Smart medical bracelet with triage function and its application method

Abstract

To provide a smart medical bracelet with a triage function designed to detect real-time vital signs of a user to assist medical cares, and an application method of the bracelet.SOLUTION: The smart medical bracelet with the triage function comprises: a main body including a housing with an internal accommodation space, a touch display panel arranged at a top opening of the housing, an optical transceiver arranged at a first bottom opening of the housing, a body temperature detector arranged at a second bottom opening of the housing, a pair of local charging terminals arranged on one side of the housing, and a full-color light-emitting diode; and a strap connected to the main body. The strap includes a flexible light-guide strap arranged on an outer surface of the strap, and the flexible light-guide strap is optically coupled to the full-color light-emitting diode to guide emitted light.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS: This application claims priority to Patent Application No. 112146641, filed in Taiwan on November 30, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a medical bracelet, and more particularly to a smart medical bracelet with triage function, which is configured with a strap that automatically detects a user's vital signs and emits light of various colors to indicate the user's triage status, and an application method thereof. Therefore, the smart medical bracelet with triage function of the present invention is endowed with the function of directly viewing the user's triage status. The location of the smart medical bracelet with triage function can also be determined in real time using a wireless positioning system. The smart medical bracelet with triage function can be applied to various medical environments in hospitals and can help automate related processes. [Background technology]

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a "triage device based on the Internet of Things" that performs triage based on the Internet of Things. Patent Document 2 discloses a "wearable monitor" that records cardiac data from a mammal and extracts specific features of interest. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 111467058 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 0093247 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Although there are currently many smart wearable devices on the market, they still have room for improvement to realize their application in hospital medical environments.

[0006] In modern hospitals with emergency departments, emergency medical staff are faced with a variety of emergency patients every day. As a result, it is difficult to immediately track changes in patients' conditions in real time, and they work under enormous pressure. Because emergency patients' conditions are diverse and changing, the level of urgency also varies and can change at any time. Emergency medical staff must triage patients in the shortest possible time and provide the correct treatment depending on the urgency of the emergency patient's condition. All of the above actions and processes are a race against time as life-saving rescue efforts are carried out in such constantly changing situations.

[0007] Therefore, to address these urgent issues in the emergency medical system by helping to improve the intelligent automation of triage procedures and real-time reporting of patient status in emergency units, improvements to current smart wearable devices need to be directed toward more effectively integrating emergency patient flow and triage information, supporting multi-party information integration and transmission between hospital units, medical staff, and patients, and facilitating procedures such as admission, diagnosis, treatment, and discharge. Improving the above issues allows medical staff to effectively control processes, provide optimal immediate treatment to many patients, and complete various hospital tasks quickly and accurately, even with limited medical resources. Additionally, such improvements reduce the workload for related units and medical staff and help alleviate the anxiety of emergency patients caused by uncertainty in hospital processes.

[0008] In view of the drawbacks and shortcomings of the technology described above, the present invention provides a smart medical bracelet with triage function. Note that in this specification, "smart" is synonymous with "intelligent (with information processing function)" and means that the device has information processing function (which may include communication function). [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The smart medical bracelet with triage function of the present invention includes a main body and a strap connected to the main body.

[0010] The main body includes an internal storage space and a housing having a surface with a top opening, a first bottom opening, a second bottom opening, a first side opening, and a second side opening; a touch display panel arranged in the top opening of the housing and having a display surface exposed on the surface of the housing; an optical transceiver arranged in the first bottom opening of the housing and having an optical transmitting and receiving surface exposed on the surface of the housing; a body temperature detector arranged in the second bottom opening of the housing and having a body temperature detection surface exposed on the surface of the housing; a pair of local charging terminals located in the second side opening of the housing and exposed on the surface of the housing; and a full-color light-emitting diode. The strap includes a flexible light guide disposed on an outer surface of the strap and optically coupled to the full-color light emitting diode for guiding light emitted from the full-color light emitting diode.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the main body further includes a circuit board arranged at the bottom of the internal storage space of the housing, the circuit board having a battery connector and a circuit board connector on its upper surface and the optical transceiver and the body temperature detector on its lower surface.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the circuit board further comprises a system chip, which is electrically connected to the touch display panel, the body temperature detector, and the full-color light emitting diode.

