Patient care system for a home environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020105422-A1
Application number	US-201916583348-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 26, 2019
Priority date	Sep 30, 2018
Publication date	Apr 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for remote at-home care of a patient is disclosed. The apparatus monitors a patient with a deployable sensor system and communicates the data sensed by the sensor system to a patient care hub located within a patient's home. A patient interface and a caregiver controller are in wireless communication with each other and the patient care hub. The patient care hub generates an alert(s) in view of the sensed data and wirelessly communicates the alert(s) to the patient interface and/or the caregiver controller.

First claim

1 . A patient care system, comprising:
a deployable sensor system including an at least one sensor configured to monitor a patient and wirelessly communicate a plurality of sensed data, a patient care hub configured to receive the plurality of sensed data from the at least one sensor, discern patient activity, monitor the sensed data, and wirelessly communicate the sensed data and discerned activity of the patient, and a caregiver controller configured to communicate wirelessly with the patient care hub.

2 . The patient care system of claim 1 , wherein the patient care system further includes a patient interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the patient care hub and the caregiver controller.

3 . The patient care system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is removeably coupled to a patient support apparatus and configured to monitor patient physiological parameters and wirelessly communicate with the patient care hub.

4 . The patient care system of claim 1 , wherein the patient care hub is further configured to be operable with a variety of sensors such that the variety of sensors are interchangeable with the at least one sensor of the deployable sensor system.

5 . The patient care system of claim 4 , wherein the patient care hub is further configured to generate a risk score and a change in status score, the risk score representing how likely a patient is to degenerate and the change in status score representing the status of patient progress or degeneration.

6 . The patient care system of claim 2 , wherein the patient interface and the caregiver controller includes a microphone and a speaker, the patient interface and the caregiver controller further configured to provide voice communication between the patient and a caregiver.

7 . The patient care system of claim 1 , wherein the patient interface is configured to communicate wirelessly with a caregiver-entry system, the caregiver-entry system configured to unlock a patient's house in response to an unlock command input into the patient interface.

8 . The patient care system of claim 5 , wherein the patient interface further includes a visual display configured to display communications from the patient care hub and the caregiver controller.

9 . The patient care system of claim 8 , wherein the visual display is further configured to display a progress measure and a motivational message.

10 . The patient care system of claim 2 , wherein the patient interface is coupled to a patient support apparatus via a locking mechanism removeably coupled to the patient interface and the patient support apparatus, the locking mechanism is configured to maintain the coupling of the patient interface and the patient support apparatus until the locking mechanism is released.

11 . The patient care system of claim 4 , wherein the patient interface is electronically coupled to the patient care system and configured to communicate an alert to a caregiver when the patient interface is electronically uncoupled from the patient care system.

12 . The patient care system of claim 11 , further comprising an at-home positioning system configured to communicate wirelessly with the caregiver controller and operable to receive a plurality of instructions from the caregiver controller, react to the plurality of instructions, and monitor the at-home positioning system for compliance with the plurality of instructions.

13 . The patient care system of any claim 12 , wherein the caregiver controller is configured to be remotely located such that the caregiver controller and the patient care hub are separated by at least a distance.

14 . A patient care system, comprising:
a deployable sensor system including an at least one sensor configured to monitor a patient and wirelessly communicate a plurality of sensed data, a patient care hub configured to receive the plurality of sensed data from the at least one sensor, discern patient activity, monitor the sensed data, and wirelessly communicate the sensed data and discerned activity of the patient, a caregiver controller configured to communicate wirelessly with the patient care hub and the patient interface, and a patient interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the patient care hub.

15 . The patient care system of claim 14 , further comprising an at-home positioning system configured to communicate wirelessly with the caregiver controller and operable to adjust the patient supported on a patient support apparatus.

16 . The patient care system of claim 15 , wherein the at-home positioning system comprises:
at least one inflatable bladder positioned to provide support for a patient when the patient is positioned on at least a portion of the patient support apparatus, and a pressure-control assembly operably coupled to the at least one inflatable bladder and configured to regulate a pressure within the at least one inflatable bladder, wherein the pressure-control assembly includes a programmable controller configured to communicate wirelessly with the caregiver controller and operable to monitor a sensed pressure value of a fluid pressure within the at least one inflatable bladder and adjust the fluid pressure within the at least one inflatable bladder in response to a plurality of instructions from the caregiver controller.

17 . The patient care system of claim 16 , wherein the programmable controller is further configured to communicate wirelessly with the deployable sensor system, receive a plurality of sensed data from the sensor system, discern a patient health status, compare the patient health status to an at least one predefined parameter, and communicate an alert to the caregiver controller when the patient health status violates one of the at least one predefined parameters.

18 . The patient care system of claim 17 , wherein the at-home positioning system is configured to be remotely activated by the caregiver controller, the caregiver controller is configured to wirelessly communicate with a bladder controller configured to activate a pump, the pump is configured to direct a flow of air towards the at least one inflatable bladder.

19 . The patient care system of claim 16 , the at-home positioning system further including an angle sensor coupled to the at least one inflatable bladder and configured to wirelessly communicate an angle of the at least one inflatable bladder with the bladder controller, the bladder controller further configured to communicate with a pressure control valve configured to control a flow of air and change the angle of the at least one inflatable bladder.

20 . The patient care system of claim 16 , wherein the bladder controller is further configured to communicate wirelessly with the deployable sensor system, receive a plurality of signals from the sensor system, discern a patient health status, compare the patient health status to an at least one predefined parameter, and automatically adjust the at least one inflatable bladder in response to a violation of one of the at least one predefined parameters.

21 . The patient care system of claim 20 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to measure an oxygen saturation of the patient, the bladder controller is further configured to increase an angle of the at least one inflatable bladder positioned under a head section of the patient support apparatus to at least 30° relative to a seat section of the patient support apparatus in response to an oxygen saturation level less than 90%.

Assignees

• Hill Rom Services Inc

Inventors

• Ribble David L
• Meyerson Craig M
• Zapfe Lori
• Harmeyer John V
• Teng xuan
• Chahal Jotpreet
• Heil Thomas F
• Emmons Kirsten M
• Bedel David L
• Lilly Kenneth L
• Mann Nicholas

Classifications

• G16H80/00 Primary

  ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring · CPC title

• G16H40/60 Primary

  for the operation of medical equipment or devices · CPC title

• A61B5/0002

  Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07) · CPC title

• A61B5/0022

  Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet · CPC title

• G16H40/67

  for remote operation · CPC title