GB2571060A

GB2571060A - Patient care system

Info

Publication number: GB2571060A
Application number: GB1719992.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Royle Stephen
Original assignee: Client Bridge Solutions Ltd
Current assignee: Client Bridge Solutions Ltd
Priority date: 2017-11-30
Filing date: 2017-11-30
Publication date: 2019-08-21
Also published as: GB201719992D0

Abstract

A care system comprises a system unit 1, and a plurality of remote units 2 wirelessly connected thereto. The system unit 1 transmits a notification signal to one or more selected remote units 2 at a predetermined time. Each remote unit comprises a processor connected to a wireless receiver/transmitter, a visual indicator 6, and/or an audible indicator 4, and an alert button 3. The processor upon receiving notification signals from the system unit 1 actuates the visual indicator 6 and/or the audible indicator 4. The processor further transmitsto the system unit 1 via the transmitter an alert signal in response to operation of the alert button 3. The visual indicator 6 may comprise coloured lights or a touch sensitive display screen. The audible indicator 4 may comprise a loudspeaker. The remote unit 2 may comprise a portable wrist worn device and may include a cellular and/or GPS module. The system may be used to check on an individual’s status whereby a ‘no response’ to a status check signal transmitted to a remote unit 2 results in an alert which can be transmitted to a supervisor.

Description

PATIENT CARE SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a patient care system for monitoring the status of individuals and their use of medication or facilities.

Background to the Invention

The monitoring of individuals in care establishments and the like typically requires care workers to remember tasks and to make records of actions taken. The care worker may have to verify the location and current status of an individual at predetermined times during the day. The cost of providing this level of care is high.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a care system comprising a system unit, and a plurality of remote units wirelessly connected to the system unit, wherein the system unit is programmable to transmit to one or more selected remote units a notification signal at a predetermined time and wherein each remote unit comprises:

a processor connected to a wireless receiver/transmitter;

a visual indicator and/or an audible indicator;

an alert button;

wherein the processor is configured to:

receive via the receiver notification signals from the system unit and to actuate the visual indicator and/or the audible indicator in response thereto; and transmit to the system unit via the transmitter an alert signal in response to operation of the alert button.

The visual indicator may comprise one or more coloured lights, for example LED lights. Alternatively, it could comprise a visual display screen, which could be a touch-sensitive screen. In the latter case, an area of the screen could be configured to form the alert button.

The audible indicator may be a simple buzzer, but is suitably a loudspeaker or similar audio transducer. Preferably, the remote unit processor is

- 2 configured to store a plurality of pre-recorded messages and to play a selected message via the loudspeaker in response to receipt of a notification signal.

Preferably, at least one of the remote units is a battery-powered portable unit, for example a wrist-wearable unit. The battery-powered portable unit may comprise a cellular communications module.

The system unit can be configured to send notification signals to a selected remote unit as a programmed reminder for the user of the remote unit to take medication, for example. The signal may be a simple tone sounded at the remote unit, together with an illuminated light indication. One notification signal may have the purpose of requesting the individual to respond by pressing the alert button to confirm status, for example. The notification signals may be arranged to trigger the playing of pre-recorded messages stored digitally in the remote unit, such as “take your medication” or “please confirm that you are OK”. Where the remote unit is equipped with a GPS receiver, the response can include an indication of current position. The notification signal could be used to send other alerts, for example to indicate that fire drill is scheduled, or to indicate that it is time for visitors to leave - this can be done by a suitable tone or by a pre-recorded message.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a diagram of the system of the invention with three remote units connected wirelessly to a system unit;

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a portable remote unit;

Figure 3 is a block diagram of a simplified fixed remote unit; and

Figure 4 is a more detailed block circuit diagram for an alternative remote unit to that shown in Figure 3.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

Referring first to Figure 1, the system unit 1 comprises a programmable controller coupled to Wi-Fi and to a cellular communications unit to permit communications via the cellular telephone network. The system unit is programmable to transmit notification signals directed to a specific one (or multiple ones) of a plurality of remote units 2 at predetermined times according to the

-3needs of medication dosing, for example, or to check up on the individual’s status. For example, if a status check signal does not elicit a response from the individual, an alert can be generated which can be transmitted to a supervisor, for example through an SMS message, an automated telephone call or some other messaging means. The remote units 2 can be portable units carried by an individual to be monitored, for example wrist-worn devices, or they can be mains-powered units intended to be located in an individual’s room, for example. Each remote unit 2 is provided with an alert button 3, pressing of which causes an alert signal to be transmitted to the system unit, a loudspeaker 4 for providing the user with an audible sound signal or a spoken message, a microphone 5, and a light 6 for providing a visual signal.

