Inpatient real-time monitoring system based on UWB technology

Abstract

The utility model discloses an inpatient real-time monitoring system based on UWB technology. The inpatient real-time monitoring system comprises a plurality of UWB base stations, a plurality of terminal bracelets, a UWB terminal and a UWB server. Each terminal bracelet is connected with a plurality of UWB base stations; each UWB base station is connected to the UWB server; each ward is provided with at least three UWB base stations, and each toilet is provided with at least one UWB base station; the UWB server comprises a UWB server communication module, a UWB bracelet time synchronization module, a UWB bracelet user management module and a UWB bracelet position calculation module, and the UWB server is in network connection with the nurse station platform. According to the utility model, a plurality of UWB base stations are installed at different positions on the roof of the ward to position the indoor position of a patient in real time, thereby improving the positioning accuracy and effectiveness; meanwhile, the medical staff does not need to be always in a ward, the medical staff is accurately notified to check timely when the position of the patient leaves the safe area, the accident risk is reduced, and the manual problem is relieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of hospital ward management equipment, in particular to a real-time monitoring system for inpatients based on UWB technology. Background Art

[0002] In hospitals, medical staff need to care for a large number of patients. However, the number of medical staff is often far less than the number of patients, making it impossible to ensure that every ward has a dedicated medical staff member, let alone a medical staff member for each patient. At night, elderly or seriously ill patients may move around without supervision, increasing the risk of falls and fainting. Such situations occur frequently in practice. At the same time, some patients will wander around to relax or even leave the hospital without permission. These behaviors undoubtedly increase safety risks for ward management and add more workload for medical staff.

[0003] Currently, patent application publication number CN111028930A primarily discloses the following aspects regarding patient care: a ward round system that automatically records ward rounds and can verify any missed wards through round records. It also accurately locates doctors, enabling patients to quickly find the on-call doctor and promptly resolve ward emergencies. Furthermore, patent application publication number CN114596943A primarily discloses modifications to the internal structure of positioning and data acquisition devices, optimizing their performance and improving the accuracy of positioning equipment used in hospitals, thereby facilitating monitoring and management.

[0004] However, the above two methods have at least the following two problems:

[0005] 1) Using ward rounds to locate patients simply means doctors are required to check wards they missed, which doesn't effectively alleviate the shortage of medical staff. Furthermore, if a doctor is making rounds and a patient urgently needs a doctor, the doctor may not be found immediately.

[0006] 2) Patient safety is still insufficient. Only the patient's position or the doctor's position is located, and there is a lack of early warning of possible problems with the patient. Once the patient really has a problem, if the above methods are used, medical staff will still not have time to protect the patient in time. Utility Model Content

[0007] In response to the above two problems, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a real-time monitoring system for hospitalized patients based on UWB technology. The system can inform medical staff of the location of patients with abnormal behavior, so that medical staff can go to check in time, alleviating human resource problems and eliminating the need to stay in the ward or conduct patrols all the time. At the same time, patients will be equipped with terminal bracelets and set up with safety areas. When any abnormality is detected, it will be sent to medical staff through the terminal bracelet and an early warning will be issued, reducing the risk of accidents for patients, especially at night. In addition, multiple UWB base stations are installed in different locations to effectively improve the accuracy and stability of monitoring.

[0008] The specific technical solutions are as follows:

[0009] A real-time monitoring system for inpatients based on UWB technology is used by nursing staff to monitor the safety of each patient in areas of the hospital with multiple wards, halls, corridors and bathrooms. The system includes multiple UWB base stations, multiple terminal bracelets, UWB terminals and a UWB server. In each ward, each terminal bracelet is connected to multiple UWB base stations. Each UWB base station is connected to the UWB server in a parallel structure. There are at least three UWB base stations in each ward, and at least one UWB base station is installed in the bathroom. The UWB server includes a UWB server communication module, a UWB bracelet time synchronization module, a UWB bracelet user management module and a UWB bracelet position solution module connected in parallel. The UWB terminal includes a nurse station platform and a management terminal.

[0010] Placing multiple UWB base stations in different locations can effectively improve positioning accuracy and signal coverage. At the same time, with the timely feedback from the terminal bracelet, the patient's status can be effectively known for inspection or early warning. In addition, medical staff only need to check the information on the UWB terminal and go to check on the patient's condition in time when necessary, without the need for real-time presence, effectively alleviating the shortage of manpower.

[0011] Preferably, each terminal bracelet is equipped with a UWB chip and a first warning module. The UWB chip is connected to multiple UWB base stations. The first warning module is connected to the UWB bracelet position calculation module through multiple UWB base stations. The first warning module is also connected to the nurse station platform and the management terminal. The UWB chip can transmit UWB signals to the UWB base stations, and the first warning module can warn patients, reducing the risk of accidents.

