Intelligent home medical assistance apparatus

Abstract

A portable intelligent home medical assistance apparatus (10) comprises a support body (11), in particular made of material resistant to impacts or falls, light sources (12) with different wavelengths and selectively controllable with desired operating frequencies, an audio playback device (13), audio and video detection devices (14) configured to detect the presence and / or movements of a person (100), in particular a person suffering from dementia or similar diseases, devices (15) for acquiring physiological parameters of said person (100), a memory unit (16) and a control and command unit (20). The invention also concerns a method for managing such apparatus (10).

Description

[0001] “INTELLIGENT HOME MEDICAL ASSISTANCE APPARATUS”

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention concerns an intelligent home medical assistance apparatus, specifically suitable to provide care to a person suffering from dementia in their home and simultaneously serve as an aid to family members and / or carer personnel in caring for the patient. The invention specifically concerns an apparatus suitable both to monitor the patient’s physical and / or mental state and also to provide adequate cognitive stimulation and the reproduction of light scenes and sounds useful for promoting psychophysical well-being or providing a therapeutic path in the home environment.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is known that degenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s affect older people more frequently; however, nowadays there is a gradual decline in the age at which symptoms begin to appear, so that an increasing number of people begin to suffer from these diseases at a young age.

[0006] It is also known that often patients and their families do not have access to adequate facilities for their care and assistance and, since patients become less and less autonomous as the disease progresses, the need for care or assistance becomes greater.

[0007] In the absence of adequate facilities, patients and their family members are often left to themselves, therefore family members often have to devote themselves completely to the care of the patients, essentially without any help other than that provided by medical personnel in the case of visits or consultations.

[0008] It is also known that with adequate mental exercises and cognitive stimuli, it is possible to at least reduce the progression of the disease, thus prolonging the at least partial autonomy of the patient. It is necessary to be able to perform these exercises continuously in order for them to have the desired effect.

[0009] However, due to the lack of adequate facilities or staff, the possibility of having specific care programs or therapeutic plans is also difficult, therefore the entire organization of care, assistance and treatments falls on family members or on caring staff paid by the family members themselves, which often involves an expense that is unsustainable for most families. Electronic apparatuses with which it is possible to interact in order to get answers to certain questions, or listen to music, or be given a reproduction of sounds or possibly photos and images on a screen are known; however, they generally respond to a request made actively by a user and, even if they are partly programmable to perform some functions, they are not suitable to act as home medical assistance apparatuses.

[0010] US 2022 / 0280807 Al discloses a device for the treatment of disorders of the central nervous system comprising a plurality of emitters able to administer light with certain wavelengths to a patient, in order to improve brain vascularization. The solution disclosed in US 2022 / 0280807 Al provides in particular to emit certain radiation toward the patient’s head automatically, according to predefined times and modes, and possibly as a function of the patient identified in a certain radiation emission zone.

[0011] The treatment device of US 2022 / 0280807 Al is a medical treatment device that is activated to perform a specific treatment on the basis of the commands received or the identification of the patient in the radiation emission zone. This device does not allow to monitor the behavior of a person in order to provide them with both home care and also visual and / or auditory stimuli in order to preserve their neurological functions.

[0012] There is therefore the need to perfect an intelligent home medical assistance apparatus that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0013] In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an intelligent home medical assistance apparatus, and to develop a method for managing it, suitable both to provide a non-pharmacological treatment to the patient based on a program, and also to allow the patient to be monitored even remotely.

[0014] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an intelligent home medical assistance apparatus, and to develop a method for managing it, which is easy to use both for healthy as well as sick users.

[0015] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an intelligent home medical assistance apparatus, and to develop a method for managing it, which is capable of modifying its operation by adapting to the specific characteristics of the patient with whom it interacts. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an intelligent home medical assistance apparatus, and to develop a method for managing it, which is capable of facilitating the work of family members providing care to the patient in their own home.

