GB2552765A

GB2552765A - Improvements in or relating to methods of patient monitoring

Info

Publication number: GB2552765A
Application number: GB1609383.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Spiby Philip; Spiby Adam; Jones Jeremy
Original assignee: Cloud Cair Ltd
Current assignee: Cloud Cair Ltd
Priority date: 2016-05-27
Filing date: 2016-05-27
Publication date: 2018-02-14
Also published as: GB2551047A; GB201609383D0; GB201708533D0; GB2551047B

Abstract

Monitoring patient use of pressure relief mattresses comprises providing a pressure relief mattress having a system which includes a pump 12 connectible to a flexible pressure chamber of said mattress and applying a sequence of differing pressures to the chamber for the alleviation of pressure to a patient supported on said mattress. Sensors 44, 46, 48, 50 are provided to sense different operating parameters of the pump and feed signals to a processor 26. In operation the processor analyses the signals to determine correct use during the period of operation. In embodiments the system can monitor patient absence from bed or mattress pressurisation system failure. Can be provided as part of a wireless communication network including a plurality of said mattresses. Sensors can be provided in close proximity to a conductor associated with a power supply and a fluid pressure output conduit of a pump, therefore being remote from the patient to provide non-intrusive monitoring.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Improvements in or relating to methods of patient monitoring Abstract Title: Pressure relief mattress patient monitoring (57) Monitoring patient use of pressure relief mattresses comprises providing a pressure relief mattress having a system which includes a pump 12 connectible to a flexible pressure chamber of said mattress and applying a sequence of differing pressures to the chamber for the alleviation of pressure to a patient supported on said mattress. Sensors 44, 46, 48, 50 are provided to sense different operating parameters of the pump and feed signals to a processor 26. In operation the processor analyses the signals to determine correct use during the period of operation. In embodiments the system can monitor patient absence from bed or mattress pressurisation system failure. Can be provided as part of a wireless communication network including a plurality of said mattresses. Sensors can be provided in close proximity to a conductor associated with a power supply and a fluid pressure output conduit of a pump, therefore being remote from the patient to provide non-intrusive monitoring.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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06 17

Fig 1.

Fig 2.

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IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO

METHODS OF PATIENT MONITORING

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to methods, and corresponding apparatus adapted to perform such methods, of patient monitoring and treatment of patients in hospitals, clinics and like establishments as well as in in domestic premises and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to the monitoring and treatment of patients with or prone to bed sores otherwise known as pressure ulcers or pressure sores and like ailments .

A typical aspect of the invention relates to monitoring and treatment of patients undergoing prolonged hospital or clinical treatment or convalescence or the like, and for whom bedsores or pressure ulcers, and the like ulcerations, are a matter of serious clinical concern.

Conventionally the monitoring of all aspects of patient care has been carried out manually and in person by the relevant staff of the institution in question, such monitoring including daily basic data recordal of such patient presence and noting the progress of ongoing treatment of the relevant condition, including bedsores or pressure ulcers.

Pressure ulcers may be defined as any localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure in conjunction with shear. Another definition sees them as localised damage to the skin caused by pressure, shear or friction, or a combination of any of these. Pressure ulcers are regarded as the most expensive chronic wound treated by the healthcare system.

Thus, pressure ulcers represent a significant financial burden for the healthcare sector and reduce quality of life for patients. In addition, tissue damage is estimated to occur in 4% of patients admitted to acute hospitals and each acquired ulcer is estimated to add £4000 to the cost of care.

And in addition to the financial cost, when a person suffers a pressure ulcer they are known to experience fear, anxiety and large degrees of pain moreover mortality rates are as high as 60% in older people who acquire a pressure ulcer (within one year of discharge from hospital).

There is a firm clinical consensus among national and international bodies that patients at a high risk of developing pressure ulcers, or with existing tissue damage, should be cared for on an alternating (pressure relieving) mattress system.

Existing pressure relieving mattress systems are prone to a number of critical failures which can affect patient care. Whilst they are fitted with local alarms to indicate failure, these are often overlooked in a busy hospital environment, and in other environments, such as community units where staff are not permanently present, alarm activation may go unacknowledged until the next scheduled care visit by medical staff occurs.

Critical failures in pressure operated mattress systems include: loss of electrical power (often due to user error), air pump failure, and air loss (through puncture or hose disconnect). Failure to respond promptly to these operating system interruptions can put the patient at risk of acquiring pressure sores or exacerbating existing pressure sores.

