U.S. patent application number 15/949064 was filed with the patent office on 2018-08-09 for system and method for monitoring multiple patients.
This patent application is currently assigned to J. Brasch Co., LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is J. Brasch Co., LLC. Invention is credited to John Joseph Brasch, James Leacock, Gordon Smith, JR..
Application Number | 20180225944 15/949064 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61801416 |
Filed Date | 2018-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180225944 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brasch; John Joseph ; et
al. |
August 9, 2018 |
System and Method for Monitoring Multiple Patients
Abstract
A system for monitoring multiple patients within a facility
comprises a plurality of monitoring apparatuses, a central
communication hub, and a plurality of notification devices. The
monitoring apparatuses generate data relating to the status of
patients, and send the data to the communication hub. The data may
include an alarm signal. In a variant, the monitoring apparatuses
do not generate alarm signals. Rather the communication hub
processes the data and generates alarms if needed. Alarms are sent
by the communication hub to the notification devices to inform
employees of the facility of the source of the alarm.
Inventors: |
Brasch; John Joseph;
(Lincoln, NE) ; Smith, JR.; Gordon; (Lincoln,
NE) ; Leacock; James; (Lincoln, NE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
J. Brasch Co., LLC |
Lincoln |
NE |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
J. Brasch Co., LLC
Lincoln
NE
|
Family ID: |
61801416 |
Appl. No.: |
15/949064 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14474894 |
Sep 2, 2014 |
9940807 |
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15949064 |
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61872739 |
Sep 1, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 40/20 20180101;
A61B 5/1113 20130101; G08B 21/18 20130101; G08B 21/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G08B 21/02 20060101
G08B021/02; A61B 5/11 20060101 A61B005/11; G08B 21/18 20060101
G08B021/18; A61B 5/00 20060101 A61B005/00 |
Claims
1. A system for monitoring multiple patients within a facility, the
system comprising: (a) a plurality of monitoring apparatuses, each
monitoring apparatus corresponding to at least one respective
patient, each monitoring apparatus being configured for being in
communication with a respective sensing unit which comprises at
least one sensor configured for creating sensing data indicative of
a status of the patient, and each monitoring apparatus comprising:
(a1) a respective control unit configured for being in wired and/or
wireless communication with the sensing unit, and for receiving the
sensing data; and (a2) a respective communication unit, configured
for receiving the sensing data from the control unit and
transmitting the sensing data to a remote location; (b) the central
communication hub configured for being in communication with the
plurality of monitoring apparatuses, and for receiving the sensing
data from each communication unit, wherein the central
communication hub and/or the control unit is configured for
processing the sensing data, and generating an alarm signal if at
least a portion of the sensing data deviates from a predetermined
pattern, the deviation being indicative of an undesirability in the
patient's status; (c) a plurality of notification devices
configured for being in wired and/or wireless communication with
the central communication hub, each notification device being
accessible to one or more employees of the facility, and each
notification device comprising a communication element configured
for receiving the alarm signal and an output element informing the
one or more employee about the source of the alarm signal.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the patient's status comprises at
least one of: the patient's presence in at least one particular
location, absence from at least one particular location, a position
of the patient, a stance of the patient.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central hub is associated
with a memory utility configured for storing the sensing data
and/or the alarm signal corresponding to each monitoring
apparatus.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the central hub is configured for
monitoring an amount of free memory in the memory utility, and for
generating and sending a notification to at least one of the
notification devices when the amount of free memory is less than a
predetermined amount.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the notification
devices is configured for storing the sensing data and/or the alarm
signal when the amount of free memory in the memory utility is less
than a predetermined amount.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein each monitoring apparatus
comprises at least one output unit configured for delivering a
message to the respective patient, when the alarm is generated.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the output unit is associated
with a memory unit storing a plurality of messages corresponding to
a plurality of causes due to which the alarm has been generated,
the output unit being configured for selecting one of the messages,
depending on the cause for due to which the alarm has been
generated.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein: the central communication hub is
configured for generating data indicative of the message in
response to the alarm signal, and for transmitting the data
indicative of the message to the monitoring apparatus; and the
output unit is configured for delivering the message based on the
data indicative of the message.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the monitoring
apparatuses comprises at least one output unit; at least one of the
notification devices comprises at least one input unit configured
for receiving a message input from the one or more employees, the
message input being indicative of a message to the patient; the
communication hub is configured for delivering the message input to
the at least one monitoring apparatus; the at least one output unit
is configured for delivering a message to the corresponding
patient, the message being based on the message input.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the message input comprises at
least one of: a press of a button of the notification device, a tap
of a button of the notification device, a touch of a touchscreen of
the notification device, a swipe of the touchscreen of the
notification device.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein each of at least some of the
communication units comprise respective user interfaces configured
for enabling the one or more employees to respond to the alarm, the
response causing the respective devices to generate instruction
data and send the instruction data to the central communication
hub, the instruction data causing the central communication hub to
communicate with all other notification devices in use so as to
inform the other employees that the alarm has been responded
to.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification device is
configured for emitting a low-volume warning sound in response to
receiving the alarm signal.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification device
comprises a display configured for displaying an image indicative
of the source of the alarm signal in response to the notification
device's receipt of the alarm signal.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the image comprises a map of
the facility and a mark on the map displaying a location of the
source of the alarm.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification device is
configured for generating haptic feedback in response to receiving
the alarm signal.
