Systems and Methods for Monitoring Pressurization Time Using a Wearable Sensor

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.

Having described our invention, what we now claim is as follows: 
     
         1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A system for automated monitoring of a person's position, comprising:
 a wearable sensor device body configured to be secured to a person or to an article worn by the person;   at least one sensor provided in the wearable sensor device and configured to generate sensor data regarding an orientation of the person; and   a processor configured to:
 monitor the orientation of the person over time based on the sensor data generated by the at least one sensor; 
 based on the monitored orientation of the person, manage an accumulated time counter for a first position of the person, including:
 determining the person is in a first position; 
 determining a first pressure-on duration for a first pressure-on period in the first position; 
 identifying a position change away from the first position; 
 determining a pressure-off duration for a pressure-off period out of the first position; 
 identifying a position change back to the first position; 
 determining a second pressure-on duration for a second pressure-on period in the first position; and 
 determining a value of the accumulated time counter for the first position as a function of the determined pressure-off duration; and 
 
 generate a visual or audible notification based on the value of the accumulated time counter for the first position. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein determining a value of the accumulated time counter for the first position as a function of the determined pressure-off duration comprises resetting the accumulated time counter if the determined pressure-off duration meets a minimum threshold pressure-off time. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein determining a value of the accumulated time counter for the first position as a function of the determined pressure-off duration comprises accumulating the first pressure-on duration with the second pressure-on duration if the determined pressure-off duration is less than a minimum threshold pressure-off time. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein determining a value of the accumulated time counter for the first position as a function of the determined pressure-off duration comprises accumulating the first pressure-on duration, the pressure-off duration, and the second pressure-on duration if the pressure-off duration is less than a minimum threshold pressure-off time. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor provided in the wearable sensor device and configured to generate sensor data regarding an orientation of the person comprises at least one accelerometer configured to generate acceleration data. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the particular position comprises a defined rotational range of the person's body. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine that the value of the accumulated time counter has reached or exceeded a threshold value, and   in response to determining that the value of the accumulated time counter has reached or exceeded the threshold value, generate the visual or audible notification.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine that the duration of the pressure-off period meets or exceeds a threshold pressure-off duration; and   in response to determining that the duration of the pressure-off period meets or exceeds the threshold pressure-off duration, reset the accumulated time counter.   
     
     
         18 . A system for automated monitoring of a person's position, comprising:
 a wearable sensor device body configured to be secured to a person or to an article worn by the person;   at least one sensor provided in the wearable sensor device and configured to generate sensor data regarding an orientation of the person; and   a processor configured to:
 monitor the orientation of the person over time based on the sensor data generated by the at least one sensor; 
 identify, based on the monitored orientation of the person over time, a first pressure-on period and a second pressure-on period separated by a pressure-off period, each of the first and second pressure-on periods comprising a period during which the person is in a particular position, and the pressure-off period comprising a period during which the person is out of the particular position; 
 determine whether the pressure-off period is a qualifying pressure-off period; 
 manage an accumulated time counter representing a pressurization time in the particular position; and
 resetting the accumulated time counter if the pressure-off period is a qualifying pressure-off period; and 
 accumulating the first and second pressure-on periods if the pressure-off period is not a qualifying pressure-off period; and 
 
 generate a visual or audible notification based on a value of the accumulated time counter. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the pressure-off period is a qualifying pressure-off period based at least on a duration of the pressure-off period. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to accumulate the first and second pressure-on periods and the pressure-off period if the pressure-off period is not a qualifying pressure-off period. 
     
     
         21 . A method for automated monitoring of a person's position using a wearable sensor device secured to the person or to an article worn by the person, the method comprising:
 generating, by at least one sensor provided in the wearable sensor device, sensor data representative of an orientation of the person;   monitoring, by a processor, the orientation of the person over time based on the sensor data generated by the at least one sensor;   managing, by the processor, an accumulated time counter for a first position of the person based on the monitored orientation of the person, including:
 determining the person is in a first position; 
 determining a first pressure-on duration for a first pressure-on period in the first position; 
 identifying a position change away from the first position; 
 determining a pressure-off duration for a pressure-off period out of the first position; 
 identifying a position change back to the first position; 
 determining a second pressure-on duration for a second pressure-on period in the first position; and 
 determining a value of the accumulated time counter for the first position as a function of the determined pressure-off duration; and 
   generating, by the processor, a visual or audible notification based on the value of the accumulated time counter for the first position.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining a value of the accumulated time counter for the first position as a function of the determined pressure-off duration comprises resetting the accumulated time counter if the determined pressure-off duration meets a minimum threshold pressure-off time. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining a value of the accumulated time counter for the first position as a function of the determined pressure-off duration comprises accumulating the first pressure-on duration with the second pressure-on duration if the determined pressure-off duration is less than a minimum threshold pressure-off time. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining a value of the accumulated time counter for the first position as a function of the determined pressure-off duration comprises accumulating the first pressure-on duration, the pressure-off duration, and the second pressure-on duration if the pressure-off duration is less than a minimum threshold pressure-off time. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the particular position comprises a defined rotational range of the person's body. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising:
 determining that the value of the accumulated time counter has reached or exceeded a threshold value, and   generating the visual or audible notification in response to determining that the value of the accumulated time counter has reached or exceeded the threshold value.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising:
 determining that the duration of the pressure-off period meets or exceeds a threshold pressure-off duration; and   resetting the accumulated time counter in response to determining that the duration of the pressure-off period meets or exceeds the threshold pressure-off duration.