EP1623397A2 - System, verfahren und anwendungen der fernüberwachung und erfassung des sturzes eines menschen - Google Patents

System, verfahren und anwendungen der fernüberwachung und erfassung des sturzes eines menschen

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Publication number
EP1623397A2
EP1623397A2 EP04742645A EP04742645A EP1623397A2 EP 1623397 A2 EP1623397 A2 EP 1623397A2 EP 04742645 A EP04742645 A EP 04742645A EP 04742645 A EP04742645 A EP 04742645A EP 1623397 A2 EP1623397 A2 EP 1623397A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fall
measurements
acceleration
detection
remote unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04742645A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jean-Michel Bertaud
Jean-Louis Fache
Eric Laurent Ricard
Paul Maillot
Charles-Antoine Roussy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Data Health System
Original Assignee
Data Health System
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Data Health System filed Critical Data Health System
Publication of EP1623397A2 publication Critical patent/EP1623397A2/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
    • A61B5/6801—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
    • A61B5/6802—Sensor mounted on worn items
    • A61B5/681—Wristwatch-type devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/0002—Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/103—Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/11—Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb
    • A61B5/1116—Determining posture transitions
    • A61B5/1117—Fall detection
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/04—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons
    • G08B21/0438—Sensor means for detecting
    • G08B21/0446—Sensor means for detecting worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/40—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the nervous system
    • A61B5/4076—Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system
    • A61B5/4082—Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system as well as methods, and applications of remote monitoring and detection of a subject's fall. It is useful in the field of security and medical monitoring in the context of the detection of people falling with in particular remote information for alarm. It can be implemented in everyday life, in particular at the home of a person or in particular places, for example hospital or hospice, or within the framework of particular activities, in particular those in which an individual is isolated from his congeners. Devices are already known for remotely informing of the fall of an individual and in particular in hospital institutions with detectors in patient beds as in FR-2,728,775 or detectors carried by patients.
  • patent US-6,160,478 or its partial continuation US-6,433,690 relates to a wireless system for monitoring the health of a person with a device worn by the person and comprising an accelerometer and position detection capable of measuring the intensity and direction of an acceleration. A calculation of the severity of the fall is made in the device and when it is above a threshold, a signal is transmitted remotely to a monitoring device to trigger an alarm.
  • US Pat. No. 5,515,858 relates to a device worn on the wrist for monitoring the physical condition of a person. This device, which uses physiological sensors and a motion and acceleration sensor, is capable of transmitting an alarm message by radio when abnormal conditions are detected by the device.
  • the device is worn by the person imposes severe constraints both on the size of the device, its detection capabilities and its autonomy, these different elements being opposed.
  • the device must be socially and personally acceptable, the person not necessarily wanting to be noticed that he is wearing a prevention device.
  • a high detection capacity requires more complex detection circuits and therefore of increased size and consumption, without mentioning the cost of miniaturization and the capacity to withstand the environmental conditions of a portable device (shocks, variations temperature, sealing, etc.). This is how most of the previous devices offer simplified means of detection based on the activity of the person with analog means and counters (US-5,515,858 or US-6,135,970).
  • the system of US-6,160,478 implements local software detection means, which can be complex since we will determine the present and past situation of the person, in the device worn by the person to determine whether an alarm must be transmitted or not. It is not specified in this last document how sufficient autonomy and reduced size can be obtained under these conditions. In addition, in all cases, before an alarm is transmitted, there must be a certain delay in relation to the fall, either because of the implementation of counting systems or because of the necessary calculations. The device may therefore be out of service and complete the scan for detection before it can send a alarm.
  • the present invention proposes to solve the problems posed by the state of the art and to implement these analysis means for fall detection with a system for telemonitoring the fall of a subject, the system comprising, of a part, an autonomous personal device for measuring the accelerations undergone by the subject, fall detection and transmission, said device being carried by the subject, and, on the other hand, a remote reception unit capable of causing an alarm in the event of detection of a fall.
  • the system comprises three distinct structural levels with a first level corresponding to the device with a personal device which comprises means for measuring and memorizing the accelerations undergone by the subject, means of calculation and detection with a first set predetermined criteria on the stored acceleration measurements and means for transmitting the stored acceleration measurements to a second level which corresponds to the remote unit in the case where, in the personal device, detection with the first set of criteria is positive, the remote unit comprising means for receiving and storing the acceleration measurements transmitted by the personal device and calculation and detection means with a second set of predetermined criteria on the acceleration measurements received.
  • the structure of the system is therefore hierarchical with several levels of detection according to predetermined criteria and it should be noted that each of the sets of predetermined criteria used for fall detection, detection which can be positive (fall or effective presumption) or negative (absence of fall detected), is implemented with a corresponding program in the respective means of calculating the levels and when that subsequent updates are indicated, the latter relate to the criteria as such and, possibly, the programs correspondents (a minor modification of the criteria does not necessarily require a modification of the program).
  • the system also comprises a third level corresponding to a centralized computer administration means and connected to a telecommunications network, the remote unit further comprising means enabling it to connect via said network to the administrative computer means,
  • the system comprises means allowing, when the remote unit positively detects a fall, the transmission to the personal device of an order to activate a means of warning of the personal device,
  • the remote unit comprises means for transmitting the measurements which it has received to the centralized administration computer means which comprises means for receiving and memorizing the acceleration measurements transmitted by the remote unit and means of calculation and detection with a third set of predetermined criteria on the accelerations received, - the system comprises the three detection levels,
  • the first set of criteria has a broader positive detection capacity compared to the second set of criteria
  • the first set of criteria is optimized to avoid false negatives, that is to say an absence of positive detection when a fall has occurred
  • the second set of criteria is optimized to avoid false positives, that is to say to avoid detection of a positive fall when there has been no fall
  • - the third set of criteria is optimized for avoid false positives, i.e. to avoid detection of a positive fall when there has been no fall
  • the fall detection is carried out by cooperation of the levels, a lower level being able to request a detection by a higher level,
  • - fall detection is carried out in real time (real time includes the time taken to transmit measurements between levels) - at least one of the levels includes means enabling data analyzes to be carried out on conditions other than falling,
  • the first set of predetermined criteria is a non-empty subset of the second set of predetermined criteria, (part of the criteria is common)
  • At least part of the first set of predetermined criteria is not a subset of the second set of predetermined criteria, (at least part of the criteria are different between the two) - the first set of predetermined criteria is a disjoint set the second set of predetermined criteria, (the criteria are totally different between the two)
  • the first set of predetermined criteria is identical to the second set of predetermined criteria and at least part of the first set of predetermined criteria is not a subset of the third set of predetermined criteria
  • the first set of predetermined criteria is identical to the second set of predetermined criteria and the first set of predetermined criteria is a disjoint set of the third set of predetermined criteria
  • the second level of detection with the second set of predetermined criteria is carried over into the administrator's IT means, (on the basis of the invention, the first level corresponds to the first set of criteria in the personal device, the second level to the second set of criteria in the remote unit and in the case considered, it is the administrator who processes the measurements, this always done remotely from the personal device).