[0013] The present invention further provides an application method for a smart medical bracelet with triage function, which is used in conjunction with the smart medical bracelet with triage function.

[0014] The method is configured such that when the smart medical bracelet with triage function is attached to a user's wrist, the smart medical bracelet with triage function detects the user's instantaneous vital signs through a body temperature detector or an optical transceiver, and transmits the user's instantaneous vital signs to an external system through a wireless communication interface; the smart medical bracelet with triage function communicates with the external system through another wireless communication interface to pair with a health insurance card; when the smart medical bracelet with triage function is paired with the health insurance card, it allows access to the user's medical records corresponding to the health insurance card; and the smart medical bracelet with triage function is configured to emit lights of different colors corresponding to each medical evaluation result. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The smart medical bracelet with triage function of the present invention can access medical records in the medical system and provide the user's real-time vital signs, thereby helping doctors quickly evaluate patients. Furthermore, the smart medical bracelet with triage function automatically adjusts the light color displayed by the multiple full-color LEDs and flexible light guide based on the evaluation results, allowing medical staff to intuitively recognize the patient's condition by observing the light color, saving time and effort and preventing misdiagnosis.

[0016] The smart medical bracelet with triage function of the present invention can inform patients about follow-up treatment and estimated waiting time, and can also assist patients with payment procedures, medication retrieval, and hospital discharge, thereby enhancing the automation of emergency units and facilitating effective communication between hospitals, medical staff, administrative staff, and emergency patients, thereby achieving the objective of the present invention.

[0017] This ensures seamless coordination and execution of the admission, diagnosis, medication, and discharge processes, and also allows hospitals, doctors, and emergency patients to complete various hospital procedures quickly and accurately, reducing the burden on administrative and medical staff and alleviating the anxiety of emergency patients caused by the uncertainty of hospital processes.

[0018] To make the objects, features and advantages of the present invention clearer and more comprehensible, the following embodiments accompanied with corresponding drawings are described in detail. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the appearance and structure of a smart medical bracelet with triage function of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front structural view of one embodiment of the main body of the smart medical bracelet with triage function of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional structural view of one embodiment of the main body of the smart medical bracelet with triage function of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of one embodiment of a smart medical bracelet with triage function of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of charging the smart medical bracelet with triage function of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] In the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, the technical contents, features, and effects of the present invention will be clearly explained with reference to the drawings. Note that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "bottom," and "top" used in the following embodiments are merely relative directions based on the drawings, and do not indicate absolute directional positions, but are used to explain relative positional relationships and do not limit the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows the structural appearance of a smart medical bracelet 1 with a triage function according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the smart medical bracelet 1 with a triage function includes a main body 2 made of a housing 29 including an internal storage space. The surface of the main body 2 is provided with a top opening, a first bottom opening, a second bottom opening, a first side opening, and a second side opening. The main body 2 also includes a touch display panel 23 located at the top opening of the housing 29, a plurality of full-color light-emitting diodes (hereinafter referred to as full-color LEDs) 22, and a plurality of buttons 21 for operating the smart medical bracelet 1 with a triage function.

[0022] The smart medical bracelet 1 with triage function further includes a strap 4 connected to the main body 2. The strap 4 has a hook-and-loop fastener 42 and a flexible light guide 41 on its outer surface. The flexible light guide 41 is in contact with and optically coupled to the multiple full-color LEDs 22. The hook-and-loop fastener 42 secures the strap 4 to the user's wrist, while the flexible light guide 41 extends and expands the light emitted from the multiple full-color LEDs 22 to the outer surface of the strap 4. This allows the light from the multiple full-color LEDs 22 to be displayed vividly and softly, allowing nearby people to easily identify the status of the user's vital signs from the smart medical bracelet 1 with triage function via the color of the light displayed by the flexible light guide 41. The touch display panel 23 can be composed of a thin-film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal touch display panel, a quantum dot (QD) touch display panel, or an active organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) touch display panel, and is capable of displaying information, inputting data, or selecting options. The flexible light guide 41 can be made from a soft, translucent silicone or clear rubber that is capable of guiding light.

