DE102015102942A1 - Method and device for monitoring persons in a stationary facility - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for cost-effective, area-wide and systematic monitoring of a large number of or virtually all patients or persons in need of care (1) in a stationary device, such. A hospital, comprising measuring vital data and / or movement data of a person (1) by means of a sensor unit (2) carried on the body; sending the measurement data recorded by the sensor unit (2); receiving the measurement data at a plurality of gateways (3); transmitting the received measurement data to a data processing device (4); and determining the position of the person (1). According to the invention, the data processing device (4) evaluates the measurement data, determines whether the person (1) is in an emergency situation, and sends an alarm signal to a plurality of selected receivers (7a, b; ), wherein the selection of the receivers (7a, b, 8a-d) depends on the position of the person (1). This makes it possible to alert in particular those helpers who are in the vicinity of the person in need (1), and thus help the person as quickly as possible.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring persons in a device, such. A hospital or a care facility, according to the preamble of the independent claims.

People who are housed in hospitals or care facilities are often in critical condition or have other reasons, such. B. because of physical frailty, be monitored. In order to be able to quickly help such persons in emergencies, various technical systems have been developed that recognize emergencies and can automatically request help.

A first type of system includes a stationary or possibly mobile device which, in an emergency, sends an alarm to a specific person or control center. Such systems are also referred to as emergency call or nurse call systems. However, these systems presuppose that, as a rule, the patient himself actively triggers an alarm. If the patient is sleeping, helpless, or the alarm button z. B. not reached after a fall, he can not trigger the alarm.

Another group of patient monitoring systems includes a sensor unit that is worn by the patient on the body and constantly vital data, such. B. measures the heart rate, the pulse or the temperature and sends them to a mobile device (eg, a mobile phone, tablet, etc.), which is in the possession of the patient. The mobile device then transmits the measurement data over the Internet or a telephone connection to a person who can provide assistance in an emergency. Alternatively, the measurement data are stored only in a database such. As a cloud server, so stored by authorized third parties, such. As a doctor or insurance employee, can be evaluated.

In addition, various locating systems are known with which the position of persons or patients can be monitored. However, these systems can only detect the location of people and usually do not measure vital signs. As a result, no health emergencies can be detected and, if necessary, people call for help.

It is now an object of the present invention to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system and a corresponding method by which a medical emergency situation can be automatically detected by measuring vital data and / or movement data of a person. The sensor units worn by the monitored persons on the body should have the longest possible service life. In addition, an alarm should be generated so that the person in need can be assisted as quickly as possible.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features specified in the independent claims. Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

According to the invention, a method for monitoring persons in a stationary device, such. As a hospital or nursing home, proposed, are measured in the vital data and / or movement data of a monitored person by means of a sensor unit worn on the body and sent by radio into the environment. The term "measured data" is understood to mean the actual measured values, such. As pulse, heart rate or temperature values that have not been further processed and in particular not evaluated in terms of the presence or absence of a medical emergency situation. Depending on the whereabouts of the person, the signal transmitted by the sensor unit is received by one or more gateways installed in the environment and forwarded by the latter to a central data processing device. In addition, the position of the monitored person is determined. The central data processing device evaluates the measured data and determines whether the monitored person is in a medical emergency situation. If an emergency situation has been detected, it generates an alarm signal which is output to one or more selected alarm signal receivers. The selection of the recipients depends on the current position of the monitored person. This makes it possible to specifically alert those assistants who are in the vicinity of the person in need. The person in need can thus be helped quickly. The inventive method also offers the advantage that the sensors can be used over long periods without maintenance interval or battery replacement and the operating costs are correspondingly low. Comprehensive systematic monitoring of a large number of patients in a facility becomes possible from a cost and organizational point of view.

Under the name "vital data" are understood in the context of this application, in particular data with relevance to health, such. B. heart rhythm, heart rate, heart rate, body / skin temperature, blood oxygen, skin perfusion, skin blood volume, etc .. Movement data are in particular those sizes, by which it can be determined whether the monitored person has fallen, So for example speed or acceleration values.

The current position at which the monitored person is currently staying can be determined, for example, from the different signal strengths with which different gateways receive the signal transmitted by the sensor unit. Alternatively, of course, a GPS receiver could determine the position of the person being monitored or another location technology could be used.

The sensor units can be used to transfer the data z. B. use a wireless protocol, as in the DE 19959545 A1 is described.

