turn protocol.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of signaling a proposed repositioning order in response to the monitoring step.

16. The monitoring system of claim 13 wherein the association of the unique ID with the patient results from associating the unique ID with the bed to which the patient is assigned.

17. The monitoring system of claim 13 wherein the association of the unique ID with the patient results from associating the unique ID with at least the room to which the patient is assigned.