[0012] Preferably, the first warning module includes a built-in battery, a buzzer and an indicator light, both of which are connected in parallel to the built-in battery, and the indicator light includes two LED light matrices of different colors. Using the two LED light matrices, different warning levels can be set for safety warnings.

[0013] Preferably, the management terminal is provided with a second warning module and an alarm cancellation module, both of which are connected to the first warning module. The second warning module can know the situation of the patient's first warning module warning, and the alarm cancellation module is used to cancel the warning of the first warning module.

[0014] Preferably, the UWB server also includes an abnormal behavior detection module, which is connected to the UWB wristband time synchronization module, the UWB wristband position calculation module, and the nurse station platform. The abnormal behavior detection module can detect abnormal behavior of the patient and alert medical staff to check.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the present invention compared with the prior art are:

[0016] The system used in this utility model can inform medical staff of the location of patients with abnormal behavior, so that medical staff can go to check in time, alleviating human resource problems and eliminating the need to stay in the ward all the time; at the same time, patients will be equipped with wristbands and set up with safety areas. When any abnormality is detected, it will be sent to medical staff through the system, providing early warning, reducing the risk of accidents for patients, especially at night; in addition, multiple UWB base stations are installed at specific locations and multiple different locations to effectively improve the accuracy and stability of monitoring. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a real-time monitoring system for inpatients based on UWB technology;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the actual installation structure of a real-time monitoring system for inpatients based on UWB technology. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0020] like Figure 1The figure shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a real-time monitoring system for inpatients based on UWB technology. This system is used by nursing staff to monitor each patient in a specific scene area in the hospital. The specific scene area is formed by multiple wards, halls, corridors and bathrooms. The system includes multiple UWB base stations, multiple terminal bracelets, UWB terminals and UWB servers. The terminal bracelets are worn by patients. The UWB terminals are the control and processing terminals for medical staff. The UWB base stations are responsible for sending UWB signals to realize data transmission between UWB terminals and terminal bracelets. The UWB server is a server that uses UWB technology to support the interconnection and operation of UWB base stations and UWB terminals.

[0021] It should be noted that UWB here refers to ultra-wideband technology, which is considered to be the most suitable technology for indoor positioning and tracking. Its original design intention is to achieve high-precision ranging estimation and two-way communication. The inherent characteristics of UWB technology enable it to achieve more accurate indoor positioning and distance measurement than other technologies. The UWB pulse signal lasts only 2 nanoseconds, so it is almost unaffected by interference from reflected signals and noise, which can effectively ensure the accuracy of positioning and the accuracy of transmitted signals. In the hospital scenario, UWB base stations, UWB terminals and UWB servers are used for signal transmission. The accuracy advantage is very obvious, and it can measure distance and position with an accuracy of 5 to 10 centimeters, while Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other narrowband radio standards can only achieve meter-level measurement accuracy.

[0022] Due to the influence of the walls between different wards, each terminal bracelet only uses the UWB base station in the corresponding room that is not blocked by the wall for positioning. Therefore, in order to improve the accuracy of positioning, at least 3 UWB base stations must be arranged in each ward, so that multiple UWB base stations can accurately obtain the location information of the terminal bracelet, and avoid the situation where individual UWB base stations are interfered with and inaccurately positioned. At the same time, in order to avoid the UWB base station occupying the ward space and causing inconvenience to the patients, and to reduce the interference of the ground on each UWB base station, each UWB base station is set up in an unobstructed place on the roof of the ward. Here, the common wall-mounted installation method or embedded installation method can be used to set up the UWB base station. In addition, since the bathroom is a place frequently used by patients, at least one UWB base station is also required.

[0023] Specifically, each terminal bracelet is connected to multiple UWB base stations in the corresponding room, and each terminal bracelet has a built-in UWB chip, which can receive signals from the corresponding UWB base station or transmit signals to the corresponding UWB base station. For example, the UWB chip is the Decawave DW1000 chip. After a patient wears a terminal bracelet, the built-in UWB chip of the terminal bracelet can regularly send UWB message information to multiple UWB base stations in the corresponding ward in chronological order. After the multiple UWB base stations receive the UWB message information in this order, they respectively combine the time of receiving the message information and the UWB message information into a new message information, and transmit it to the UWB server through the wireless network. The UWB server can obtain the location of the corresponding terminal bracelet and the stop time at the current location based on the new message information. For example, if Patient A is bedridden, wristband 1 regularly sends a UWB message containing the current time T to UWB base stations 1, 2, and 3. UWB base stations 1, 2, and 3 receive the message from wristband 1 at times T1, T2, and T3, respectively, and combine the time they received the message with the message from the wristband to create a new message. The new message is then sent to the UWB server via the wireless network. The UWB server calculates the location of wristband 1, and therefore Patient A, based on the time difference between the message sent from wristband 1 and each UWB base station and the coordinates of each UWB base station.