A sensor unit according to the invention preferably also sends an additional identifier in addition to the actual measurement data, such. B. an identification number to the surrounding gateways, which makes it possible to assign the sensor unit of a particular person. From a database can be read, for example, to which person a specific sensor unit was issued with a specific identifier, and in which station or which room the person is housed. In the event of an emergency, it is thus possible to specifically alert the home station or the personnel employed there.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention sends a sensor unit according to the invention in addition to the actual measurement data and a count, such. For example, a timestamp to the surrounding gateways indicating which measurement is involved. The individual data records which the central data processing device receives from the various gateways can thus be unambiguously assigned to a measurement or to a specific sensor signal.

If an emergency situation has been detected, the data processing device generates an alarm signal and preferably sends it to those auxiliary workers who are in the vicinity of the person in need.

As an alarm signal receiver, a stationary device, such. As a permanently installed in a room screen, or a mobile device such. As a cell phone, serve.

If the person in distress is within a building or in a station where it is accommodated (home station), the alarm signal is preferably sent to a stationary receiver of the station and / or to one or more mobile receivers of the staff of the station , The alarm signal is preferably sent in this case to no other receiver outside the home station.

If the person in need is outside their home station, the alarm signal is preferably sent to one or more nearby receivers. These may be, for example, mobile devices of assistants who are in the vicinity. Alternatively or additionally, the alarm signal may also be sent to one or more stationary receivers in the nearest station. The person in need can thus be helped quickly. In addition, preferably the home station of the patient or the staff of the home station is informed of the emergency.

A prerequisite for the selective selection of the alarm recipients in relation to the relative proximity to the emergency patient is that the location of the personnel is either known exactly or at least a certain location is considered probable. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the location of an assistant is monitored. The whereabouts of an assistant may in principle be determined by any known technology, e.g. B. by mobile phone tracking, by GPS, or with the help of a dedicated sensor can be determined.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the current whereabouts of the individual assistants (eg carers, doctors or nurses) are not constantly monitored, but it is merely determined which employees of a ward are logged in as "on duty" or registered. In the event of a patient's medical emergency, one or more of the staff registered at the station and / or the staff may then be alerted to a nearest station.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is determined which terminals of a station (e.g., stationary station computers, mobile terminals) are currently active or logged in the system. Thus, in the event of a medical emergency of a patient, an alarm may be sent to one or more of the active terminals of the station and / or to active terminals of a nearest station.

According to a special embodiment of the invention, the sensor signal emitted by the sensor units contains at least the measurement data, a unique identification number and a count value, such as a number. As a timestamp, on the basis of which the measurement data can be assigned to a specific measurement.

When a gateway receives a signal from a sensor unit, it transmits that from the Sensor unit received data and preferably also information about the signal strength of the received signal to the data processing device. From the different signal strengths, the data processing device can finally determine where the person is.

The alarm signal generated by the data processing device preferably contains information about the name and position of the person in emergency. A helper knows exactly who it is and where the emergency took place.

According to the invention, it is preferably provided that an assistant who has reached an alarm signal confirms the alarm and thus cancels it. For confirmation, he can, for example, press a button on his mobile device or make a voice input. The confirmation preferably causes the alarm on the mobile devices of other alarm signal receivers to go out or be marked as completed. The other alarm signal receivers are informed in this way that someone is already taking care of this emergency.

The invention also relates to a system for monitoring persons in a stationary device, such. B. a hospital. The monitoring system according to the invention comprises a plurality of sensor units for the persons to be monitored in the device, of which a sensor unit is worn on the body by a person to be monitored and measures vital data and / or movement data of the respective person, wherein the sensor units further comprise a transmitter for transmitting measurement data exhibit; a plurality of gateways which receive the measurement data measured by the sensor units and forward it to a data processing device; and the data processing device. The data processing device evaluates the measurement data received from the gateways and determines whether a person is in an emergency situation. If an emergency situation has been detected, it generates an alarm signal and sends it to several selected recipients, whereby the selection of the recipients depends on the position of the person.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 the layout of a hospital that is equipped with various components of a system for monitoring patients, in the illustrated example, a patient suffers an emergency in his room;

2 the plan of a hospital, which is equipped with various components of a system for monitoring patients, in the illustrated example, a patient in the garden of the hospital suffers an emergency;

3 the essential procedural steps of a method for monitoring persons in a stationary device.

Embodiments of the invention

1 shows a floor plan of a hospital 10 with several health stations 13a . 13b on the grounds of the hospital 10 are arranged distributed. Every station 13a . 13b has several rooms Z1-Z15, a hallway 11 and a ward room 5a respectively. 5b , The station 13a additionally includes a lift 16 and a central server room with a data processing facility 4 , The device 10 has a park with walking paths 17 and a cafeteria in the park 9 ,

The hospital 10 is equipped with a patient monitoring system, by means of which the health status of each patient 1 is queried and evaluated in order to be able to recognize emergency situations as quickly as possible.