Figure 2 illustrates a portable form of the remote unit 2, for example a wrist-wearable device. The unit 2 comprises a central processor 10 provided with RAM 11 and ROM 12 for storage of basic programming information, for example an operating system. A USB controller 13 is provided to enable connection of the unit to another device, for example the system unit during initial setup of the remote unit. A radio transmitter/receiver module 14 may include a cellular radio unit connected to a SIM card 15 and a Wi-Fi unit. The radio transmitter/receiver module 14 is connected to an antenna 16. A graphics processing unit 17 is provide to drive a small display screen 18. The microphone 5 is also connected to the central processor 10. A digital signal processor 16 is provided to drive the loudspeaker 4. A camera 17 may be provided, together with a gyroscope 19 and a GPS receiver module 20. Power for the portable unit is supplied from a rechargeable battery via a power management module 21.

The display screen 18 is preferably a touch screen, permitting an alert button for example, to be displayed, which can then be touched by the user to send an alert or other signal to the system unit 1 via the Wi-Fi transmitter or the cellular telephone unit. The display screen 18 can be used to display notifications, from simple flashing light indications to symbols or words, the system unit activating the display of these from digitally-stored display elements within the unit by way of simple transmitted codes, or transmitting the messages or other display elements to the unit via Wi-Fi or cellular communications.

-4Figure 3 illustrates a simplified room-based remote unit, which differs from the embodiment of Figure 2 by omitting the cellular communications capability, the GPS receiver, camera and gyroscope, and has simple coloured lights 22 in place of the screen 18. The power management unit 21 is supplied with 5 power from a mains electrical connection, preferably via a transformer. It is envisaged that such a unit would be usable to give similar alerts via Wi-Fi to the individual in the room, and to enable the individual to respond via a simple button on the device as shown in Figure 1.

The remote unit illustrated by Figure 4 comprises a processor 40, suita10 bly an ATmega326 microcontroller provided with an external crystal oscillator 41. A simple press-button input switch 42 is used to enable the user to respond to signals. A digital sound recording module 43 stores messages and is controlled by the controller 40 to play back a selected message via a loudspeaker 44. A communication module 45 is connected to the controller 40 and is pro15 vided with a LAN/Ethernet port 46 by which it can be connected to a local area network within the care home building to receive alert signals and to transmit responses.

Claims

1. A care system comprising a system unit, and a plurality of remote units wirelessly connected to the system unit, wherein the system unit is programmable to transmit to one or more selected remote units a notification signal at a predetermined time and wherein each remote unit comprises:

a processor connected to a wireless receiver/transmitter;

a visual indicator and/or an audible indicator;

an alert button;

wherein the processor is configured to:

2. A care system according to Claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises one or more coloured lights.

3. A care system according to Claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises a visual display screen.

4. A care system according to Claim 3, wherein the visual display screen is a touch-sensitive screen.

5. A care system according to Claim 4, wherein the alert button is configured as an area on the screen.

6. A care system according to any preceding claim, wherein the audible indicator is a loudspeaker.

7. A care system according to Claim 6, wherein the remote unit processor is configured to store a plurality of pre-recorded messages and to play a selected message via the loudspeaker in response to receipt of a notification signal.

8. A care system according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the remote units is a battery-powered portable unit.

9. A care system according to Claim 8, wherein the or each batterypowered portable unit is a wrist-wearable unit.

10. A care system according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the or each battery-powered portable unit comprises a cellular communications module.

11. A care system according to Claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the or each battery-powered portable unit comprises a GPS module and the processor is configured to transmit the GPS co-ordinates of the unit to the system unit at predetermined intervals.

12. A care system according to any preceding claim, wherein each remote unit comprises a selectively operable microphone, and the processor is configured to transmit audio input from the microphone to the system unit.

13. A care system according to any preceding claim, wherein the system unit comprises a system processor connected to a wireless receiver/transmitter and is configured to transmit via the transmitter notification signals including an identity code for identifying the remote unit to which the notification signal is addressed, and the processors in the remote units are configured to receive notification signals, to determine from the signal whether the identity code identifies the remote unit and if it does not to ignore the notification signal.

14. A care system according to Claim 13, wherein the processor in each remote unit is configured to include in any transmitted alert signal an identity code for the unit and the system processor is configured to determine from any received alert signal said identity code.

15. A care system according to any preceding claim, wherein the system unit is further programmable to monitor for receipt from the or each remote unit a confirmation signal in response to transmission of the notification signal and to generate a warning signal if the confirmation signal is not received within a predetermined time interval after transmission of the notification signal.

16. A care system according to Claim 15, wherein the system unit is configured to transmit the warning signal by a telephone call or SMS message or other messaging system to a predetermined recipient.