Comprehensive monitoring system

• US 20050093709A1
• Filed: 08/02/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wellcare Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wellcare Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: DiMario, William G., Franco, Thomas S. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• 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

A monitoring system for physically challenged clients can have a base hub unit, one or more sensor units, one or more repeater units, and a mobile unit for a client to wear in a residential setting. In an institutional setting, a mobile repeater can be used for monitoring outside premises. A three-axis accelerometer can be used to detect falls and to monitor for other life activities, such as sleeping.

Claims

1. A client monitoring method including using data from a three-axis accelerometer in a client-carried device for determining if a client has fallen.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the device providing position information to enable the determination of the location of the client.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the position information is based on GPS data.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the position information is based on time of arrival data that detects the time it takes for a signal to travel between the device and one or more transmitters and/or receivers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer filters out initial conditions including gravity and determines a velocity over a period of time by integrating along the three axes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if a client has fallen includes using acceleration and/or velocity of an event, a duration of the event, and post-event activity to determine if the event is a fall.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising using data from the accelerometer to determine information about one or more life activities other than falling.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more other life activities includes sleeping.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising comparing current accelerometer data with historic accelerometer data to determine if there is a possible wellness problem.

10. A monitoring system for monitoring a patient in a monitoring region, the system comprising:

a mobile device with an accelerometer for detecting an acceleration by a patient when worn by a patient;

a first sensor for detecting an ambient condition in the monitoring region;

a second sensor for detecting a condition of a device in the monitoring region;

a repeater node for transmitting signals from at least one of the accelerometer, first sensor, or second sensor; and

a hub node for receiving signals from the repeater node.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the ambient condition includes one of heat and humidity.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the device includes one of a refrigerator, a stove, a door, a toilet, a faucet, a heater, and an air conditioner.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the hub node can transmit data to a location remote from the monitoring region.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein data from at least one of the accelerometer, first sensor, and second sensor is provided to a web client such that the data is accessible over the Internet.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the hub node is in communication with a telephone or paging network to provide information to a defined calling list that can include multiple parties.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the monitoring region includes multiple rooms, the system further comprising multiple repeater nodes, with at least one repeater node in each of multiple rooms.

17. A monitoring system comprising:

a portable device with an accelerometer for sensing an acceleration that can be used to determine if the patient has fallen;

a mobile repeater node responsive to and capable of transmitting position data to indicate the location of the repeater node, and further of transmitting data derived from the data sensed by the accelerometer.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the repeater node is responsive to the position data for providing an alert if the wearer of the portable device is outside defined premises.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the position information is based on GPS data, and wherein the repeater node transmits data wirelessly through WiFi.