Accelerometer and wireless notification system

• US 9,706,950 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Angulus Corp.
• Original Assignee: Angulus Corp.
• Inventors: Glaser, Frank, Gamarnik, Viktor, Karlin, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): D ABREU, MICHAEL JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US14/675,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20150272481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• 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 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• 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 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• 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: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and devices for managing health conditions associated with posture. The devices can be configured to monitor patient body angles and alert caregivers when measurements are outside a recommended range for the health condition. The methods and devices can facilitate patient compliance and assist caregivers in adhering to action plans.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) contacting a device to an upper body portion of a subject, wherein the device comprises an accelerometer, and a processor, wherein the subject is at elevated risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia;

b) detecting by the accelerometer a change in posture of the subject;

c) calculating by the processor an angle formed by a cross sectional plane of the device and a plane of reference based on the detected change in posture of the subject; and

d) monitoring the angle formed by the cross sectional plane of the device and the plane of reference and generating an alert when the angle formed by the cross sectional plane of the device and the plane of reference is outside a predetermined range, wherein the predetermined range is from about 30 degrees to about 45 degrees, and wherein the subject is at elevated risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia when the angle formed by the cross sectional plane of the device and the plane of reference is outside the predetermined range.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording in a database the angle formed by the cross sectional plane of the device and the plane of reference.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a history of postures of the subject over a period of time based on detected angles recorded in the database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plane of reference is a plane of zero degree inclination.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the upper body portion is the thorax of the subject.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the upper body portion is a sternal surface of the subject.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the angle on a display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer and the processor are in a common housing.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting results in attachment of the device to the upper body portion of the subject.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting is to the subject'"'"'s skin.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting is to a garment worn by the subject.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is bedridden.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is a patient in a hospital.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is a resident in a nursing home.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a blood oxygenation of the subject.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a heart rate of the subject.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a breathing rate of the subject.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an upper body angle of the subject based on the angle formed by the cross sectional plane of the device and the plane of reference.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the subject'"'"'s posture to return the angle formed by the cross sectional plane of the device and the plane of reference to within the predetermined range.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the subject'"'"'s posture in a position that keeps the angle formed by the cross sectional plane of the device and the plane of reference within the predetermined range.

22. A device comprising:

a) an attachment mechanism configured to attach the device to a subject who is at elevated risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia;

b) an accelerometer configured to detect a change in posture of the subject;

c) a processor configured to receive information from the accelerometer, and determine an angle formed by a cross sectional plane of the device and a plane of reference based on the detected change in posture of the subject; and

d) an alert system, wherein the alert system is configured to generate an alert when the angle formed by the cross sectional plane of the device and the plane of reference is outside a predetermined range, wherein the predetermined range is from about 30 degrees to about 45 degrees, wherein the subject is at elevated risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia when the angle formed by the cross sectional plane of the device and the plane of reference is outside the predetermined range.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the plane of reference is a plane of zero degree inclination.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to attach to a sternal surface of the subject.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to attach to a garment of the subject.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein the accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.

27. The device of claim 22, wherein the accelerometer and the processor are in a common housing.

28. The device of claim 22, wherein the angle formed by the cross sectional plane of the device and the plane of reference is an upper body angle of the subject.

29. The device of claim 22, further comprising a sensor configured to measure a magnetic field.

30. The device of claim 22, further comprising a sensor configured to measure a heart rate of the subject.

31. The device of claim 22, further comprising a sensor configured to measure a breathing rate of the subject.

32. The device of claim 22, further comprising a sensor configured to measure a blood oxygenation of the subject.

33. The device of claim 22, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit an output of the angle calculated by the processor.

34. The device of claim 22, further comprising a display configured to display an output of the angle calculated by the processor.