The monitoring system comprises a number of sensor units for this purpose 2 which different vital data and / or movement data of each patient 1 measure up. The sensor units 2 are worn by the patient on the body and may be integrated, for example, in a chest strap or other device. Depending on the version, the sensor units measure 2 For example, heart rate, heart rate, body temperature, blood oxygen, skin perfusion, skin blood volume or other medical parameters. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor units 2 also to measure movement data that can be used to determine if the patient is 1 crashed. In this case, the sensor units contain 2 For example, a motion, speed or acceleration sensor.

The one from a sensor unit 2 recorded measurement data are sent via an integrated radio interface into the environment and by one or more gateways 3 received, which are within range of the radio signal. In the illustrated embodiment are in each of the hospital rooms Z1-Z15 and at various other positions inside and outside the building 10 gateways 3 Installed. The gateways 3 then forward the received signal to a central data processing device 4 ,

According to the invention, a sensor signal contains the pure measurement data which have not yet been further processed and, in particular, have not been evaluated with respect to the presence or absence of a medical emergency situation. In addition, other data may be included.

The central data processing device 4 evaluates the measured data and determines whether one of the monitored patients 1 is in a medical emergency situation. If an emergency situation has been detected, it generates an alarm signal which is sent to several selected alarm signal receivers 7a , b; 8a -E is output. The selection of the recipients 7a , b; 8a -E is dependent on the current position of the patient in need 1 , This makes it possible to target those assistants 6a - 6e to alert, which is close to the needy patient 1 stop them. The needy patient 1 can be helped quickly.

The assistant 6a - 6e who takes care of the matter can confirm the alarm on her mobile device and pick it up. For this purpose, she can, for example, press a key on her mobile phone or pager, make a voice input or confirm the alarm in another way. Alternatively, she can send the confirmation to one of the recipients 7a . 7b . 8a -E make. With this confirmation she shows her colleagues, who have also received an alarm, that someone is already taking care of the emergency. The confirmation preferably also causes the alarm on the mobile devices 8b . 8e the other alarm signal receiver goes out or is marked as completed.

In the in 1 For example, it is assumed that a patient 1x who is in his room Z1, who suffers an emergency (eg low blood pressure). This is from the centralized DV facility 4 detected and issued a corresponding alarm. Because the emergency in the home station 13a of the patient 1x occurred, the alarm is displayed on a screen 7a in the ward room 5a displayed and also to the mobile devices 8a -C of the nurses 6a - 6c the station 13a transfer. On the devices 7a . 8a - 8c is preferably displayed to which patient 1x this is where the patient is 1x and why the alarm was triggered.

The nurse 6a , which is located near the room Z1, acknowledges the alarm, in which case a button on your mobile device 8a presses, indicating that she will take care of the patient. For the other sisters 6b . 6c the alarm is done with it.

2 shows the floor plan of the hospital 10 from 1 , which in turn is equipped with a patient monitoring system according to the invention. In this case it is assumed that a patient 1x who was in the garden of the hospital 10 stops, suffers an emergency. Those sisters who are closest to the patient 1x are the sisters 8d and 8e ,

In addition, there is the distressed patient 1x closer to the infirmary 13b as at his home station 13a ,

The central data processing device 4 in turn recognizes the emergency situation and issues a corresponding alarm signal to certain recipients. Because of the proximity to the station 13b In this case, an alarm will be displayed on the screen 7b in the ward room 5b triggered. Also, the alarm goes to the mobile devices 8e . 8d those sisters 6e . 6d sent closest to the distressed patient 1x stop them. One of these people can quickly rush to help. In addition, preferably also the home station 13a of the patient 1 informed about the emergency by, for example, an alarm signal to the ward room 5a the station 13a is sent.

The patient monitoring system according to the invention is preferably configured so that in different emergency scenarios, depending on the place where the person in need 1 stops, various alarm signal receivers are informed of the emergency situation. Which or how many alarm signal receivers are alarmed in which scenario can preferably be defined by the user of the patient monitoring system according to the invention according to his own point of view. The user or system administrator could, for. B. also specify that always three or 5 Assistants who are closest to the emergency patient are alerted.