16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one control unit is
connected to a plurality of sensing units associated with a
plurality of respective patients.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured
for being in communication with at least one sensing unit which
comprises a plurality of sensors.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein each sensor is connected to the
control unit and is configured for communicating with the control
unit by wire and/or wirelessly.
19. The system of claim 1, wherein: the monitoring apparatuses are
disposed in series with each other in a partial mesh network
configuration, such that any given monitoring apparatus is
configured for receiving first sensing data and/or a first alarm
signal from a preceding monitoring apparatus and for conveying the
first sensing data and/or the first alarm signal to a following
monitoring apparatus along with the sensing data and/or the alarm
signal generated by the given monitoring apparatus; and a last
monitoring apparatus of the series is configured to be in direct
communication with the central communication hub and for conveying
to the central communication hub the sensing data and/or alarm
signals of all other monitoring apparatus along with the sensing
data and/or the alarm signal generated by the last monitoring
apparatus.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the monitoring apparatuses
comprises: a first set of monitoring apparatuses disposed in a
first series, such that a last monitoring apparatus of the first
series is configured to be in direct communication with the central
communication hub; and a second set of monitoring apparatuses
disposed in a second series, such that a last monitoring apparatus
of the second series is configured to be in direct communication
with the central communication hub.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein: any particular monitoring
apparatus of the first set is configured to be in communication
with a previous communication apparatus, a following apparatus in
the first set, and at least one monitoring apparatus of the second
set; any monitoring apparatus of the first set is configured for
conveying the received and generated sensing data and/or alarm
signal to the following monitoring apparatus of the first set; if
the following monitoring apparatus in the first set is not
responsive to communication, the monitoring apparatus of the first
set is configured to convey the received and generated sensing data
and/or alarm signal to the at least one monitoring apparatus of the
second set; any particular monitoring apparatus of the second
series is configured to be in communication with a previous
monitoring apparatus, a following monitoring apparatus in the
second set, and at least one monitoring apparatus of the first set.
any monitoring apparatus of the second set is configured for
conveying the received and generated sensing data and/or alarm
signal to the following monitoring apparatus of the second set; if
the following monitoring apparatus in the second set is not
responsive to communication, the monitoring apparatus of the second
set is configured to convey the received and generated sensing data
and/or alarm signal to the at least one monitoring apparatus of the
first set.
22. The system of claim 1, wherein the central communication hub is
associated with a server, and at least one of the monitoring
apparatuses is configured for being programmable via the server
and/or via a computing device in communication with the server.
23. The system of claim 1, wherein: the central communication hub
is associated with a server; the central communication hub is
configured for using the sensing data corresponding to at least one
of the patients for generating a report relating to the at least
one of the patients; wherein the report is accessible via the
server and/or via a computing device in communication with the
server.
24. The system of claim 1, wherein each notification device is
configured for being carried by a respective employee.
25. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the monitoring
apparatuses comprises a respective sensing unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 14/474,894 filed Sep. 2, 2014, now U.S. Pat.
No. 9,940,807, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/872,739 filed on Sep. 1, 2014, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates
to medical devices, and more particularly to medical devices and
systems for monitoring elderly patients.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Alarm fatigue occurs when one is exposed to a large volume
of alarms and as a result, one can become desensitized to the
firing alarms. Desensitization can lead to longer response times or
missing important alarms. Alarm fatigue occurs in many industries
including construction, mining, and healthcare.
[0004] The constant sounds of alarms and noises from blood pressure
machines, ventilators and heart monitors causes a "tuning out" of
the sounds due to the brain adjusting to stimulation. This issue is
present in hospitals, in home care providers, nursing homes and
other medical facilities alike. The Joint Commission's sentinel
event reports 80 alarm-related deaths and 13 alarm-related serious
injuries over the course of a few years. On Apr. 18, 2013, the
Joint Commission issued a sentinel event alert that highlighted the
widespread problem of alarm fatigue in hospitals. The Joint
Commission recommended establishing guidelines to tailor alarm
settings, training all members of the clinical team on safe use of
alarms, and sharing information about alarm-related incidents. This
alert has since turned into a National Patient Safety Goal for 2014
to improve the safety of clinical alarm systems. This Goal will
force hospitals to establish alarm safety as a priority, identify
the most important alarms, and establish policies to manage alarms
by January 2016.
[0005] Hospitals across the country are looking for ways to reduce
the threat. Alarms that are more critical, i.e. heart rate,
oxygenation, are usually louder, sound at a higher pitch, and sound
more rapidly. Less critical alarms may sound at a lower and slower
pitch. Other hospitals have a centralized monitoring station where
an individual or individuals are only responsible for monitoring
critical heart rate monitors.