Accordingly, we have identified a need for improvements in the monitoring of patients suffering with pressure sores and like ailments, and indeed in relation to the monitoring of patients generally in hospitals, clinics and in their own homes. Such need has become more acute in recent times arising from staff recruitment difficulties and related budgetary limitations, these and the related factors leading to a need for remote patient monitoring, and for the ability to monitor at least basic aspects of the care of multiple patients otherwise than at the bedside.

Proposals exist, which are readily adaptable for the monitoring of patients, providing audio frequency listening devices feeding into an assessment panel facility and which would enable remote management of certain aspects of monitoring patient needs. But these proposals suffer from technical limitations in relation to the proper filtering of the audio data input to distinguish relevant patient signals from general hospital noise and inter staff voice communications.

Another aspect of the prior art relates to the existence of alarm systems in relation to mattresses provided for the alleviation, reduction and treatment of pressure sores. Such mattresses provide sequentially inflated and deflated flexible pressure cells, and have fluid pressure generating systems connected to the pressure cells and audible alarm systems operative to provide warning in the event of failure of such pressure systems to operate normally. And it would be technically relatively straightforward to provide a multiple audio or electronic compilation of signals from such mattresses so that remote monitoring of that aspect of multiple patient care were performed remotely.

However, there is a need to provide far more extensive monitoring of patient requirements than awareness of the existence or not of an operating system failure in relation to pressure sore mattresses, valuable though that data undoubtedly is when such failure arises at long intervals.

Proposals have been made in relation to the so called 'Internet of things' in which large numbers of sensing devices are provided in relation to the operation of every day devices (to quote an example from just one field of possible use) such as traffic signals, traffic density, traffic hold ups, and motor vehicle navigation systems, whereby signals fed from such sensors to publicly accessible data processing systems enable users to have access (in their car for example) on a minute by minute basis in real time, particularly for example in relation to the daily commute to work run, so that delays and hold ups are reduced or obviated. And adapting this approach to the present situation, it would be possible to provide sensors in or in relation to the structure of a pressure sore mattress, or the associated bed, or indeed in relation to the patient him or herself or their clothing or accoutrements. However such an approach leads inevitably to the presence of sensors located where they will interfere with the normal daily routines of the staff of the hospital, clinic or other institution where the patient is receiving attention, and such represents an unacceptable limitation so far as the purposes of the present invention is concerned.

An object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus applicable to the remote monitoring and treatment of hospital patients and other patients, relating to the detection of pressure sore mattress failure and/or to the detection of patient non-compliance or absence in relation to such mattresses, offering improvements in relation to one or more of the factors discussed above and/or improvements generally.

According to a method aspect of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring patient use of pressure relief mattresses in hospitals and like institutions, said method comprising:

a) providing a pressure relief mattress having an operating system;

b) said operating system comprising a source of fluid pressure connectible to a flexible pressure chamber of said mattress;

c) and said method comprising causing said operating system to apply a sequence of differing pressures to said chamber for the alleviation of pressure to assist in the prevention and treatment of pressure sores in a patient supported on said mattress;

characterised in that said method further comprises

d) providing at least two sensors adapted to sense respective different operating parameters of said fluid pressure supplying apparatus of the operating system, together with signal processing means therefor; and

e) causing said sensors to feed their respective output signals to said signal processing means; and

f) causing, during a period of operation of said mattress, a data analysis capability of said signal processing means to analyse said output signals with respect to existing data from said sensors and to interpret same across a range of values during said period of operation in relation to potential or actual occurrences to be identified in relation to said mattress system.

According to an apparatus aspect of the invention, apparatus for monitoring patient use of pressure relief mattresses in hospitals and like institutions, comprises:

a) a pressure relief mattress having an operating system;

c) and said operating system being adapted to apply a sequence of differing pressures to said chamber for the alleviation of pressure to assist in the prevention and treatment of pressure sores in a patient supported on said mattress;

characterised in that said apparatus further comprises

d) at least two sensors adapted to sense respective different operating parameters of said fluid pressure supplying apparatus of the operating system, together with signal processing means therefor; and

e) said sensors being adapted to feed their respective output signals to said signal processing means; and

f) said apparatus being adapted, during a period of operation of said mattress, to employ a data analysis capability of said signal processing means to analyse said output signals from said sensors with respect to existing data from said sensors and to interpret same across a range of values during said period of operation in relation to potential or actual occurrences to be identified in relation to said mattress system.

