WO2001075834A1 - Appareil et procede de detection de l'inclinaison d'un corps - Google Patents

Appareil et procede de detection de l'inclinaison d'un corps Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001075834A1
WO2001075834A1 PCT/US2001/009391 US0109391W WO0175834A1 WO 2001075834 A1 WO2001075834 A1 WO 2001075834A1 US 0109391 W US0109391 W US 0109391W WO 0175834 A1 WO0175834 A1 WO 0175834A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
person
tilt switches
controller
signal
generating
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2001/009391
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Michael D. Halleck
Michael E. Halleck
Original Assignee
Ilife Systems, Inc.
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 Ilife Systems, Inc. filed Critical Ilife Systems, Inc.
Priority to AU2001249406A priority Critical patent/AU2001249406A1/en
Publication of WO2001075834A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001075834A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
    • G01C9/10—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using rolling bodies, e.g. spheres, cylinders, mercury droplets
    • 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
    • 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
    • A61B5/6813—Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part
    • A61B5/6828—Leg
    • 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
    • A61B5/683—Means for maintaining contact with the body
    • A61B5/6831—Straps, bands or harnesses
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/74—Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient ; user input means
    • A61B5/7405—Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient ; user input means using sound
    • 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
    • G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
    • G08B21/0205—Specific application combined with child monitoring using a transmitter-receiver system
    • G08B21/0208—Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function
    • 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
    • G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
    • G08B21/0205—Specific application combined with child monitoring using a transmitter-receiver system
    • G08B21/0211—Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
    • 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
    • G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
    • G08B21/0288—Attachment of child unit to child/article
    • 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
    • G08B21/18—Status alarms
    • G08B21/22—Status alarms responsive to presence or absence of persons
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B2503/00—Evaluating a particular growth phase or type of persons or animals
    • A61B2503/04—Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
    • 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
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
    • G01C9/10—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using rolling bodies, e.g. spheres, cylinders, mercury droplets
    • G01C2009/107—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using rolling bodies, e.g. spheres, cylinders, mercury droplets spheres

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for detecting an inclination of a body.
  • the invention can provide a care giver information concerning the inclination of the body of a person in the care giver' s care.
  • the present invention is especially useful in warning of possible falls where a person who is mentally or physically disabled attempts to rise from a bed or a chair.
  • Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia are the major causes of cognitive decline.
  • Alzheimer's disease is estimated to afflict between three million (3,000,000) and four million (4,000,000) persons.
  • Senile dementia afflicts the majority of the remainder of those persons who suffer from cognitive decline.
  • Some persons may suffer a temporary cognitive decline due to illness and recover their cognitive faculties when they recover from the illness.
  • Alzheimer's disease is caused by the formation of amyloid plaques of protein that disrupt normal neural activity. Many persons who get Alzheimer's disease begin to experience the onset when they are in their sixties . Senile dementia is caused by a number of different factors that are related to brain aging and geriatric diseases. Many persons who get senile dementia begin to experience the onset when they are in their seventies and eighties . An estimated fifteen percent (15%) of people who suffer from cognitive decline are in institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes or similar institutions. The procedures that are used in such institutions are specifically designed to closely monitor persons who are suffering from cognitive decline.
  • This approach requires the use of one or more electrically wired pads and requires pads having a size sufficiently large to cover the area of the bed or chair.
  • the wired pads require an initial investment to purchase and install them.
  • the wired pads also require maintenance costs because the wired pads need to be cleaned frequently.
  • a prior art patient motion detector is a simple clip on an extended non-restraining cord.
  • the clip is attached to the back of the patient's garment and the cord is attached to an alarm for alerting the care giver.
  • the extension of the cord to the cord's limit pulls on the alarm and alerts the care giver that the patient is attempting to move past the cord's limit.
  • a major problem with the clip-cord system is that the cord can easily become entangled in bedding or clothing.
  • Another major problem is that the clip can become detached from the patient as the patient moves around in the bed or chair.
