System and method for predicting patient falls

• US 9,041,810 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Careview Communications Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Careview Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Ecker, Stephen, Johnson, Kyle Brook, Johnson, Steven Gail
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOSANYA, OBAFEMI OLUDAYO
• Application Number:
  US14/321,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 348/152
• US Class Current: 348/152
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/25 Recognition of walking or running movements, e.g. gait recognition

Abstract

A patient fall prediction system receives video image frames from a surveillance camera positioned in a patient'"'"'s room and analyses the video image frames for movement that may be a precursor to a patient fall. In set up phase, the viewpoint of the camera is directed at a risk area associated with patient falls, beds, chairs, wheelchairs, etc. A risk area is defined graphically in the viewport. The patient fall prediction system generates a plurality of concurrent motion detection zones that are situated proximate to the graphic markings of the risk areas. These motion detection zones are monitored for changes between video image frames that indicate a movement. The pattern of detections is recorded and compared to a fall movement detection signature.

Claims

1. A surveillance system for detecting an elevated fall risk condition, the system comprising:

a surveillance camera configured to generate a plurality of frames showing a surveillance viewport of an area including an elevated patient area having a left edge and a right edge opposite the left edge, the left edge and the right edge associated with an elevated risk of patient falls from the elevated patient area; and

a computer system comprising memory and logic circuitry configured to;

monitor for motion in each zone of each of a left set of zones and a right set of zones based on the plurality of frames, the zones of the left set of zones located to the left of the left edge and proximate to the left edge, the zones of the right set of zones located to the right of the right edge and proximate to the right edge, each of the left set of zones and the right set of zones respectively comprising at least an inner zone and an outer zone, the inner zone of the left set of zones extending along the left edge, the inner zone of the left set positioned between the left edge and the outer zone of the first set of zones, the inner zone of the right set of zones extending along the right edge, the inner zone of the right set of zones positioned between the right edge and the outer zone of the right set of zones;

detect an inward movement signature indicative of a presence of a healthcare professional proximate the area based on the monitoring for motion, the inward movement signature detected based on motion being detected within the outer zone of the left set or the right set before motion is detected in any other zone of the same set;

initiate a clearing routine based on the detection of the inward movement signature, the clearing routing starting a counter that counts to a predetermined number;

detect an outward movement signature associated with high patient fall risk from the elevated patient area based on the monitoring for motion, the outward movement signature detected based on motion being detected within the inner zone of either of the left set of zones or the right set of zones before motion is detected in any other zone of the same set; and

issue a fall alert with the user interface based on the detection of the outward movement signature, the fall alert comprising one or both of a visual indication and an audible indication;

wherein the computer system is configured to refrain from issuing the fall alert while the counter is counting to the predetermined number based on the inward movement indicating the presence of the healthcare professional proximate the area.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inner zone and the outer zone of the left set of zones are coextensive with the left edge and the inner zone and the outer zone of the right set of zones are coextensive with the right edge.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to monitor for motion by comparing luminance or RGB values of the pixels of each zone with luminance or RGB values of the corresponding zone of a previous frame and calculating a change in value.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to detect the outward movement signature based on a chronological order of motion detections that begin with motion in the inner detection zone of one of the left set or the right set and ends with motion in the outer detection zone of the same set.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the left set and the right set respectively comprise at least one detection zone between the inner detection zone and the outer detection zone, and wherein the computer system is configured to detect the outward detection signature within either of the left set or the right set based on motion being detected within the inner detection zone and then being sequentially detected across the at least one detection zone and then being detected within the outer detection zone of the same set.

6. A method for predicting a condition of elevated risk of a fall with a computer system comprising:

receiving a plurality of frames from a surveillance camera showing a surveillance viewport of an area including an elevated patient area having a left edge and a right edge opposite the left edge, the left edge and the right edge associated with an elevated risk of patient falls from the elevated patient area;

monitoring for motion in each zone of each of a left set of zones and the right set of zones based on the plurality of frames, the zones of the left set of zones located to the left of the left edge, the zones of the right set of zones located to the right of the right edge, each of the left set of zones and the right set of zones respectively comprising at least an inner zone and an outer zone, the inner zone of the left set of zones extending along the left edge, the inner zone of the left set positioned between the left edge and the outer zone of the left set of zones, the inner zone of the right set of zones extending along the right edge, the inner zone of the right set of zones positioned between the right edge and the outer zone of the right set of zones;