  • the detection is carried out by further calculating a detection quality criterion (confidence level which, in the case of fuzzy logic, can be obtained from the detection result using two thresholds: a positive detection threshold and a negative detection threshold separated by an area of uncertainty),
  • the quality criterion is a value characterizing a statistical distance between the detection obtained and a certain fall detection
  • the system includes means for carrying out the detection in the third level with the IT administration means when the second level with the remote unit has a detection quality level below a threshold
  • the system includes means such that when the remote unit does not carry out fall detection (proper or that the quality level is insufficient), the fall detection is reported in the centralized administration computer means, the first set of criteria having a larger positive detection capacity compared to the third set of criteria, the result of the detection being sent over the network to the remote unit, - in the system, on the one hand, the personal device is a box attached to a strap arranged around the subject's wrist, said box comprising an acceleration sensor, means for conditioning the signals produced by the sensor, an analog-to-digital converter, means for electronic digital calculations, in particular microprocessor, with memory under the dependence of a computer program, a two-way radio communication with transmitter and receiver, to the ego ns a means of warning at least the subject, at least a means to activate by at least the subject, and an autonomous power source, the computer program allowing:
  • the remote unit comprises a power source, a two-way radiocommunication means compatible with that of the personal device and hardware and software means of calculation and storage allowing establishment of the connection, reception and storage of the set of measurements and a means of analysis of the measurements allowing the detection of a fall by comparison of a number F 'of consecutive measurements stored in the remote unit with the second set of predetermined criteria, F 'being less than or equal to the number T of measurements of the set, and said computer means of the remote unit nte also allow when the remote unit positively detects a fall, the transmission to the personal device of an activation order of the warning means of the personal device, the signal conditioning means have a constant gain as a function of the input amplitude (linear response),
  • the signal conditioning means have a variable gain as a function of the input amplitude (logarithmic response with maximum gain around zero of no acceleration, sigmoid response with maximum gain around zero of no acceleration )
  • the personal device includes a real-time clock making it possible to associate a date and an absolute or relative time to an event (transmission of measurements, positive detection or other),
  • the remote unit includes a real-time clock making it possible to associate a date and an absolute or relative time to an event (transmission of measurements, positive detection or other),
  • the acceleration sensor is single-axis
  • the acceleration sensor is tri-axis
  • the acceleration sensor comprises a piezoelectric means of the crystal type
  • the personal device comprises means allowing, when the means to be actuated is activated, the transmission to the remote unit of recognition data,
  • the recognition data is a specific identification of the personal device and of the means to be actuated which has been actuated,
  • the remote unit is connected to a telecommunications network and a positive fall detection causing an alarm results in the call of a correspondent connected to said network, the correspondent is the IT administration means, - the computer means of the remote unit include means for waiting for a waiting time before causing an alarm in the event of a positive detection of a fall and the reception of a recognition datum cancels the waiting without causing an alarm,
  • the system comprises predetermined criteria which are chosen, without limitation, alone or in combinations, in particular logical AND, OR, AND-NOT, from:
  • the free fall is evaluated by the amplitude of the acceleration as a function of the subject's weight and size, - a type of form of evolution is characterized by a list (succession) of parameters,
  • the parameters are one or more chosen from:
  • an acceleration intensity, - a duration for a previous parameter (for example a decreasing acceleration less than 100 ms or for example an acceleration intensity greater than a predetermined value greater than 300 ms less than
  • the direction of acceleration corresponds either to an increasing acceleration, either to a decreasing acceleration, either to a stable acceleration, or to a zero acceleration
  • acceleration level in g or in digital units of measurement by the device for an 8-bit conversion: 0 to 255 or -127 to + 127)
  • the means for detecting a fall by the personal device also comprise an independent and prior step of comparing the last acceleration measurement with a resistance threshold threshold value and, when the last acceleration measurement is greater than limit threshold of resistance, of immediate and unconditional transmission of information corresponding to the remote unit and, after a predetermined latency time and in the absence of transmission by the transmitter of the personal device of the set of T consecutive measurements stored following the detection of a fall by it, the remote unit then interrogates the personal device and, when the personal device does not respond to the interrogation (whether because the subject cannot activate the means to actuate or that the personal device is actually destroyed), the remote unit activates a pre-alarm which can be deactivated on the remote unit and, in the absence of deactivation, the end of the pre-alarm leading to the alarm, (thus, in the event of a fall which could lead to the destruction of the personal device, that is to say that the acceleration is greater than the resistance capacity of the device, the latter may, during the fall, while the acceleration n has not yet reached the limit from which destruction is
  • resistance limit threshold an acceleration value a slightly lower than the physical resistance limit of the personal device in order to allow detection while the device is still functional, this limit may correspond to the extremes of the sensor measurement range if the sensor measurements are used for this purpose or such information can be provided by a specific sensor only intended to detect accelerations which may be lethal for the personal device.
  • the system includes means allowing the first set of predetermined criteria of the personal device to be updated from the remote unit by transmission, from the remote unit to the personal device, with data and instructions for programming the means of electronic digital calculations,
  • the system includes means allowing the first set of predetermined criteria of the personal device and / or the second set of predetermined criteria, to be updated from the IT administration means by sending data and instructions over the telecommunications network corresponding programming from the administrator to the remote unit,
  • the system comprises means allowing the measurements recorded in the remote unit to be transmitted in a database of the computer administration means by sending on the telecommunication network of said measurements, (collection of measurements)
  • the system includes means allowing the analysis of the measurements recorded in the administrative computer means (third level) in search of new sets of predetermined criteria,
  • the analysis consists of statistical processing of the measurements and any associated data
  • the associated data are data concerning the physiology and / or the pathology of the subject for the measurements concerned,
  • the acquisition frequency Fe is configurable
  • the acquisition frequency Fe is between 16 and 120 Hz, - the acquisition frequency Fe is equal (50 or 60Hz) or is a multiple (for example 100 or 120Hz) of the frequency of 56 ex ⁇ ur,
  • the acquisition frequency Fe is preferably 32 Hz
  • the digital acquisitions have a resolution of 8 bits
  • the measurable acceleration range is between +/- 5g
  • the measurable acceleration range is preferably between +/- 4g, - the measurements are filtered analogically,
  • the digital filter is adaptive
  • the radiocommunication means of the personal device is by radio electromagnetic waves or infrared optics
  • the two-way radiocommunication means with transmitter and receiver is at a reduced communication distance approximately less than or equal to 100m with the remote unit
  • the radiocommunication means of the personal device is of the BLUETOOTH® type
  • the radiocommunication means of the personal device is cut (not supplied) in the absence of positive detection, - the radiocommunication means of the personal device is only listening in the absence of positive detection,
  • the radiocommunication means of the personal device is at least listening and possibly being able to transmit in the absence of positive detection, the telecommunication network is wired,
  • the telecommunications network has GSM radio access
  • the telecommunications network has satellite radio access
  • the remote unit is a GSM mobile phone of electronic organizer type or laptop with means of programmable computer calculations and of transmission to the personal device, (the remote unit comprises GSM telephony means for the telecommunications network and programmable computers for in particular detection and storage and of radio communication to the personal device, this is the PCGSM described thereafter)
  • the computer program of the personal device with the first set of predetermined criteria is preprogrammed in the memory of the personal device
  • the personal device is of the wristwatch type
  • the wristwatch includes a means of determining the tightness of the bracelet in order to determine whether or not the watch is worn by the subject
  • the system includes means allowing the transmission of the personal device to the remote unit of a set of measurements consecutive stored independently of a positive detection and according to a predetermined periodicity.