  • Prior art physical restraint systems have generally lost societal acceptance.
  • a potentially unsafe sleeping position for very small children is that of sleeping on the stomach.
  • a very small child should sleep on his or her back in order to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
  • the present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for detecting an inclination of a body.
  • the invention can provide a care giver information concerning the inclination of the body of a person in the care giver's care.
  • the present invention is especially useful in warning of possible falls where a person who is mentally or physically disabled attempts to rise from a bed or a chair.
  • the apparatus of the invention comprises at least two tilt switches connected in series or in parallel that are capable of detecting when the apparatus has been inclined with respect to a reference plane in an amount greater than a preselected inclination angle.
  • the apparatus is attached to the leg of the person in a bed or a chair. The apparatus can detect when the person has risen from the bed or the chair and is in a standing position.
  • a person in a bed can roll over to the left one hundred eighty degrees (180°) or to the right one hundred eighty degrees (180°) .
  • a second tilt switch in series with a first tilt switch causes the alarm to not sound erroneously when the person rolls over in bed.
  • the tilt switches in the apparatus When the body of a person becomes inclined with respect to a reference plane in an amount greater than a preselected inclination angle (e.g., by standing up from a bed or a chair) , the tilt switches in the apparatus generate a signal that indicates that the inclination angle limit has been exceeded and sends the signal to a controller.
  • the controller receives the signal from the tilt switches and causes a radio frequency transmitter to transmit an alarm signal to a base station that is monitored by a care giver. Alternatively, the controller transmits the alarm signal to a sound alarm that is capable of causing an audio speaker to make a loud audible sound.
  • the care giver is thereby immediately notified that the person to whom the apparatus is attached has changed his or her position in a manner that exceeds the preselected inclination angle.
  • the care giver is then able to respond to what could become an unsafe situation. Many falls occur after a person has arisen from a bed or a chair and taken a few steps.
  • the relatively immediate arrival and assistance of the care giver in such a situation greatly reduces the likelihood that the person will fall.
  • the loud audible sound of the alarm signal may also provide a reminder to the person that he or she should not be standing or attempting to walk.
  • controller means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware, or software, or some combination of at least two of the same.
  • a controller may be a data processor capable of executing an application program stored in a memory, such as a random access memory
  • RAM random access memory
  • FIGURE 1 is a drawing showing a person lying in a bed who is wearing the apparatus of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a drawing showing a person sitting in a chair who is wearing the apparatus of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 3 is a block diagram of the present invention showing the interconnection of a tilt switch unit and a controller and a transmitter and an antenna
  • FIGURE 4 is a block diagram of the present invention showing the interconnection of a tilt switch unit and a controller and a sound alarm and an audio speaker
  • FIGURE 5 is a schematic drawing of one embodiment of a tilt switch capable of being used in the tilt switch unit of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 6 is a schematic drawing of an alternate embodiment of a tilt switch capable of being used in the tilt switch unit of the present invention.
  • FIGURES 7a-7d are schematic drawings of the tilt switch unit of the present invention showing a first tilt switch in series with a second tilt switch in four different orientations;
  • FIGURE 8 is a schematic drawing of tilt switch unit of an advantageous embodiment of the present invention showing a first tilt switch in parallel connection with a second tilt switch and in parallel connection with a third tilt; and
  • FIGURE 9 is a detailed circuit diagram showing the interconnection of the two tilt switches and the controller of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 10 is a detailed circuit diagram of a transmitter for use with the present invention.
  • FIGURE 11 is a flow diagram describing the logic of the operation of an advantageous embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 1 is a drawing illustrating how apparatus 100 of the present invention may be worn by a person 120 lying on a bed 140. Person 120 in FIGURE 1 is wearing apparatus 100 of the present invention on leg 160. Apparatus 100 may be worn under or over the clothes of person 120.