[0006] ECRI (Emergency Care Research Institute), a not-for-profit
organization dedicated to patient safety, outlines the following
strategies for managing alarm fatigue. They suggested strategies
like using a multidisciplinary team to review the issues, review
events and near misses, take time to observe how alarms are
responded to, ask nurses and other healthcare providers about their
concerns, identify vulnerabilities and implement both short and
long term fixes to the problem.
[0007] Strategies related to ECG monitoring include improving skin
prep to reduce lead failure, routinely change electrodes, replace
batteries regularly and to raise the priorities of the alarms
relating to the disconnection of leads from the patient's body.
Other considerations include delineating who is responsible for
what alarms, identify back up coverage and response.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Instead of lessening the effects of alarm fatigue via
training, guidelines, or differentiated alarms, the present
invention aims at reducing the source of alarm fatigue, i.e.
reducing noise from alarms in medical facilities, assisted living
communities, and continuing care retirement communities.
[0009] In some embodiments of the present invention, a system is
provided, which includes a plurality of monitoring apparatuses, a
central communication hub, and a plurality of notification devices,
which are optionally configured for being carried by employees of
the facility. The monitoring apparatuses generate data relating to
the status of patients, and send the data to the communication hub.
The data may include an alarm signal. In a variant, the monitoring
apparatuses do not generate alarm signals. Rather the communication
hub processes the data and generates alarms if needed. Alarms are
sent by the communication hub to the notification devices. In this
manner, the closest employee can reach the patient in need and turn
off the alarm, reducing the time interval in which the alarm is
active. Moreover, in the embodiments in which the notification
devices are carried by the employees, the need for speakers which
loudly emit alarm sounds is obviated. In fact, softer alarms sounds
may be emitted by the notification devices. Therefore, by enabling
shorter and softer alarms, the present invention can reduce alarm
fatigue.
[0010] An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention
relates to a system for monitoring multiple patients within a
facility. The system includes a plurality of monitoring
apparatuses, a central communication hub, and a plurality of
notification devices. Each monitoring apparatus corresponds to at
least one respective patient, and is configured to be in
communication with a respective sensing unit which comprises at
least one sensor configured for creating sensing data indicative of
a status of the patient. Each monitoring apparatus comprises a
respective control unit and a respective communication unit. The
control unit is configured for being in wired and/or wireless
communication with the sensing unit, and for receiving the sensing
data. The communication unit is configured for receiving the
sensing data from the control unit and transmitting the sensing
data to a remote location. The central communication hub is
configured for being in communication with the plurality of
monitoring apparatuses, and for receiving the sensing data from
each communication unit. The central communication hub and/or the
control unit is configured for processing the sensing data, and
generating an alarm signal if at least a portion of the sensing
data deviates from a predetermined pattern, the deviation being
indicative of an undesirability in the patient's status. The
plurality of notification devices are configured for being in wired
and/or wireless communication with the central communication hub,
each notification device being configured for being accessible to
one or more employees of the facility, and each notification device
comprising a communication element configured for receiving the
alarm signal and an output element informing the one or more
employees about the source of the alarm signal.
[0011] In a variant, the patient's status comprises at least one
of: the patient's presence in at least one particular location,
absence from at least one particular location, a position of the
patient, a stance of the patient.
[0012] In another variant, the central hub is associated with a
memory utility configured for storing the sensing data and/or the
alarm signal corresponding to each monitoring apparatus.
[0013] Optionally, the central hub is configured for monitoring an
amount of free memory in the memory utility, and for generating and
sending a notification to at least one of the notification devices
when the amount of free memory is less than a predetermined
amount.
[0014] Optionally, at least one of the notification devices is
configured for storing the sensing data and/or the alarm signal
when the amount of free memory in the memory utility is less than a
predetermined amount.
[0015] In yet another variant, each monitoring apparatus comprises
at least one output unit configured for delivering a message to the
respective patient, when the alarm is generated.
[0016] Optionally, the output unit is associated with a memory unit
storing a plurality of messages corresponding to a plurality of
causes due to which the alarm has been generated, the output unit
being configured for selecting one of the messages, depending on
the cause for due to which the alarm has been generated.
[0017] Optionally, the central communication hub is configured for
generating data indicative of the message in response to the alarm
signal, and for transmitting the data indicative of the message to
the monitoring apparatus. The output unit is configured for
delivering the message based on the data indicative of the
message.
[0018] In a further variant, at least one of the monitoring
apparatuses comprises at least one output unit. At least one of the
notification devices comprises at least one input unit configured
for receiving a message input from the one or more employees, the
message input being indicative of a message to the patient. The
communication hub is configured for delivering the message input to
the at least one monitoring apparatus. The at least one output unit
is configured for delivering a message to the corresponding
patient, the message being based on the message input.
[0019] Optionally, the message input comprises at least one of: a
press of a button of the notification device, a tap of a button of
the notification device, a touch of a touchscreen of the
notification device, a swipe of the touchscreen of the notification
device.
[0020] In yet a further variant, each of at least some of the
communication units comprise respective user interfaces configured
for enabling the one or more employees to respond to the alarm, the
response causing the respective devices to generate instruction
data and send the instruction data to the central communication
hub, the instruction data causing the central communication hub to
communicate with all other notification devices in use so as to
inform other employees that the alarm has been responded to.