  • the system comprises means allowing the transmission of test instructions from the remote unit to the personal device,
  • the system includes means allowing the transmission from the personal device to the remote unit of data concerning the operating status of the personal device,
  • the system comprises means allowing the transmission from the personal device to the remote unit of data concerning the test result of the personal device,
  • the personal device and the remote unit comprise bidirectional sound transmission means, the personal device comprising at least one microphone and one loudspeaker and making it possible, on the one hand, to capture the sounds and their transmission to the unit remote and, on the other hand, the reproduction of sounds coming from the remote unit, said remote unit further having means of connection to a network telephone for retransmission and reception of said sounds on said network, (allows the wearer of the personal device to communicate verbally with a caller on the telephone network via the remote unit) - the remote unit also comprises or alternatively means of connection to a communication network for transmission and reception of said sounds in digital form on said network, (allows the wearer of the personal device to communicate verbally with a party on the communication network via the remote unit)
  • the system includes means making it possible to analyze later and independently of a fall detection by the personal device or the remote unit, the measurements recorded in or coming from the remote unit for fall detection, (therefore in the remote unit or the IT administration or other IT means on the telecommunications network)
  • the system includes means making it possible to analyze the measurements recorded in or coming from the remote unit for detection of conditions other than falling, (therefore in the remote unit or the IT administration means or another IT means on the telecommunications network for, for example, energy expenditure, instability, motor activity, quality of sleep ).
  • the system includes means making it possible to analyze a set of files comprising recorded measurements originating from a set of remote units.
  • acceleration covers both actual accelerations and decelerations.
  • the term circular buffer must be understood in the sense of means for memorizing consecutive measurements of acceleration of a temporal depth. determined, in particular during a time t pre c before detection including the measurements which led to the detection and, possibly, for a time t post after detection.
  • the invention therefore implements at least a double level of detection, the first of which, in the personal device, is simplified compared to the second, in the remote unit. It is also possible that the second detection with the second set of criteria is carried out in the IT means of the administrator, the remote unit being used only for transmitting the measurements.
  • an additional level of detection with an even finer third set of detection criteria can be implemented in the IT means of the administrator (the capacities of administrator calculations may be much larger than those of the remote unit and, in addition, a database (s) with sets of previous measurements of the subject and other subjects are available).
  • the invention also relates to a method of implementing a system for telemonitoring the fall of a subject according to one or more of the preceding characteristics in their functional aspects and in which, in a personal device carried by a subject, acceleration measurements are carried out which are stored in a memory in the form of a group of measurements and a first analysis is carried out for detection in the measurement group according to a first set of predetermined criteria and, in the case of a positive detection, the group of stored measurements is transmitted to a remote unit in which a second analysis is carried out for detection in said transmitted measurements according to a second set of predetermined criteria.
  • the following means are present: - one or more previously listed material means of the system are actuated according to their corresponding operating methods in order to achieve the goals set by the invention, - more particularly, when the second analysis results in a positive detection, the remote unit active by transmission a means of warning the personal device, - more particularly, the subject must activate a means to activate the personal device when the warning means is activated in order to transmit recognition data to the remote unit making it possible to prevent a triggering alarm by the remote unit (alarm triggering is therefore delayed after positive detection in the remote unit).
  • the invention also relates to a method for detecting the fall of a subject by means of computer calculations in a system from a set of successive measurements of accelerations suffered by the subject and stored in a memory means in which the previous system is implemented according to all of its individual or combined characteristics and such that, in a prior phase, a typology of falls is determined in a centralized computer means in the form of lists of predetermined parameters corresponding to types of changes in measurements d acceleration during falls by shape analysis, and, in an implementation phase, we seek with the computer calculation means of at least one remote unit a correspondence between measurements and a particular list among the lists of parameters beforehand determined and defining a type of fall according to its form of evolution.
  • the invention relates to the application of the telemonitoring system for the fall of a subject according to all of its individual or combined characteristics for monitoring a subject subjected to a test of an active substance on the body.
  • the active substance can be a preventive or curative medicine or be a toxic, for example alcohol
  • the subject subjected to the test is a healthy subject (pre-clinical studies or phase I)
  • the invention therefore presents an architecture with three levels of communication and automated processing (analysis and detection) (preferably programmable automaton computer dependent on a program), the first two of which are interdependent for fall detection with alarm, the third can also be implemented for treatment, in addition to the first two or as a replacement for the second level in case the latter does not perform an analysis or that the analysis is insufficient for a positive or negative detection.
  • analysis and detection preferably programmable automaton computer dependent on a program
  • the third levels are a first level corresponding to the personal device which is preferably in the form of a watch, which is socially acceptable because without apparent negative connotation, the second level corresponds to the remote unit which is preferably a telephone " intelligent ”, that is to say with programmable software capacities, and a third level with computer administration means (platform) on a telecommunications network.
  • the third, central level manages and administers the first two levels and can be institutional (a hospital, a retirement home, etc.) or private (a service company operating in a given territory).
  • This third level can also update the detection software, including the predetermined criteria, of the first two levels and thus customize them.
  • the hierarchical distribution and the functional collaboration between the levels make it possible to have a first level (personal device) relatively simplified and with high autonomy which can be in the form of an object of everyday life such as a watch or of an object which can be easily conceal and which in any case is not intrusive or a particular embarrassment for the subject.
  • a first level personal device
  • high autonomy can be in the form of an object of everyday life such as a watch or of an object which can be easily conceal and which in any case is not intrusive or a particular embarrassment for the subject.
  • the watch (the first level) therefore allows the permanent detection of a presumption of a possible anomaly (wider detection), i.e. of presumption of fall and, in the event of positive detection, wireless communication on the “smart” telephone (the second level remote unit) and interaction with it.
  • the watch can also continuously monitor the activity of the subject over configurable periods of time and systematically transmit, in the absence of anomaly, measurement records to the remote unit which can retransmit them by computer means. administration to determine the living conditions of the subject. Such an operation can be useful for knowing these conditions and adapting the predetermined criteria of one or more of the levels.
  • the detection thresholds forms of evolution of the measurements
  • the parameters can also change according to the time: at night a subject being normally at rest.
  • evaluations can be carried out and the detection criteria adapted and at a level of adaptation. pushed, the detection criteria can be adapted for a given subject for personalization.
  • the activity of the watch in particular the frequency of acquisition and / or calculations and processing, can be reduced during periods of rest of the subject, for example at night in order to increase the autonomy of the watch.
  • the “smart” phone (the second level), whether mobile or landline (with or without a wireless local area network), performs a triple function: data exchange (in particular measurements recorded in the watch) between the watch and the “smart” phone, data analysis and decision as to the action to be taken based on whether or not a fall is detected during the analysis (triggering of an alarm or pre-alarm, watch tests, request for help from the centralized platform, etc.).
  • the centralized platform (IT system for third level administration) is called upon to fulfill a series of functions in real time and in deferred time.
  • real time monitoring, interactive management of the general information exchange / processing / decision activity between the different levels, repercussion of alarms.
  • deferred time administration of the first and second levels (updating / adaptation of programs and criteria), management, fund analysis, personalization (the specific characteristics of each subject are recorded and the predetermined criteria are optimized accordingly), database of individual, collective data, by pathology, etc.
  • the platform allows the repercussion and the follow-up of the interventions near the concerned entities: health professionals, families, social organizations ... and, this, by automatic link or not.
  • Both the remote unit and the IT administration means allow alert re-routing on a sequence of call numbers.
  • the third level can just as well correspond to a specialized structure as to any other correspondent accessible on the network.
  • the remote unit (second level) can call any type of correspondent on the network according to a call schedule which can in particular be linked to a fall detection positive or some other condition, for example a test result or an action of the subject (voluntary alarm).