  • Apparatus 100 may also be placed in a pocket (not shown) of the clothes of person 120 as long as apparatus 100 is appropriately aligned and positioned within the pocket. When person 120 is lying on bed 140 as shown, apparatus 100 is aligned with the level of bed 140. As will be seen from the discussion below, apparatus 100 does not detect an inclination of leg 160 of person 120 when leg 160 is raised vertically with respect to the level of bed 140. Apparatus 100 detects an inclination of leg 160 of person 120 when leg 160 is lowered from the level of bed 140. When person 120 is standing, the inclination of leg 160 is approximately vertical with respect to the horizontal level of bed 140.
  • FIGURE 2 is a drawing illustrating how apparatus 100 of the present invention may be worn by a person 120 sitting on a chair 200.
  • Person 120 in FIGURE 2 is wearing apparatus 100 of the present invention on leg 160.
  • apparatus 100 is aligned with the horizontal level of chair 200.
  • apparatus 100 does not detect an inclination of leg 160 of person 120 when leg 160 is raised upwardly with respect to the horizontal level of chair 200.
  • Apparatus 100 detects an inclination of leg 160 of person 120 when person 120 stands up from chair 200. When person 120 is standing, the inclination of leg 160 is approximately vertical with respect to the horizontal level of chair 200.
  • FIGURE 3 is a block diagram of the apparatus 100 of the present invention showing a tilt switch unit 300 coupled to a controller 320.
  • Radio frequency transmitter 340 is coupled to controller 320.
  • Antenna 360 is coupled to transmitter 340.
  • Battery 380 is coupled to controller 320 and supplies electrical power for the operation of controller 320. Although battery 380 is shown coupled only to controller 320 in FIGURE 3 (and in FIGURE 4) , battery 380 is connected to and provides electrical power to all components of apparatus 100 through other electrical connections (not shown) .
  • Tilt switch unit 300 detects when apparatus 100 has been inclined in an amount greater than a preselected inclination angle.
  • the preselected inclination angle is chosen to be seventy degrees (70°) . In the description that follows the value of seventy degrees will be used for purposes of illustration. But it is clear that other values of inclination angle can be chosen for use with the invention.
  • tilt switch unit 300 When tilt switch unit 300 experiences an inclination angle that is greater than the seventy degree angle limit, tilt switch unit 300 generates an inclination signal that indicates that the inclination angle limit of seventy degrees has been exceeded. In response, tilt switch unit 300 sends an inclination signal to controller 320 to alert controller 320 that the tilt switch unit 300 is in a closed position.
  • the inclination signal may take the form of an interrupt signal that tilt switch unit 300 sends to controller 320.
  • controller 320 When controller 320 receives an inclination signal from tilt switch unit 300, controller 320 immediately begins to time the duration of the inclination signal. If the inclination signal from tilt switch unit 300 ends within a preselected time limit, then controller 320 ignores the inclination signal. Although any duration for the preselected time limit may be selected, for purposes of illustration the preselected time limit will be selected to be two (2) seconds. If the duration of the inclination signal exceeds the two (2) second time limit, controller 320 generates an alarm signal for radio frequency transmitter 340. Therefore, the criterion for generating an alarm signal in this example is that tilt switch unit 300 remains in a closed position for more than two (2) seconds .
  • radio frequency transmitter 340 transmits an alarm signal to a base station radio receiver (not shown) that is monitored by a care giver.
  • the care giver is thereby immediately alerted that person 120 (to whom apparatus 100 is attached) has risen or is attempting to rise from bed 140 (or chair 200) .
  • the care giver is then able to respond to person 120 and prevent person 120 from falling.
  • controller 320 After controller 320 has generated and sent an alarm signal to radio frequency transmitter 340, controller 320 turns off the alarm signal to transmitter 340 after a preselected time limit has elapsed. Although any duration for the preselected time limit may be selected, for purposes of illustration the preselected time limit will be selected to be two hundred fifty microseconds (250 ⁇ s) . A microsecond is equal to one millionth of a second. Radio frequency transmitter 340 responds to the alarm signal from controller 320 and generates and transmits an alarm signal of longer duration through antenna 360. The duration of the longer alarm signal of transmitter 340 may be selected to have sufficient length to provide adequate notice to the care giver.