[0016] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

[0017] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0019] In accordance with the above purposes and to resolve the technical problem described above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, according to the present invention there is provided a portable intelligent home medical assistance apparatus comprising:

[0020] - a support body, in particular made of material resistant to impacts or falls;

[0021] - a plurality of light sources with different wavelengths in the visible light range and selectively controllable, possibly with desired operating frequencies;

[0022] - an audio playback device;

[0023] - audio and video detection devices configured to detect the presence and / or movements of a person within a space, in particular a person suffering from dementia or similar diseases;

[0024] - devices for acquiring physiological parameters of that person;

[0025] - a memory unit in which both reference values relating to the movement and / or physiological parameters of the person, and also specific instructions and operating modes for the apparatus are stored, possibly differentiated based on certain time slots;

[0026] - a control and command unit operatively connected to the plurality of light sources, the audio playback device, the audio and video detection devices, the devices for acquiring physiological parameters and the memory unit, and configured to receive the data detected by the audio and video detection devices and the devices for acquiring physiological parameters, compare them with the reference values and command at least the operation of the light sources to obtain specific lighting conditions or light scenes focused on specific colors or color combinations as a function of the comparison and on the basis of the stored instructions and operating modes.

[0027] According to another aspect of the invention, the control and command unit is also configured to selectively command the operation of the audio playback device, together with, or as an alternative to, the light sources as a function of the data detected and the stored instructions and operating modes.

[0028] Thanks to the emission of lights with specific colors and characteristics and sounds, including music and voices, the apparatus according to the invention allows to bring physical and cognitive benefits to a person suffering from neurodegenerative diseases in a non-invasive manner, allowing to prolong the amount of time that the person can remain in a home environment, without a transfer to healthcare facilities being necessary.

[0029] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the audio and video detection devices comprise at least one video camera configured to film both in daylight and also in the absence of visible light. In particular, the video camera can be equipped with infrared sensors, suitable to emit an infrared light beam that is reflected by the objects it hits, allowing the video camera to produce images in the absence of visible light. The video camera can comprise RGB sensors that operate in the visible light range, thus guaranteeing operation throughout the entire day.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the video camera is incorporated in the support body and has a viewing angle of at least 180°, preferably larger, for example 200°. In this way, it is possible to keep essentially the entire area of a room monitored, minimizing any blind spots.

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, the video camera is provided with a tracking function able to follow movements inside a room so as to also determine the direction in which the person moves and continuously monitor their movements.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the audio and video detection devices comprise audio detection sensors, which can be configured to detect both sounds and voices during the day as well as any noise at night. For this purpose, the audio detection sensors can be configured to operate, at least during the hours of the night, to identify any noise or sounds that exceed a given threshold value that can be stored in the memory unit, for example, 30-40 dB. Sensors dedicated to operating during specific time slots can be provided, or the same sensors can be made to operate differently depending on whether it is day or night.

[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, the devices for acquiring physiological parameters are configured to detect one or more of either oxygen saturation, heart rate or temperature.

[0034] According to some embodiments, these devices are of the contactless type and can comprise one or more radar sensors able to operate on different frequency / wavelength bands so as to be able to gather a plurality of physiological signals without requiring direct contact with the person.

[0035] According to possible variants, the apparatus can comprise a communication module configured to communicate in wireless mode with a device for detecting physiological parameters wearable by a user.

[0036] According to other variants, the apparatus can comprise, integrated in its support body, a compact, lightweight and portable pulse oximeter capable of monitoring and displaying oxygen saturation, heart rate and temperature.

[0037] The data detected by the sensors can be collected via bluetooth communication or suchlike, and stored in the apparatus’ memory unit or sent to a remote unit, guaranteeing their accessibility for any subsequent analysis.

[0038] According to one aspect of the invention, an artificial intelligence is integrated in the control unit which is able to process the received physiological data in real time, and rapidly identify any abnormal and / or emergency situations and report them, if necessary.

[0039] The signal can be triggered by activating audio playback means, or by sending a signal to an electronic device on which a specific software application is installed, or by activating an emergency call system, for example based on preferred emergency numbers stored in the memory unit.

