Wearable device with a method for detecting and signaling patient allergic condition profiles in healthcare facilities

Abstract

The present invention comprises a wearable device, containing a beacon, which connects to a reading device in an outpatient clinic and in a medicine tray, for use in a healthcare facility. The reading device, which connects to the wearable device by means of a wireless communication protocol, checks the allergy record associated with a patient's beacon, and if an allergy is registered, the reading device triggers a visual, audible and vibrating alert. The alert draws the attention of the medical team, who can then take measures to avoid the administering of medicines or ingestion of foods to which the patient is allergic.

Description

WEARABLE DEVICE WITH METHOD FOR DETECTING AND SIGNALING PROFILES OF ALLERGIC CONDITIONS OF PATIENTS IN HEALTH UNITS FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention focuses on the field of wearable devices with a detection, measurement or recording method or process, adapted for handling or processing patient-related medical or healthcare data for patient-specific data for management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices for remote operation. TECHNICAL BASIS

[0002] Characterized as a systemic disease, allergies can be caused by inhalants, foods, medications, and contact agents, generating both immediate and delayed reactions. They can affect children, young people, adults, and the elderly.

[0003] According to the Brazilian Association of Allergy and Immunology (ASBAI), approximately 30% of the Brazilian population has some type of allergy, of which at least 20% are children. The Brazilian Society of Allergy and Immunology estimates that 15 to 16 million Brazilians are allergic to medications.

[0004] A recently published study showed an incidence of 16.2% of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized adult patients, with 84% of these reactions being predictable. The same study showed that the incidence of reactions varies according to the specialty evaluated, with clinical medicine being associated with the highest number of events.

[0005] Furthermore, the frequency of reactions increased according to the number of medications used. For each additional medication used, the number of general adverse reactions increased by 10% and hypersensitivity reactions by 14%. There are countless cases of patients allergic to medications who accidentally receive drugs that are contraindicated. This often happens due to a failure in communicating this information between the healthcare team and the patient, during the transmission of information. care, and sometimes due to lack of knowledge about cross-reactions between medications.

[0006] A recent study published showed an incidence of 16.2% of adverse reactions to medications in hospitalized adult patients. Of these, 84% were predictable. The Brazilian Association of Allergy and Immunology (ASBAI) estimates that approximately 16 million Brazilians are allergic to medications. The global prevalence of food allergy has been estimated at 4 to 7% for children and 3 to 6% for adults.

[0007] In addition to medications, latex is one of the main causes of allergies, especially during surgery. In order of incidence, latex is the second most common cause of allergies in hospitals. With patient safety in mind, new health technologies must be implemented to minimize these risks.

[0008] The filing, known as "US10213150," discloses a watch-like device that incorporates physiological sensors such as a heart rate sensor, skin color sensor, galvanic skin response sensor, oxygen saturation sensor, and blood pressure sensor, which are positioned on the inner surface of the watch for continuous monitoring. This data is used to detect early symptoms of an allergic reaction using an intermittent visual alarm option on the display, using a brighter LED light built into the watch, and an audible alarm through the watch's speaker. The technology provides a more comprehensive approach to allergy management, including outside of specific interactions in the healthcare setting. In addition, it uses ambient temperature, humidity, and physical activity sensors to reduce false alarms.The present innovation, on the other hand, is more focused on patient identification and allergy-related checks during specific interactions, such as admission to the medical clinic and the incorrect administration of medications, avoiding complications in the health unit. While the previous innovation stands out for its continuous and early detection of symptoms, the present innovation focuses more on personal identification and alerts for previously known and recorded allergies, being triggered at the time of medication or. food if any allergenic substance is recorded for the patient, such as medicines, latex or food.

[0009] The filing "US2022287657" discloses a patient monitoring system utilizing beacons and wearable devices for patients and caregivers, as well as a central base station. While the wearable devices provide biometric data in addition to triangulation, non-clinical medical monitoring, and emergency detection such as fall detection and location, the beacons establish geographic boundaries for safety by creating a virtual fence, i.e., a virtual border or perimeter defined by geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude), and transmitting data to the central base station. Associated with the devices, the base station coordinates information for patient management via the cloud, integrating artificial intelligence for analysis and alerts. AI is provided to analyze the biometric data to predict future events, allowing proactive interventions before a problem becomes serious.The system aims to improve treatment effectiveness by providing reliable monitoring and early notification of medical events and enhancing prevention and response to medical events, solidifying the system as an effective innovation in health monitoring. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] The innovation of the subject of the patent application can be better understood through the following figures: 7 Figure 1 presents the technology use case diagram; GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present innovation comprises a wearable device, containing a beacon, which connects to a reader device present in the medical clinic and on the medication tray. The reader device, which connects to the wearable device via a wireless communication protocol, checks the allergy record associated with the patient's beacon, and if there is a registered allergy, the reader device triggers a visual, audible and vibrating alert. The alert draws the attention of the medical team, who can then take steps to avoid administering medications or eating foods to which the patient is allergic.