  • controller 320 After the preselected time limit of two hundred fifty microseconds (250 ⁇ s) has elapsed controller 320 turns off the alarm signal to transmitter 340. Controller 320 is then capable of generating another alarm signal when leg
  • 160 of person 120 is again moved from a horizontal position by a vertical angle of more than seventy degrees (70°) .
  • controller 320 may enable the alarm signal until controller 320 receives an alarm disable signal.
  • the alarm disable signal may be manually entered in controller 320.
  • the alarm disable signal may be a radio signal transmitted to a radio receiver (not shown) coupled to controller 320.
  • Controller 320 may also generate and send a unique identification code that uniquely identifies controller 320 as the source of the alarm signal .
  • the identification code may also be transmitted with the alarm signal by transmitter 340.
  • the identification code is useful in institutional settings where many units of apparatus 100 (each with its own separate controller 320) are used to monitor many persons simultaneously. The institutional care, giver at the base station who is monitoring many different units of apparatus 100 (each with its own identification code) can use a unique identification code to immediately determine which person 120 caused an alarm signal to sound.
  • Controller 320 may also determine when battery 380 is in a low voltage condition. If the voltage level of battery 380 is allowed to become too low, apparatus 100 will not operate. In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention controller 320 periodically determines the operating status of battery 380. For example, controller 320 can determine the operating status of battery 380 at least once every twenty four hours. When controller 320 detects a low voltage condition in battery 380, controller 320 generates and sends an alarm signal that is identical to the alarm signal that controller 320 generates and sends when tilt switch unit 300 is activated.
  • controller 320 also generates and sends a low battery code to identify that the alarm signal relates to a low battery condition. Controller 320 may also add a unique identification code that identifies a particular controller 320 as the source of the low battery alarm signal. The institutional care giver who is monitoring the base station may use the identification code tor immediately determine which apparatus 100 has a battery 380 with an unacceptably low level of voltage. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, controller 320 monitors the length of elapsed time between changes in inclination angles from tilt switch unit 300. When the elapsed time exceeds a preselected alarm period without receiving an inclination signal change, controller 320 enables the alarm signal with an identifying no- movement alarm indicator code.
  • the base station When the base station receives the no-movement alarm signal and alarm indicator code, the base station activates an audible alarm and a visual alarm that movement has been detected by controller 320 within the specified preselected alarm period. This feature may be used to alert a care giver that person 120 may be experiencing a problem. This feature may also be used to alert a care giver that apparatus 100 may not be properly attached to person 120 or may not be properly operating.
  • controller 320 may tabulate the number of times that inclination signal transitions are received from tilt switch unit 300 during a preselected time interval. For example, controller 320 may monitor the number of inclination signal received within a four (4) hour period of time. Controller 320 then records the resulting ratio of "inclination signals" to "elapsed time” for periodic transfer to the base station. Care givers may use this data when analyzing patient recovery progress, degree of cognitive or physical decline, or other attributes that indicate the status of the patient .
  • controller 320 may continuously monitor and store the length of time associated with each transition period of the inclination signal from tilt switch unit 300. Controller 320 may save this information for a preselected period of time. For example, controller 320 may save the information for twenty four (24) hours. Upon request, controller 320 transmits this information (with appropriate identifier codes) to the base station for analysis.
  • FIGURE 4 shows an alternate embodiment of apparatus 100 in which radio frequency transmitter 340 and antenna 360 have been replaced with sound alarm unit 400 and speaker 420.