[0021] In a variant, the notification device is configured for
emitting a low-volume warning sound in response to receiving the
alarm signal.
[0022] In another variant, the notification device comprises a
display configured for displaying an image indicative of the source
of the alarm signal in response to the notification device's
receipt of the alarm signal.
[0023] Optionally, the image comprises a map of the facility and a
mark on the map displaying a location of the source of the
alarm.
[0024] In yet another variant, the notification device is
configured for generating haptic feedback in response to receiving
the alarm signal.
[0025] In a further variant, at least one control unit is connected
to a plurality of sensing units associated with a plurality of
respective patients.
[0026] In yet a further variant, the control unit is configured for
being in communication with at least one sensing unit which
comprises a plurality of sensors.
[0027] Optionally, each sensor is connected to the control unit and
is configured for communicating with the control unit by wire
and/or wirelessly.
[0028] In some embodiments of the present invention, the monitoring
apparatuses are disposed in series with each other in a partial
mesh network configuration, such that any given monitoring
apparatus is configured for receiving first sensing data and/or a
first alarm signal from a preceding monitoring apparatus and for
conveying the first sensing data and/or the first alarm signal to a
following monitoring apparatus along with the sensing data and/or
the alarm signal generated by the given monitoring apparatus. A
last monitoring apparatus of the series is configured to be in
direct communication with the central communication hub and for
conveying to the central communication hub the sensing data and/or
alarm signals of all other monitoring apparatus along with the
sensing data and/or the alarm signal generated by the last
monitoring apparatus.
[0029] Optionally, the monitoring apparatuses comprise a first set
of monitoring apparatuses and a second set of monitoring
apparatuses. In the first set, the monitoring apparatuses are
disposed in a first series, such that a last monitoring apparatus
of the first series is configured to be in direct communication
with the central communication hub. In the second set, the
monitoring apparatuses are disposed in a second series, such that a
last monitoring apparatus of the second series is configured to be
in direct communication with the central communication hub.
[0030] Optionally, any particular monitoring apparatus of the first
set is configured to be in communication with a previous
communication apparatus, a following apparatus in the first set,
and at least one monitoring apparatus of the second set. Any
monitoring apparatus of the first set is configured for conveying
the received and generated sensing data and/or alarm signal to the
following monitoring apparatus of the first set. If the following
monitoring apparatus in the first set is not responsive to
communication, the monitoring apparatus of the first set is
configured to convey the received and generated sensing data and/or
alarm signal to the at least one monitoring apparatus of the second
set. Any particular monitoring apparatus of the second series is
configures to be in communication with a previous monitoring
apparatus, a following monitoring apparatus in the second set, and
at least one monitoring apparatus of the first set. Any monitoring
apparatus of the second set is configured for conveying the
received and generated sensing data and/or alarm signal to the
following monitoring apparatus of the second set. If the following
monitoring apparatus in the second set is not responsive to
communication, the monitoring apparatus of the second set is
configured to convey the received and generated sensing data and/or
alarm signal to the at least one monitoring apparatus of the first
set.
[0031] In a variant, the central communication hub is associated
with a server, and at least one of the monitoring apparatuses is
configured for being programmable via the server and/or via a
computing device in communication with the server.
[0032] In another variant, the central communication hub is
associated with a server. The central communication hub is
configured for using the sensing data corresponding to at least one
of the patients for generating a report relating to the at least
one of the patients. The report is accessible via the server and/or
via a computing device in communication with the server.
[0033] In yet another variant, each notification device is
configured for being carried by a respective employee.
[0034] In a further variant, at least one of the monitoring
apparatuses comprises a respective sensing unit.
[0035] Other features and aspects of the invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the
invention. The summary is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention, which is defined solely by the claims attached
hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] The present invention, in accordance with one or more
various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the
following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of
illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments
of the invention. These drawings are provided to facilitate the
reader's understanding of the invention and shall not be considered
limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the invention.
It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these
drawings are not necessarily made to scale.
[0037] Some of the figures included herein illustrate various
embodiments of the invention from different viewing angles.
Although the accompanying descriptive text may refer to such views
as "top," "bottom" or "side" views, such references are merely
descriptive and do not imply or require that the invention be
implemented or used in a particular spatial orientation unless
explicitly stated otherwise.
[0038] FIG. 1 is a box diagram illustrating the system of the
present invention;
[0039] FIG. 2 is a box diagram illustrating a monitoring apparatus,
according to some embodiments of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 3 is a box diagram illustrating a notification device,
according to some embodiments of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of some
embodiments of the present invention for notifying employees that
an alarm has been responded to, following a response to the alarm
by an employee;
[0042] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a partial mesh
configuration of a network of monitoring apparatuses, in which the
monitoring apparatuses are connected in series, according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a partial mesh
configuration of a network of monitoring apparatuses, in which two
sets of monitoring apparatuses connected in series are connected to
the communication hub, according to some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0044] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a partial mesh
configuration of a network of monitoring apparatuses, in which two
sets of monitoring apparatuses connected in series are connected to
the communication hub and monitoring apparatuses of one series are
in communication with monitoring apparatuses of the other set,
according to some embodiments of the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of data
flow in the configuration of claim 7;
[0046] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a client-server
network configuration of a plurality of monitoring apparatuses and
the central communication hub, according to some embodiments of the
present invention; and
[0047] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a network which
enables communication between the communication hub and one or more
computing devices, according to some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0048] The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be
understood that the invention can be practiced with modification
and alteration, and that the invention be limited only by the
claims and the equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0049] From time-to-time, the present invention is described herein
in terms of example environments. Description in terms of these
environments is provided to allow the various features and
embodiments of the invention to be portrayed in the context of an
exemplary application. After reading this description, it will
become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art how the
invention can be implemented in different and alternative
environments.