In embodiments to be described below, said potential occurrences to be identified by the method of the invention comprise patient non-compliance or absence from bed, and the method comprises the step of providing a visual or aural specific identification of such when it occurs, whereby hospital or the like staff can take the appropriate action. Likewise, other potential or actual occurrences to be identified by the method of the invention comprise mattress pressurisation system failure, and the method comprises the step of providing a visual or aural specific identification of such when it occurs. In this latter case following identification of such an actual or potential mattress operating system failure, the method of the invention offers the user the option of causing by remote command signalled to the respective mattress components, the connection or switching into the operating system of one or more replacement components, hitherto awaiting such connection, to take over the relevant system function relating to said system failure.

Another aspect of the embodiments to be described below provides a plurality of said pressure relief mattresses, each with its own operating system and sensors, and the method comprises the step of wirelessly communicating the data from the sensors of each of said mattresses to the signal processing means for data analysis and wirelessly communicating the interpretation of said data relating to said occurrences to be identified to a bed monitoring station for attention by staff of said hospital or the like institution or by a third party under contractor. Such steps of wireless communication include at least one step in which the public internet system is employed.

An aspect of the embodiments described is that the at least two sensors are provided non-intrusively in relation to said bed and in relation to a patient in said bed by being provided remote from said bed and patient in close proximity respectively to a conductor associated with a power supply to said pump and in relation to a fluid pressure output conduit from said pump.

In embodiments of the invention to be described below, by using wireless or cellular access to the internet, the sensors of a pressure sore mattress operating system send data containing key indicators or recognisable 'signatures' to signal processing means of an external data centre, which are analysed for risk or likelihood of imminent or less than imminent operating system failure. In addition, local mattress failure alarms are provided with sensors to sense and transmitters to transmit alarm signals to the data centre for corresponding processing. Commands can also be sent via the wireless communication system from the data centre to the fluid pressure supply system of a particular mattress, to initiate actions, such as the switching into circuit of replacement fluid pressure supply components, which will mitigate the effect on the patient of a failure of an original fluid pressure supply component of the mattress operating system. The transmission and implementation of commands is effected likewise using internet signalling and control systems. Thus the fluid pressure supply pump also includes surplus to initial requirements critical replacement components which can be remotely switched into line when needed, to replace components which have failed in use.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a system diagram of an embodiment of the invention, illustrating the three basic units of the system, namely a pump or fluid pressure unit forming part of a pressure sore relief mattress; a so called 'cloud service' unit comprising computer processing facilities accessed via the internet system; and the service users unit which communicates with the other two units via 'the internet' which (latter) is indicated for illustrative purposes as a cloud shaped device with appropriate arrow symbols indicating sensory signal and command signal transmission between the main units of the system; and

Figure 2 shows a component diagram of the fluid pressure supply system for the mattress of Figure 1, including the fluid pressure connections between the components.

In this embodiment, there is provided a hospital bed (not shown as such in the Figures). The bed includes arrangements suitable for preventing bed sores which are likewise suitable for supporting patients with burns. Thus, the mattress of the bed is specially adapted therefor by having inflatable flexible chambers or cells, with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers or cells, which, in use, effect, by virtue of their alternating inflation, a non-static aspect of the support for the patient whereby advantages over conventional static support systems (standard static beds) are produced.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a method of monitoring patient use of pressure relief mattresses in hospitals and like institutions. In the drawings, the structure of the hospital bed and the form of the associated mattress and its coverings are not shown as such, because those matters do not affect the manner of carrying out the invention as such, and those matters can be entirely conventional. The systems of Figures 1 and 2 provide a method of operating and monitoring the mattress however, and likewise of monitoring the patient therein.

The method comprises providing a pressure relief mattress operating system 10 shown generally in Figure 2. The operating system comprises a source of fluid pressure 12 connectible by a fluid pressure transmitting conduit (not shown as such) to a flexible pressure chamber which is part of the two groups of alternately inflated chambers or cells of the mattress (not shown). In use, the operating system 10 applies a sequence of differing pressures to the flexible chambers for the alleviation of pressure sores in a patient supported on the mattress.

In this embodiment the source of fluid pressure 12 comprises twin electrically operated air compressors or air pumps 14, 16 drawing power from a power supply board 18 via a 12 volt supply line 20 controlled by relays 22, 24 operated by a processor/communications unit 26 via 5 volt control lines 28, 30 .