  • controller 320 when controller 320 receives an inclination signal from tilt switch unit 300 indicating the occurrence of an excessively large inclination, controller 320 sends an alarm signal to sound alarm unit 400. Sound alarm unit 400 then causes audio speaker 420 to make a loud audible sound. A care giver within earshot of audio speaker 420 is thereby immediately alerted that person 120 has risen or is attempting to rise from bed 140 (or cha r 200) . As before, the care giver is then able to respond to person 120 and prevent person 120 from falling.
  • the audible alarm may also be used to remind the patient to wait for assistance from the care giver.
  • Speaker 420 should be placed within the hearing of the patient and the care giver.
  • controller 320 may provide signals for activating a proximate audible sound (such as a buzzer sound) to alert the patient to an alarm condition.
  • the proximate audible sound may be given in addition to the previously described audible alarm signal given by speaker 420.
  • controller 320 comprises a voice synthesizer (not shown) that is connected through sound alarm unit 400 to speaker 420.
  • controller 320 detects an alarm condition, controller 320 activates a verbal message that is amplified through sound alarm unit 400 and announced by speaker 420.
  • the verbal message may be used in place of the usual siren type of audio signal. This capability may be used to provide a verbal warning to the patient to wait for assistance from the care giver. Such a verbal warning would be more instructive and comforting to the patient than the usual siren type of audio signal .
  • apparatus 100 comprises (1) a first circuit branch coupled to controller 320 where the first circuit branch comprises radio frequency transmitter 340 and antenna 360, and (2) a second circuit branch coupled to controller 320 where the second circuit branch comprises sound alarm unit 400 and speaker 420.
  • This embodiment of the present invention combines the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3 and the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4.
  • FIGURE 5 is a schematic drawing of one embodiment of a tilt switch 500 that is capable of being used in the tilt switch unit 300 of the present invention.
  • Tilt switch 500 comprises an enclosure 510 that completely encloses a metal ball 520 and two electrodes, 540 and 560.
  • Electrode 540 is in the form of an elongated metal plate on which metal ball 520 may roll.
  • the enclosure 510 of tilt switch 500 is preferably filled with an inert non-conductive viscous liquid.
  • the viscosity of the liquid prevents metal ball 520 from accidently rolling into contact with electrodes, 540 and 560. That is, metal ball 520 will not roll into contact with electrodes, 540 and 560, until person 120 and apparatus 100 has moved into a vertical position.
  • the non- conductivity of the liquid prevents electrical contact between electrodes, 540 and 560, until they are both touched by metal ball 520.
  • FIGURE 6 is a schematic drawing of an alternate embodiment of a tilt switch 600 that is capable of being used in the tilt switch unit 300 of the present invention.
  • Tilt switch 600 comprises an enclosure 610 that completely encloses a ball 620 of liquid mercury and two electrodes, 640 and 660.
  • Mercury is a liquid metal at room temperature and forms into a ball due to surface tension.
  • enclosure 610 is made of glass. It is clear, however, that other electrically non-conducting materials can be used to construct enclosure 610.
  • Electrode 640 and electrode 660 are aligned in parallel at one end of enclosure 600. Electrode 640 is longer than electrode 660 as shown in FIGURE 6. When enclosure 610 is tilted toward the left in FIGURE 6, liquid mercury ball 620 rests on the end of enclosure 600 opposite from the end of enclosure 610 that contains electrodes, 640 and 660, and there is no electrical contact between electrodes, 640 and 660.
  • FIGURE 7a is a schematic drawing of tilt switch unit 300 of an advantageous embodiment of the present invention showing a first tilt switch 500 in series with a second tilt switch 600.
  • the person 120 is lying on his or her back. There is no alarm signal because the tilt switches 500 and 600 are not closed.
  • tilt switch unit 300 When the person 120 is lying on his or her right side the position of tilt switch unit 300 is shown in FIGURE 7b. There is no alarm signal because only one of the switches is closed. Both tilt switch 500 and tilt switch 600 must be closed for the alarm to sound. Similarly, when the person 120 is lying on his or her left side the position of tilt switch unit 300 is shown in FIGURE 7c. As before, there is no alarm signal because only one of the switches is closed and both tilt switch 500 and tilt switch 600 must be closed for the alarm to sound.
