Device and method of monitoring a position and predicting an exit of a subject on or from a substrate

• US 9,931,085 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2016
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
• Original Assignee: Select Comfort Retail Corporation (Sleep Number Corporation)
• Inventors: Young, Steven Jay, Hewitt, Carl, Luckow, Al
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nganga, Boniface N
• Application Number:
  US15/243,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20160354044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• 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 5/0022 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 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6894 Wheel chairs
• 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 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B

Abstract

Methods and devices for monitoring the position of a subject are disclosed. One such method includes sensing pressure waves generated by the subject moving on a divided bladder comprising interleaved portions, generating signals indicative of the pressure waves for each of the interleaved portions, and sending the signals to a processor. The method further includes determining the position of the subject based on the difference between the signals from each of the interleaved portions and generating a pattern for the subject. The pattern includes the presence and/or position of the subject over time. The method further includes predicting an action such as an exit of the subject from the divided bladder based on comparing a current pattern for the subject to previous patterns for the subject.

Claims

1. A bed device, the bed device comprising:

a padding configured to support a subject on at least a portion of the bed device, the padding comprising;

a divided bladder configured to contain a fluid, the divided bladder comprising a first seam dividing the divided bladder into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise interleaving members such that pressure from a subject supported on the bed device is applied differentially to the first portion and the second portion in relationship to a location of the subject on the bed device, wherein the first seam forms a zig-zag pattern that extends nearly the width of the divided bladder;

one or more sensors configured to sense pressures in the divided bladder; and

a processor configured to;

receive signals from the one or more sensors;

identify the differentially applied pressure; and

generate a location value to reflect the location of the subject on the bed device.

2. The bed device of claim 1, wherein the bed device further comprises a control unit that contains the processor and is fixedly attached to the padding.

3. The bed device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are in fluid communication with the divided bladder by a hose.

4. The bed device of claim 1, and further comprising a second divided bladder having a second seam that forms a second zig-zag pattern that extends nearly the breadth of the second divided bladder.

5. The bed device of claim 1, wherein the divided bladder further comprises a second seam that further divides the divided bladder into a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion and the fourth portion comprise interleaving members such that pressure from a subject on the bed device is applied differentially to the third portion and fourth portion in relationship to the location of the subject of the bed device.

6. The bed device of claim 5, wherein pressure from a subject supported on the bed device is applied differentially to the first portion and the second portion in relationship to a horizontal location of the subject on the bed device;

and

pressure from a subject on the bed device is applied differentially to the third portion and fourth portion in relationship to a vertical location of the subject of the bed device.

7. The bed device of claim 1, wherein the divided bladder is an air bladder.

8. The bed device of claim 1, wherein the divided bladder is a water bladder.

9. The bed device of claim 1, and further comprising means for maintaining a reference pressure.

10. The bed device of claim 9, and further comprising means for containing components of the means for maintaining a reference pressure.

11. The bed system of claim 10, wherein the one or more sensors are positioned in the means for containing components of the means for maintaining a reference pressure.