Devices and methods for passive patient monitoring

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods provide passive patient monitoring of such parameters as body motion, body position, respiratory rate and / or heart rate. Passive monitoring generally involves a sensor device having at least two piezoelectric sensors, provided on a surface, such as a bed, chair, operating table or the like, so that a patient may be coupled with the device by simply allowing the patient to lie, sit, lean, stand on or wear the surface. In one embodiment, multiple patients in a general care area of a hospital may be continuously monitored via multiple passive monitoring devices. If a patient fails to meet one or more predefined threshold criteria or has a negative physiological trend, the system may activate an alarm.

Description

Background technique [0001] The present invention mainly relates to medical devices, systems and methods. More specifically, the present invention relates to devices, systems and methods for passive patient monitoring. [0002] In many different specific environments, monitoring patients is an important aspect of patient care. For example, in the general care floor or ward of a hospital, monitoring key physiological signs such as respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood pressure is a basic component of patient care. In the general care ward or other areas of the hospital, it is also beneficial to monitor the patient's presence or absence on a certain bed or chair in the patient's hospital room, and monitor the patient's movement on that bed or chair. If certain patients leave their bed, they are in danger of falling and / or injuring themselves. If a patient stops exercising in bed, it may mean that the patient is dying, is in a coma, or is experiencing some kind of medical complicat...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, many devices, such as automatic blood pressure cuffs, only provide intermittent monitoring

Connecting the body to the monitoring device can be cumbersome and inconvenient for the patient, sometimes—for example, causing the patient to be uncooperative when the device is removed due to discomfort

Fixed devices may also become loose, change position, partially fall off, etc., resulting in inaccurate monitoring data

Intermittent monitoring can lead to missed or delayed diagnosis and adverse patient outcomes, especially in very debilitated patients whose symptoms may change rapidly

[0008] Current systems also do not monitor patient movement or positioning such as in a hospital bed or chair

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