  • FIGURE 7d When the person 120 is in a prone position (i.e., lying on his or her stomach) the position of tilt switch unit 300 is shown in FIGURE 7d. There is an alarm signal because both of the switches 500 and 600 are closed.
  • This feature may be used in an apparatus for monitoring the body orientation of a person to signal a care giver when a person has turned over on his or her stomach. This feature is especially suited to prevent death arising from sudden infant death syndrome in small children or infants who are sleeping.
  • the safest sleeping position for small children or infants is the position where the child or infants sleeps on his or her back.
  • the most dangerous sleeping position for small children or infants is the position where the child or infants sleeps on his or her stomach.
  • FIGURE 8 is a schematic drawing of tilt switch unit 300 of an advantageous embodiment of the present invention showing a first tilt switch 500 in parallel connection with a second tilt switch 600 and in parallel connection with a third tilt switch 700.
  • tilt switch 500 is aligned parallel to the x-axis of a three dimensional Cartesian co-ordinate system.
  • Tilt switch 600 is aligned parallel to the y-axis and tilt switch 700 is aligned parallel to the z-axis.
  • Controller 320 is coupled to each of the three tilt switches 500, 600 and 700. Controller 320 is capable of simultaneously determining which tilt switch (of the three tilt switches) is open and which tilt switch (of the three tilt switches) is closed. In this manner, controller 320 can determine any combination of open tilt switches and closed tilt switches in tilt switch unit 300.
  • FIGURE 8 Although the three tilt switches 500, 600 and 700 are shown in FIGURE 8 at right angles to each other, this arrangement is illustrative only. Other angles may be chosen for orienting the three tilt switches 500, 600 and 700.
  • each of the three tilt switches 500, 600 and 700 are shown in FIGURE 8 as single tilt switches, this arrangement is illustrative only.
  • Each tilt switch 500, 600 and 700 may be replaced with two or more additional tilt switches (not shown) .
  • additional tilt switches may be used in addition to tilt switches 500, 600 and 700, shown in FIGURE 8.
  • the additional tilt switches may be oriented in any chosen direction and are not limited to being in the same plane as one of the tilt switches .
  • 500, 600 and 700 (or in the same plane as one of the additional tilt switches) .
  • the tilt switches of tilt switch unit 300 may be coupled in series, or in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel connections.
  • Controller 320 is a programmable controller that is capable of being programmed to sound an alarm condition only when controller 320 receives a signal from a predetermined combination of closed (or open) tilt switches in accordance with pre-programmed instructions in controller 320. In this manner, controller 320 can identify when the body to which tilt switch unit 300 is coupled has an inclination that matches a specified orientation.
  • FIGURE 9 is a detailed circuit diagram showing the interconnection of tilt switch 500 and tilt switch 600 in series and the interconnection of controller 320.
  • One end of tilt switch 500 (referred to in FIGURE 9 as “SI") is connected to input pin 12 (labeled “P2.4") of controller 320.
  • the other end of tilt switch 500 is connected to one end of tilt switch 600 (referred to in FIGURE 9 as "S2") .
  • the other end of tilt switch 600 is connected to battery 380 (shown in FIGURE 9 as a three volt (+3V) power supply) .
  • the circuit branch containing tilt switches 500 and 600 generates an interrupt signal to controller 320.
  • FIGURE 10 is a detailed circuit diagram of one embodiment of 340 transmitter and antenna 360 that can be used with apparatus 100 of the present invention.
  • the transmitter 340 is of a conventional type and is designed to transmit a radio signal at a radio frequency of four hundred eighteen megaHertz (418 MHz) .
  • FIGURE 11 is a flow diagram describing the logic of the operation of an advantageous embodiment of the present invention.
  • the operation steps of the method of the present invention are collectively referred to in FIGURE 11 as operation steps 1100.