[0023] 2 shows the front structure of the main body 2 of the smart medical bracelet 1 with triage function of this embodiment. Multiple full-color LEDs 22 are in contact with and optically coupled to a flexible light guide 41, and the emitted light is guided into the flexible light guide 41. Multiple buttons 21 are disposed in a first side opening of the housing 29, while a local charging terminal pair 28 is disposed in a second side opening of the housing 29.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a side cross-sectional structure of the main body 2 of the smart medical bracelet 1 with triage function of this embodiment. Although the housing 29 is not shown in this figure, a circuit board (hereinafter referred to as PCBA) 24 is disposed on the inner bottom surface of the housing 29. The upper surface of the circuit board 24 has a battery connector 241 and a circuit board connector 242. The lower surface of the circuit board 24 has an optical transceiver 36 and a body temperature detector 37 disposed thereon. The optical transceiver 36 is disposed in a first bottom opening of the housing 29, with its optical transceiver surface exposed on the surface of the housing 29. Similarly, the body temperature detector 37 is disposed in a second bottom opening of the housing 29, with its body temperature detection surface exposed on the surface of the housing 29. The circuit board 24 may be either a flexible circuit board or a regular circuit board, and the body temperature detector 37 may be an infrared body temperature detector or another type of body temperature detector.

[0025] A storage space for a battery 50 is provided between the circuit board 24 and the touch display panel 23. A panel flat flexible cable 231 connects the touch display panel 23 to the circuit board connector 242, enabling power supply, data display, and control signal transmission. The circuit board 24 also receives touch signals from the touch display panel 23.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of the smart medical bracelet with triage function according to this embodiment. The system chip 30 is disposed on the circuit board 24 and electrically connected to various functional components for controlling them and transmitting data between them. These functional components include a plurality of buttons 21, a plurality of full-color LEDs 22, a touch display panel 23, a wireless communication module 31, an ultra-wideband (UWB) module 32, a near-field communication (NFC) module 33, a data security chip 25, a buzzer 27, a pulse sensor 361, an oximeter 362, a blood pressure sensor 363, a blood glucose monitor 364, and a body temperature detector 37. The touch display panel 23 is connected to the circuit board connector 242 and the circuit board 24 via a panel flat flexible cable 231, and is linked to the system chip 30. The system chip 30 may be a microcontroller (MCU). In one embodiment, the wireless communication module 31 is a Wi-Fi module or a Bluetooth (registered trademark) It may also have a module, or both.

[0027] System chip 30 interfaces with and controls the operation of optical transceiver 36. Optical transceiver 36, which includes a light-emitting diode and a light sensor (not shown), emits light configured to illuminate the skin of the user's wrist. The light sensor detects changes in light intensity as the light penetrates the skin and reflects back. Pulse sensor 361, oximeter 362, blood pressure sensor 363, and blood glucose monitor 364 use the changes in light intensity sensed by optical transceiver 36 to estimate vital signs such as heart rate, blood oxygen, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. In various embodiments, each of these sensors may be implemented as a hardware circuit or a software program executed by system chip 30.

[0028] The temperature detector 37 is designed to measure the temperature of the skin on the user's wrist to determine the user's body temperature, and may be an infrared body temperature detector or other type of body temperature sensor.

[0029] The main body 2 of the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1 of the present invention is designed to be externally connected to a DC power source via a pair of local charging terminals 28. These terminals are connected to a battery charger 34 located within the interior storage space of the housing 29. The battery charger 34 is then connected to a battery connector 241, which is connected to a battery 50 for charging. Similarly, the battery 50 is connected to a low-dropout (LDO) linear regulator 35 via the battery connector 241. This regulator supplies power to the circuit board 24 and supports all circuit units within the main body 2, including the system chip 30, the touch display panel 23, the full-color light-emitting diode 22, and other circuit components.

[0030] The buzzer 27 is programmed to provide an audible alert to the user of the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1. It emits a sound to remind the user of a new message received on the touch display panel 23 or when the user needs to respond to a message.

