Systems and Methods for Collecting and Displaying User Orientation Information on a User-Worn Sensor Device

• US 20170245793A1
• Filed: 04/14/2017
• Published: 08/31/2017
• 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: Shen, Daniel Z., Larson, Barrett J., Weckwerth, Mark V.
• Granted Patent: US 10,004,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

1-14. -14. (canceled)

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

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

the user-wearable sensor device including at least one sensor configured to collect sensor data associated with an orientation of the user;

a display unit of the user-wearable sensor device including at least one LED or other visual indicator; and

a data analysis system comprising a processor configured to;

receive sensor data collected by the at east one sensor; and

analyze the sensor data to determine the orientation of the user; and

wherein the display unit of the user-wearable sensor device is configured to display information regarding or based on the determined orientation of the user during at least one period prior to a current time.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the process or of the data analysis system is configured to determine an amount of time that the user has spent in at least one particular orientation; and

displaying, via the display unit of the user-wearable sensor device, information regarding or based on the determined orientation of the user during at least one period prior to a current time, comprises displaying an indication of the amount of time that the user has spent in at least one particular orientation.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the process or of the data analysis system is configured to determine a relative amount of time spent in multiple different orientations; and

displaying, via the display unit of the user-wearable. sensor device, information regarding or based on the determined orientation of the user during at least one period prior to a current time, comprises displaying an indication of the relative amount of time spent in the multiple different orientations.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the process or of the data analysis system is configured to determine an orientation in which the user has spent the greatest amount of time; and

displaying, via the display unit of the user-wearable sensor device, information regarding or based on the determined orientation of the user during at least one period prior to a current time, comprises displaying an indication of the orientation in which the user has spent the greatest amount of time.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the process or of the data analysis system is configured to determine an area of the user'"'"'s body that has been exposed to the most pressure; and

displaying, via the display unit of the user-wearable sensor device, information regarding or based on the determined orientation of the user during at least one period prior to a current time, comprises displaying an indication of the area of the user'"'"'s body that has been exposed to the most pressure.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein displaying information regarding or based on the determined orientation of the user during at least one period prior to a current time comprises displaying information regarding or based on the determined orientation of the user during a period extending from a prior time to a current time.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the display unit of the user-wearable sensor device is configured to display information regarding a current orientation of the user.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the data analysis system is provided in the user-wearable sensor device.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the data analysis system is distinct from the user-wearable sensor device.

24. A user-wearable sensor device configured to be directly or indirectly secured to a user or to an article worn by the user, the user-wearable sensor device comprising:

at least one sensor configured to collect sensor data associated with an orientation of the user;

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

a processor configured to;

monitor the orientation of the user over time based on sensor data collected by the at least one sensor;

determine an amount of time spent in at least one defined user orientation based on the monitored orientation of the user over time; and

determine a user orientation status based on the determined amount of time spent in the at least one defined user orientation and a predefined turning protocol for the user; and

control the display unit to display information indicating the determined user orientation status.

25. The user-wearable sensor device of claim 24, wherein:

determining a user orientation status comprises determining a compliance or non-compliance with the predefined turning protocol for the user; and

controlling the display unit to display information indicating the determined user orientation status comprises controlling the display unit to display information indicating the determined compliance or non-compliance with the predefined turning protocol.

26. The user-wearable sensor device of claim 24, wherein:

determining a user orientation status comprises determining when a change in the user'"'"'s orientation is specified according to the predefined turning protocol; and

controlling the display unit to display information indicating the determined user orientation status comprises controlling the display unit to indicate the specified change in the user'"'"'s orientation according to the predefined turning protocol.

27. The user-wearable sensor device of claim 24, wherein:

determining a user orientation status comprises determining a time spent in each of multiple different orientations; and

controlling the display unit to display information indicating the determined user orientation. status comprises control ling, the display unit to indicate a relative amount of time spent in the multiple different orientations.

28. The user-wearable sensor device of claim 27, wherein controlling the display unit to indicate a relative amount of time spent in the multiple different orientations comprises controlling the display unit to indicate an orientation in which the user has spent the greatest amount of time.

29. The user-wearable sensor device of claim 24, wherein:

determining a user orientation status comprises determining an area of the user'"'"'s body that has been exposed to the most pressure; and

controlling the display unit to display information indicating the determined user orientation status comprises controlling the display unit to indicate the area of the user'"'"'s body that has been exposed to the most pressure.

30. The user-wearable sensor device of claim 24, comprising controlling the display unit to display information indicating a current orientation of the user.

31. A method of monitoring a user, the method comprising:

collecting, by at least one sensor of a user-worn sensor device directly or indirectly secured to a user or to an article worn by the user, sensor data associated with an orientation of the user;

monitoring, by a processor, the orientation of the user over time based on the sensor data collected by the at least one sensor;

determining, by the processor, an amount of time spent in at least one defined user orientation based on the monitored orientation of the user over time;

determining, by the processor, at least one user orientation status based on the determined amount of time spent in the at least one defined user orientation and a predefined turning protocol for the user; and

displaying, via a display unit a the user-worn sensor device, information indicating the determined user orientation status, wherein the display unit includes at least one LED or other visual indicator.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein:

determining a user orientation status comprises determining a compliance or non-compliance with the predefined turning protocol for the user; and

displaying, via the display unit of the user-worn sensor device, information indicating the determined user orientation status comprises displaying information indicating the determined compliance or non-compliance with the predefined turning protocol. (New) The method of claim 31, wherein;

determining a user orientation status comprises determining when a change in the user'"'"'s orientation is specified according to the predefined turning protocol; and

displaying, via the display unit of the user-worn sensor device, information indicating the determined user orientation status comprises displaying an indication of the specified change in the user'"'"'s orientation according to the predefined turning protocol.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein:

determining a user orientation status comprises determining a time spent in each of multiple different orientations; and

displaying, via the display unit of the user-worn sensor device. information indicating the determined user orientation status comprises displaying an indication of a relative amount of time spent in the multiple different orientations.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein displaying an indication of a relative amount of time spent in the multiple different orientations comprises displaying an indication of an orientation in which the user has spent the greatest amount of time.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein:

determining a user orientation status comprises determining an area of the user'"'"'s body that has been exposed to the most pressure; and

displaying, via the display unit of the user-worn sensor device, information indicating the determined user orientation status comprises displaying an indication of the area of the user'"'"'s body that has been exposed to the most pressure.

37. The method of claim 31, comprising displaying, via the display unit of the user-worn sensor device, information indicating a current orientation of the user.

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

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

the user-wearable sensor device including at least one sensor configured to collect sensor data associated with an orientation of the user;

a display unit of the user-wearable sensor device including at least one LED or other visual indicator; and

a data analysis system comprising a processor configured to;

receive sensor data collected by the at least one sensor; and

analyze the sensor data to determine the orientation of the user; and

wherein the display unit of the user-wearable sensor device is configured;

to display information regarding or based on the determined orientation of the user during at least one period prior to a current time; and

to display information indicating a current orientation of the user.