In Figure 2, the air output line from pumps 14, 16 is not shown as such. The Figure illustrates the main elements of the monitoring, control and feedback system which distinguishes the invention from conventional pressure relief mattress systems. The air output of the pumps proceeds via valves 32, 34 to the respective groups of flexible cells of the mattress, which are sequentially inflated to operate the mattress. Valves 32, 34 are controlled by relays 36, 38 having associated control lines

40, 42 from processor/communications unit 26, so as to cause the required sequential inflation and deflation of the cells.

In accordance with the invention, there are provided sensors 44, 46, 48, and 50, adapted to sense respective different operating parameters of the fluid pressure supplying apparatus 12 of the operating system 10, together with signal processing means therefor constituted by processor/communications unit 26. Sensors 44, 46 sense the output pressure on the output side of each of the pumps 14, 16, and sensors 48, 50 sense the current (amperage) and voltage (hence the electrical power consumed) by the respective pumps, and this data is communicated to the signal processing unit via a central busbar shown at 51 in Figure 2.

In use, sensors 44, 46, 48 and 50 feed their respective output signals to the signal processing means constituted by processor/communications unit 26, and, unit 26 provides a data analysis capability of the signal processing means to analyse the output signals of the sensors with respect to existing data from the sensors (that is it has a 'learning' capability with respect to previous data). Moreover, signal processing means 26 is capable of interpreting the data from sensors 44 to 50 across a range of values during a chosen period of operation in relation to potential or actual occurrences to be identified in relation to the mattress system.

Other features of the mattress operating system shown in Figure 2 include the power input facilities for power supply board 18, comprising its basic 12 volt DC power source, battery backup facility, and earth connection, which require no further identification or discussion here. Also shown in Figure 2 are the control and display aspects of signal processing means and processor/communications unit 26, these latter comprising an LCD (liquid crystal display) matrix 52, and an associated control keypad 54, together with an alarm unit 56 providing both audible and visible alarm facilities all connected to unit 26, for operation in the manner to be described.

In the general functionality system diagram of Figure 1, the corresponding components of the system already described above with reference to Figure 1 are identified by their respective reference numerals. The following function aspects are identified in Figure 1 in relation to the overall operation of what may be termed the fluid pressure supply or (pump unit 59 see Figure 1) to the system:

a. wireless communication 58;

b. user interface 60;

c. CPU controller 62;

d. the pump solenoid system has already been identified and discussed in relation to source of fluid pressure 12;

e. power circuit (power supply board)18; and

f. location awareness 64.

These functions relate to features discussed above and otherwise as follows. The wireless communication function refers to communication between processor 26 and computing facilities available via the public internet 65 and accessed through an antenna 66 (see Figure 1) . Such communication is provided under the control of user interface (or screen) 60 and CPU (central processor unit) controller 62. The location awareness function 64 arises from system data relating, for example, to known hospital locations relating to beds being monitored.

Turning now to the central functionality grouping identified in Figure 1, and relating to the computing and control aspects of the system, we have the following functions identified:

a. two way control 68;

b. remote monitoring 70;

c. predictive analysis 72; and

d. remote maintenance 74.

Some aspects of this latter group of functions will emerge from the substance of the disclosure further below. However, the two way control function refers to the ability provided by the system to enable a user or controller or person monitoring the beds in the system at any given time to be able to receive and transmit signals for analysis and control. The remote monitoring function refers to the fact that the communication aspects of the system, particularly those relating to the use of the public internet 65 as a channel for data transmission enable the end user to be as far or as near to the bed or beds being monitored as may be the most beneficial in the circumstances. The predictive analysis function refers to the ability of the data processing capability of the system to analyse incoming data from the sensors over a suitable time period to extract patterns of sensed values for establishing relationships between changing values and events to be monitored or prevented if possible, so that requirements for component replacement (for example) can be anticipated from a recognised pattern of values sensed in relation to the pump's output pressure and power consumption. And the remote maintenance function refers to aspects of the system to be more fully described below whereby means is provided for remote substitution of replacement components for failed ones, thereby enabling a reestablishment of working systems without the formerly inevitable need for visiting the dysfunctional machine by servicing personnel.

The service users functionality 75 identified in the right hand side group in Figure 1 include:

a. local bedside diagnostics 76;

b. engineering services 78; and

c. help desk 80.

The bedside diagnostic function refers to an ability to analyse data from the sensors with a view to remotely determining an actual or predicted technical problem with the operating system of the mattress, as already discussed above. The engineering services and help desk functions refer to ongoing aspects of the technical diagnostics, which include an ability to replace by remote substitution, failed or predicted to fail components, before the consequences of such failure become unacceptable, or in any case, earlier than has hitherto been possible .