  • the first operation step 1110 comprises preselecting an inclination angle in tilt switch unit 300 that will indicate a specified orientation.
  • the inclination angle in one advantageous embodiment of the present invention is selected to be seventy degrees (70°) .
  • the second operation step 1120 comprises attaching the tilt switch unit 300 to a body.
  • the body is usually the body of a person 120, the body could be any animate or inanimate body.
  • the third operation step 1130 comprises determining when the body has moved so that tilt switch unit 300 has become oriented in the specified orientation. In the previously mentioned advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a determination is made that the body has moved so that the inclination angle of tilt switch unit 300 exceeds seventy degrees (70°) .
  • the fourth operation step 1140 comprises generating an alarm signal that indicates that the tilt switch unit 300 is aligned in the specified orientation.
  • an alarm signal is generated that indicates that the inclination angle of tilt switch unit 300 exceeds seventy degrees (70°) .

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil (100) et un procédé permettant de détecter une inclinaison du corps. L'invention peut fournir à une personne soignante des informations concernant l'inclinaison du corps d'un individu (120) dont elle a la charge. La présente invention est particulièrement utile pour avertir de chutes éventuelles dans les cas où ledit individu (120), handicappé mentalement ou physiquement, tente de se lever d'un lit (140) ou d'une chaise (200). L'appareil comporte au moins deux interrupteurs à bascule (500, 600), un de ces derniers étant capable de détecter lorsque l'inclinaison dudit appareil dépasse un angle d'inclinaison présélectionné. L'appareil (100) comporte également un dispositif d'alarme (340, 400) capable d'émettre une alerte pour avertir la personne soignante.
PCT/US2001/009391 2000-04-04 2001-03-23 Appareil et procede de detection de l'inclinaison d'un corps WO2001075834A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

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AU2001249406A AU2001249406A1 (en) 2000-04-04 2001-03-23 Apparatus and method for detecting an inclination of a body

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US54219700A 2000-04-04 2000-04-04
US09/542,197 2000-04-04

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EP1352371A1 (fr) * 2000-11-20 2003-10-15 iLife Systems, Inc. Dispositif et procede pour detecter un mouvement de rotation d'un corps
WO2007056342A3 (fr) * 2005-11-07 2007-08-30 Stryker Corp Appareil de manipulation de patients comprenant une signalisation locale, un ajustement de l'angle de fowler à l'aide d'une seule touche et une configuration d'alarme d'alimentation
US7389552B1 (en) 2007-12-31 2008-06-24 Monster Medic, Inc. Ambulance cot system
EP2243422A1 (fr) * 2009-04-23 2010-10-27 Imds R&D Bv Procédé, système et capteur pour surveiller un enfant couché sur un lit
US8051513B2 (en) 2007-12-31 2011-11-08 Monster Medic, Inc. Ambulance cot system
EP2387983A1 (fr) * 2010-05-20 2011-11-23 AOK Tooling Limited Alarme de contrôle d'angle pour lit de malade
US8344860B2 (en) 2004-08-02 2013-01-01 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Patient support apparatus alert system
US8847756B2 (en) 2008-09-19 2014-09-30 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Bed status indicators
US9220650B2 (en) 2005-07-08 2015-12-29 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Patient support apparatus having alert light
US9655798B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2017-05-23 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Multi-alert lights for hospital bed
US10052249B2 (en) 2004-10-29 2018-08-21 Stryker Corporation Patient support with improved control
US10206836B2 (en) 2011-11-11 2019-02-19 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Bed exit alerts for person support apparatus
US10716912B2 (en) 2015-03-31 2020-07-21 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited User interface and system for supplying gases to an airway
US11154252B2 (en) 2014-02-10 2021-10-26 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Early acute fall risk detection
US11246776B2 (en) 2005-12-19 2022-02-15 Stryker Corporation Patient support with improved control
US11324908B2 (en) 2016-08-11 2022-05-10 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited Collapsible conduit, patient interface and headgear connector

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TW201709886A (zh) * 2015-09-11 2017-03-16 Nat Chi Nan Univ 智慧床