  • This / these called correspondents can therefore be natural persons (for example a parent, a doctor ...) or legal persons (for example firefighters or security company ).
  • the call consists of exchanging data, in particular measurements or updates, as well as sounds in the case where audio means are used, and this, depending on the respective equipment of the levels concerned.
  • the invention also allows a geographic location of the remote unit and directly or indirectly of the watch by software and triangulation means in particular in the case of a cellular network such as GSM, or even by satellite means (Galileo or GPS) .
  • a cellular network such as GSM, or even by satellite means (Galileo or GPS) .
  • GPS Globalileo or GPS
  • any type of conventional information exchange protocol can be used (wired, GSM, WI-FI, 802.11.x, 802.15.xx, 802.16.xx, 869.2MHz band, Bluetooth®, Zigbee® ...), or IP ("INTERNET PROTOCOL", IPv4 or IPv6 in particular), Terrestrial or Satellite ...
  • the functional methods of the invention can evolve simply by modifying the processing programs at each level without necessarily requiring hardware modifications, said evolutions being able to correspond to new generic analysis and detection algorithms and / or adapted and optimized according to the characteristics of the subject being followed (age, activity, physiology, pathology, therapeutics ...) and its history (previous recordings retrieved to the administrator's platform).
  • the analysis of the measurements and data received at the third level in one or more particularly rich database (s) makes it possible to determine in particular by correlation of the deductive or predictive parameters (warning signs).
  • the data thus allow an automatic supply of databases for research or individual monitoring, medical software for treating physicians, and other Health Professionals and monitoring and assistance software for emergency interventions. triggered.
  • a time measurement means a real-time clock of the personal device, makes it possible to know the moment of the measurements, an absolute or relative time datum accompanying the measurements individually or, preferably, by group of data stored and transmitted and, in this last case, with the acquisition frequency in order to be able to calculate a posteriori the time of each measurement of the group. So the database can also be analyzed according to a time variable, the time of day (or night) can have an influence on the type of event (presumed fall or fall) that can occur.
  • the system can be made predictive with detailed analyzes of the memorized data in search of warning signs (instability of the subject, temporary weakness ). It can help with the diagnosis, in particular according to contextual or physiopathological data associated (for example orthostatic hypotension in the morning with rising %), even to provide an aid to the curative or preventive therapeutic choices (in particular prevention of the risk situations, detection of drug overdoses leading to instabilities ).
  • the invention can be implemented for multiple actors and various economic sectors such as isolated workers, isolated patients, disabled people, isolated sportsmen (solo navigator carrying the personal device, the remote unit being on the boat ), military, in institutions, for postoperative surveillance, etc.
  • the system of the invention can be structured in four areas.
  • a first pole called the local mobile patient system, corresponding to the treatments of the first and second levels
  • a second pole called the local integrated system, for monitoring the patient, called "Bed legs”.
  • This pole corresponds to computerized and integrated monitoring of medical elements relating to the patient's life.
  • a third pole Communication and monitoring platform, corresponding to the third level.
  • a fourth pole of service and multi-actor intervention (Health professionals, family and loved ones, social actors).
  • the invention therefore uses a versatile architecture, versatile and economical in terms of resources and consumption.
  • continuous monitoring of the subject can be carried out with continuous recording in the watch and transmissions from the watch to the higher level (s), preferably in data packets in order to reduce the power consumption.
  • transmissions periodic transmission of a set of stored measurements, in particular when the storage buffer reaches saturation
  • the transmissions are carried out in such a way as to keep the power supply of the watch as large as possible.
  • a connection establishment phase is implemented and it is advantageous to transmit as much data as possible once the connection has been established. In addition, this phase can take a certain time and not be compatible with the transmission of measurements individually.
  • the watch For the power consumption of the watch which is limited to the essential, namely the supply of the piezoelectric sensor elements, signal processing and acquisition, memory, software means for processing any anomaly and, if necessary, communication .
  • the versatility of the system allows evolutions, by implementing additional applications and, for example, taking into account the “physical” security of the subject, in particular by alarm in the event of aggression, etc. and / or taking into account of “environmental” security or
  • FIG. 1 which represents a system according to the invention with a subject carrying an autonomous personal device of watch type and a remote unit connected to a telecommunications network
  • FIG. 2 which represents a simplified diagram of the personal device
  • FIG. 3 which represents a functional diagram of the operations between the watch and the remote unit
  • FIG. 4 which represents an operational flowchart of the system as implemented in relation with an administration company
  • FIG. 5 which represents an operational flowchart of the tests of the system
  • FIG. 6 which represents a functional flowchart of the possibilities of transmission of the test anomalies
  • FIG. 7 intended to illustrate a basic method of detecting falls (SSU) and representing plots of acquisition data there are accelerations at different stages of processing until the fall detection
  • Figure 8 intended to illustrate a basic method of detection of falls (SSU) and representing other plots of data of acquisition of accelerations at different processing steps
  • FIG. 9 intended to illustrate a method for studying the evolution of the positioning of the watch before and after falling
  • Figure 10 intended to illustrate a method of studying the evolution of the activity of the subject before and after fall.
  • the fall of a person is a mechanical event lasting between one and two seconds, generally comprising an imbalance phase, a weightlessness phase (person falling) and a phase impact on the ground.
  • Fall detection therefore preferably implements a recognition of the evolution of the measurements (signature).
  • the evolution curves of the measures presented variable second order aspects depending on the type of subject who fell and in particular according to his age, height and weight, elements that can be taken into account in the treatment. Datas. In order to implement such detection means, an automated monitoring system has been developed.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown such a system with a subject 1 wearing on the wrist the personal device in the form of a watch 2 which is capable of communicating by radio waves 4 with a remote unit 3 itself capable of communicating with the watch with by radio waves 4.
  • a radio communication means is used, in particular according to the BLUETOOTH® protocol, between the watch and the remote unit; however, any other radio or optical wave communication means can be implemented, and in particular infrared.
  • a BLUETOOTH® link is used more particularly because a use of a remote commercial unit, in particular GSM with programmable calculation means of the personal computer type, which will generally have such an interface, will be described.
  • radiocommunication the use of any other type of (radio) communication interface between the watch and the remote unit is envisaged, in particular in the case where the latter is a product specifically produced in the context of the present invention.
  • the remote unit comprises computer means and an audible and / or visual warning means as well as a switch-type actuation means allowing
  • the remote unit. 3 is connected to a telephone type communication network 5 for transmission of alarms and / or reception of data and update programs.
  • the network 5 has been shown in wire form but the network may also be a radio-telephone network, in particular GSM, or even a computer network in particular in the case of use within an institution.
  • the remote unit also includes a power source which preferably connects to the electrical network.
  • the power source of the remote unit can be autonomous, in particular by rechargeable battery, in the case where the device is used in semi-mobile: for example work outdoors on sites, the remote unit being fixed on the site.
  • the remote unit in a mobile or semi-mobile use, the remote unit must preferably connect to a radio-telephone network and that it can also include radio and / or satellite localization means, in particular GPS, for, in the event of an alarm, give its position.
  • the remote unit can also be portable as will be seen in the subsequent description of a PCGSM.
  • the personal device as shown in Figure 2 is in the form of a watch 2 worn by the subject and which includes a piezoelectric accelerometer 6, a signal processing chain, a processing or calculation chip 9 (Cale. ) of the microcontroller type with a memory 10 for data and in particular the measurements in a circular buffer and with a memory 1 1 (Prg.) for the operating program with the predetermined criteria.