Turning now to further disclosure relating to the aspects of the invention relating more particularly to the claims hereof, we look first at the question of the so called potential occurrences to be identified by the apparatus of the invention, these including what may be termed 'patient noncompliance' or, more prosaically absence from bed, and in such a circumstance the method of the invention comprises the step of providing a visual or aural specific identification of such when it occurs. This function is achieved by the system disclosed, as follows. Hitherto, to the best of our knowledge no system has existed whereby such an occurrence has been detectable in practice otherwise than by supervisory personnel. In the embodiment, the processor and communications unit, together, if needed, with external internet located computing facilities, is able to analyse the data relating to pump output pressure and pump power consumption so as to establish a very clear pattern of values which are indicative of patient departure from bed, since, it will be understood, such will have a significant weight and compression effect on the inflatable deflatable cells of the pressure sore mattress whereby detectable and recognisable differences in the pressure/power trace against time are produced, enabling the system to make a rapid determination that patient exit has occurred, and to raise a visual and/or audible warning of such, without delay. Alternatively, or in addition, the data may be stored in order to identify compliance with medical instructions over a period of time. This data can be later reviewed and used, for example, if a patient makes a legal claim against the authority supplying the equipment to determine whether the equipment was being correctly used.

Much the same applies in the case where the potential or actual occurrence to be identified comprises mattress pressurisation system failure, though in this case the recognition process is considerably simpler, requiring only a recognition of a significant pressure fall or loss, whereupon a visual and/or audible specific identification of such is provided. In the case of predictive mattress depressurisation, the system operates to analyse previous system failures to identify patterns of the sensed data differing from normal and serving as a marker or warning of failure to come, which can be flagged up by the system accordingly.

The next aspect of the operation of the system to be further disclosed relates to the function where firstly there is identification of an actual or potential mattress operating system failure, and then the system causes by remote command signalled to the respective mattress components, the connection or switching into the operating system of one or more replacement components, hitherto awaiting such connection, to take over the relevant system function relating to the system failure. So, in this case, the particularly relevant components of the system disclosed above are the pumps 14, 16, and valves 32, 34 and the relays 36, 38 discussed above in relation to Figure 2. In simple terms, the operation of the system as already described enables the identification by recognition of patterns or signatures of monitored variables, such as pump output pressure and pump input power, of expected or actual pump failure. When such failure occurs or is determined to be likely enough to warrant pump replacement, the system disclosed above is capable of switching over from one pump (say 14) to the other pump 16 by causing relays 22, 24 and 36, 38 to connect and disconnect the power supply lines and the fluid pressure output lines accordingly, so that one pump takes over from the other (having previously been doing nothing) the function of alternately inflating and allowing to deflate (at least partially) the groups of pressure cells in the mattress.

A notable aspect of the operation of the embodiments relates to the case where a plurality of pressure relief mattresses are provided, and are to be monitored, each having its own operating system and sensors, and the method comprises the step of communicating the data from the sensors of each of the mattresses to said signal processing means for data analysis and wirelessly communicating the interpretation of said data relating to said occurrences to be identified to a bed monitoring station for attention by staff of said hospital or the like institution. As a result, such monitoring can be carried out more or less anywhere convenient, instead of needing to be in the actual hospital location. For example, of course, the data may be transmitted via the internet perfectly conveniently for long distance processing and/or monitoring, according to organisational requirements.

Another particularly notable aspect of the embodiments of the invention relates to the fact that the sensors are provided non-intrusively in relation to the pressure sore bed and in relation to a patient in such bed by being provided remote from the bed and patient in close proximity respectively to a conductor associated with a power supply to said pump and in relation to a fluid pressure output conduit from the pump. In other words, these valuable analytical functions in relation to very high cost operations in the health service (see data above about the cost to the health service of pressure sores) can be carried out without in any way affecting or interfering with the performance of health staff patient duties.