[0024] In this embodiment, each UWB base station is connected to the UWB server in a parallel structure. The UWB server is divided into a parallel UWB server communication module, a UWB wristband time synchronization module, a UWB wristband user management module, and a UWB wristband position calculation module according to its functions. Specifically, the UWB server communication module can use a UWB communication chip, such as Decawave DWM1000 or DWM1001; the UWB wristband time synchronization module can use a clock chip, such as a TCXO; the UWB wristband user management module can use a microcontroller, such as an STM32 series microcontroller; and the UWB wristband position calculation module can use a common signal processor for calculation.

[0025] The UWB server communication module can communicate with the UWB base station and UWB terminal, respectively, and can also be used to support data exchange between the other three modules and the UWB terminal and UWB base station, respectively. The UWB wristband time synchronization module can acquire time data and transmit it to each terminal wristband, achieving time correction and synchronization between the UWB base station and the terminal wristband, which is a prerequisite for accurate positioning. The UWB wristband position calculation module can receive new message information transmitted by multiple UWB base stations and then analyze the location of the corresponding terminal wristband and the time it has been in that position. The UWB wristband user management module specifically includes a user information submodule, which is mainly used to manage patient information bound to the terminal wristband. Medical staff can manage and view this information on the UWB terminal. The user activity area submodule connects the UWB wristband position calculation module and the UWB terminal, allowing medical staff to set a safe activity area for each patient on the UWB terminal. For example, for a critically ill patient, the safe activity area can be set to the bed and a 15cm radius around it.

[0026] In this embodiment, each terminal bracelet may also include a first early warning module, which is connected to the UWB bracelet position calculation module through multiple UWB base stations. The UWB bracelet position calculation module will calculate the patient's current location, and on the nurse station platform, medical staff can set a safe activity area for each patient. For example, for a critically ill patient, the safe activity area is set to the bed and within 15 cm around it. Then, after the first early warning module is connected to the UWB bracelet position calculation module, when there is a problem with the patient's position, it can issue a timely warning to remind the patient and the family members or medical staff around the patient.

[0027] Specifically, the first warning module includes a built-in battery, a buzzer and an indicator light. The buzzer and the indicator light are connected in parallel to the built-in battery. The built-in battery is used to power the buzzer and the indicator light. The buzzer is used to issue a sound warning during the warning to alert the patient. The indicator light is used to flash during the warning. The indicator light includes two LED light-emitting matrices of different colors, corresponding to two warning levels. The warning level will also be sent to the nurse station platform for reminders. For example, if a patient was originally walking in the safe area and suddenly stopped and remained in place for a long time, it would be one warning level; if the patient slightly exceeded the safe area by one or two meters while walking, it would be another warning level.

[0028] In this embodiment, the UWB terminal includes a nurse station platform and a management terminal. The nurse station platform is the operating system and interface for medical staff to control and manage. The management terminal is the device corresponding to the terminal bracelet, and the management terminal is controlled by medical staff or family members in the hospital. After the first early warning module issues an early warning, the second early warning module in the management terminal will also issue a corresponding warning, and also use a buzzer to sound an alarm to remind the wearer to go and check the specific situation. The management terminal can also be provided with an alarm cancellation module to cancel the alarm of the terminal bracelet. For example, when the patient is accompanied by medical staff and has just exceeded the safe area, the terminal bracelet starts to warn. The medical staff can use the alarm cancellation module to cancel the alarm.

[0029] In this embodiment, the UWB terminal also includes an abnormal behavior detection module, which is connected to the UWB wristband time synchronization module, the UWB wristband position calculation module, and the nurse station platform. This abnormal behavior detection module can detect abnormal patient behavior based on changes in time and position. For example, if a patient remains stationary in the bathroom for an extended period of time, with their position remaining unchanged over time, the abnormal behavior detection module will report this as an abnormality to the nurse station platform for notification.