[0050] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one
of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All
patents, applications, published applications and other
publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in
their entirety. If a definition set forth in this section is
contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth
in applications, published applications and other publications that
are herein incorporated by reference, the definition set forth in
this document prevails over the definition that is incorporated
herein by reference.
[0051] FIG. 1 is a box diagram illustrating the system of the
present invention. The present invention is configured for being
used in facilities in which the residents or patients are in need
of medical monitoring, such as hospitals, assisted living
communities, continuing care retirement communities, and old age
homes. In the following, a monitored person will be called a
patient, but may also be a resident.
[0052] The system 100 comprises a plurality of individual patient
monitoring systems 102, a central communication hub 104 and a
plurality of notification devices 106. Each of the monitoring
apparatuses is configured for being associated with one or more
sensors which are configured for generating sensing data indicative
of the status of a patient. The monitoring apparatuses are
configured for receiving the sensing data from the one or more
sensors. Each monitoring apparatus is connected by wire or
wirelessly to the central communication hub 104. The connection
between the monitoring apparatuses and the central communication
hub 104 may be direct or via a network.
[0053] The central communication hub 104 communicates with the
notification devices via a wired or wireless signal 107, and
conveys an alarm signal indicative of an undesirable status of at
least one of the patient to the notification devices. The alarm
signal may be generated by the monitoring apparatuses and/or by the
central hub based on the sensing data. In a variant, the
notification devices are configured for being carried by employees
of the facility, such as doctors, nurses, etc. In another variant,
the notification devices are configured for being installed in the
facility, for example in a nurse's station, or mounted on the walls
of the facility]. The alarm signal received by the notification
devices causes the notification devices to emit an alarm (e.g., by
sound, vibration, light, and/or image) in order to inform the
employees about the source of the alarm. In this manner, the
employees of the facility are able to locate the source of the
alarm and help the patient in need.
[0054] FIG. 2 is a box diagram illustrating a monitoring apparatus,
according to some embodiments of the present invention
[0055] The monitoring apparatus 102 is associated with a sensor
unit 200, a control unit 202, and a communication unit 204. The
sensor unit 200 may or may not be included in the monitoring
apparatus. The sensor unit includes one or more sensors (200a,
200b, 200c) configured for sensing one or more parameters that
relate to the patient's status. The sensors may include a pressure
and/or heat sensor placed under a bed or chair to monitor a
patient's position and/or movement in a bed or chair. Additionally
or alternatively, the sensors may include an infrared sensor in the
vicinity of the patient's room door, to detect whether the door is
open or closed (so as to determine whether the patient has left the
room or a nurse has entered the room). Additionally or
alternatively, the sensors may include a blood pressure sensor
and/or, heart rate sensor, and/or any other biometric sensor.
Additionally or alternatively, the sensors may include motion
detectors, cameras, and/or microphones.
[0056] The sensors generate sensing data and transmit the sensing
data to the control unit 204. The control unit 204 is configured
for receiving the sensing data and formatting the data for
transmission to a remote location.
[0057] Optionally, the control unit is configured for processing
the sensing data and generating an alarm signal if at least a
portion of the sensing data deviates from a predetermined pattern.
For example, if pressure or heat on a patient's bed are below a
predetermined threshold during the patient's usual bed time, the
patient may be absent from the bed. This may indicate that the
patient may have fallen. In another example, if the infrared sensor
indicates that the door of the patient's room has been opened
during the patient's bedtime, the patient may have left the room.
This would be undesirable for a patient with Alzheimer's disease
whose behavior is unpredictable, or may be indicative of the entry
of a stranger in the room. In yet another example, if the biometric
sensor detects a parameter (blood pressure, heart rate, body
temperature, etc.) outside a predetermined range, the patient's be
going through an undesirable condition, such as hostility, shock,
heart failure, high fever, etc., and may be in need of assistance.
In a further example, a microphones placed within a patient's room
may be configured to detect changes in sound. The lack of sound can
indicate that a patient has not been moving in the room for an
extended period of time and may need to have a nurse or other
caregiver to check his vital signs. A sudden and loud noise may
indicate a fall and the need for immediate assistance.
[0058] The communication unit 204 is configured for communicating
with the central communication hub, and for sending the sensing
data and/or the alarm signal to the communication hub. Optionally,
the communication unit 204 is configured for receiving a
communication/data/instruction from the communication hub 104.