  • a radio connection circuit 14 (Radio) and a power source 15 of the rechargeable battery or battery type as well as at least one means of warning the subject represented in the form of a sound generator 13 and that at least one means of actuation by the subject represented in the form of a switch 12 complete the personal device.
  • the accelerometer is, in this example shown, single axis.
  • the signal processing and acquisition chain typically comprises an analog part with amplifier, which can be gain programmable by the processing chip, and a low pass filter 7 and a digital part with an analog to digital converter 8.
  • the memories 10 and 1 1 can be grouped or physically separated, the data memory 10 must be of the read / (re) write type and the program memory can be of the ROM, PROM, EPROM read-only type or preferably with electrical read / rewrite ( EEPROM, FLASH® or RAM saved) in order to possibly allow an update of the analysis and detection programs, in particular the first set of criteria, remotely, from the remote unit 3.
  • an acquisition frequency of 32Hz, or 32 measurements per second and on 8 bits one hour of recording requires 1 15,200 bytes for storage.
  • the capacity of the circular buffer is therefore at least of this order for recordings of this duration.
  • special coding means for example evolution of the signal rather than raw acquisition data
  • data compression for example Huffman technique
  • the accelerometer is a component allowing measurements according to a reference system of three axes perpendicular to each other.
  • the signal processing and acquisition chain and the sensor allow measurements in a frequency band starting from (including) the continuous in order to be able to determine the static position of the sensor in addition to its dynamic changes. Three measurements (one per axis) being obtained at each acquisition period, the time recording capacity will be reduced proportionally unless the memory size is increased compared to a single-axis sensor system.
  • the watch includes a microcontroller referenced AT90S2313 of ⁇ bits, 2K of FLASH® program memory, 128 bytes of RAM, 128 bytes of EEPROM from the ATMEL company, which can operate at 3 volts with consumption that can be reduced. less than one microampere in stop mode ("POWER DOWN") or less than one milliampere in rest mode (“IDLE”).
  • the microcontroller operates at a frequency of approximately 32KHz which considerably reduces the supply current in normal operating mode.
  • at least four programmable memory circuits per serial link l 2 C® of the PROM type electrically erasable with 128Kbits of reference 24LC128 are implemented.
  • an operational amplifier with ultra low consumption, approximately 5 microamperes, and operating under 3 volts of the MAX952 type is used.
  • the radio link is made by electromagnetic radiation produced (received) by a self.
  • the latter is electronic computer equipment comprising a serial input to which is connected a module for receiving (transmitting) electromagnetic radiation from the watch with a self.
  • the warning means, loudspeaker, vibrator or piezoelectric pellet may also include visual means of the liquid crystal display and / or lighting type, in particular by high-efficiency LEDs.
  • the power source 15 can optionally, in the case of a battery, be recharged by photo-voltaic cells or by electromagnetic induction by placing the watch on or near an electromagnetic generator. Measurements, acceleration acquisitions and fall detection tests being carried out continuously the main organs of the watch are supplied with power permanently except for the radio means 14 which can be put on standby or not supplied outside of the positive detections, this being done under the control of the processing chip 9.
  • the watch may include a display, not shown, capable of displaying information originating from the watch chip or coming from the remote unit and / or for displaying the time.
  • the watch may include means for audio connection with the remote unit by means of their common radiocommunication means, the watch then further comprising a microphone and a loudspeaker and related electronic means.
  • the watch communicates with the IT administration means (third level) in audio, in particular in the event of confirmed suspicion or fall to ascertain the state of the subject or when the subject has raised an alarm.
  • the time setting button is preferably separate from the alarm transmission button and the latter is preferably configured to avoid unintentional maneuvers.
  • the wristwatch has preferably means for detecting its presence and tightening on the subject's wrist.
  • FIG. 3 gives an example of a typical operation of the system with watch 2 and the remote unit 3.
  • Watch 2 continuously measures, according to an acquisition frequency, the accelerations undergone. These acceleration measurements are stored in the watch memory according to the principle of a circular buffer. Thus, the measurements relating to a time slice preceding significant events are stored, for example one hour before the fall and fifteen minutes after.
  • the advantage of having measurements after the fall is to be able to make an assessment of the consequences of the fall and in particular of the level of consciousness of the subject (presumption of coma in the event of immobilization or non-reactivity ... ).
  • the priority of the analysis of the measurements relates to the detection of fall and that this is carried out as a priority with the available measurements and that, preferably, one does not wait to have all the measurements following a detection positive at a given level for transmission to the higher level.
  • the measurements following the positive detection can be transmitted optionally and when requested by a higher level.
  • the memory for the measurements in the watch is a cyclic buffer memory.
  • the program of the processing chip 9 of the watch for each new measurement, firstly, compares the last measurement (or a limited set of last measurements) with simple criteria of type exceeding the threshold allowing '' quickly obtain on an abnormal event consisting of an excessive acceleration, close to the resistance limit, of the watch, and in case the threshold is exceeded immediately and unconditionally transmits information corresponding to the remote unit by the action referenced a sure Figure 3.
  • a dedicated all-or-nothing sensor can be used to detect this type of dangerous acceleration for the personal device.
  • the output of the dedicated sensor can be connected to an interrupt input of the microcontroller for immediate execution of the described actions.
  • the processing chip 9 by the action referenced b in FIG.
  • the radio device performs a test with more complex criteria, with the first set of predetermined criteria , on a set of previous measurements which have been recorded in the circular buffer and comprising the last measurement. If the first set of criteria is detected (positive detection), then the radio device is activated to transmit the measurements stored in the circular buffer by the action referenced c in Figure 3.
  • the remote unit 3 receives the measurements and stores them in its memory and executes a test program on the measurements received with the second set of criteria predetermined by the action referenced d in Figure 3. If the second set of criteria is detected by the remote unit 3 (positive detection) then the latter transmits to the personal device, watch 2, an order for activating the watch warning means by the action referenced e in FIG. 3 and activates a timer before alarm transmission.
  • the watch activation means If the user notified by the watch activation means actuates the watch activation means, the latter transmits recognition data to the remote unit, by the action referenced f in FIG. 3.
  • the reception of the recognition data by the remote unit 3 cancels the activation of the timer before alarm and thus prevents the transmission of an alarm on the network 5, which would have occurred if the user had not reacted to the warning and as represented by the action referenced g in Figure 3 which corresponds to the actual alarm.
  • the activation of the pre-alarm (delay before alarm) in the remote unit 3 would have been canceled by receiving the measurements according to the action c or by the reaction of the subject f following the warning action e carried out by the remote unit 3 following a and in the absence of action c within a predetermined period .
  • the pre-alarm of the remote unit 3 consists in activating a means of warning of said remote unit 3. The stopping of the pre-alarm can therefore be obtained locally on a switch of the remote unit or by means of actuating the watch by action f, the subject having been warned by action e.
  • the pre-alarm can be carried out in two stages first attempting to obtain response from the watch by warning e then in the absence of response within a predetermined time, activation of the warning means of said remote unit 3.
  • the pre-alarm can be carried out in parallel, the means for warning the watch and the remote unit being activated in parallel. If the pre-alarm is not deactivated, either directly on the remote unit or via the watch (action f), within a predetermined time, the remote unit 3 goes into alarm and transmits the alarm by action g.
