PATIENT MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

Various implementations of a patient monitoring assembly and methods of use are described herein. The patient monitoring assembly may be useful in preventing pressure ulcers, monitoring of air cushion inflation, estimating physical activity and energy expenditure and managing body weight of a patient seated on the assembly. The patient monitoring assembly may be installed on a manual or powered wheelchair, for example, and continuously monitors and provides feedback to the patient and/or caregiver about whether the patient is engaging in pressure relief activities while seated on a cushion of the assembly, whether the patient's activities are in accordance with clinical guidelines for pressure relief, the amount of calories expended over a period of time and the weight and weight distribution of the patient seated on the assembly. The feedback may be provided in substantially real time via an interface on the wheelchair and/or via a remotely located computing device.

主权项

1. A patient activity monitoring system comprising:
a support pad having generally planar first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces being substantially parallel to and opposite each other; a cushion having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface being disposed on the first surface of the support pad; at least three force sensors disposed on the second surface of the support pad; an electronic control unit comprising a memory and a processor, the processor being in electronic communication with the one or more force sensors and being configured for:
electronically receiving a force signal from each force sensor;identifying whether a patient disposed on the upper surface of the cushion is engaging in a pressure relieving movement based on at least a portion of the received force signals; andin response to identifying that the patient engaged in the pressure relieving movement, storing the identification of the identified pressure relieving movement in the memory.