detecting an inward movement signature indicative of a presence of a healthcare professional proximate the area based on the monitoring, the inward movement signature detected based on motion being detected within the outer zone of the left set or the right set before motion is detected in any other zone of the same set;

initiating a clearing routine based on the detection of the inward movement signature, the clearing routing starting a counter that counts to a predetermined number;

detecting an outward movement signature associated with high patient fall risk from the elevated patient area based on the monitoring, the outward movement signature detected based on motion being detected within the inner zone of either of the left set of zones or the right set of zones before motion is detected in any other zone of the same set; and

issuing a fall alert with a user interface based on the detection of the outward movement signature, the fall alert comprising one or both of a visual indication and an audible indication;

wherein the fall alert is not issued if the counter is counting to the predetermined number based on the inward motion indicating the presence of the healthcare professional proximate the area, wherein each of the receiving, monitoring, detecting the inward movement signature, initiating the clearing routine, detecting the outward movement signature, and issuing, are performed by the computer system.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising detecting an inward movement signature that is not associated with high patient fall risk from the elevated patient area, the inward movement signature detected based on motion being detected within the outer zone of the left set or the right set before motion is detected in any other zone of the same set.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting the presence of the healthcare professional proximate the area comprises detecting the inward movement signature.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

starting a counter based on a detection of the inward movement signature, the counter counting to a predetermined number; and

if the counter is counting, clearing the detection of the outward motion signature to refrain from issuing the fall alert.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the inner zone and the outer zone of the left set of zones are coextensive with the left edge and the inner zone and the outer zone of the right set of zones are coextensive with the right edge.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein monitoring for motion comprises comparing luminance or RGB values of the pixels of each zone with luminance or RGB values of the corresponding zone of a previous frame and calculating a change in value.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the outward movement signature is detected based on a chronological order of motion detections that begin with motion in the inner detection zone of one of the left set or the right set and ends with motion in the outer detection zone of the same set.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the each of the left set of zones and the right set of zones respectively comprise at least one detection zone between the inner detection zone and the outer detection zone of each set, and wherein detecting the outward detection signature comprises detecting motion within the inner detection zone and then detecting motion sequentially across the at least one detection zone and then within the outer detection zone of the same set.

14. A surveillance system for detecting an elevated fall risk condition, the system comprising:

a surveillance camera configured to generate a plurality of frames showing a surveillance viewport of an area including an elevated patient area having a left edge and a right edge, the left edge and the right edge associated with an elevated risk of patient falls from the elevated patient area;

a user interface; and

a computer system comprising memory and logic circuitry configured to;

monitor for motion in each zone of a left set of zones and a right set of zones based on the plurality of frames, the zones of the left set of zones located to the left of the left edge, the zones of the right set of zones located to the right of the right edge, each of the left set of zones and the right set of zones respectively comprising at least an inner zone and an outer zone, the inner zone of the left set of zones extending along the left edge, the inner zone of the left set positioned between the left edge and the outer zone of the first set of zones, the inner zone of the right set of zones extending along the right edge, the inner zone of the right set of zones positioned between the right edge and the outer zone of the right set of zones;

detect a plurality of movement signatures in one or both of the left set and the right set, the plurality of movement signatures comprising an outward movement signature associated with high patient fall risk from the elevated patient area and an inward movement signature that is not associated with high patient fall risk from the elevated patient area, wherein the outward movement signature is detected based on motion being detected within the inner zone of either of the left set or the right set before motion is detected in any other zone of the same set, and wherein the inward movement signature is detected based on motion being detected within the outer zone of the left set or the right set before motion is detected in any other zone of the same set;

start a counter based on a detection of the inward movement signature, the counter counting to a predetermined number; and

issue a fall alert with the user interface based on the detection of the outward movement signature, the fall alert comprising one or both of a visual indication and an audible indication, wherein, if the counter is counting, the computer system is configured to clear the detection of the outward motion signature without issuing the fall alert.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer system is configured to restart the counter if motion is detected in any of the left set of motion detection zones or the right set of motion detection zones during the counting.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer system is configured to:

detect the outward movement signature based on a chronological order of motion detections that begin with motion in the inner detection zone of one of the left set or the right set and ends with motion in the outer detection zone of the same set; and

detect the inward movement signature based on a chronological order of motion detections that begin with motion in the outer detection zone of one of the left set or the right set and ends with motion in the inner detection zone of the same set.