  • continuous monitoring In addition to these main modes of operation of the watch performing group transmissions stored measurements in the event of suspected fall, violent acceleration (destruction limit), there is an operating mode, called continuous monitoring, in which the stored measurements are transmitted regularly to the remote unit, in practice each as soon as the storage buffer reaches saturation or according to a defined sending frequency (not to cause saturation or overwriting of measurements in the buffer) and this, independently of a fall or suspicion.
  • This continuous monitoring mode makes it possible to follow the subject's activities over defined periods of time and can make it possible to refine (data analysis in the third level) the detection criteria: for example the detection thresholds or forms of evolution are different in rest periods and periods of professional or other activity.
  • This activity monitoring can also be useful in pathophysiological assessments and, for example, energy expenditure, detection of depression by reduction in activity, detection of parkinsonism by the appearance of rest tremor, nocturnal hyperactivity, epilepsy ... or therapeutic, for example by increasing the activity under antidepressant treatment, reducing a tremor under anti-parkinsonian, adjusting the dose of an anti-parkinsonian during the day ("parkinson's holter"). ..
  • the detection of warning signs and / or current of epilepsy makes it possible to improve the life of the affected subjects and for example can authorize activities currently prohibited. It helps protect the subject or those around him.
  • monitoring the activity can make it possible to carry out a posteriori research on warning signs or precursors of falling: instabilities ...
  • the analysis of activity monitoring can provide information on the patient's pathophysiological state (coma, lameness, etc.).
  • follow-up analyzes are preferably carried out in the IT administration means (third level of the system), the remote unit retransmitting to it the stored groups of measurements.
  • PCGSM which is an autonomous portable base provided by a service (the administrator) ensuring the management of the system and which is a GSM telephone controlled by a pocket PC.
  • the remote unit is a device with computer capacities for calculation and storage according to a program which can analyze and carry out detections according to a second set of criteria on measurements which it has received from the watch and which also comprises means of communication to the watch and also to a telecommunication network which, in the latter case, is of the GSM radiotelephone type.
  • Various types of remote units can be implemented from the simplest to the most complex.
  • the remote unit is a GSM telephone with the possibility of communication to the watch, in particular via BLUETOOTH®, and the computer capacities are in the smart card of the telephone.
  • the unit remote is a microcomputer with the possibility of communication to the watch, in particular via BLUETOOTH®, and a link to a wired telecommunications network (possibly an IT network internal to an institution) or radio, in particular GSM.
  • the remote unit can correspond to an advanced mobile phone of the GSM organizer type.
  • the base which is therefore a preferably portable device, the subject being able to possibly carry and transport it on him or in his immediate environment (by car or train ...), is normally placed on a base which allows at least the recharging of the autonomous supply means of the base by the mains voltage.
  • the PCGSM being a portable and autonomous device, this one can be moved.
  • the base includes processing software, a short distance radio communication chip, in this example according to the BLUETOOTH® protocol, and has an autonomous battery supply. It is normally on its charging base when the person is at home.
  • the remote unit preferably includes means for generating a tracking file (LOG G) which is a file carrying all the results of the watch and base tests carried out in the form of a “sliding” backup on a certain number of days, for example 15 days.
  • LOG G tracking file
  • the watch in this exemplary embodiment which is of a size corresponding substantially to that of a diving depth gauge consists of six main parts.
  • the size of the watch may be different and in particular the size of a conventional watch.
  • the size may be even smaller.
  • the watch being a wristwatch, the strap can be used for certain electronic parts and in particular the transmission / reception including radio with the antenna.
  • the accelerometer and its measurement and acquisition chain which is a set capable of digitizing all the accelerations undergone by the case, whether normal movements, falls, blows etc. It has a sensitivity such that it produces a signal different from the rest signal from the smallest movement of the watch.
  • This signal which is digitized in the form of measurements, is sent to the processing computer chip which provides analysis and detection according to the first set of criteria.
  • the computer chip processes the information (measurements) it receives from the accelerometer, can also filter them numerically and, if they exceed a given threshold and / or, more particularly, correspond to a first set of criteria, can trigger a series of predefined actions.
  • the processing chip stores the measurement data in circular buffer type memory for a fixed period of time.
  • This processing chip is preferably a microcontroller with a conventional central unit and / or (optionally in combination) of digital signal processing (DSP) type.
  • DSP digital signal processing
  • the watch's communication circuit takes care of the transmission and / or reception part between the watch and the remote or base unit. It is activated on demand by the processing chip. It is capable of supporting an advanced language of digital transmissions according to a standardized protocol, whether in transmission or in reception. The range of this device is one hundred meters or less depending on the emission class of the BLUETOOTH® chip.
  • the remote unit or base is preferably portable and preferably corresponds to a commercially available GSM organizer. It includes a microcomputer part with large memory capacities (4, 8 or even 16 or 32 Megabytes) and capable of storing advanced programs and data in large numbers. This microcomputer includes a powerful microprocessor.
  • PC personal computer
  • the base includes a mixed battery and mains supply, in particular for recharging, via a base on which it is normally placed.
  • the base also includes a common “PC” and GSM screen, as in this example, a BLUETOOTH® type chip connected and controlled by the microcomputer. Detection software with advanced interpretation of the measurements is arranged in the microcomputer. It allows fine analyzes and calculations from digital elements (measurements) received from the watch and according to the second set of criteria.
  • the external services offered by the remote unit correspond essentially to those offered by a system administration company accessible by connection from the PCGSM base to the GSM network and making it possible to contact the company administering the system which corresponds to the third level of the system.
  • an action procedure for monitoring services is implemented depending on the alarm and any associated information (importance of the fall by example) and / or the subject (age, location, etc.).
  • the action procedures are for example: recalling the subject, sending an SMS message (message short or "Short Message Service"), action on the remote watch, sending of help, etc.
  • FIG. 4 gives an operational flow diagram of the system as implemented in relation to a service (administration) company.
  • the prior test has not been introduced allowing an immediate transmission of an alarm to the base in the event of very significant acceleration which may cause degradation of the watch.
  • an anomaly is detected by the watch (presumption of fall), first predetermined criteria being found in a set of consecutive acceleration measurements stored in the watch in a local file of the circular buffer type.
  • the watch continues recording measurements after detection so that the local file contains at least 10 seconds before and 10 seconds of measurements after the anomaly, including the measurements corresponding to the detected anomaly, and this file is formatted for further processing by the PCGSM database.
  • the watch connects to the base
  • PCGSM by BLUETOOTH® protocol.
  • the local measurement file is transmitted by said protocol to the PCGSM.
  • a transmission check is carried out for confirmation or not to the watch of a normal reception by the PCGSM. This verification concerns in particular the format of the file which must conform to what is expected. If the reception is not correct, request by the PCGSM to re-transmit the local file by the watch if there is no correct transfer after three tests, switch to the automatic alarm of the confirmed anomaly type .
  • the received file is saved in the local memory of the PCGSM so that it can be possibly reprocessed or transferred to another external analysis device.
  • the PCGSM analyzes the measurements received and stored in its file, looking for correspondence or not with a second set of predetermined criteria.
  • the analysis capabilities of the PCGSM are greater than those embedded in the watch and the second set of criteria is preferably more complete than the first set of criteria of the watch.
  • the watch proceeds to a rough screening of the measurements and the base to a fine screening in order to avoid inappropriate alarms (false positive).
  • the first criteria are wide enough to avoid absence of detection when there has been a fall (false negative).
