System and method for monitoring frequency and intensity of movement by a recumbent subject

• US 6,821,258 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bip Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: WCR Company
• Inventors: Reed, William C., Pascoe, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASTORINO, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US10/358,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/595, 600/300-301, 128/897, 128/920, 340/573.1, 340/575, 340/576, 561/0, 561/4, 738/620-1-
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/20 for measuring urological functions restricted to the evaluation of the urinary system A61B5/4375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/06 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

An integrated subject monitoring system facilitates measurement, collection and analysis of data pertaining to frequency and intensity of movement by a recumbent subject. The system includes a network-coupled computer and sensors placed in a bed or other resting surface of the subject. Parameter data is obtained primarily passively, without the cooperation or active participation of the subject. Subject parameters can be continuously monitored, sampled and recorded. Captured values then can be compared to initial baseline values for a measured parameter as well as to the trend the parameter of that subject. Readings falling outside the boundaries can trigger a signal to be sent to an appropriate party. The system preferably further includes a location monitoring or tracking subsystem for determining a subject'"'"'s location within a defined space. Location data from the subsystem can be used to identify the subject being measured by the sensors in the bed.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring frequency and intensity of movement by a subject during sleep, comprising:

a sleep structure having a sleeping surface upon which the subject rests;

a plurality of z-axis force sensors distributed about and coupled to the sleep structure, each distributed force sensor being operative to develop a potential corresponding to an application of force applied to the sleep structure in the z-axis direction by the subject and to communicate the potential as a data signal;

a comparator operative to compare data signals from the sensors to discriminate among x-, y- and z-axis movements of the subject while upon the sleeping surface; and

a data storage device for storing a plurality of data signals.

2. A method for monitoring frequency and intensity of movement by a recumbent subject, comprising:

providing a sleep structure having a sleeping surface upon which the subject rests;

providing a plurality of z-axis force sensors coupled to the sleep structure, each member of the plurality of force sensors being operative to develop a potential corresponding to an application of force by the subject to the sleep structure and transmitted through the sleep structure to that member, the plurality of force sensors being spatially distributed such that a load applied downward on the sleeping surface is differentially sensed by each member of the plurality of z-axis force sensors;

differentially sensing by each of the plurality of z-axis force sensors changes in force, the changes in force corresponding to movement of the subject upon the surface in a direction selected from the group consisting of;

x-axis, y-axis, z-axis and x-axis, and z-axis and y-axis;

providing the potentials, together with chronological identifiers associated therewith, as movement data to a data analysis means; and

analyzing the movement data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein analyzing the data includes determining trend data using the stored signals and associated chronological identifiers.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein analyzing the data further includes producing a histogram using the stored signals and associated chronological identifiers.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein analyzing the data includes using potentials from the plurality of force sensors to discriminate among x-, y- and z-axis movement of the subject while upon the surface.

6. A movement monitoring system suitable to monitor a subject recumbent on resting apparatus, comprising:

a resting apparatus;

an x-axis force sensor coupled to the resting apparatus and positioned to generate potentials corresponding to applications of x-axis force on the apparatus;

a y-axis force sensor coupled to the resting apparatus and positioned to generate potentials corresponding to applications of y-axis force on the apparatus;

a z-axis force sensor coupled to the resting apparatus and positioned to generate potentials corresponding to applications of z-axis force on the apparatus;

a personal tracking subsystem configured to determine a subject identity from a detected identity signal corresponding to subject identity;

a processor having a data storage device coupled thereto; and

a data analyzer operative to associate the tracking signal with the potentials to form data records.

7. A method for monitoring frequency and intensity of movement by a recumbent subject, comprising:

providing a resting apparatus having a surface upon which the subject rests, said resting apparatus having coupled thereto;

an x-axis force sensor coupled to the resting apparatus and positioned to generate potentials corresponding to applications of x-axis force on the apparatus,

a y-axis force sensor coupled to the resting apparatus and positioned to generate potentials corresponding to applications of y-axis force on the apparatus, and

a z-axis force sensor coupled to the resting apparatus and positioned to generate potentials corresponding to applications of z-axis force on the apparatus;

differentially sensing by each of the plurality of force sensors changes in force in

the respective x-, y-, and z-axis directions corresponding to movement of the subject upon the surface;

providing the potentials, together with chronological identifiers associated therewith, as movement data to a data analysis means; and

analyzing the movement data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein analyzing the data includes determining trend data using the stored signals and associated chronological identifiers.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein analyzing the data further includes producing a histogram using the stored signals and associated chronological identifiers.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein analyzing the data includes using potentials from the plurality of force sensors to discriminate among x-, y- and z-axis movement of the subject while upon the surface.