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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EP1352371A4 (fr) * 2000-11-20 2006-04-05 Ilife Systems Inc Dispositif et procede pour detecter un mouvement de rotation d'un corps
EP1352371A1 (fr) * 2000-11-20 2003-10-15 iLife Systems, Inc. Dispositif et procede pour detecter un mouvement de rotation d'un corps
US8344860B2 (en) 2004-08-02 2013-01-01 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Patient support apparatus alert system
US11382813B2 (en) 2004-10-29 2022-07-12 Stryker Corporation Patient support with improved control
US10052249B2 (en) 2004-10-29 2018-08-21 Stryker Corporation Patient support with improved control
US10561550B2 (en) 2005-07-08 2020-02-18 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Patient support apparatus having alert light
US9220650B2 (en) 2005-07-08 2015-12-29 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Patient support apparatus having alert light
US10791966B2 (en) 2005-11-07 2020-10-06 Stryker Corporation Patient handling device including local status indication, one-touch fowler angle adjustment, and power-on alarm configuration
US8689376B2 (en) 2005-11-07 2014-04-08 Stryker Corporation Patient handling device including local status indication, one-touch fowler angle adjustment, and power-on alarm configuration
US8844076B2 (en) 2005-11-07 2014-09-30 Stryker Corporation Patient handling device including local status indication, one-touch fowler angle adjustment, and power-on alarm configuration
WO2007056342A3 (fr) * 2005-11-07 2007-08-30 Stryker Corp Appareil de manipulation de patients comprenant une signalisation locale, un ajustement de l'angle de fowler à l'aide d'une seule touche et une configuration d'alarme d'alimentation
US11246776B2 (en) 2005-12-19 2022-02-15 Stryker Corporation Patient support with improved control
US7389552B1 (en) 2007-12-31 2008-06-24 Monster Medic, Inc. Ambulance cot system
US8051513B2 (en) 2007-12-31 2011-11-08 Monster Medic, Inc. Ambulance cot system
US8847756B2 (en) 2008-09-19 2014-09-30 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Bed status indicators
WO2010123364A1 (fr) * 2009-04-23 2010-10-28 Imds R&D Bv Procédé, système et capteur de surveillance d'un nourrisson couché dans un lit
EP2243422A1 (fr) * 2009-04-23 2010-10-27 Imds R&D Bv Procédé, système et capteur pour surveiller un enfant couché sur un lit
EP2387983A1 (fr) * 2010-05-20 2011-11-23 AOK Tooling Limited Alarme de contrôle d'angle pour lit de malade
US10206836B2 (en) 2011-11-11 2019-02-19 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Bed exit alerts for person support apparatus
US9655798B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2017-05-23 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Multi-alert lights for hospital bed
US10709625B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2020-07-14 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Foot end alert display for hospital bed
US10918546B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2021-02-16 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Multi-alert lights for hospital bed
US10512574B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2019-12-24 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Multi-alert lights for hospital bed
US10413465B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2019-09-17 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Multi-alert lights for hospital bed
US11464692B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2022-10-11 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Multi-alert lights for hospital bed
US11833090B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2023-12-05 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Multi-alert lights for hospital bed
US11154252B2 (en) 2014-02-10 2021-10-26 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Early acute fall risk detection
US10716912B2 (en) 2015-03-31 2020-07-21 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited User interface and system for supplying gases to an airway
US11904097B2 (en) 2015-03-31 2024-02-20 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited User interface and system for supplying gases to an airway
US11324908B2 (en) 2016-08-11 2022-05-10 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited Collapsible conduit, patient interface and headgear connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AR027769A1 (es) 2003-04-09
AU2001249406A1 (en) 2001-10-15
TW498292B (en) 2002-08-11

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