Pressure Ulcer Detection Methods, Devices and Techniques

• US 9,655,546 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2014
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leaf Healthcare, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Leaf Healthcare, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Weckwerth, Mark V., Shen, Daniel Z., Larson, Barrett J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US15/028,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20160242681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• 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 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/447 specially adapted for aiding the prevention of ulcer or pressure sore development, i.e. before the ulcer or sore has developed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 : Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 : Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 : using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 : Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 : for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 : for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/057 : Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor ventilation openings in mattresses A47C21/042; pneumatic or hydraulic mattresses A47C27/08
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

A system for determining the location of patients uses a patient-associated communicator which wirelessly communicates with a network of environmental reference communicators arranged at fixed or otherwise known locations. A camera can be used to monitor or detect pressure ulcers and relay the information to a host system. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a location and orientation of a patient, the system comprising:

a patient-associated communication device configured to transmit wireless signals and having a defined orientation with respect to the patient, and

a data analysis system comprising;

at least one reference communication device, each located at a known location and configured to receive wireless signals transmitted by the patient-associated communication device, and

a processing unit configured to determine a location of the patient-associated communication device based at least on the wireless signals received by the at least one reference communication device, and

wherein the patient-associated communication device comprises a plurality of LEDs that indicate information regarding the patient'"'"'s orientation during at least one period prior to a current time.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an image capture device for monitoring a condition of an area of the patient'"'"'s skin.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient-associated communication device is affixed to the patient.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient-associated communication device is affixed to a bed associated with the patient.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient-associated communication device is affixed to a surface proximate to a bed associated with the patient.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one stimuli generator for encouraging a patient to change to a different orientation.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one stimuli generator generates at least one signal from a group comprising audio, visual, or tactile stimulus.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising an illumination device configured to illuminate an area of interest of the patient'"'"'s skin.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a visual reference tool configured to evaluate the area of the patient'"'"'s skin illuminated by the illumination device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient-associated communication device comprises a user interface configured to receive user input by at least one of a tap, a visual signal, an audio signal, or an RF signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the patient-associated communication device is configured to enable or disable user input by an operator based on a proximity of the operator to the patient-associated communication device.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer instructions executable to asses an activity and mobility of the patient and compare the assessment to one or more risk factors to determine a risk of deep vein thrombosis.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the patient-associated communication device is configured to be positioned on the patient in a known orientation, and

the system comprises computer instructions executable to;

detect, at a plurality of environmental resource communication devices, signals from the patient-associated communication device, and

identify, based on the known orientation of the patient-associated communication device together with the detected signals at the plurality of environmental resource communication devices, the location and orientation of the patient within a monitored space.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient-associated communication device is configured to control the one or more of the plurality of LEDs as a function of an amount of time that the patient has spent in at least one particular orientation.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the patient-associated communication device is configured to control the one or more of the plurality of LEDs as a function of a cumulative amount of time that the patient has spent in at least one particular orientation.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient-associated communication device is configured to indicate, via one or more of the plurality of LEDs, a current orientation of the patent.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient-associated communication device is configured to indicate, via one or more of the plurality of LEDs, compliance or non-compliance with a predefined turning protocol for the patient.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient-associated communication device is configured to indicate, via one or more of the plurality of LEDs, when a change in the patient'"'"'s orientation is specified according to a predefined turning protocol for the patient.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient-associated communication device is configured to indicate, via one or more of the plurality of LEDs, a specified change in the current orientation of the patient, as defined by a predefined turning protocol for the patient.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the system comprises a plurality of reference communication devices; and

determining the location of the patient-associated communication device based at least on the received wireless signals from the patient-associated communication device comprises determining one or more reference communication devices proximate to the patient-associated communication device.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the system comprises a plurality of reference communication devices;

each reference communication device may or may not receive wireless signals transmitted by the patient-associated communication device based at least on a data communication path between the patient-associated communication device and the respective reference communication device; and

determining the location of the patient-associated communication device based at least on the received wireless signals from the patient-associated communication device comprises determining that the patient-associated communication device is proximate to one or more particular reference communication devices based on Whether each respective reference communication device receives wireless signals transmitted by the patient-associated communication device.

22. A method for monitoring a user, the method comprising:

transmitting wireless signals by a user-associated communication device having a defined orientation with respect to the user;

receiving, by at least one reference communication device located at at least one known location, the wireless signals transmitted by the user-associated communication device;

determining, by a processor, a location of the user-associated communication device based at least on the wireless signals received by the at least one reference communication device; and

displaying, via one or more LEDs of the user-associated communication device, information indicating the user'"'"'s orientation during at least one period prior to a current time.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein displaying, via one or more LEDs of the user-associated communication device, information indicating the user'"'"'s orientation during at least one period prior to a current time comprises controlling the one or more LEDs based on a monitored amount of time that the user has spent in at least one particular orientation.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the user-associated communication device is configured to indicate, via the one or more LEDs, compliance or non-compliance with a predefined turning protocol for the user.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the user-associated communication device is configured to indicate, via the one or more LEDs, when a change in the user'"'"'s orientation is specified according to a predefined turning protocol for the user.

26. A system for monitoring a user, the system comprising:

a user-worn sensor device configured to be directly or indirectly secured to the user or to an article worn by the user, the user-worn sensor device comprising;

at least one sensor configured to collect sensor data indicating a physical orientation of the user;

a wireless communication unit configured to transmit wireless signals corresponding with the sensor data collected by the at least one sensor; and

a display unit including at least one LED or other visual indicator; and

a data analysis system comprising;

at least one communication device configured to directly or indirectly receive wireless signals from the user-worn sensor device; and

a processor configured to analyze the wireless signals to determine at least one of a location or an orientation of the user-worn sensor device; and

wherein the display unit of the user-worn sensor device is configured to indicate information regarding an orientation of the user during at least one period prior to a current time.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein indicating, by the display unit, information regarding an orientation of the user during at least one period prior to a current time comprises displaying information indicating an amount of time that the user has spent in at least one particular orientation.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the display unit of the user-associated communication device is configured to indicate compliance or non-compliance with a predefined turning protocol for the user.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the display unit of the user-associated communication device is configured to indicate when a change in the user'"'"'s orientation is specified according to a predefined turning protocol for the user.