[0031] The wireless communication module 31 is designed for data transmission. Data transmission includes sending the user's vital signs, such as heart rate, blood oxygen level, blood pressure, blood glucose, and body temperature, measured by the pulse sensor 361, oximeter 362, blood pressure sensor 363, blood glucose monitor 364, and body temperature detector 37, back to an external system for real-time monitoring. Additionally, the wireless communication module 31 can receive messages from external sources for user reference. Data output from the wireless communication module 31 is encrypted, and the received data is decrypted via the data security chip 25. Furthermore, the wireless communication module 31 connects to a microphone 26 and speaker 261, enabling voice communication between it and a matching external wireless communication module. In one embodiment, an ultra-wideband (UWB) module 32 is used to determine the location of the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1. For example, with six base stations covering an area of ​​1,800 square meters, positioning accuracy can reach 10 to 30 cm. In another embodiment, a near-field communication (NFC) module 33 enables contactless proximity identification, typically within a range of 2 to 5 centimeters.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a side charging configuration for the smart medical bracelet with triage function of this embodiment. Because the local charging terminal pair 28 is arranged along the side direction of the housing 29, multiple smart medical bracelets with triage function 1 can be placed along their side direction on the charging terminal pair 52 of the charging base 51 for charging. This configuration minimizes the gap between two adjacent smart medical bracelets with triage function 1 during charging. As a result, by charging multiple smart medical bracelets with triage function of this embodiment along the side direction as shown in FIG. 5, the size of the charging base 51 can be reduced, saving space and costs.

[0033] In one embodiment, when the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1 of the present invention is utilized in an emergency room environment, the user in this case is the patient. When the patient arrives in an ambulance, medical personnel can fasten the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1 to the patient's wrist. At this point, the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1 is designed to instantly detect the patient's vital signs, such as heart rate, blood oxygen, blood pressure, blood glucose, and temperature, and transmit these vital signs to a system on the ambulance that displays and records them. After the patient arrives in the hospital emergency room, the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1 establishes communication with the emergency room system via a near-field communication module (NFC). During this interaction, the emergency room system pairs the patient's health insurance card with the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1 using the bracelet's identification code and health insurance card number.

[0034] At the same time, the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1 provides doctors with real-time vital sign data of the patient. As a result, the bracelet helps doctors access both the patient's medical records and real-time vital sign data, facilitating a quick assessment of the patient's real-time triage status. This assessment helps guide subsequent medical treatment and prioritization.

[0035] Then, based on the patient's immediate triage status, the emergency room system automatically adjusts the color of the light emitted by the multiple full-color LEDs 22 and flexible light guide 41 of the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1. For example, red light indicates the most critical condition, followed by orange, blue, and green lights, with green indicating the mildest condition. By intuitively visually checking the color of the light emitted by the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1, medical staff can easily identify the patient's triage status, thereby saving considerable effort and time in determining the patient's triage status during subsequent medical procedures. Furthermore, this prevents medical staff from missing important opportunities to treat the patient due to their inability to immediately recognize changes in the patient's vital signs.

[0036] In one embodiment, the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1 includes an ultra-wideband (UWB) module 32. This allows the hospital to determine the patient's current location using a positioning system with multiple UWB base stations. For example, the positioning system calculates the current location of the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1 by measuring the signal propagation delay time of the same UWB signal received from the bracelet at each UWB base station. This capability can prevent medical staff from being unable to locate the patient.

[0037] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the time and location of the doctor's diagnosis, treatment, or instrumented examination is not only displayed on the touch display panel 23 of the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1, but is also relayed to the patient via a beep from the buzzer 27 or a voice message from the bracelet's wireless communication module 31. When the patient needs or wants to make a request for assistance, the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1 can notify medical staff via the wireless communication module 31.

[0038] Furthermore, the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1 is configured to facilitate various processes for patients. To assist in the payment process, the patient can communicate with an external payment machine via a near-field communication (NFC) interface. To assist in medication collection, the patient can also communicate with an external intelligent medication receiving cabinet via the NFC module. Furthermore, to disconnect the pairing between the patient's health insurance card and the smart medical bracelet with triage function 1, the smart medical bracelet with triage function can communicate with an external return device via the NFC module, thereby assisting in the hospital's discharge process.

