Cushioning support for monitoring user activity

• US 9,808,194 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PRS Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PRS Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Bhat, Nikhil, Li, Allen J., Choi, George Y., Choi, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Stout, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US14/849,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20160128623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• 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 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Multi-layer cushion supports are described which may generally comprise a first support having a first contact surface for contacting a portion of a body and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first support defining a central chamber and a peripheral chamber surrounding the central chamber, wherein the first support is filled with a first gas or liquid and a second support attached to the first support along the first contact surface. The second support may be filled with a second gas or liquid which is relatively more viscous than the first gas or liquid. In particular, the first support may be filled with a volume of air and the second support may be filled with oil which is less than the volume of air.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising:

a support for supporting at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body, wherein the support comprises a first layer and a second layer opposite the first layer, wherein the first and second layers define a central chamber and a peripheral chamber surrounding the central chamber, wherein the central chamber and the peripheral chamber are filled with a first gas or liquid, wherein the support further comprises a third layer, wherein the third layer is opposite both the first and second layers, wherein the second and third layers define an additional chamber, and wherein the additional chamber is filled with a second gas or liquid which is more viscous than the first gas or liquid;

at least one pressure sensor in communication with the support; and

an electronics unit in communication with the at least one pressure sensor,

wherein the electronics unit is configured to transmit information relating to pressure sensed from the at least one pressure sensor to a remote device, and wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to provide a warning or alert to inform the user that their posture is proper or improper when seated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional chamber is sized to contain a maximum volume which is less than a maximum volume of the central and peripheral chambers combined.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first gas or liquid comprises a volume of air.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the second gas or liquid comprises a volume of oil.

5. The system of claim 2 further comprising a foam layer positioned adjacent to the first layer.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a cover configured to envelope the support and the foam layer.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronics unit comprises a microprocessor.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronics unit is further configured for wireless communication with the remote device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote device comprises a smart phone, tablet, PDA, laptop, or computer.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to track a duration of time upon loading of the support.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to provide a warning or alert to the user when the duration of time reaches or exceeds a predetermined level.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the support comprises at least two fluid chambers separated from one another, each fluid chamber in communication with a corresponding pressure sensor which are in communication with the electronics unit.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to determine a pressure differential between the fluid chambers and to provide a warning or alert if the pressure differential exceeds a predetermined level.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor is further configured to detect and/or monitor one or more biometric parameters comprising heart rate, respiration, or body movement.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one biometric sensor in communication with the electronics unit and configured to detect and/or monitor one or more biometric parameters comprising heart rate, respiration, or body movement.

29. The system of claim 2, wherein the central chamber and the peripheral chamber are in fluid communication with one another.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the first layer is attached to the second layer, and wherein the second layer is attached to the third layer.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the warning or alert informs the user that they are leaning too far in a first direction when seated or leaning too far in a second direction when seated.

32. The system of claim 13, wherein the warning or alert indicates to the user to correct or maintain their posture when seated.

16. A method of monitoring use of a support, comprising:

providing a support for supporting at least a portion of a user'"'"'s body, wherein the support comprises a first layer and a second layer opposite the first layer, wherein the first and second layers define a central chamber and a peripheral chamber surrounding the central chamber, wherein the central chamber and the peripheral chamber are filled with a first gas or liquid, wherein the support further comprises a third layer, wherein the third layer is opposite both the first and second layers, wherein the second and third layers define an additional chamber, and wherein the additional chamber is filled with a second gas or liquid which is more viscous than the first gas or liquid;

sensing a pressure within the support via at least one pressure sensor when the portion of the user'"'"'s body is positioned upon the support; and

transmitting information relating to the pressure sensed by the at least one pressure sensor to a remote device via an electronics unit in communication with the at least one pressure sensor, wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to provide a warning or alert to the user to indicate that their posture is proper or improper when seated.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the additional chamber is sized to contain a maximum volume which is less than a maximum volume of the central and peripheral chambers combined.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing a foam layer positioned adjacent to the first layer such that the foam layer is positioned away from the portion of the body.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a cover configured to envelope the support and the foam layer.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising detecting and/or monitoring one or more biometric parameters of the user.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein sensing a pressure comprises sensing pressure from at least two pressure sensors in communication with a corresponding fluid chamber.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the two pressure sensors are configured to optimize a sitting position of the user.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising calculating a pressure difference between the at least two pressure sensors.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising actuating a warning or alert to the user if the pressure difference exceeds a predetermined level.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein sensing a pressure comprises tracking a time duration of the portion of the user'"'"'s body remaining upon the support.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising actuating a warning or alert to the user if the time duration exceeds a predetermined level.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein transmitting information comprises wirelessly transmitting the information to the remote device.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the remote device comprises a smart phone, tablet, PDA, laptop, or computer.

33. The method of claim 17, wherein the central chamber and the peripheral chamber are in fluid communication with one another.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the first layer is attached to the second layer, and wherein the second layer is attached to the third layer.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to determine a weight distribution of the user via the first and second pressure sensors, and wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to provide a warning or alert to the user that their posture is proper or improper when seated based on the determined weight distribution.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the first and second pressure sensors are positioned on opposing sides of the support.

37. The method of claim 21, wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to determine a weight distribution of the user via the at least two pressure sensors, and wherein the electronics unit and/or remote device is programmed to provide a warning or alert to the user that their posture is proper or improper when seated based on the determined weight distribution.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the warning or alert informs the user that they are leaning too far in a first direction when seated or leaning too far in a second direction when seated.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the warning or alert indicates to the user to correct or maintain their posture when seated.