Systems and Methods for Monitoring and/or Managing a Person's Position Using Variable Parameters

• US 20180032690A1
• Filed: 09/28/2017
• Published: 02/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leaf Healthcare, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Leaf Healthcare, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Perlman, David, Himle, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,535,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 system, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data associated with a position of a person during a series of (a) pressure-on periods in which the person is in a pressure-on position, wherein the pressure-on periods have varying durations, and (b) relief periods in which the person is in a relief position; and

a processor coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to;

receive sensor data from the at least one sensor via wired or wireless communications;

detect changes in the person'"'"'s position over time based on the received sensor data;

determine a relief period time limit for each respective relief period based on a proportional relationship between the relief period time limit and a pressure-on duration including a measured duration of a pressure-on period immediately preceding the respective relief period, such that different relief period time limits are calculated for different relief periods, depending on the respective pressure-on durations preceding the different relief periods; and

for each respective relief period;

determine an end of the respective relief period based on a detected change in the person'"'"'s position away from the relief position;

determine whether the end of the respective relief period satisfies the relief period time limit; and

generate and communicate a notification if it is determined that the end of the respective relief period does not satisfy the relief period time limit.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the position of the person comprises a physical orientation of the person or a portion of the person.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor and the processor are provided in a wearable sensor device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the wearable sensor device further includes an output device configured to output, and

communicating a notification if it is determined that the end of the respective relief period does not satisfy the relief period time limit comprises outputting a notification via the output device of the wearable sensor device.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the at least one sensor is provided in a wearable sensor device; and

the processor is provided in a separate device from the wearable sensor device.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the relief period time limit defines a minimum relief period duration.

16. A system, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data associated with a position of a person during a series of (a) pressure-on periods in which the person is in a pressure-on position, wherein the pressure-on periods have varying durations, and (b) relief periods in which the person is in a relief position; and

a processor coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to;

receive sensor data from the at least one sensor via wired or wireless communications;

detect changes in the person'"'"'s position over time based on the received sensor data; and

for at least some of the relief periods, set a time-off threshold value for each respective relief period by;

measuring a duration of a pressure-on period immediately preceding the respective relief period; and

determining a time-off threshold value for the respective relief period using a proportional relationship with a corresponding pressure-on duration including the measured duration of the pressure-on period immediately preceding the respective relief period;

such that the time-off threshold value for each relief period varies according to the proportional relationship with the pressure-on duration corresponding to that relief period.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the time-off threshold value defines a minimum time-off duration.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor and the processor are provided in a wearable sensor device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the at least one sensor is provided in a wearable sensor device; and

the processor is provided in a separate device from the wearable sensor device.

20. A system, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data associated with a position of a person during a series of (a) pressure-on periods in which the person is in a pressure-on position, wherein the pressure-on periods have varying durations, and (b) relief periods in which the person is in a relief position; and

a processor coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to;

receive sensor data from the at least one sensor via wired or wireless communications;

detect changes in the person'"'"'s position over time based on the received sensor data; and

for at least some of the pressure-on periods, set a time-on threshold value for each respective pressure-on period by;

measuring a duration of a relief period immediately preceding the respective pressure-on period; and

determining a time-on threshold value for the respective pressure-on period based on a corresponding relief duration including the measured duration of the relief period immediately preceding the respective pressure-on period;

such that the time-on threshold value for each pressure-on period varies based on the relief duration corresponding to that pressure-on period.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the time-on threshold value defines a maximum time-on duration.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one sensor and the processor are provided in a wearable sensor device.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the at least one sensor is provided in a wearable sensor device; and

the processor is provided in a separate device from the wearable sensor device.

24. A system, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data associated with a position of a person during a series of (a) pressure-on periods in which the person is in a pressure-on position, wherein the pressure-on periods have varying durations, and (b) relief periods in which the person is in a relief position; and

a processor coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to;

receive sensor data from the at least one sensor;

detect changes in the person'"'"'s position over time based on the received sensor data; and

for at least one relief period, determine a minimum duration of each respective relief period, wherein the minimum duration of each respective relief period is proportionally related to the duration of a proceeding pressure on period, such that different relief periods have different minimum durations.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one sensor and the processor are provided in a wearable sensor device.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein:

the at least one sensor is provided in a wearable sensor device; and

the processor is provided in a separate device from the wearable sensor device.