Systems and methods for managing a person's position based on a personal health factor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12437867-B2
Application number	US-202217903399-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2022
Priority date	Mar 24, 2009
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

A monitoring system and method tracks a patient's position over time and ensures that proper turning or other manipulation is done within the time prescribed. Preferably, the techniques herein continuously monitor patient position and alert medical or other personnel of the need for turning or other patient manipulation. The system may be implemented within a medical or other care facility, or within a patient's home.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring an orientation of a person on a support surface, the system comprising:
a wearable sensor device including at least one sensor to generate sensor data associated with the person during a series of movements between multiple orientations including a first orientation in which a first region of the person's body is pressurized by the support surface and a second orientation in which a second region of the person's body is pressurized by the support surface; and
a processor coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to:
monitor an orientation of the person on the support surface over time based on the sensor data generated by the at least one sensor, including determining when the person is in the first orientation or the second orientation;
based on the monitored orientation of the person on the support surface, manage both (a) a first pressurization timer for the first orientation and (b) a second pressurization timer for the second orientation;
wherein managing the first pressurization timer for the first orientation comprises:
increasing a first time-on value for a duration spent in the first orientation;
comparing the first time-on value to a first time-on threshold; and
generating a first notification indicating a needed turn of the person relative to the support surface if the first time-on value exceeds the first time-on threshold; and

wherein managing the second pressurization timer for the second orientation comprises, after a turn of the person from the first orientation to the second orientation:
increasing a second time-on value for a duration spent in the second orientation;
comparing the second time-on value to a second time-on threshold, wherein the second time-on threshold is variable as a proportional function of the duration spent in the first orientation; and
generating a second notification indicating a needed turn of the person relative to the support surface if the second time-on value exceeds the second time-on threshold.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first time-on threshold is different than the second time-on threshold.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
determine the person is in the first orientation;
determine a first time-on duration for a first time-on period in the first orientation;
identify a first movement away from the first orientation to the second orientation;
in response to identifying the first movement from the first orientation to the second orientation:
increase the second time-on value for a duration spent in the second orientation;
identify a second movement back to the first orientation;
adjusting the first time-on threshold as a proportional function of the duration spent in the second orientation.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein identifying a first movement away from the first orientation to the second orientation comprises identifying a rotation of the person that exceeds a defined rotation threshold.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive input defining a third orientation as a restricted orientation; and
manage a restricted orientation timer having a defined restricted time period associated with the third orientation, including:
determining the person has moved to the third orientation during the restricted time period; and
generating a restricted orientation notification in response to determining the person has moved to the third orientation during the restricted time period.

6. A method for monitoring an orientation of a person on a support surface, comprising:
receiving, at a processor, sensor data from at least one sensor provided in a wearable sensor device, the orientation data representing an orientation of the person during a series of movements between multiple orientations including a first orientation in which a first region of the person's body is pressurized by the support surface and a second orientation in which a second region of the person's body is pressurized by the support surface;
monitoring an orientation of the person over time, by the processor, based on the received sensor data, including determining when the person is in the first orientation or the second orientation;
managing, by the processor, based on the monitored orientation of the person, both (a) a first pressurization timer for the first orientation and (b) a second pressurization timer for the second orientation;
wherein managing the first pressurization timer for the first orientation comprises:
increasing a first time-on value for a duration spent in the first orientation;
comparing the first time-on value to a first time-on threshold; and
generating a first notification indicating a needed turn of the person relative to the support surface if the first time-on value exceeds the first time-on threshold; and

wherein managing the second pressurization timer for the second orientation comprises, after a turn of the person from the first orientation to the second orientation:
increasing a second time-on value for a duration spent in the second orientation;
comparing the second time-on value to a second time-on threshold, wherein the second time-on threshold is variable as a proportional function of the duration spent in the first orientation; and
generating a second notification indicating a needed turn of the person relative to the support surface if the second time-on value exceeds the second time-on threshold.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first time-on threshold is different than the second time-on threshold.

8. The method of claim 6 , comprising:
determining the person is in the first orientation;
determining a first time-on duration for a first time-on period in the first orientation;
identifying a first movement away from the first orientation to the second orientation;
in response to identifying the first movement from the first orientation to the second orientation:
increasing the second time-on value for a duration spent in the second orientation;
identifying a second movement back to the first orientation;
adjusting the first time-on threshold as a proportional function of the duration spent in the second orientation.

9. The method of claim 6 , comprising:
receiving input defining a third orientation as a restricted orientation; and
managing a restricted orientation timer having a defined restricted time period associated with the third orientation, including:
determining the person has moved to the third orientation during the restricted time period; and
generating a restricted orientation notification in response to determining the person has moved to the third orientation during the restricted time period.

10. A method for monitoring an orientation of a person on a support surface, comprising:
receiving, at a processor, a series of sensor data from at least one sensor provided in a wearable sensor device;
determining, based on the sensor data, a first movement of the person to a first orientation in which a first region of the person's body is pressurized by the support surface;
in response to determining the first movement to the first orientation, increasing a time-on value of a first timer for a duration spent in the first orientation after the first movement;
determining, based on the sensor data, a second movement away from the first orientation to a second orientation in which a second region of the person's body is pressurized by the support surface;
in response to identifying the second movement from the first orientation to the second orientation, increasing a time-on value of a second timer for a duration spent in the second orientation a

Assignees

• Leaf Healthcare Inc

Inventors

• Perlman David
• Himle Joseph

Classifications

• A61B5/746

  Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms · CPC title

• A61B5/742

  using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339) · CPC title

• A61B5/6801

  specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface · CPC title

• A61B5/1116

  Determining posture transitions · CPC title

• G16Z99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass · CPC title