[0059] Optionally, the monitoring apparatus 102 includes an output
unit 206, configured for conveying a message to a patient in need
of assistance, in order to help calm the patient until the arrival
of medical personnel. The message may include a calming message
and/or instructions to perform one or more actions. The output unit
may include a speaker, and/or a display, and/or a light. The output
unit is configured for conveying the message if an alarm signal has
been generated by the control unit 202. The calming message may be
in the form of an audio message, and/or a still image, and/or a
movie. Optionally, the monitoring apparatus 102 includes a memory
unit 208 storing the calming message. Optionally, the memory unit
208 stores a plurality of calming messages, each message being
appropriate for a different ailment or distress the patient may be
experiencing. Alternatively or additionally, the central
communication hub 104 is configured for dynamically generating the
message in response to the sensing data conveyed thereto by the
monitoring apparatus 102, and for communicating the message to the
monitoring apparatus 102, which in turns convey the message to the
patient. The message may be individualized for the patient. For
example, the message may include the voice, photograph, movie of a
person known to the patient. In some embodiments of the present
invention, the communication unit 204 is configured for receiving a
voice (audio) message from an employee of the facility, and the
output unit includes a speaker which emits the employee's
voice.
[0060] Optionally, the monitoring apparatus 102 includes an input
unit 210, such as a microphone and/or a camera, configured for
receiving a voice or image input from the patient. The input is
transmitted to the central hub by the communication unit 204, and
may enable employees of the facility to have a better understanding
of the patient's status before reaching the patient's room. The
input unit 210 and the output unit 206 may enable a direct
voice-to-voice communication between the patient and an employee of
the facility.
[0061] In some embodiments of the present invention, the sensing
unit is configured to sense the position of a patient while in a
bed. For example, the sensing unit may include smaller individual
sensors placed in the center and along the outer edges of the pad.
If a patient is positioned normally in bed, the only active sensor
is the center one. If the patient starts to get out of bed, as
he/she rolls out, one of the outer sensors in activated providing a
warning to the caregiver. An example of such a sensing unit is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,488, which is included by
reference in this document.
[0062] The memory utility 208 may be configured for storing sensing
data for later use.
[0063] It should be noted that a monitoring unit may be used for
monitoring one patient or a plurality of patients inside a room.
For example, in a room with two patients, two sets of sensors may
communicate with the control unit. The first set of sensors is
configured for sensing parameters relating to the status of the
first patient and the second set of sensors is configured for
sensing parameters relating to the status of the second
patient.
[0064] FIG. 3 is a box diagram illustrating a notification device
106, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The
notification device 106 includes a communication element 300 and an
output element 302. The communication element is configured for
receiving the alarm signal and/or sensing data from the central
communication hub. The output element 302 is configured for
informing the employee about an alarm, the source of the alarm, and
optionally about the condition of the patient. The output element
may include a speaker configured for emitting an alarm sound, and a
display configured for displaying information regarding the source
and/or the cause of the alarm. In the embodiment in which the
output element includes a speaker, the output element may be
configured for emitting sounds of varying decibel levels and
different types of tones. The output element may include a haptic
feedback element, such as a vibrating element, which vibrates in
response to the alarm signal. The above notification mechanisms are
described by way of example. The scope of the present invention
extends to any kind of output element configured for notifying the
employee about the alarm in any manner.
[0065] Optionally, the output element includes a display configured
for displaying a map of the facility and for indicating with a mark
the location from which the alarm originated. In some embodiments
of the present invention, the map of the premises has color
indicators on each room so that employees can determine information
relating of the patients, the information being based on data from
one, some or all of the sensors in the patients room, The
information extracted by the sensing data may indicated, for
example, who is in bed and who is out of bed, whether the doors of
the patients' rooms are open, whether patients' biometric
measurements are within specific ranges, etc. Additionally, the map
may have icons for the bed, chair, and doors for each patient's
room that flash and/or change colors when there is a change in the
patient's room. In one non-limiting example, the color change may
be based on the time since a patient was check on and/or on the
time since the generation of the alarm signal. In this manner,
alarms which have been activated for an extended time can be
prioritized. In another non-limiting example, colors correspond to
certain parameters indicative of the wellbeing of the patients.
Thus, colors may change and/or flash when the wellbeing of the
patients change.
[0066] Optionally, the notification device 106 includes an input
element 304, such as a microphone and/or camera, configured for
receiving a speech and/or image of the employee. The speech and/or
image is converted to audio data and/or visual data, which is
transmitted via the communication element 300 to the communication
hub and to the monitoring unit in the patient's room. In this
manner, the employee may be able to convey a message to the patient
before arriving to the patient's room. As explained above, the
message may originate from the hub or the monitoring apparatus. In
some embodiments of the present invention, the input unit 304 is
configured for receiving any kind of input (such as a button tap, a
screen swipe, a text message, a selection of a section of a
touchscreen) indicative of a message that the employee wishes to
send to the patient. The notification device is configured to
generate message data in response to the message input, and to
transmit the input data to the monitoring apparatus via the central
hub. The monitoring apparatus is configured for delivering the
message to the patient based on the message data. For example, the
employee may want to instruct the patient to keep calm and not to
get up after a fall. If the input element includes a microphone,
the employee may simply talk, and the audio message is passed to
the patient. If the input element includes a screen, the screen may
display a choice of messages, and enable the employee to select the
desired message(s). The selection of the message creates the
message data. The message data may correspond to audio data
configured for being converted into an audio message by the
monitoring unit.
