Seizure and movement monitoring apparatus
First Claim
1. A patient movement monitoring device comprising:
- a sensor assembly adapted to be placed proximal to a patient and responsive to movement of the patient; and
a detector circuit operatively coupled to the sensor assembly, the detector circuit adapted to detect (1) sustained patient movement of more than a first specified magnitude for more than a first specified time period, and (2) a plurality of patient movement episodes of more than a first specified magnitude and more than a second specified duration, the plurality of patient movement episodes occurring within a third specified time period, and the detector circuit is further adapted to generate an alarm signal indicative of a seizure condition if at least one of the above events is detected, wherein the first specified magnitude and the second specified magnitude are substantially the same.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for accurately monitoring motor movements attributable to seizures and convulsions of patients having epilepsy or other seizure disorders, and motor movements attributable to periodic leg movements, tremors, respiration, mechanical cardiac functions, or any other motorics during periods of sleep. This monitoring function is achieved without attaching any detection apparatus to the patient. Embodiments measure patient movements essentially by relating mattress displacement to such motor movements. The preferred embodiment is constructed with a geophone configuration intended to receive an analog signal corresponding to mattress movement and to communicate this signal to an electrically interconnected detection assembly for monitoring and recording the patient'"'"'s pattern of body movements. Other suitable movement sensing devices such as devices based upon piezoelectric, fiber optics, microwave, infrared, and ultrasound phenomena may be used either in addition to or instead of geophones. The analog signals received by these sensors are then communicated to a computerized detection assembly wherein these signals are converted from waveforms to digital signals for subsequent analysis and remedial medical treatment as appropriate.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A patient movement monitoring device comprising:
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a sensor assembly adapted to be placed proximal to a patient and responsive to movement of the patient; and
a detector circuit operatively coupled to the sensor assembly, the detector circuit adapted to detect (1) sustained patient movement of more than a first specified magnitude for more than a first specified time period, and (2) a plurality of patient movement episodes of more than a first specified magnitude and more than a second specified duration, the plurality of patient movement episodes occurring within a third specified time period, and the detector circuit is further adapted to generate an alarm signal indicative of a seizure condition if at least one of the above events is detected, wherein the first specified magnitude and the second specified magnitude are substantially the same. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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4. A patient movement monitoring device comprising:
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a sensor assembly adapted to be placed proximal to a patient and responsive to movement of the patient; and
a detector circuit operatively coupled to the sensor assembly, the detector circuit adapted to generate an alarm signal indicative of a seizure condition if at least one of the following events is detected;
(1) sustained patient movement of more than a first specified magnitude for more than a first specified time period, and (2) a plurality of patient movement episodes of more than a second specified magnitude and more than a second specified duration, the plurality of patient movement episodes occurring within a third specified time period,wherein the sensor assembly is selected from the group consisting of a geophone, fiber optic, microwave, infrared, and ultrasound sensor assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 37)
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16. A patient movement monitoring device comprising:
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a sensor assembly adapted to be placed proximal to a patient and responsive to movement of the patient;
a detector circuit operatively coupled to the sensor assembly, the detector circuit adapted to generate an alarm signal indicative of a seizure condition if at least one of the following events is detected;
(1) sustained patient movement of more than a first specified magnitude for more than a first specified time period, and (2) a plurality of patient movement episodes of more than a second specified magnitude and more than a second specified duration, the plurality of patient movement episodes occurring within a third specified time period; and
a storage, the detector circuit further adapted to store sensor assembly signals in the storage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A patient movement monitoring device comprising:
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a sensor assembly adapted to be placed proximal to a patient and responsive to movement of the patient;
a detector circuit operatively coupled to the sensor assembly, the detector circuit adapted to generate an alarm signal indicative of a seizure condition if at least one of the following events is detected;
(1) sustained patient movement of more than a first specified magnitude for more than a first specified time period, and (2) a plurality of patient movement episodes of more than a second specified magnitude and more than a second specified duration, the plurality of patient movement episodes occurring within a third specified time period; and
a second sensor assembly adapted to be placed distal to the patient and responsive to environmental movement in the area of the patient, the second sensor assembly operatively coupled to the detector circuit, the detector circuit further adapted to combine sensor assembly signals and second sensor assembly signals to generate a movement signal representing patient movement substantially void of environmental movement; and
