Methods and systems for monitoring position and movement of human beings

• US 7,733,233 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Madsen, Gary F., Mingerink, Corey B., Onderko, John C., Clement, Gary A., Buss, Scott J., Carey, Brian J., O'Shea, Michael D., Lindsay, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, HOI CHING
• Application Number:
  US11/552,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20080094226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.7, 340/573.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.5, 340/686.1, 340/539.11, 340/575, 600/595, 32420711-20725
• US Class Current: 340/573.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/06 Children, e.g. for attention deficit diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• 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 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6808 Diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

Methods and systems for detecting a predetermined position of a user wearing a disposable absorbent article are given. The methods and systems may include detecting that the user of the disposable absorbent article is in the predetermined position, wherein the predetermined position is determined to be a potentially life-threatening position. In response to determining that the user is in the predetermined position, an operation of a transmitter located on the disposable absorbent article is controlled. Movement, location and/or various biometrics of the user may also be monitored.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a position of a user wearing a disposable absorbent article, the disposable absorbent article comprising a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a tab electrically insulating the first electrical contact from the second electrical contact, wherein removal of the tab enables activation of a body position detection system by enabling a connection between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact when the disposable absorbent article is worn by the user, the method comprising:

providing the body position detection system operable according to whether the user is in a predetermined position predetermined to be a potentially life-threatening position and whether the first electrical contact is electrically connected to the second electrical contact, wherein removal of the tab activates the position detector by enabling the first electrical contact to be connected to the second electrical contact wherein at least one component of the body position detection system includes transmitting circuitry and is located on the disposable absorbent article; and

in response to the user assuming the predetermined position, controlling wireless communication with the at least one component, by performing one of;

(i) allowing wireless communication with the at least one component; and

(ii) preventing wireless communication with the at least one component;

wherein the predetermined position corresponds to a heightened risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component is a wirelessly readable tag.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to the controlling wireless communication with the at least one component, indicating by a monitoring station that the predetermined position of the user is detected;

wherein indicating by the monitoring station occurs only if the user is in the predetermined position longer than a predetermined period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposable absorbent article is a diaper (SIDS).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component is at least partially disposed between an outer layer and an inner layer of the disposable absorbent article.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component is an RFID device and wherein the body position detection system further includes a controller located on the disposable absorbent article and configured to control the wireless communication with the REID device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, detecting that the user has assumed the predetermined position;

wherein the detecting is performed by one or more sensors of the body position detection system, the one or more sensors operable to detect one or more of force and orientation according to whether the user is in the predetermined position.

8. A method for detecting, by a position detector of a body position detection system, a predetermined position of a user wearing a wearable item, the wearable item comprising a first control line and a second control line coupled to the position detector and at least partially disposed in the wearable item, a first electrical contact coupled to the first control line, a second electrical contact coupled to the second control line, and a tab insulating the first and second control lines such that a removal of the tab enables an electrical contact between the first and the second contacts via a jumper positioned to electrically connect the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact when the wearable item is worn by the user, the position detector being active only when the first electrical contact is connected to the second electrical contact, the method comprising:

activating the position detector, wherein removal of the tab activates the position detector;

detecting, by the position detector, that the user of the disposable absorbent article is in the predetermined position, wherein the predetermined position is determined to be a potentially life threatening position; and

in response to determining that the user is in the predetermined position, controlling wireless communication with an REID device of the body position detection system;

wherein the REID device is located on the wearable item; and

wherein controlling wireless communication is performed by a controller located on the wearable item;

wherein the predetermined position corresponds to a heightened risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein controlling wireless communication comprises allowing wireless communication with the REID device by a REID device reader.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising, responsive to the controlling wireless communication with the REID device, indicating by a monitoring station that the predetermined position of the user is detected;

wherein indicating by the monitoring station occurs only if the user is in the predetermined position longer than a predetermined period of time.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the wearable item is a diaper.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the wearable item is a disposable absorbent article and wherein the position detector and the REID device are at least partially disposed between layers and of the disposable absorbent article.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the position detector consists of one or more pressure switches communicatively coupled to the controller in a manner operable to control the wireless communication with the REID device.

14. A system for detecting a predetermined position of a user wearing a wearable item, the system comprising:

a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact coupled to the wearable item;

a tab electrically insulating the first electrical contact from the second electrical contact;

a connector positioned to electrically connect the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact when the wearable item is worn and the tab is removed;

a position detector configured to detect that the user of the wearable item is in the predetermined position, the position detector being active only when the first electrical contact is connected to the second electrical contact, wherein the predetermined position is determined to be a potentially life-threatening position; and

a transmitter located on the wearable item, wherein operation of the transmitter is controlled in response to the position detector detecting that the user is in the predetermined position by performing one of;

(i) establishing wireless communication with a receiving unit; and

(ii) terminating wireless communication with the receiving unit;

wherein the detection of the predetermined position indicates to a heightened risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a monitoring station configured to indicate detection of the predetermined position of the user according to the state of wireless communication between the receiving unit and the transmitter;

wherein the monitoring station indicates the predetermined position only if the user remains in the predetermined position longer than a predetermined period of time.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the position detector and the transmitter are attached to the wearable item.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the position detector consists of one or more pressure switches communicatively coupled to the transmitter in a manner operable to control the wireless communication between the transmitter and the receiving unit.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the position detector consists of one or more sensors operable to detect one or more of force, orientation, a physical property, and position.

22. The system of claim 14, further comprising a battery, wherein the position detector is powered by the battery when the first electrical contact is electrically connected to the second electrical contact.

19. A system for detecting a predetermined position of a user wearing a disposable absorbent article, the system comprising:

a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact coupled to the disposable absorbent article;

a tab electrically insulating the first electrical contact from the second electrical contact;

a connector positioned to electrically connect the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact when the disposable absorbent article is worn and the tab is removed;

a position detector configured to detect that the user of the disposable absorbent article is in the predetermined position, the position detector being active only when the first electrical contact is connected to the second electrical contact, wherein the predetermined position is determined to be a potentially life threatening position; and

an REID tag located on the disposable absorbent article, wherein operation of the REID tag is controlled in response to the position detector detecting that the user is in the predetermined position by performing one of;

(i) establishing wireless communication between the REID tag and a receiving unit; and

(ii) terminating wireless communication between the REID tag and the receiving unit;

wherein the predetermined position corresponds to a heightened risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the disposable absorbent article is a diaper and the REID tag is at least partially disposed between an outer layer and an inner layer of the diaper.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the REID tag is releasably attached to the disposable absorbent article in a manner allowing removal of the REID tag from the disposable article and subsequent reuse of the REID tag.