  • the administrator's IT resources can also be used for detection with transmission of measurements from the remote unit, the PCGSM, to the administrator and result of the analysis / detection in return.
  • the anomaly is not confirmed, that is to say that the analysis of the file is negative with regard to a risk of falling, the procedure stops and the file of measurements received remains saved in the local memory of the PCGSM.
  • the PCGSM processing software When the anomaly is confirmed, the PCGSM processing software considers that there is a risk. The result is the same if there is an anomaly in the processing of the file by the PCGSM software or if the file is intractable. The same applies if there is an anomaly in the transfer of measurements between the watch and the PCGSM base.
  • the risk state corresponds to a pre-alarm (delay before alarm) which can be canceled by the subject (or his entourage) according to modalities now explained.
  • the base launches a confirmation procedure by calling the watch, warning and requesting an action from the topic.
  • the PCGSM asks the watch, in practice for the subject, a response consisting of one (or more) pressing on one (or more) button (switch) of the watch.
  • the watch has a single button used in faith for triggering an alarm and for responding following the call in a risk situation.
  • a watch signal, of the buzzer and / or buzzer type, is intended to warn the subject that he must perform this type of action.
  • this button can be a specific emergency button. It is the same as when the person sets off the alarm himself.
  • the PCGSM establishes a connection with the administrator via the GSM network. This consists of a call by the PCGSM to a predefined number. If there is no network, then there is a call to a backup network. If no correspondent is available, an emergency number is called and a voice message is sent indicating the situation and the location of the subject.
  • the calling PCGSM base is identified by an automatic procedure from the call number. The administrator (or another correspondent with the necessary capacities) can perform passive listening and listen directly to the PCGSM in audio, or even, if the watch also has means of audio communication with the PCGSM, the administrator can listen directly the watch.
  • the subject from the PCGSM, or even from the watch, can speak to the administrator (or any other qualified actor called by the PCGSM) and conversely that the administrator (or another correspondent called by the PCGSM) can speak to the subject: the audio communication is bilateral on the PCGSM and can be on the watch in case it has the necessary means (microphone and speaker and adapted telecommunication software). Listening allows you to collect additional information on the subject's state, speech allows interaction with the subject for a complementary evaluation in addition to the reassuring role of verbal communication.
  • a call back from the PCGSM can be made and this involves triggering a ring on the PCGSM in order to get the person to pick up if possible.
  • a ringtone by transmission of orders (in particular by voice frequencies) during the danger connection (alarm) from the PCGSM to the administrator (or other) and that in this case the subject can respond directly if he has the capacity.
  • the means of warning the watch or the PC can combine several means in addition to the acoustic means by ringing, in particular visual means (flash, display ...) or vibrator or electrical stimulation in order to be able to warn a subject who may have hearing and / or visual impairments depending on the case.
  • the base activates the watch warning means in order to inform the subject that he must respond.
  • the emergency call is processed live.
  • the PCGSM base includes means making it possible to inform the administrator (or other) of its location and in particular whether it is on its supply base or not.
  • the address is known a priori.
  • the PCGSM is not on its base and according to the possibilities offered by the network access provider, it is possible to determine the location according to the base station of the GSM network, or even by triangulation or GPS or other positioning satellite such as GALILEO.
  • the watch sends the corresponding information to the PCGSM for recording in a WATCH STATUS file in the base. If the anomaly persists or recurs continuously, the PCGSM can transmit information to the administrator. If the power level is low, you can initially display a message and an audible alarm on the watch. If the low level worsens or persists a transmission to the PCGSM takes place. Similarly, the transmission to the administrator of the faulty test may only be effective after 24 hours or 48 hours in the absence of correction.
  • the second tests there are in particular self-tests of the PCGSM with verification of the level of its power source (battery), of the connection to the network, of the connection to the backup network.
  • the transmission of the anomaly to the administrator is preferably done only if the test anomaly persists after warning the wearer.
  • the third tests there are notably self-tests of the bidirectional watch / PCGSM link.
  • FIG. 6 shows a functional flowchart of the possibilities of transmission of test anomalies to the administrator by the network when the latter is accessible and simple recording in a file of the
  • the processing of the recorded data can be carried out according to several methods which take into account the division of time into three phases with respect to a detected event, whether it is a presumption of fall or a confirmed fall, the three phases being before, during and after the event.
  • Treatment methods use the recognition of the shape of the measurement signal (signal evolution signature) and include steps of summing signals, calculating moving average (s), frequency analysis with binary or fuzzy logic tests, see expert system for the second and third levels.
  • the invention also allows an implementation of a qualitative detection allowing the classification of the detections of falls into classes of falls according to a pathophysiological state, for example: class "fall of mechanical origin”, class “fall of origin loss of tension ”, class“ fall of other origin ”.
  • acceleration intensity parameters ⁇ 10,>64,>128,> 64, ⁇ 128 ET> 64, ⁇ 32, ⁇ 32,>64,>128,> 64, ⁇ 128 ET> 64 , ⁇ 10.
  • duration parameter is optional because instead of indicating a parameter duration, the parameter can be repeated as many times as there are measurements in the duration in question.
  • the type of evolution is compiled in a machine language and corresponds to a series of test instructions which would be inserted in a variable part of a subroutine called for each measurement.
  • the variable part receives the corresponding test.
  • the subroutine is: charge the accumulator with the measurement to be analyzed XXX; first test instruction (compare)
  • this test example is intended to analyze isolated measurements but it is also possible to implement tests concerning several measurements and, for example to have a unique shape comparison subroutine receiving pointers as input towards the consecutive measurements and towards the curve (values characterizing a type of evolution) for comparison as well as the size (or a pointer towards the end) of the corresponding data.
  • Other parameters can optionally be passed, in particular to indicate the shape comparison requirements, such as for example a percentage of tolerated deviation (in time and / or amplitude) between the measurements and the curve.
  • tests are carried out which make it possible to leave the comparison as soon as a difference or a non-correspondence is found in order to optimize the search for correspondence and not to continue to scan the data until their end for nothing then that we already know that there is no longer a match.
  • a library of types of changes is implemented and these types are compared to a data window comprising the last measurement.
  • the personal device can also implement the detection by evolution analysis but the list of parameters is simplified. In any case, a list of parameters is used for the personal device which allow wide detection to avoid false negatives, false positives being essentially avoided by analysis in the remote unit (or even at the third level in the medium IT administration) of the measurements transmitted.
  • SSU fall detection method
  • This basic SSU detection method is used in the watch worn by the subject being monitored.
  • This basic process can also be implemented in the PCGSM (hierarchical level of processing higher than that of the watch worn by the subject being monitored) or in the central server (hierarchical level of processing higher than that of the PCGSM) the data which will have been received from the watch or from the PCGSM respectively following a fall detection at the lower hierarchical level of processing.
  • This basic method of detection of fall by testing the periodic integral of the module of the acceleration vector is implemented on raw data of acquisition of an acceleration sensor making it possible to obtain three measurements along three perpendicular axes. between them and referenced X, Y, Z.
  • the measurements are carried out with a measuring chain in a frequency band starting from the continuous in order to be able to possibly determine the static position of the sensor.
