SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND PROMOTING PATIENT MOBILITY

• US 20170347923A1
• Filed: 06/02/2017
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IX Innovation Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Circulex Incorporated
• Inventors: Roh, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 11,033,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• 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: A61F 13/00051 Accessories for dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8473 for diagnostic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method is provided which includes providing a sensor operable to measure movement over time on a user. The sensor includes an alert unit. The sensor is configured with a threshold to activate the alert unit when the measured movement over time is below the threshold. The measurements of movement over time are obtained, and it is determined whether the measured movement over time is below the threshold. When the measured movement is below the threshold, the alert unit at the sensor is activated to alert the user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a sensor operable to measure movement over time on a user, the sensor comprising an alert unit;

configure the sensor with a threshold to activate the alert unit when the measured movement over time is below the threshold;

obtaining measurements of movement over time;

determining whether the measured movement over time is below the threshold; and

activating, at the sensor, when the measured movement over time is below the threshold, the alert unit to alert the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the measurements of movement over time;

adjusting the threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor is configured to communicatively couple with a device, wherein the device obtains the measurements of movement over time, determines whether the measured movement over time is below the threshold, and activates the alert unit in the sensor, wherein the device is operable by at least one of the user, a caregiver, and an authorized user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the device adjusts the threshold.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the device is one or more of a smartphone, a handheld PC, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is coupled with a wearable, wherein the wearable is at least one of a band, a compression stocking, a compression sleeve, and a neuro-muscular electronic stimulation unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert unit produces at least one of:

a sound, a vibration, and a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the measurements of movement over time and determining whether the measured movement over time is below the threshold are performed at the sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

10. A system comprising:

a sensor operable to measure movement over time on a user, the sensor comprising an alert unit, the sensor configured with a threshold to activate the alert unit when the measured movement over time is below the threshold;

a device communicatively coupled with the sensor, the device configured to obtain the measured movements over time;

wherein when the measured movement over time is below the threshold, the alert unit is activated to alert the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the device is configured to adjust the threshold.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the device is one or more of a smartphone, a handheld PC, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor is coupled with a wearable, wherein the wearable is at least one of a band, a compression stocking, and a compression sleeve.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the alert unit produces at least one of a sound and a vibration.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

16. A sensor operable to measure movement over time on a user, the sensor comprising:

an alert unit;

an accelerometer;

communications to communicatively couple with a device;

wherein the sensor is configured with a threshold to activate the alert unit when the measured movement over time is below the threshold.

17. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the sensor is coupled with a wearable, wherein the wearable is at least one of a band, a compression stocking, a compression sleeve, and a neuro-muscular electronic stimulation unit.

18. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the threshold is adjustable by the device.

19. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the sensor is operable to send an alert to the device.

20. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the alert unit produces at least one of a sound and a vibration.