[0012] The big innovation is the use of a beacon equipped with wireless communication to track and identify patients, efficiently integrating it into allergy screening processes. This device provides an accurate and automated way to associate patient information with allergy records, improving safety and personalizing care.

[0013] The device’s integration with the EHR system streamlines the updating and management of patient information, providing a comprehensive view of allergy history, ensuring that medications and foods are not administered and preventing adverse reactions. In addition, the additional reading of the beacon on the medication tray and repeated verification of the allergy record ensure an extra layer of safety when administering medication. This is because the technology alerts medical staff to a patient’s allergies before any medication or food is administered, making it easy to implement in any hospital setting. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] This innovation comprises a beacon (1), which will be a wearable device for the patient, which can be in the form of a bracelet, button or necklace, connected wirelessly to a reading device (2), present in the office of the attending physician in the emergency room and also connected to the tray (3) with the medications to be administered. When patients are received at the health unit, they will inform spontaneously or through active questioning, about possible allergies to medications, latex or food. The connection reads the beacon (1), which in the event of an allergy being registered, triggers a visual alert written on the display (4), by LED lighting, and audible and vibrating alert by the buzzer (5).

[0015] The technology has the following operating steps: a) Patient Arrival: The patient arrives at the health unit and is received by the care team, the patient spontaneously informs or is questioned about whether he / she is allergic to medicines, food or latex; b) Reception and Provision of the Bracelet or Button: When the patient registers at the health unit and informs about their allergies, the team provides the bracelet or button, instructing the patient to keep this accessory on for the entire time they are in the unit; c) Delivery of the Beacon: The receptionist at the healthcare unit records allergy information on the device, such as (patient ID and patient data, including allergies) and offers the patient the beacon, explaining the importance of using it during their stay at the healthcare unit; d) Beacon Configuration: The patient adjusts the beacon, either as a bracelet or a button, according to their preference; e) Bluetooth connection: The beacon is equipped with Bluetooth and automatically connects to the reader device in the doctor's office and to the medication tray when it enters the range; f) Reading the Beacon in the Doctor's Office: When the patient enters the medical clinic, the reading device reads the beacon, identifying the patient; g) Allergy Check: The system checks the allergy record associated with the patient's beacon; h) Allergy Alert: If an allergy is registered, a visual alert is displayed on the reader device's display. Simultaneously, audible alerts and vibrations are triggered to draw the attention of the medical team; i) Medical Assessment: The medical team intervenes immediately to assess the situation, taking into account the registered allergy; j) Appropriate Intervention: If necessary, staff take appropriate measures to avoid administering medications; k) Reading the Beacon on the Medication Tray: When the patient approaches the medication tray, the system performs another reading of the beacon to confirm the patient's identity; l) Additional Verification: The system rechecks the allergy record associated with the beacon to ensure safety in administering medications; m) Blocking Prescriptions: If there are additional alerts, the system displays an alert on the patient's medical record screen, containing the name of the drug(s) / latex / food(s). If possible, it blocks prescriptions containing these substances; n) Safe Medication Administration: If there are no additional alerts, the team proceeds with the safe administration of the medications, ensuring that they are suitable for the patient; o) Event Log: All interactions, alerts, medical assessments and medication administrations are recorded in the system for documentation and later analysis; p) Beacon Return: At the end of the patient's medical care or upon discharge from the hospital, the patient returns the device to the responsible personnel at the health unit. The device will be sanitized and prepared for the next use.

Claims

CLAIMS 1) WEARABLE DEVICE WITH METHOD OF DETECTING AND SIGNALING PROFILES OF ALLERGIC CONDITIONS OF PATIENTS IN HEALTH UNITS referring to a wearable device with a detection, measurement or recording process, adapted for the handling or processing of medical or health care data related to patients for specific patient data for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices for remote operation characterized by a beacon (1), which may be in the form of a bracelet, button or necklace, connected wirelessly to a reading device (2) to a tray (3) with the medications to be administered. The connection reads the beacon, which in the event of allergy registration, triggers a visual alert written on the display (4), by LED lighting, and sound and vibration by the buzzer (5); 2) WEARABLE DEVICE WITH METHOD FOR DETECTING AND SIGNALING PROFILES OF ALLERGIC CONDITIONS, according to claim 1, characterized by the system process issuing an alert on the patient's medical record screen, blocking the prescriptions of the substances; 3) WEARABLE DEVICE WITH METHOD FOR DETECTING AND SIGNALING PROFILES OF ALLERGIC CONDITIONS, according to claim 1, characterized by security verification through reading the beacon (1) on the medication tray (3) to confirm the patient's identity.

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