Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling bed functions

Abstract

A method and system for patient monitoring, the system comprising a surveillance camera configured to generate a plurality of frames showing an area in which a patient in a bed is being monitored, and a computer system comprising memory and logic circuitry configured to determine bed rails positions of the bed, identify a position of the patient, and generate signals that control the bed rails of a bed based on the bed rails positions and the position of the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for preventing pressure ulcers, the system comprising:
 a surveillance camera configured to generate information including a plurality of frames showing an area in which a patient in a bed is being monitored; and   a computer system comprising memory and logic circuitry configured to:   identify a position of the patient based on the information;   determine a condition of the patient based on the position of the patient in relation to the bed; and   generate signals that controls functions of the bed based on the position of the patient and the condition of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the functions of the bed include at least one of bed rail control, bed movement control, and mattress inflation. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the functions of the bed include at least one of mattress elevation, head or footrest movement, mattress tilting, mattress reclination, and mattress folding. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the surveillance camera includes at least one of image, depth, and thermal sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising the computer system configured to determine the condition of the patient based on a heat signature of the patient that identifies a potential pressure ulcer in a given location. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising the computer system configured to remotely manage positions of the bed to manage a potential pressure ulcer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising the computer system configured to lift or inflate a mattress of the bed to alleviate pressure on a potential pressure ulcer. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising the computer system configured to remotely manage positions of the bed to facilitate telemedicine. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the bed includes a fluidized mattress. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising the computer system configured to adjust fluid in the fluidized mattress based on the determined condition of the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the surveillance camera comprises a multispectral or thermographic camera that is capable of producing thermal images using infrared, or other non-visible or visible spectral, radiation. 
     
     
         12 . A method for preventing pressure ulcers, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a computer system, information including a plurality of frames showing an area in which a patient in a bed is being monitored;   identifying, by the computer system, a position of the patient based on the information;   determining, by the computer system, a condition of the patient based on the position of the patient in relation to the bed; and   generating, by the computer system, signals that controls functions of the bed based on the position of the patient and the condition of the patient.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the functions of the bed include at least one of bed rail control, bed movement control, and mattress inflation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the functions of the bed include at least one of mattress elevation, head or footrest movement, mattress tilting, mattress reclination, and mattress folding. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising determining the condition of the patient based on a heat signature of the patient that identifies a potential pressure ulcer in a given location. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising lifting or inflating, by the computer system, a mattress of the bed to alleviate pressure on a potential pressure ulcer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising remotely managing, by the computer system, positions of the bed to facilitate telemedicine. 
     
     
         18 . Non-transitory computer-readable media comprising program code that when executed by a programmable processor causes execution of a method for preventing pressure ulcers, the computer-readable media comprising:
 computer program code for receiving information including a plurality of frames showing an area in which a patient in a bed is being monitored;   computer program code for identifying a position of the patient based on the information;   computer program code for determining a condition of the patient based on the position of the patient in relation to the bed; and   computer program code for generating signals that controls functions of the bed based on the position of the patient and the condition of the patient.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 18  further comprising computer program code for determining the condition of the patient based on a heat signature of the patient that identifies a potential pressure ulcer in a given location. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 18  further comprising computer program code for remotely managing positions of the bed to facilitate telemedicine.