[0039] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1: Smart medical bracelet with triage function, 2: Main body, 4: Strap, 22: Full-color LED, 23: Touch display panel, 28: Local charging terminal pair, 29: Housing, 36: Optical transceiver, 37: Body temperature detector, 41: Flexible light guide

Claims

1. a housing having an interior storage space and a surface with a top opening, a first bottom opening, a second bottom opening, a first side opening, and a second side opening; a touch display panel disposed in the upper opening of the housing, the display surface of the touch display panel being exposed on the surface of the housing; an optical transceiver disposed in the first bottom opening of the housing, the optical transceiver having a surface exposed to a surface of the housing; a body temperature detector disposed in a second bottom opening of the housing, the body temperature detector having a body temperature detection surface exposed to a surface of the housing; a local charging terminal pair disposed in a second side opening of the housing and exposed on a surface of the housing; a main body having a full-color light-emitting diode; and a strap connected to the main body and having, on an outer surface thereof, a flexible light guide optically coupled to the full-color light emitting diode and guiding the emitted light; A smart medical bracelet with triage function.

2. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 1, The body further comprises: a circuit board disposed at the bottom of the housing's internal storage space; the top surface of the circuit board includes a battery connector and a circuit board connector; A smart medical bracelet with triage function, wherein the underside of the circuit board has the optical transceiver and the body temperature detector.

3. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 2, The circuit board includes a system chip electrically connected to the touch display panel, the body temperature detector, and the full-color light-emitting diode.

4. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 3, The circuit board is integrated with a wireless communication module, an ultra-wideband (UWB) module, or a near-field communication (NFC) module, and the system chip is electrically connected to these modules.

5. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 3, the optical transceiver includes a light emitting diode and an optical sensor, the light from the light emitting diode irradiates the skin of the user's wrist, and the optical sensor detects changes in the intensity of light transmitted through and reflected from the skin; The circuit board includes at least one vital sign detector electrically connected to the system chip and the optical transceiver, the vital sign detector calculating a vital sign value based on changes in detected light intensity.

6. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 3, the optical transceiver includes a light emitting diode and a light sensor, wherein light from the light emitting diode illuminates the skin of the user's wrist, and the light sensor detects changes in the intensity of light transmitted through and reflected from the skin; The system chip is electrically connected to the optical transceiver, executes at least one vital sign detection program, and calculates vital sign values ​​based on changes in detected light intensity.

7. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 3, The circuit board incorporates a buzzer and a button, the buzzer and the button are electrically connected to the system chip, and the button is positioned in the first side opening of the housing and exposed on the surface of the housing.

8. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 5, The smart medical bracelet with triage function, wherein the vital signs detector includes at least one of a pulse sensor, an oximeter, a blood pressure sensor, and a blood glucose monitor.

9. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 6, Includes a vital signs detector, The smart medical bracelet with triage function, wherein the vital signs detector includes at least one of a pulse sensor, an oximeter, a blood pressure sensor, and a blood glucose monitor.

10. 2. A method for applying the smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 1, comprising: A method for applying the smart medical bracelet with triage function, characterized in that when the smart medical bracelet with triage function is worn on a user's wrist, it detects the user's real-time vital signs, including body temperature, via a body temperature detector or an optical transceiver, and transmits the detected data to an external system via a wireless communication interface.

11. A method for applying the smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 10, comprising: The smart medical bracelet with triage function communicates with the external system via another wireless communication interface to pair with a health insurance card, and allows searching for the user's medical records corresponding to the health insurance card upon pairing.

12. A method for applying the smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 1, comprising: The smart medical bracelet with triage function is paired with a health insurance card via a wireless communication interface, and upon pairing, emits light of various colors corresponding to predicted medical evaluation results.

13. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 4, the circuit board has a wireless ultra-wideband (UWB) module; A smart medical bracelet with triage function, in which a positioning system including a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) base stations calculates the current location of the smart medical bracelet with triage function by detecting the signal propagation delay time of the same UWB signal received from the ultra-wideband (UWB) module of the smart medical bracelet with triage function at each UWB base station.

14. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 1, A smart medical bracelet with triage function, characterized in that it receives a message via a wireless communication interface and displays the message on a display panel of the smart medical bracelet with triage function.

15. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 1, A smart medical bracelet with a triage function that communicates with an external payment machine via a wireless communication interface for payment.

16. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 1, The smart medical bracelet with triage function is characterized in that it communicates with an external medicine receiving cabinet with information processing function via a wireless communication interface to receive medicine.

17. The smart medical bracelet with triage function according to claim 1, The smart medical bracelet with triage function is characterized in that, when paired with a health insurance card, the smart medical bracelet with triage function communicates with an external return device via a wireless communication interface and disconnects the pairing between the health insurance card and the smart medical bracelet with triage function.

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