[0067] In some embodiments of the present invention, the
notification device 106 includes a user interface 306. The user
interface may include a touchscreen and/or a button, and/or a
keyboard for enabling the employee to caregiver to assume
responsibility for a response to an alarm. Once the employee
assumes responsibility for an alarm by interacting with the user
interface, instruction data is generated and sent to the
communication hub. The instruction data causes the communication
hub to communicate with the notification devices of other employees
and instructing these notification devices to stop the alarm, thus
relieving others from responding. Optionally, the notification
devices of the other employees convey the name or the employee who
has assumed responsibility for the alarm. By stopping the alarm
when it is no longer applicable to all employees except for the one
who has assumed responsibility, the system of the present invention
prevents unnecessary alarms, and therefore eliminates one of the
sources of alarm fatigue.
[0068] The notification device may be a portable electronic device,
laptop, tablet or other device that has a computer-readable medium
having computer-executable instructions for performing the various
functions of the patient monitoring program. Each portable
electronic device may include a user interface for receiving
instructions from a user (the user interface including, for
example, a touch screen). The notification devices may also have
software and/or hardware enabling communication between a
notification device and the central hub. Optionally, at least one
of the notification devices is operable to communicate with one or
more notification devices via one or more of infrared, mobile, or
electromagnetic (e.g. BlueTooth) communication techniques.
[0069] Optionally, the notification device includes a processor and
is configured for analyzing stored data and/or streaming data for
patterns that may forecast activity and allow development or
adjustment of plans. The data may to be processed by a set of
algorithms to determine the current state of each patient and their
respective alarm status. This allows for the combination of sensors
to be utilized to determine if an action should be taken by the
employees of a facility.
[0070] FIG. 4 is a flowchart 400 illustrating a method for
responding to an alarm based on a response by an employee.=. At
402, the notification devices of employees receive an alarm signal
and inform the employees of the alarm. At 404, the notification
device of one of the employees receives a response to the alarm by
the respective employee. The response indicates that the employee
assumes responsibility for the alarm. At 406, instruction data
indicative of the response is communicated by the employee's
notification device to the central hub. At 408, an instruction is
generated by the central hub to notify employees of that the alarm
is being taken care of. At 410, the instruction is sent to
notification devices of other employees, and optionally also to the
notification device of the employee who has assumed responsibility
for the alarm. The alarm may be turned off by the employee when the
employee demonstrates that he/she is at the source of the alert.
This may be done by pushing a button on the monitoring apparatus
that has generated the alarm, by touching the monitoring apparatus
with the notification device, tracking indoor location of the
employee to detect when the employee enters the room, etc.
[0071] At 412, if a certain time interval has passed and the
employee has not yet checked the patient corresponding to the
alarm, the alarm is escalated and the employees are notified that
the alarm has not been dealt with. At 414, if proof of the
employees presence by the patient has been received, the alarm is
stopped,
[0072] Reference is now made to FIGS. 5-9, which illustrates
different configurations of the network formed by the monitoring
apparatuses and the central communication hub. The discussed
configurations include a mesh network and a star network. It should
be noted that these configurations are non-limiting examples. Other
network configurations (such as an ad-hoc configuration, a
peer-to-peer configuration, and a tree configuration, for example)
may also be used in the present invention. The scope of the present
invention extends to any configuration of the network formed by the
monitoring apparatuses and the central communication hub.
[0073] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a partial mesh
configuration of a network of monitoring apparatuses, in which the
monitoring apparatuses are connected in series, according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0074] In the example of FIG. 5, the data transfer topology of the
network is a variant of the partial mesh network
topology/configuration. The monitoring apparatuses are disposed in
series with each other. Any given monitoring apparatus is
configured for receiving sensing data and/or an alarm signal from a
preceding monitoring apparatus and for conveying the sensing data
and/or first alarm signal to a following monitoring apparatus along
with the sensing data and/or the alarm signal generated by the
given monitoring apparatus. The last monitoring apparatus of the
series is in direct communication with the central communication
hub and is configured for conveying the sensing data and/or alarm
signals of all other monitoring apparatuses along with the sensing
data and/or the alarm signal generated by the last monitoring
apparatus.
[0075] In this network configuration, each monitoring apparatus
acts as a relay or booster to aid with the task of sending data
along the network. The advantage of this configuration lies in the
fact that a small infrastructure is needed to support and operate
the network. Moreover, the infrastructure itself is formed as more
monitoring apparatuses are added.
[0076] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a partial mesh
configuration of a network of monitoring apparatuses, in which two
sets of monitoring apparatuses connected in series are connected to
the communication hub, according to some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0077] In the example of FIG. 6 two distinct sets of the monitoring
apparatuses communicated with the central communication hub. In
each set, the monitoring apparatuses are in series, as described in
the example of FIG. 5. No communication between these is present.