3 shows the essential steps of a method for monitoring patients 1 in a stationary facility as described above. In this case, vital data and / or movement data of a patient are obtained in a step S1 1 by means of a body worn on the sensor unit 2 measured. The of the sensor unit 2 recorded measurement data are then sent by radio into the environment and from multiple gateways 3 received (step S2), which are within the signal range of the sensor signal. The measurement data and possibly further data are then in step S3 of the gateways 3 to a data processing device 4 transfer. This transmission can take place, for example, over an existing IT network. In step S4, the data processing device determines 4 Whether there is a medical emergency and also determines in step S5 where the supervised person is 1 staying. If the Vital data of the monitored person 1 move in the normal range and no fall was detected, the process branches back to the beginning, and new measurement data are evaluated. If, on the other hand, an emergency situation has been identified, depending on the position of the person in need 1x and the configuration of the system informed various alarm signal receivers about the emergency.

In the illustrated embodiment, three different scenarios are defined with three different groups of alarm signal receivers 7a , b; 8a -E, which are shown as boxes S6, S7 and S8. The alarm is acknowledged in steps S9, S10 and S11 by a person who has received the alarm. The alarm is then preferably disabled on other devices that have also received the alarm and cleared and in the central unit 4 archived / documented.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 19959545A1 [0011]

Claims (10)

Method for monitoring persons ( 1 ) in a stationary facility, such. A hospital, comprising the following steps: measuring vital data and / or movement data of a person ( 1 ) by means of a sensor unit carried on the body ( 2 ); - sending the from the sensor unit ( 2 ) recorded measurement data; - receiving the measured data at several gateways ( 3 ); Transfer of the received measurement data to a data processing device ( 4 ); and - determining the position of the person ( 1 ); characterized in that the data processing device ( 4 ) evaluates the measured data and determines whether the person ( 1 ) is in an emergency situation and, if an emergency situation has been detected, an alarm signal is sent to several selected recipients ( 7a , b; 8a -E), whereby the selection of the recipients ( 7a , b; 8a -E) from the position of the person ( 1 ) depends. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor unit ( 2 ) in addition to the measurement data an additional identification number to the gateways ( 3 ), which allows the sensor unit ( 2 ) to a specific person. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor unit ( 2 ) in addition to the measured data an additional count to the gateways ( 3 ), which indicates which measurement is involved. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the sensor unit ( 2 ) or the person ( 1 ) based on the different signal strengths of different gateways ( 3 ) received sensor signal is determined. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the person in need ( 1 ) within a building part or a station ( 13a . 13b ), in which it is housed, the alarm signal ( 14 ) to a stationary receiver ( 7a , b) the station ( 13a . 13b ) and / or to a mobile receiver ( 8a -E) of a station staff ( 13a . 13b ) is sent. Method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the person in need ( 1 ) outside of a building part or a station ( 13a . 13b ), in which it is housed, the alarm signal ( 14 ) to a stationary receiver ( 7a , b) the station ( 13a . 13b ) and / or a mobile receiver ( 8a -E) of a staff of the home station ( 13a . 13b ) as well as at least one further receiver ( 7a , b; 8a -E) from the group: mobile receiver ( 8a -E) of a staff of the nearest station ( 13a . 13b ); mobile receiver ( 8a -E) one near the person ( 1 ) ( 6a - 6e ) and / or to a stationary receiver ( 7a . 7b ) one to the person ( 1 ) nearest station ( 13a . 13b ) is sent. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each sensor unit ( 2 ) an identification number that transmits measured data and a count value. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gateways ( 3 ) from the sensor units ( 2 ) and information about the signal strength of the received signal to the data processing device ( 4 ) transfer. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alarm signal ( 14 ) the name of the person in need ( 1 ) and / or information about the position of the person ( 1 ) and / or contains information about the cause of the emergency situation. System for monitoring persons ( 1 ) in a stationary facility ( 10 ) such. A hospital, comprising - multiple sensor units ( 2 ), of which one each from a person ( 1 ) is worn on the body and vital data and / or movement data of the person ( 1 ), the sensor units ( 2 ) further comprising a transmitter for transmitting measurement data; - several gateways ( 3 ), which correspond to those of the sensor units ( 2 received measurement data and to a data processing device ( 4 ) hand off; and - the data processing device ( 4 ); characterized in that the data processing device ( 4 ) from the gateways ( 3 ) and evaluate whether a person ( 1 ) is in an emergency situation and, if an emergency situation was detected, an alarm signal ( 14 ) to several selected recipients ( 7a -b; 8a -E), whereby the selection of the recipients ( 7a -b; 8a -E) from the position of the person ( 1 ) depends.

Images