  • the raw data aX, aY, aZ, corresponding to three acceleration measurements (along the three axes) at each acquisition period (“original data” graph in Figure 7), are transferred to a programmable computer of the microprocessor type or microcontroller for the following processing: - in a first phase, a moving average over a determined number MM of acquisition periods is calculated on the raw data for the measurements of each of the axes (“moving average” graph in Figure 7) to obtain the averaged data Xm, Ym, Zm, along the three axes;
  • data of area A of the module M of the acceleration vector are calculated over a time window corresponding to a determined number FT of acquisition periods (graph "cumulative standard over 256 values" in Figure 7 );
  • a threshold detection function (SSU or surface threshold) is applied such that if, for each acquisition period, the value of the area A is less (or even equal) to SSU, it is considered that 'there is no fall and conversely there has been a fall (graph "fall detection signal” in Figure 7 where a fall is detected around 3 seconds).
  • the phases are executed in parallel with, for some, an offset necessary to obtain a sufficient number of acquisitions for the calculations (in particular of MM or FT acquisition periods according to the phases), and in real time (for each new acquisition period) this in order to obtain a result more quickly (“pipeline” processing) than if we waited for several seconds of measurements before performing the phases.
  • the acquisition frequency values, MM, FT and SSU can be modified as required and in particular towards lower acquisition frequencies allowing data to be stored in the memory of the watch for a longer time. and reduce consumption, the values of MM and FT being reduced accordingly.
  • the invention therefore implements a hierarchy of the processing of data coming from the watch's acceleration sensor, for fall detection, between the watch, the PCGSM and the server (possibly). Consequently, when the watch detects a fall it transmits to the PCGSM the acquisition data which it has in memory and which were at the origin of the detection.
  • the PCGSM implements the basic process described above in order to confirm or not the existence of a significant event which may be a fall (the SSU threshold can be the same or not as in the watch) and can implement one or more of the following additional steps in order to confirm or not according to criteria other than those of the basic method that the event is or not a fall and thus increase the confidence level of a fall detection.
  • the PCGSM (or the server), instead of the basic method previously described, can implement (in isolation or with one or more additional steps) a more sophisticated method of detecting events or falls of the previous type but with further filtering (in particular adaptive filtering) and / or adaptation of detection threshold since the computing capacities at the PCGSM level are generally greater than at the watch level (reduced size and reduced consumption).
  • fall detection and “event detection”, it is understood that if a single detection means is used, this means will be fall detection and that if several complementary means are used implemented, these means will each be for event detection and the combination of these event detection means will then be used globally to confirm or not a fall detection.
  • PCGSM personal computer
  • server a means of detection of fall if it is used alone or of event detection it is used with others, the whole basic process + others overall forming a fall detection means.
  • the fall detection entails particular actions, in particular information of the higher hierarchical level and, in the case of the watch for example, transmission to the PCGSM of the acquisition data having led to the detection of the fall by the watch and preferably data before and after the fall detection.
  • These additional steps corresponding to event detection means are in particular, on the one hand, the study of the evolution of the positioning of the watch (or SDO) before and after the fall detected by the basic method (or method more sophisticated) and, on the other hand, the study of the evolution of the subject's activity (or SDA) before and after the fall detected by the basic process (or more sophisticated process).
  • a first average of the raw data is calculated for each axis X, Y, Z over a first time window located before the fall detection by the basic method (or the more sophisticated method which replaces it), ie Mav x , Mav ⁇ , Mav z and a second average of the raw data is calculated for each axis X, Y, Z over a second time window located after the fall detection by the basic method (or the more sophisticated method which replaces it) ), or Map x , Map ⁇ , Map z .
  • the first time window and the second time window are of durations equal to approximately one second.
  • the windows are preferably shifted remotely on either side of the fall detection and for example around 0.2 seconds of guard time.
  • the first time window ends at approximately 0.2 seconds (guard time) from the start of the detection of the event by the basic (or more sophisticated) method and the second time window begins at approximately 0.2 seconds ( guard time) of the end of the detection of the event by the basic (or more sophisticated) method.
  • the SDO step is significant (significant SDO) if at least two axes have a significant difference from their average positions before / after. ' In other words, we perform the tests: if
  • > 15% then Rx ⁇ 1 otherwise Rx 0; if
  • the following table in relation to Figure 9 summarizes the SDO step:
  • the study of the evolution of the activity of the subject (SDA) before and after the fall is obtained by calculation and comparison of areas of dissipated energy obtained from instantaneous standards of the vector of acceleration over a determined duration, for example a second.
  • the instantaneous standards of the acceleration vector correspond to those obtained in the third phase of the basic process and one can therefore use the results obtained in the basic (or more sophisticated) process.
  • the area is then calculated in an equivalent way to that of the fourth phase of the basic process and we can therefore use the results obtained in the basic (or more sophisticated) process.
  • These calculations essentially relate to a first time window situated before the fall detection by the basic method (or the more sophisticated method which replaces it) and in a second time window situated after the fall detection by the basic method (or the method more sophisticated that replaces it).
  • the windows are preferably separated from the fall detection by guard times.
  • the corresponding results may possibly come from the implementation of the basic (or more sophisticated) method. If the results are obtained independently of the basic method, the calculations carried out, in particular of the vector and the areas can be carried out in the windows only or on all the data received (or a wider part than the windows including the duration of fall detection and guard times) then restriction to windows for SDA tests. Indeed, the PCGSM and the server have a computing power such that the use in the calculations of additional data ultimately not taken into account in such or such test will have a negligible effect on the processing times.
  • the watch may include environmental sensors (for example carbon monoxide: CO sensor) and / or various complementary “Health” sensors such as: temperature, oximetry, pulse , skin secretions, conductivity ...
  • environmental sensors for example carbon monoxide: CO sensor
  • health sensors such as: temperature, oximetry, pulse , skin secretions, conductivity ...

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  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
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  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
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  • Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine (AREA)
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  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Alarm Systems (AREA)
  • Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)
EP04742645A 2003-05-05 2004-05-05 System, verfahren und anwendungen der fernüberwachung und erfassung des sturzes eines menschen Withdrawn EP1623397A2 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0350144A FR2854713B1 (fr) 2003-05-05 2003-05-05 Systeme, procedes et applications de la telesurveillance et detection de la chute d'un sujet
PCT/FR2004/001083 WO2004100092A2 (fr) 2003-05-05 2004-05-05 Systeme, prodedes et applications de la telesurveillance et detection de la chute d’un sujet

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US8109891B2 (en) * 2005-09-19 2012-02-07 Biolert Ltd Device and method for detecting an epileptic event
WO2007057692A2 (en) * 2005-11-18 2007-05-24 Lusora Limited Detection of a person falling
FR2898482B1 (fr) * 2006-03-15 2008-06-13 Hospices Civils De Lyon Etabli Methode de surveillance d'un patient et systeme pour la mise en oeuvre dudit procede.
FR2906629B1 (fr) 2006-09-29 2010-01-08 Vigilio Procede et systeme pour la detection de situations anormales d'une personne dans un lieu de vie
EP1974662B8 (de) * 2007-03-27 2014-07-16 CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA - Recherche et Développement Falldetektor
FR2923117A1 (fr) * 2007-10-26 2009-05-01 Eurocom S Soc Par Actions Simp Systeme de communication entre reseaux de protocoles differents.
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FR2991093B1 (fr) * 2012-05-24 2014-05-23 Raymond Bellone Systeme d'aide et d'assistance a domicile
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CN104103150A (zh) * 2014-07-11 2014-10-15 成都理想科技开发有限公司 一种摔倒报警器
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FR2854713B1 (fr) 2009-01-16
FR2854713A1 (fr) 2004-11-12
WO2004100092A3 (fr) 2005-01-20

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