The advantage of the configuration of FIG. 6 lies in the fact that
the length of each series is shortened. In this manner, the risk of
data overload on a long series is diminished.
[0078] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a partial mesh
configuration of a network of monitoring apparatuses, in which two
sets of monitoring apparatuses connected in series are connected to
the communication hub and monitoring apparatuses of one series are
in communication with monitoring apparatuses of the other set,
according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0079] The example of FIG. 7 is similar to that of claim 6.
However, in claim 6, each monitoring apparatus of a set is
connected to at least one monitoring apparatus of the other set.
This configuration enables the network to self-heal if a fault
occurs along series.
[0080] The self-healing is shown in detail in FIG. 8, is a block
diagram illustrating an example of data flow in the configuration
of claim 7. In FIG. 8, the bold arrows illustrate the data
flow.
[0081] In FIG. 8, any monitoring apparatus of the one set is
configured for conveying data to the following monitoring apparatus
in the same set. If the following monitoring apparatus in the same
set is not responsive to communication, the monitoring apparatus is
configured to convey the data to a monitoring apparatus of the
other set, selected by the network's coordinator.
[0082] For example, in the left set of monitoring devices, all
monitoring devices are responsive and functional. Therefore the
data flows along the path composed by the segments b, d, e, and f.
In the right set, the third monitoring device is not-responsive.
Therefore, the second monitoring apparatus of the right set conveys
data to a corresponding monitoring device of the left set. Thus
data from the first and second monitoring apparatuses of the right
set follows the path composed by segments a, c, d, e, and f. The
last monitoring apparatus of the right set does not receive any
data from the previous apparatus of the right set. This, however,
does not prevent the last monitoring apparatus of the right set to
convey the data generated therefrom to the communication hub via
the segment g.
[0083] It can be seen that if a fault (e.g., failure of a
monitoring apparatus) occurs, the coordinator (which may correspond
to the communication hub or may be a separate element) detects the
absence of data from the failed apparatus and directs the
monitoring apparatus preceding the failed one in the path to sign
on to a different monitoring apparatus assigned by the Coordinator.
Thus, system integrity is maintained.
[0084] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a star network
configuration of a plurality of monitoring apparatuses and the
central communication hub, according to some embodiments of the
present invention. In some embodiments of the present invention,
each central apparatus is in direct connection with the central
hub. Though this network configuration requires a large
infrastructure, it is less sensitive to failures along the data
path to the central hub.
[0085] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a network which
enables communication between the communication hub and one or more
computing devices, according to some embodiments of the present
invention.
[0086] In the example of FIG. 10, the system of the present
invention includes a server 110 and/or a memory utility 108
associated with the communication hub 104. In a variant, the server
and memory utility are included in the communication hub.
[0087] The memory utility 108 is configured for storing the sensing
data and/or alarm signals from each monitoring apparatuses in the
care facility for a desired length of time (for example, at least
three months). The central hub may include a transceiver that works
across the network composed of the notification devices, allowing
each notification device to reach the memory utility and download
desired data therefrom.
[0088] In a variant, the server or communication hub periodically
sends a signal to the monitoring apparatuses to transmit data
stored in the monitoring apparatuses to the server or communication
hub. If the transfer is successful, verified by software checks,
then the monitoring apparatuses erase data stored therein. If, on
the other hand, failure to collect data occurs, or if the memory
units of the monitoring apparatuses has reached a stated percentage
of its storage capacity (for example, 80%), the central hub sends a
signal to the notification devices to notify that the memory is
nearly full. At that point the data can be collected from the
central hub or from the individual control boxes using a USB device
or over a repaired network.
[0089] In some embodiments of the present invention, the server 110
can be accessed by a plurality of computing devices 500 via a
network 502. In this manner, the monitoring apparatuses can be
reprogrammed via the server or via the computing devices 500.
[0090] Optionally, the communication hub 104 is configured for
generating reports relating to one or more patients, based on the
data received from the monitoring apparatus(es) associated with the
one or more patients. The reports may be stored in the memory
utility 108 and/or in the server 110. These reports may be remotely
accessible by family members of the patients via communication of
the electronic devices 500 with the server 110 via the network 502.
Optionally, the network 502 includes the internet. Optionally, the
reports are password protected, to safeguard the privacy of the
patients.
[0091] In a variant, the central server is the repository for data
collected by periodically sending a signal to the control boxes or
central hub to transmit stored data. If the transfer is successful,
verified by software checks, then the control box or central hub
erases its data and starts over. If, on the other hand, the network
fails to collect data or if the control box has reached a stated
percentage of its storage capacity (for example, 80%), the central
hub sends a signal to the notification devices that its memory is
nearly full. At that point the data could be collected from the
central hub or from the individual control boxes using a USB device
or over a repaired network.
[0092] Optionally or additionally, the notification device has
sufficient memory to store data for each patient in the care
facility for a desired length of time (for example, at least three
months). After a certain time interval (e.g. one month) that is
less than or equal to the desired length of time, the data may be
downloaded onto a universal serial bus (USB) drive or hard disk.
The previous months' data will remain on the notification device so
that caregivers can compare a patient's current behavior to the
previous months and develop care plans for each patient.
* * * * *