use the generated movement signal to determine if a seizure condition exists.- View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method to detect a patient seizure comprising:
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providing a sensor device on a surface;
receiving a first signal from the sensor device indicating movement of the surface caused by patient movement; and
generating an alarm signal to indicate a patient seizure condition if the first signal indicates at least one of the following conditions;
(1) sustained surface movement of more than a first specified magnitude for more than a first specified time period, and (2) a plurality of surface movement episodes of more than a second specified magnitude and more than a second specified duration, the plurality of surface movement episodes occurring within a third specified time period.- View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 38, 39)
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22. A method to detect a patient seizure comprising:
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receiving a first signal indicating movement of a surface caused by patient movement; and
generating an alarm signal to indicate a patient seizure condition if the first signal indicates at least one of the following conditions;
(1) sustained surface movement of more than a first specified magnitude for more than a first specified time period, and (2) a plurality of surface movement episodes of more than a second specified magnitude and more than a second specified duration, the plurality of surface movement episodes occurring within a third specified time period,wherein the first specified magnitude and the second specified magnitude are substantially the same. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method to detect a patient seizure comprising:
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receiving a first signal indicating movement of a surface caused by patient movement;
generating an alarm signal to indicate a patient seizure condition if the first signal indicates at least one of the following conditions;
(1) sustained surface movement of more than a first specified magnitude for more than a first specified time period, and (2) a plurality of surface movement episodes of more than a second specified magnitude and more than a second specified duration, the plurality of surface movement episodes occurring within a third specified time period;
receiving a second signal indicating environmental movement;
combining the first and second received signals to generate a movement signal representing patient movement substantially void of environmental movement; and
using the movement signal to indicate the patient seizure condition.
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25. A patient movement monitoring device comprising:
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a sensor assembly adapted to be placed proximal to a patient and responsive to movement of the patient;
a detector circuit operatively coupled to the sensor assembly, the detector circuit adapted to generate an alarm signal indicative of a seizure condition if at least one of the following events is detected;
(1) sustained patient movement of more than a first specified magnitude for more than a first specified time period, and (2) a plurality of patient movement episodes of more than a second specified magnitude and more than a second specified duration, the plurality of patient movement episodes occurring within a third specified time period; and
a vibration generator activable to test the patient movement monitoring device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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34. A patient movement monitoring device comprising:
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a sensor assembly adapted to be placed proximal to a patient and responsive to movement of the patient; and
a detector circuit operatively coupled to the sensor assembly, the detector circuit adapted to generate an alarm signal indicative of a seizure condition if at least one of the following events is detected;
(1) sustained patient movement of more than a first specified magnitude for more than a first specified time period, and (2) a plurality of patient movement episodes of more than a second specified magnitude and more than a second specified duration, the plurality of patient movement episodes occurring within a third specified time period,wherein the sensor assembly comprises a plurality of geophones.
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35. A patient movement monitoring device comprising:
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a sensor assembly adapted to be placed proximal to a patient and responsive to movement of the patient;
a detector circuit operatively coupled to the sensor assembly, the detector circuit adapted to generate an alarm signal indicative of a seizure condition if at least one of the following events is detected;
(1) sustained patient movement of more than a first specified magnitude for more than a first specified time period, and (2) a plurality of patient movement episodes of more than a second specified magnitude and more than a second specified duration, the plurality of patient movement episodes occurring within a third specified time period; and
a second sensor assembly adapted to detect floor movement, the detector circuit adapted to generate the alarm signal further based on detection of any floor movement. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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40. An apparatus to detect a seizure condition of a user, comprising:
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a sensor device positioned on a surface on which the user is located; and
a detector device operatively coupled to the sensor device and adapted to receive an indication from the sensor device representing movement of the surface, the detector device adapted to generate an alarm if the indication corresponds to a seizure condition of the user. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification