Method for reducing false positive alarms when detecting patient movement - Patents.com

Abstract

The patient monitoring system includes a first sensor that monitors patient movement, a second sensor that monitors an area for presence, and a remote monitoring terminal, wherein an alarm is generated at the remote monitoring terminal when both the first sensor and the second sensor detect patient movement and presence, respectively.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a patient monitoring system that detects the movement and presence of a patient within an area. In particular, the present invention relates to a patient monitoring system that includes a patient monitoring device and that includes a camera and / or weight sensor. [Background technology]

[0002] Home care patients who require monitoring to prevent falls typically require either a human to constantly watch over the patient, which can be expensive, or the use of a "virtual sitter." A virtual sitter is typically a sensor that detects motion, which may indicate that the patient has left their bed and begun to move to another part of the patient's residence. When motion is detected, a remote observer is typically alerted and can then remotely monitor the patient to ensure that a fall does not occur. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, virtual sitters often trigger false alarms when a patient simply turns over or gets up in bed. Because home care patients are typically charged each time a remote observer watches over a patient, these false alarms can cause increased costs if they continually alert the remote observer. Furthermore, if there are a large number of false alarms, the remote observer may become disinterested, stop paying full attention, and be unprepared to assist when the home care patient truly needs assistance.

[0004] To overcome the above-mentioned problems, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a patient monitoring system and method for monitoring a patient that can detect patient movement and presence in an area to reduce the occurrence of false positives. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a patient monitoring system includes a first sensing structure or sensor that monitors patient movement, a second sensing structure or sensor that monitors an area for presence, and a remote monitoring terminal, wherein an alarm is generated at the remote monitoring terminal when both the first sensing structure or sensor and the second sensing structure or sensor detect patient movement and presence, respectively.

[0006] The second sensing structure or sensor may be a camera capable of detecting movement outside an exclusion zone configured within the field of view of the camera, and may include a pressure sensitive structure or sensor.

[0007] The first sensing structure or sensor may be configured to be affixed to the patient. The first sensing structure or sensor may include an accelerometer. The first sensing structure or sensor may include a gyroscope.

[0008] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for monitoring a patient includes receiving patient motion data, receiving presence data, and sending an alert based on the patient motion data and the presence data.

[0009] Sending the alert may be based on patient motion data indicating that the patient's motion exceeds a predetermined threshold and on presence data indicating either that the patient has left a first area or that someone has entered a second area different from the first area. The first area may be a patient care location, and the second area may be an area adjacent to the patient care location. The patient motion data may be received from a sensor located on the patient. The method may further include receiving patient vital sign data from the sensor located on the patient.

[0010] The presence data can be received from a sensor not located on the patient. The sensor not located on the patient can be a camera. The presence data received from the camera can indicate that motion has been detected outside of an exclusion zone configured within the field of view of the camera. The sensor not located on the patient can be a pressure sensor. An alert can be sent to at least one of a bedside monitor, a remote monitoring terminal, or one or more caregivers.

[0011] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a patient monitor or computer includes at least one processor programmed and / or configured to provide a patient monitoring method according to one of various other exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0012] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a non-transitory computer-readable medium stores a computer program that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform a patient monitoring method according to one of various other exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0013] The above and other features, elements, characteristics, steps, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a patient monitoring system including a patient monitoring device, a camera, and a weight sensor. [Figure 2] 2 shows a top perspective view of a patient monitoring device that can be used in the patient monitoring system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 3 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the patient monitoring device shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 shows a top perspective view of the chest device of the patient monitoring device shown in FIG. 2 with the cables removed. [Figure 5]3 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the battery pack of the patient monitoring device shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the internal components of the chest device shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 7] 1 illustrates a method for sending alerts based on patient motion and presence data. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Patient monitoring systems are typically used for patients with limited mobility and who may be at risk of falling. By monitoring the patient using sensors or sensing structures, patient monitoring systems can ensure that caregivers are alerted to a patient's fall and the need for assistance. These patient monitoring systems are commonly used for home care patients, but may also be used in hospitals, nursing homes, and the like. These patient monitoring systems are highly beneficial when caregivers cannot personally monitor the patient continuously. Patient monitoring systems can monitor both patient movement and patient presence by using two different sensors. For example, a first sensor can monitor the patient's movement to provide patient movement data, while a second sensor can monitor an area to provide presence data indicating movement or presence within the area. Presence within an area may include either exiting or entering the area. While patient movement data may be specific to the patient, presence data may not be specific to the patient and may be generated by the patient or someone other than the patient. The first sensor can be attached to the patient to provide patient-specific data and may include an inclinometer, gyroscope, and / or accelerometer. The second sensor is typically not attached to the patient to provide non-specific data and may be a camera and / or weight sensor. The patient monitoring system can generate alerts based on the patient motion data and presence data.

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a patient monitoring system 100 capable of detecting the movement of a patient 104 while avoiding false positives. The patient monitoring system 100 may include a patient monitoring device 102, a monitor 108, a weight sensor 115, a camera 118, a network 112, a central server 113, and a remote monitoring terminal 114. The patient monitoring system 100 may include the weight sensor 115, the camera 118, or both the weight sensor 115 and the camera 118. Typically, the patient monitoring system 100 may be located in a hospital, a nursing home, a private residence, or other suitable location. In the case of a hospital or nursing home, a caregiver 110 (e.g., a nurse, doctor, nursing assistant, physical therapist, medical professional, or other caregiver) may be able to personally care for or monitor the patient 104, but this is not always the case. In all cases, however, a remote caregiver 116 (e.g., a nurse, doctor, nursing assistant, physical therapist, medical professional, or other caregiver) may monitor the patient 104 if the patient monitoring system 100 indicates that the patient's 104 absence warrants supervision to watch over and ensure the patient does not fall.

[0017] The network 112 may be a private internal communications network, but may also be connected to the Internet if necessary. The network 112 may provide a local area network (LAN) and may use wireless and / or cellular communications technologies. The network 112 may use both wired and wireless connections. For example, the network 112 may provide a wireless LAN (WLAN) using Wi-Fi. The network 112 may be included in a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet. The network 112 may connect the patient monitoring devices 102, monitors 108, central server 113, remote monitoring terminals 114, weight sensors 115, and cameras 118. The patient monitoring devices 102, monitors 108, weight sensors 115, and cameras 118 may be connected to a personal area network (PAN). The patient monitoring devices 102, monitors 108, weight sensors 115, and cameras 118 may be connected using wireless or wired connections. For example, one or more of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular communications may be used to provide wireless connectivity.

[0018] The monitor 108 may be a patient medical monitor that measures and displays, for example, the patient's current medical condition, including at least one of, for example, oxygen level, blood pressure, heart rate, etc. For example, the monitor 108 may display the patient's 104 ECG waveform while also listing any combination of the patient's 104 current blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure, body hydration, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, blood glucose level, and sweat rate. The caregiver 110 may also use the monitor 108 to make notes regarding the patient's 104 care, make annotations of vital sign information or other patient information, send messages to other caregivers, or record the patient's activities. The monitor 108 may be mounted on or near the patient's bed and allow the caregiver 110 to quickly check the patient's condition. The monitor 108 may connect to the network 112 via either a wired or wireless connection. For example, the monitor 108 may connect to the network 112 using Wi-Fi and / or cellular communication. A remote caregiver 116 can access the monitor 108 over the network 112 by using a remote monitoring terminal 114. The monitor 108 may connect to the patient monitoring device 102, the weight sensor 115, and the camera 118 via either a wired or wireless connection. For example, the monitor 108 may include a wired connection to the weight sensor 115 and / or the camera 118 and a wireless connection to the patient monitoring device 102, although other connections are possible.

[0019] One or more processors within the monitor 108 may be configured and / or programmed to determine the particular configuration of the monitor 108 and how to receive, analyze, and display data from the patient monitoring devices 102, weight sensors 115, and cameras 118. Data from the patient monitoring devices 102, weight sensors 115, and cameras 118 may be transmitted directly to the monitor 108 or may be transmitted to the monitor 108 via the network 112.

[0020] The patient monitoring device 102 may be connected to the patient. The patient monitoring device 102 may include an inclinometer, gyroscope, and / or accelerometer that can determine when the patient 104 is moving. The patient monitoring device 102 can be used to determine when the patient 104 is moving farther or faster than a predetermined threshold amount. The patient monitoring device 102 may also be used to verify or invalidate data from other sensors. For example, if the camera 118 detects motion but the patient monitoring device 102 does not detect patient motion or detects that the patient motion is below a threshold level, the detected motion is invalid and can be attributed to something other than the patient. Alternatively, if the patient monitoring device 102 detects that the patient motion exceeds a threshold amount, the detected motion is valid and can be attributed to the patient 104. The patient monitoring device 102 may transmit patient motion data to the monitor 108 and / or the central server 113. The patient monitoring device 102 may transmit patient motion data over the network 112 or directly to the monitor 108.

[0021] The patient monitoring device 102 may also include adhesive electrodes that contact the patient's skin to record various vital signs of the patient, including, for example, pulse and heart rate (via ECG). The patient monitoring device 102 may monitor other vital signs, including, for example, any combination of current blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure, body hydration, pulse, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, blood glucose level, sweating, and bioimpedance. The patient monitoring device 102 may include reusable or durable portions as well as disposable portions. For example, the patient monitoring device 102 may include a fixed housing for housing electrical components that process signals received from and detected related to the patient, and further transmit and receive data to and from other devices, including the monitor 108. The patient monitoring device 102 may include disposable adhesive electrode pads designed to be attached to the patient's chest and may also include a disposable lead assembly. The durable portion of the patient monitoring device 102 may include two or more removably coupled components that can be removed and replaced with other components. For example, the durable portion of the patient monitoring device 102 may include a circuit assembly portion, such as the chest device 1110 of FIG. 2. The circuit assembly includes processing and wireless communication components and is configured to mate with various adapter lead assemblies having various configurations for sensing different sets of patient vital signs. The durable portion may also include reusable and replaceable portions, such as the battery pack 120 of FIG. 2.

[0022] The patient monitoring device 102 may include circuitry (e.g., one or more processors) configured and / or programmed to process and analyze vital sign information and other information collected from the patient 104. The patient monitoring device 102 may collect raw or preprocessed information that is transmitted to other parts of the patient monitoring system 100 for further processing and analysis. The patient monitoring device 102 may also include circuitry that may process or analyze the raw or preprocessed information and then transmit the processed data to other parts of the patient monitoring system 100. The patient monitoring device 102 may send and receive data to and from the monitor 108, as well as to and from the central server 113, either directly or via the network 112. That is, the patient monitoring device 102 may send vital sign data and patient motion data to the monitor 108 and / or the central server 113.

[0023] 1, it is possible to use two or more patient monitoring devices 102. For example, a first patient monitoring device 108 may be connected to the patient's chest to monitor any combination of current blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure, body hydration, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, blood glucose level, sweating, etc., while a second patient monitoring device 108 may be connected to the patient's wrist or ankle to monitor movement, posture, etc.

[0024] In addition to a first sensor, such as the patient monitoring device 102, that monitors the patient's movements, the patient monitoring system 100 may include a second sensor that monitors presence in an area. The second sensor may include a weight sensor 115 and / or a camera 118. While FIG. 1 shows a configuration that includes both the weight sensor 115 and the camera 118, presence may be monitored by using either the weight sensor 115 or the camera 118 alone. For example, the weight sensor 115 can monitor whether the patient has left the treatment area if the weight sensor 115 is located under the patient 104, and the camera 118 and weight sensor 115 can monitor the presence of someone in an area near the treatment area if the weight sensor is located near the patient 104.

[0025] The weight sensor 115 may connect to the network 112 via either a wired or wireless connection, and the weight sensor 115 may connect to the patient monitoring device 102 via either a wired or wireless connection. Any suitable weight sensor, pressure sensor, or pressure-sensitive structure may be used as the weight sensor 115. The weight sensor 115 need not be located on the patient's body or attached to the patient, but may be contained within or defined by, for example, a hospital bed, mattress, cushion, chair, mat, etc. The weight sensor 115 may include pressure, stress, proximity, heat, and / or capacitance sensing elements that can be used to determine whether the patient 104 has left the care environment. The weight sensor 115 determines that the patient 104 has left the hospital bed, mattress, cushion, chair, etc. when the output level of the weight sensor 115 exceeds a predetermined threshold amount. As shown in FIG. 1, the weight sensor 115 may be placed under the patient 104 to determine when the patient has left an area (e.g., the bed in FIG. 1). Alternatively, the weight sensor 115 may be used to determine when the patient 104 or someone else is entering an area. For example, the weight sensor 115 may be placed adjacent to the bed so that the weight sensor 115 detects when the patient 104 steps on the weight sensor 115 when leaving the bed. The weight sensor 115 may be placed adjacent to the door or entrance of the patient's room. The weight sensor 115 may be used to indicate the presence of a person in a particular area. If the weight sensor 115 is not placed under the patient 104, the weight sensor 115 may detect the presence of someone other than the patient. For example, the weight sensor 115 may detect the presence of a caregiver 110 rather than a patient. The weight sensor 115 may transmit presence data to the monitor 108 and / or the central server 113, and the presence data may indicate whether the patient has left an area (e.g., the patient's care location or environment, such as a bed or chair) or entered an area (e.g., an area directly adjacent to the care location or an area near the patient, including the patient's room). The weight sensor 115 may also be used to verify or invalidate data from other sensors.For example, if the camera 118 detects motion but the weight sensor 115 still detects the patient's full weight in the bed, the detected motion may be invalid and attributable to something other than the patient. Alternatively, if the camera 118 detects motion and the weight sensor 115 detects that the patient has left the patient's bed, the detected motion may be valid and attributable to the patient.

[0026] The camera 118 may connect to the network 112 via either a wired or wireless connection. The camera 118 need not be located on the patient's body or attached to the patient. The camera 118 may connect to the patient monitoring device 102 via either a wired or wireless connection. Any vision system capable of detecting movement may be used as the camera 118. The camera 118 may include a microphone and speaker so that the remote caregiver 116 can communicate with the patient 104 through the camera 118. The camera 118 may be physically attached or mounted to the monitor 108. Alternatively, the camera 118 may be integrated with the monitor 108.

[0027] The camera 118 may be a remotely controllable closed-circuit camera or other suitable camera that can be connected to the remote monitoring terminal 114 via the network 112. The camera 118 can sense when the patient 104 is moving outside the care environment and can send instructions to the remote monitoring terminal 114 via the network 112. The camera 118 can send presence data to the monitor 108 and / or the central server 113, and the presence data indicates whether the patient is leaving or entering an area. The camera 118 can be used to detect motion. Simple image processing can be used to provide motion detection without providing facial recognition. That is, motion or presence can be detected without specifically determining that the patient is moving or present in an area. For example, the camera 118 may detect movement of the caregiver 110 rather than the patient 104. The camera 118 may be operated so that any movement of the patient 104 within the care environment is excluded from determining whether the patient 104 is moving outside the care environment, i.e., an exclusion zone can be created. By excluding the patient's 104 rehabilitation environment, it is possible to prevent "false positive" measurements when the patient 104 is simply adjusting their posture or stretching.

[0028] The remote monitoring terminal 114 may be located in the same building as the patient 104 or in a different building than the patient 102. For example, in a home environment, the remote monitoring terminal 114 may be located remotely from the patient 104. Alternatively, in a hospital environment, the remote monitoring terminal 114 may be located in a nurse's station on the same floor as the patient 102. The remote monitoring terminal 114 may allow a single remote caregiver to monitor multiple patients simultaneously. The remote monitoring terminal 114 may communicate with the camera 118 via the network 112.

[0029] The central server 113 may be connected to the remote monitoring terminals 114 directly and / or via the network 112. The central server 113 may be located with the remote monitoring terminals 114, e.g., in the same room, or may be located remotely from the remote monitoring terminals 114, e.g., in the cloud or in a different building. Any suitable computer may be used as the central server 113. The central server 113 may compile a historical record of the patient's location, movements, and medical condition by continuously recording all data received from the patient monitoring devices 102, monitors 108, weight sensors 115, and cameras 118 in a database. This historical record is stored for record-keeping purposes and provides the caregiver 110 and remote caregiver 116 with a source of information to review if they have questions about the patient's condition at any given time.

[0030] The patient monitoring system 100 may send an alert when it detects that a patient 104 is leaving the care environment. FIG. 7 shows a method for sending an alert, including step S101 receiving patient motion data, step S102 receiving presence data, and then, in step S201, sending an alert based on the patient motion data and presence data. Steps S101 and S102 may occur simultaneously or alternately. Step S101 may occur first, or step S102 may occur first. An alert is issued when patient motion data from the patient monitoring device 102 exceeds a predetermined threshold and presence data from at least one of the weight sensor 115 and the camera 118 indicates that the patient has left the area or someone has entered the area. That is, an alarm is issued when both the patient monitoring device 102 and the weight sensor 115, or both the patient monitoring device 102 and the camera 118, indicate that the patient 104 is likely leaving the care environment. The alert may indicate that the patient should be actively monitored.

[0031] The alert may be sent to any combination of (1) a caregiver or group of caregivers, (2) a remote monitoring terminal 114, and (3) a monitor 108. The alert may be sent to a caregiver or group of caregivers as, for example, an email, text message, or page. The alert may be sent to the remote monitoring terminal 114 and / or the monitor 108 as a visual and / or audio alert.

[0032] The alert may be sent by the monitor 108 or the central server 113. The monitor 108 may include one or more processors that may be programmed and / or configured to send the alert based on the patient motion data and presence data. The central server 113 may also include one or more processors that may be programmed and / or configured to send the alert based on the patient motion data and presence data. If the alert is sent by the monitor 108, the monitor 108 may alert any caregivers nearby but not in the patient's room by generating a visual and / or audio alert.

[0033] By requiring both the patient monitoring device 102 and at least one of the weight sensor 115 and camera 118 to indicate that the patient 104 is likely to leave the care environment before an alert is issued, it is possible to avoid or reduce the occurrence of "false positive" alerts that waste the resources of the remote caregiver 116. Thus, each time the remote caregiver 116 receives an alert, they can be confident that they actually need to monitor the patient's 104 movements to watch for falls or other emergencies.

[0034] If only the camera 118 is used to determine when to sound an alarm, a "false positive" may occur when the caregiver 110 enters the field of view of the camera 118. If only the weight sensor 115 is used to determine when to sound an alarm, a "false positive" may occur when the patient readjusts their weight in the care environment. If only the patient monitoring device 102 is used to determine when to sound an alarm, a "false positive" may occur when the patient moves or turns in the care environment.

[0035] 2 and 3 illustrate a patient monitoring device 102. In the example of the patient monitoring device 102 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the chest device 1110 of the patient monitoring device 102 may be attached to the patient's chest. However, the patient monitoring device 102 may also be attached to one or more other areas of the patient's body. The patient monitoring device 102 may detect, record, store, and transmit various vital signs and other information of the patient. For example, the patient monitoring device 102 may include adhesive electrodes that contact the patient's skin to measure various biological information, vital signs, and patient information, including, but not limited to, any combination of pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, blood glucose level, body hydration, sweating, and bioimpedance. The patient monitoring device 102 may also track the patient's movements, activities, posture, and the like.

[0036] The patient monitoring device 102 may communicate with one or more other computing devices via either wired or wireless communication. For example, the patient monitoring device 102 may communicate with other computing devices, such as a monitor, a personal computer, a tablet device, a mobile phone, a central server, or a cloud-based network, using one or more of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular communication. As an example, the patient monitoring device 102 may transmit vital sign information collected from a patient to a tablet device or personal computer operating as a bedside monitor. The tablet or personal computer can process the received information and display the information in an easily understandable format to a caregiver or other user. For example, a tablet device, which may be the monitor 108, can receive vital sign information from the patient monitoring device 102 via a Bluetooth and / or Wi-Fi connection and display the patient's electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform, as well as information regarding any combination of the patient's heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, body temperature, and / or other vital signs. As another example, the patient monitoring device 102 may be periodically connected to a computing device (such as the monitor 108) via a wired connection, thereby allowing information collected by the patient monitoring device 102 to be stored, processed, and displayed by the computing device and / or transferred to one or more other computing devices (e.g., a personal computer, a server located at the hospital, a cloud storage server, etc.).

[0037] Additionally, information recorded by the patient monitoring device 102 can be transmitted to other computer devices to provide real-time or near-real-time analysis of the patient's condition, as well as tracking of the patient's vital sign information over time. For example, information recorded by the patient monitoring device 102 may be transmitted to a display device to allow a caregiver to observe the information and adjust the patient's care based on the information. The information may also be transmitted to a central information repository to record and store the patient's past vital signs and other information. Both the patient's real-time and past vital sign information, as well as other information, may be accessed by caregivers who are not in the same physical location as the patient. For example, vital sign information collected by the patient monitoring device 102 may be transmitted to a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone) owned by the patient or caregiver to allow the patient or caregiver to view the information. The information can further be transmitted to a central server that can be accessed by one or more caregivers (e.g., using a personal computer and / or mobile device) to allow the caregiver to view the collected information and make decisions regarding the patient's care from a location remote from where the patient is located.

[0038] Other components that may be included as part of the patient monitoring device 102 include a power source, buttons or other input mechanisms for receiving user input, one or more audible alarms or speakers, and a light or display screen. The patient monitoring device 102 may further include input mechanisms such as, for example, buttons, keys, or a touchscreen. The input mechanisms may allow the patient or caregiver to adjust settings on the patient monitoring device 102, run various tests (e.g., sensor tests, battery power level tests, etc.), or reset one or more alarms on the patient monitoring device 102. The input mechanisms may also allow the patient to contact distress (e.g., to a caregiver or hospital alert system) if the patient needs assistance.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the patient monitoring device 102 may include a chest device 1110 having snaps 111 that can connect to adhesive electrodes to connect the patient monitoring device 102 to a patient, a battery pack 120 that provides power to the chest device 1110, and cables 140 that connect to different sides of the chest device 1110 to attach signal leads to the chest device 1110. The cables 140 may include, for example, an ECG cable and a pulse oximetry cable. The battery pack 120 may include standard disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries. The battery pack 120 is removable so that it can be replaced with a different battery pack.

[0040] 4 shows that chest device 1110 includes a recess 1114 for receiving battery pack 120. Battery pack 120 is removable from chest device 1110; that is, battery pack 120 can be connected to and disconnected from chest device 1110. Recess 1114 defines a concave surface 114S of chest device 1110, which may be flat or substantially flat to allow a user to easily clean concave surface 114S.

[0041] 5 shows a bottom perspective view of battery pack 120. Battery pack 120 makes electrical connection with chest device 1110 via a connector system that includes electrical connectors, chest device connector 1115 and battery pack connector 125, described in more detail below.

[0042] The external features of the chest device 1110 are described with reference to FIGS. 2-4. The chest device 1110 can be constructed from a clamshell-type structure in which an upper housing is attached to a lower housing and houses electronic circuitry for performing patient monitoring and communication operations. FIG. 4 shows that the chest device 1110 can include openings 1113 through which cables 140 can be attached to the chest device 1110. The openings 1113 can all have the same shape or can have different shapes. When a cable or component is not needed, a plug (not shown) can be inserted into the corresponding opening 1113. The plug can be a durable plug inserted during the manufacturing or assembly process of the chest device 1110, or it can be a removable plug that can be inserted or removed as needed. For example, a customized chest device 1110 with a customized cable combination can be created by replacing unwanted cables with plugs and closing the openings 1113 during the manufacturing or assembly process. If the openings 1113 have the same shape, there is no need to prepare plugs of different shapes in the manufacturing or assembly process.

[0043] 4 and 5, chest device 1110 and battery pack 120 include separate electrical connections that can be mated and unmated. In particular, chest device 1110 includes a chest device connector 1115 disposed within recess 1114, and battery pack 120 includes a battery pack connector 125. Chest device connector 1115 may be an electrical target (e.g., a pogo target), and battery pack connector 125 may be an electrical pin (e.g., a movable pin such as a pogo pin). Battery pack connector 125 may be a movable pin that moves in a direction perpendicular to recess 114S of chest device 1110 when battery pack 120 is mated to chest device 114.

[0044] The arrangement and location of chest device connector 1115 and battery pack connector 125 are not limited to the particular arrangement and location of chest device connector 1115 and battery pack connector 125 shown in Figures 4 and 5. As an example, chest device 1110 may include pogo pins and battery pack 120 may include a pogo target. However, chest device 1110 may be designed to have a longer life cycle than battery pack 120, and therefore chest device connector 1115 may be a pogo target, since pogo targets generally have a longer life cycle than pogo pins.

[0045] Chest device 1110 may include chest device connectors 1115 that do not mate with battery pack connectors 125 of battery pack 120. For example, one or more of chest device connectors 1115 may be a data connection for a computer or similar device to perform debugging, maintenance, etc. on chest device 1110. Similarly, battery pack 120 may include battery pack connectors 125 that do not mate with chest device connectors 1115 of chest device 1110. For example, one or more of battery pack connectors 125 may be a data connection for providing temperature data from a thermistor while the batteries of battery pack 120 are being charged.

[0046] For example, chest device connectors 1115 may be separated from one another by at least about 2 mm within manufacturing and / or measurement tolerances, and battery pack connectors 125 may be separated from one another by at least about 2 mm within manufacturing and / or measurement tolerances. Thus, even if water or other fluids enter chest device connectors 1115 and battery pack connectors 125, corrosion of chest device connectors 1115 and battery pack connectors 125 can be much significantly reduced or prevented.

[0047] Chest device connector 1115 and battery pack connector 125 may each include a corrosion-resistant metal or metal coating. For example, chest device connector 1115 and battery pack connector 125 may include stainless steel or may be plated with nickel or gold.

[0048] 2-5, battery pack 120 may include protrusions or lips 123 that are received by corresponding recesses 117 in chest device 1110. Protrusions 123 may each extend higher than the top-most portion of each of battery pack connectors 125, with respect to the orientation shown in FIG. 5. Thus, when battery pack 120 is separated from chest device 1110, for example, by a user placing battery pack 120 on a desk with battery pack connectors 125 facing the desk surface, battery pack connectors 125 are unlikely to be scratched or corroded.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4 , chest device 1110 includes ridge 1116 surrounding chest device connector 1115, and as shown in FIG. 5 , battery pack 120 includes gasket 126 surrounding battery pack connector 125. Ridge 1116 and gasket 126 may have corresponding similar shapes. However, gasket 126 may be wider than ridge 1116 to ensure ridge 1116 is fully engaged and surrounded by gasket 126. Gasket 126 may include additional material (e.g., protrusions) due to the injection molding process used to form gasket 126 and / or to help secure gasket 126 to battery pack 120.

[0050] The locking mechanism between chest device 1110 and battery pack 120 is described below with reference to Figures 4 and 5. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, chest device 1110 includes a loop 119 that is received by an opening 129 in battery pack 120. A user can press button 124 to disengage loop 119, thereby allowing battery pack 120 to be unmated from chest device 1110.

[0051] Replacing or changing the battery pack 120 does not require removing or discarding the chest device 1110. A removable battery pack 120 allows the chest device 1110 to remain attached to the patient and does not need to be detached from the electrodes connected to the cable 140. If rechargeable, the battery pack 120, when depleted, can be replaced with a charged battery pack while the chest device 1110 remains attached to the patient. If the battery pack 120 loses too much power or the battery deteriorates after multiple charges and discharges, the circuitry included in the chest device 1110 allows the user to simply replace the old battery pack 120 with a new battery pack without having to replace the chest device 1110, which is relatively more expensive than the battery pack 120.

[0052] The battery of battery pack 120 may be a replaceable battery or a rechargeable battery. If battery pack 120 includes a rechargeable battery, battery pack 120 may be charged using a charging station. As an example, the battery of battery pack 120 may be a lithium-ion battery with a voltage of approximately 4.0 V to 4.2 V. Battery pack 120 can be properly oriented relative to chest device 1110 according to the locking structure including loop 119 and opening 129, as well as the mating structure of recess 117 and protrusion 123.

[0053] While the circuit components of battery pack 120 may include circuit components unrelated to battery functions (e.g., functions related to chest device 1110), battery pack 120 may only include circuit components related to battery functions (e.g., charging, battery status, short circuit protection, etc.). Optionally, power and electrical signals may be transmitted by separate wires or another suitable mechanism. According to the configuration shown in FIGS. 2-5, battery pack 120 can be replaced without affecting chest device 1110. That is, battery pack 120 can vary in thickness to accommodate different batteries that may have a longer lifespan or be made with different battery technologies without the need to redesign or reconfigure chest device 1110.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 6 , the chest device 1110 may include a first PCB 112A, and a second PCB 112B may include mounted circuit components. For example, at least an inclinometer, a gyroscope, and / or an accelerometer 1112 may be disposed on the second PCB 112B as shown in FIG. 6 or on the first PCB 112A. The inclinometer may be a single-axis or multi-axis type, the gyroscope may be a single-axis or multi-axis type, and the accelerometer may be a single-axis or multi-axis type. The inclinometer, accelerometer, and gyroscope may be combined into a single sensor. Additionally, the first PCB 112A and the second PCB 112B may be rigid and made of any suitable material. However, any suitable substrate may be used in place of the first PCB 112A and the second PCB 112B.

[0055] Processors suitable for executing a computer program include, by way of example, both general-purpose and special-purpose microprocessors, and the sole processor or one of multiple processors of any type of computer. Typically, a processor receives instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random-access memory, or both. A computer also typically includes, or is operatively coupled to communicate with, one or more mass storage devices for storing data files; such mass storage devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and optical disks. Non-transitory storage devices that may store computer programs and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including, by way of example, semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROMs, EEPROMs, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). To provide for interaction with a user, features may be implemented on a computer having a display device, such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user, and a keyboard and pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer.

[0056] The features, functions, and methods described above may be implemented in a computer system that includes back-end components such as data servers, or middleware components such as application servers or Internet servers, or front-end components such as client computers having a graphical user interface or Internet browser, or any combination thereof. The components of the computer system may be connected by any form or medium of digital data communication, such as a communication network. Examples of communication networks include, for example, LANs, WANs, and the computers and networks forming the Internet. The computer system may include clients and servers. Clients and servers are generally remote from each other and typically communicate through a network, such as the networks described above. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

[0057] Computer-readable media for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media, and memory devices, including, by way of example, semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices, magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

[0058] It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A patient monitoring system comprising: a first sensor for monitoring patient movement; a second sensor that monitors the area for a presence; a remote monitoring terminal; An alarm is generated at the remote monitoring terminal when both the first sensor and the second sensor detect the patient's motion and the patient's presence, respectively.

2. The patient monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is a camera.

3. The patient monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the camera detects motion outside an exclusion zone configured within the field of view of the camera.

4. The patient monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

5. The patient monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is configured to be affixed to the patient.

6. The patient monitoring system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first sensor includes an accelerometer.

7. The patient monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor includes a gyroscope.

8. 1. A method of monitoring a patient, comprising: receiving patient motion data; receiving presence data; sending an alert based on the patient motion data and the presence data.

9. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the alert is based on the patient motion data indicating that the patient's motion exceeds a predetermined threshold and based on the presence data indicating either that the patient has left a first area or that someone has entered a second area different from the first area.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first area is a treatment location for the patient and the second area is an area adjacent to the treatment location for the patient.

11. The method of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the patient motion data is received from a sensor placed on the patient.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving vital sign data of the patient from the sensor placed on the patient.

13. The method of any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the presence data is received from a sensor not located on the patient.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the non-patient-located sensor is a camera.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the presence data received from the camera indicates that motion has been detected outside an exclusion zone configured within the field of view of the camera.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the non-patient-located sensor is a pressure sensor.

17. The method of any one of claims 8 to 16, wherein the alert is transmitted to at least one of a bedside monitor, a remote monitoring terminal, or one or more caregivers.

18. A patient monitor comprising at least one processor programmed and / or configured to provide a patient monitoring method according to any one of claims 8 to 17.

19. A computer comprising at least one processor programmed and / or configured to provide a method for patient monitoring according to any one of claims 8 to 17.

20. 18. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform a patient monitoring method according to any one of claims 8 to 17.

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