[0030] like Figure 2 The figure shows a schematic diagram of the actual installation structure of a real-time monitoring system for inpatients based on UWB technology. Figure 2 Examples of specific applications:

[0031] Wards 1 and 2 are connected, each with three beds and a bathroom. A corridor connects the two rooms, housing a UWB server and a nurse's station for medical staff. The nurse's station houses a UWB terminal, a computer display interface, and is staffed by two nurses. Ward 1 houses patients A, B, and C, along with three beds. Base stations 1, 2, and 3 are located on the rooftop, leaving the patient unoccupied, and Base station 4 is located in security zone 1. Patient A wears wristband 1, Patient B wears wristband 2, and Patient C wears wristband 3. Ward 2 houses patients D, E, and F, along with three beds. Base stations 5, 6, and 7 are located on the rooftop, leaving the patient unoccupied, and Base station 8 is located in security zone 2. Patient D wears wristband 4, while Patients E and F are asleep in their beds, not wearing their wristbands. Security zones 1 and 2 both serve as bathrooms.

[0032] One night, the nurse on duty configured Patient A's safe nighttime activity zone as Bed 1 and its surrounding area within 15 cm, with the bathroom (also known as Warning Zone 1) as the danger zone. Patient A was bedridden, and wristband 1 regularly sent UWB messages containing the current time to UWB base stations 1, 2, and 3. Base stations 1, 2, and 3 received these messages at times T1, T2, and T3, respectively, and combined the time of receipt and the content of the message into a new message. The new message was then sent to the UWB server via the wireless network. The UWB server calculated the position P of wristband 1 based on the time difference between the message sent by wristband 1 and each base station's coordinates, and found that the patient remained in bed, indicating normal operation.

[0033] Following the same process, patients B and C were monitored. Patient B remained safely in bed, but Patient C moved unauthorized, remaining near the bed but slightly outside of their designated safe zone. Based on the time difference between the message sent by wristband 3 and the arrival of base stations 1-3, as well as the positioning information transmitted by base stations 1-3, the UWB server calculated that wristband 3 had left safe zone 3. The UWB server notified the nurses' station, issuing an alert and informing the nurses that Patient C had left the bed without permission, posing a fall risk. The nurses promptly entered the ward to address the risk.

[0034] The next day, during the day, the nurse configured the patient's daytime safe activity area for the entire ward through the nurse station platform.

[0035] In Ward 2, after patient D entered the toilet, his position P did not leave the toilet for a long time. The UWB server detected this abnormal behavior and notified the nurse station platform in time. The nurse entered the ward to check whether the patient had fainted in the toilet and then provided appropriate treatment.

[0036] To sum up, the system used in this application can inform medical staff of the location of patients with abnormal behavior, so that medical staff can go to check in time, alleviate human resource problems, and do not need to stay in the ward all the time; at the same time, the patient will be equipped with a wristband and a safety area will be set up. When an abnormality is detected, it will be sent to the medical staff through the system, giving early warning, reducing the risk of accidents for patients, especially at night; in addition, multiple UWB base stations are installed in specific locations and multiple different locations to effectively improve the accuracy and stability of monitoring, which is a significant improvement.

[0037] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical idea of ​​the present invention and cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any changes made on the basis of the technical solution in accordance with the technical idea proposed by the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A real-time monitoring system for inpatients based on UWB technology, used by nursing staff to monitor the safety of each patient in a hospital with multiple wards, halls, corridors and toilets, characterized by: The system includes multiple UWB base stations, multiple terminal bracelets, UWB terminals and a UWB server; in each ward, each terminal bracelet is connected to multiple UWB base stations; each UWB base station is connected to the UWB server in a parallel structure, there are at least 3 UWB base stations in each ward, and at least one UWB base station is installed in the bathroom; the UWB server includes a parallel-connected UWB server communication module, a UWB bracelet time synchronization module, a UWB bracelet user management module and a UWB bracelet position solution module; the UWB terminal includes a nurse station platform and a management terminal.

2. The real-time monitoring system for inpatients based on UWB technology according to claim 1 is characterized in that: Each terminal bracelet is equipped with a UWB chip and a first early warning module. The UWB chip is connected to multiple UWB base stations. The first early warning module is connected to the UWB bracelet position solution module through multiple UWB base stations. The first early warning module is also connected to the nurse station platform and the management terminal respectively.

3. The real-time monitoring system for inpatients based on UWB technology according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The first warning module includes a built-in battery, a buzzer and an indicator light. The buzzer and the indicator light are connected in parallel to the built-in battery. The indicator light includes two LED light-emitting matrices with different colors.

4. The real-time monitoring system for inpatients based on UWB technology according to claim 2 is characterized in that: The management terminal is provided with a second early warning module and an alarm cancellation module, and both the second early warning module and the alarm cancellation module are connected to the first early warning module.

5. The real-time monitoring system for inpatients based on UWB technology according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The UWB server also includes an abnormal behavior detection module, which is connected to the UWB wristband time synchronization module, the UWB wristband position solution module and the nurse station platform respectively.

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