Wheelchair alarm system and method
First Claim
1. A method for preventing a person from falling from a chair, comprising the steps of:
- sensing a plurality of seating position parameters with a plurality of sensors located on the chair;
determining at least one gesture state from the plurality of seating position parameters;
determining whether the at least one gesture state indicates or predicts a risk condition;
providing an alarm when the risk condition is indicated or predicted by a processor; and
wherein the step of determining the at least one gesture state from the plurality of seating position parameters comprises;
deriving a plurality of derived features from the seating position parameters;
determining from at least one of the plurality of derived features a probabilistic score for the at least one gesture state; and
triggering the at least one gesture state when the probabilistic score is above a threshold score.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wheelchair alarm system and method for preventing falls for patients at risk by recognizing the gesture of a patient attempting to stand. The wheelchair alarm system uses an array of proximity sensors and pressure sensors to create a map of the patient'"'"'s sitting position, and then uses gesture recognition algorithms to determine when a patient is attempting to stand up. The wheelchair alarm system responds with light and voice alarms that can encourage the patient to remain seated and/or to make use of the system'"'"'s integrated nurse-call function. The wheelchair alarm system can be seamlessly integrated into existing hospital WiFi networks, sending messages to the nurse call system as well as providing the patient'"'"'s location.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for preventing a person from falling from a chair, comprising the steps of:
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sensing a plurality of seating position parameters with a plurality of sensors located on the chair; determining at least one gesture state from the plurality of seating position parameters; determining whether the at least one gesture state indicates or predicts a risk condition; providing an alarm when the risk condition is indicated or predicted by a processor; and wherein the step of determining the at least one gesture state from the plurality of seating position parameters comprises; deriving a plurality of derived features from the seating position parameters; determining from at least one of the plurality of derived features a probabilistic score for the at least one gesture state; and triggering the at least one gesture state when the probabilistic score is above a threshold score. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An alarm system for a chair, the alarm system comprising:
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a plurality of sensors configured to generate a plurality of seating position parameters; an alarm; a controller configured to receive the plurality of seating position parameters, determine at least one gesture state from the plurality of seating position parameters, determine whether the at least one gesture indicates or predicts a risk condition, and activate the alarm when the risk condition is indicated or predicted; and wherein the controller is further configured to derive a plurality of derived features from the seating position parameters, determine from at least one of the plurality of derived features a probabilistic score for the at least one gesture state, and trigger the at least one gesture state when the probabilistic score is above a threshold score. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification