Risk modeling for pressure ulcer formation

摘要

A method for modelling pressure exposure and/or the risk of pressure ulcer formation includes steps of using pressure sensors to derive pressure exposure or risk values and displaying the pressure exposure or risk values in a graphical manner to a user. Computer-implemented systems includes a pressure-sensing interface mat and components for implementing the steps of the methods.

主权项

1. A method of assessing the risk of a patient developing a pressure ulcer, wherein the patient is supported on a support surface, a pressure sensing interface is placed between the patient and the support surface, and the pressure sensing interface has a plurality of sensels, the method comprising the steps of:
periodically receiving, by a processor, pressure signals indicative of pressure values from the plurality of sensels associated with the pressure sensing interface, the plurality of sensels arranged in a two-dimensional grid; processing, by the processor, the pressure signals to obtain the pressure values; using a machine vision technique, by the processor, to process the obtained pressure values in order to identify a plurality of body zones of the patient and to assign a set of sensels from the plurality of sensels to each body zone in the identified plurality of body zones of the patient, the machine vision technique tracking the plurality of body zones over time, the tracking comprising adjusting which of the plurality of sensels is included in the set of sensels assigned to each body zone in the identified plurality of body zones of the patient; separately for each body zone of the identified plurality of body zones, based on the set of sensels assigned to the body zone:
deriving, by the processor, a plurality of time-to-high risk (THR) values for the set of sensels from the pressure values, the THR values for the set of sensels being a time to high risk of pressure ulcer formation in the body zone according to the pressure values measured for the set of sensels;adjusting, by the processor, the THR values by considering at least one risk modifier;converting, by the processor, the risk-adjusted THR values into risk deltas representing changes in risk values over an interval of time, the risk values indicative of a current risk of pressure ulcer formation at the sensel locations correlated with the body zone;updating, by the processor, the risk values by the risk deltas; andbased on the updated risk values, indicating, by the processor, to a user a risk of pressure ulcer formation in the body zone.