Among other advantages provided by the embodiments described above are:

a. using internet communication in two directions for more efficient operation of air fluidised pressure sore mattresses;

b. monitoring of mattress operating system key performance data to predict potential component failure;

c. real time remote monitoring of alarm system status;

d. remote swapping of failed or likely to fail system components enables maintenance of higher overall standards of patient care;

e. ability to maintain and operate remotely a fleet of connected pumps so as to reduce staff time involvement not least by reducing the frequency and duration of critical system faults, whereby improved asset management is achieved;

f. reduction of times when patients are effectively in danger of unattended equipment failures, more cost effective maintenance and repairs, identification of patient noncompliance, and reduced likelihood of damaging reputation effects, complaints and actions for damage reparations.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A method of monitoring patient use of pressure relief mattresses, said method comprising:

a) providing a pressure relief mattress having an operating system;

c) and said method comprising causing said operating system to apply a sequence of differing pressures to said chamber for the alleviation of pressure on a patient supported on said mattress;

characterised by said method further comprising

2. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that said potential occurrences to be identified comprise patient noncompliance or absence from bed, and the method comprises the step of providing a visual or oral specific identification of such when it occurs.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said potential or actual occurrences to be identified comprises mattress pressurisation system failure, and the method comprises the step of providing a visual or oral specific identification of such when it occurs.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the step, following identification of an actual or potential mattress operating system failure, of causing by remote command signalled to the respective mattress components, the connection or switching into the operating system of one or more replacement components, hitherto awaiting such connection, to take over the relevant system function relating to said system failure .

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that a plurality of said pressure relief mattresses are provided, each with its own operating system and sensors, and the method comprises the step of wirelessly communicating the data from the sensors of each of said mattresses to said signal processing means for data analysis and wirelessly communicating the interpretation of said data relating to said occurrences to be identified to a bed monitoring station for attention by staff of said hospital or the like institution.

6. A method according to claim 5 characterised in that said steps of wireless communication include at least one step in which the public internet system is employed.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by said step of providing said at least two sensors comprises providing said sensors non-intrusively in relation to said bed and in relation to a patient in said bed by being provided remote from said bed and patient in close proximity respectively to a conductor associated with a power supply to said pump and in relation to a fluid pressure output conduit from said pump.

8. A method of monitoring patient use of pressure relief mattresses in hospitals and like institutions, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. Apparatus for monitoring patient use of pressure relief mattresses, said apparatus comprising:

a) said operating system for a pressure relief mattress, the operating system comprising a source of fluid pressure connectible to a flexible pressure chamber of said mattress;

b) and said operating system being adapted to apply a sequence of differing pressures to said chamber for the alleviation of pressure sores in a patient supported on said mattress;

characterised by said apparatus further comprising

c) at least two sensors adapted to sense respective different operating parameters of said fluid pressure supplying apparatus of the operating system, together with signal processing means therefor; and

d) said sensors being adapted to feed their respective output signals to said signal processing means; and

e) said apparatus being adapted, during a period of operation of said mattress, to employ a data analysis capability of said signal processing means to analyse said output signals from said sensors with respect to existing data from said sensors and to interpret same across a range of values during said period of operation in relation to potential or actual occurrences to be identified in relation to said mattress system.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 characterised in that said potential occurrences to be identified comprise patient non20 compliance or absence from bed, and the apparatus comprises components adapted to provide a visual or aural specific identification of such when it occurs.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or claim 10 characterised in that said potential or actual occurrences to be identified comprise mattress pressurisation system failure, and the apparatus further comprises a visual display unit and/or audible device to generate specific identification of such when it occurs .

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised by the provision, for use following identification of an actual or potential mattress operating system failure, by failure of certain system components, of one or more replacement such components, together with remote command signal means, adapted to send to connection or switching means associated with said replacement mattress components of a command for the connection or switching of those components into the operating system, said replacement components being provided pending such connection or switching, to take over the relevant system function relating to said identified system failure.

13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12 characterised in that a plurality of said pressure relief mattresses are provided, each with its own operating system and sensors, and the apparatus comprising means to wirelessly communicate the data from the sensors of each of said mattresses to said signal processing means for data analysis and means to wirelessly communicate the interpretation of said data relating to said occurrences to be identified to a bed monitoring station for attention by staff of said hospital or the like institution.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 characterised in that said means to wirelessly communicate includes means to communicate via the public internet system.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterised by said at least two sensors being non-intrusive in relation to said bed and in relation to a patient in said bed by being provided remote from said bed and patient in close

5 proximity respectively to a conductor associated with a power supply to said pump and in relation to a fluid pressure output conduit from said pump.

16. An apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 15 further comprising a pressure relief mattress.

10

17. An apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 16 further comprising a bed frame for supporting said mattress.

18. Apparatus for monitoring patient use of pressure relief mattresses in hospitals and like institutions, substantially as

described herein and as shown in any one or more of the 15 accompanying drawings .

19. Apparatus according to claim 9, substantially as described herein and as shown in any one or more of the accompanying

drawings .

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched:

GB16093 83.3 1-19