[0040] According to another aspect of the invention, the light sources can comprise a plurality of LEDs able to emit radiation in the entire visible spectrum, and which can be selectively commanded to emit light scenes focused on specific colors or color combinations having a beneficial purpose.

[0041] According to another aspect of the invention, a plurality of different light scenes can be stored in the memory unit and the control and command unit can be configured to command the light sources in order to obtain one or the other light scene as a function of the time of day or night and / or the physiological parameters detected.

[0042] According to another aspect of the invention, one or more audio or musical profiles, possibly customizable, can be stored in the memory unit and can be selected independently by the person or activated by the control and command unit based on the data it receives.

[0043] The present invention also concerns a method for managing the intelligent home medical assistance apparatus, which provides to:

[0044] - position the apparatus inside a room;

[0045] - detect the presence and / or movements of a person in the room;

[0046] - acquire physiological parameters of that person;

[0047] - compare the data detected by the audio and video detection devices and the devices for acquiring physiological parameters with the reference values, and command at least the operation of at least the light sources and possibly also the audio playback device in order to obtain specific lighting conditions or light scenes focused on specific colors or color combinations as a function of the comparison and / or on the basis of the stored instructions and operating modes.

[0048] According to some embodiments, the method according to the invention provides to process the data detected by the audio and video detection devices and the devices for acquiring physiological parameters in order to determine whether, with respect to reference values, the person is in a normal psycho-physical state or in an altered state, for example found if the level of sounds / noises is above or below predefined thresholds, or if movements that are too sudden, fast and substantially continuous are detected, which may indicate the person is in a state of distress.

[0049] In this case, the method can provide to verify the distress level and, if it is low, to activate the light sources and / or the audio playback device in order to reproduce light scenes with a tranquilizing effect, for example focused on shades of green or blue / purple, and / or relaxing music or voice messages recorded by a family member. It can also be provided to continue to monitor the physiological parameters and movements over time in order to verify whether the visual and sound stimuli have had any positive effect and if not, to send a signal to an electronic device of a family member by means of a dedicated software application, or possibly make a phone call to predefined numbers of family members and / or - in the most severe cases - emergency services.

[0050] According to other embodiments, the method according to the invention provides to process the detected physiological parameters in real time, by means of an artificial intelligence installed in the command and control unit so as to quickly identify any anomalies or danger indicators and immediately alert the contact person(s) or the emergency services.

[0051] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0053] - fig. 1 is a partly sectioned schematic view of an intelligent home medical assistance apparatus according to the present invention;

[0054] - fig. 2 is an example view of the apparatus of fig. 1 installed inside a room.

[0055] We must clarify that the phraseology and terminology used in the present description, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also in relation as to how described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their purpose being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0056] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

[0057] DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0058] We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a nonlimiting illustration, as is the case for the phraseology and terminology used.

[0059] An intelligent home medical assistance apparatus 10 according to the invention comprises a support body 11 , in particular made of material resistant to impacts or falls so as to protect the components installed on or associated with it. The sizes and weight of the support body 11 are preferably small, so that it can be easily transported and moved from one room S to another as needed. By way of example, the support body 11 can have a maximum footprint comprised in a volume of 30 cm on the side, or even smaller.

[0060] The apparatus 10 can be provided with electric power supply devices 29, preferably of the rechargeable type so as to make it even easier and simpler to move, although it is possible to provide a power supply cable that can be connected to an electrical outlet.

[0061] The apparatus 10 comprises:

[0062] - a plurality of light sources 12 with different wavelengths and selectively controllable with desired operating frequencies;

[0063] - an audio playback device 13, for example a speaker suitable to play predefined music, voices or noises with adjustable volume;

[0064] - audio and video detection devices 14, configured to detect the presence and / or movements of a person 100, in particular a person suffering from dementia or similar diseases;

[0065] - acquisition devices 15 configured to detect the physiological parameters of the person 100;

[0066] - a memory unit 16 in which both reference values relating to the movement and / or physiological parameters of said person 100, as well as specific instructions and operating modes for the apparatus 10 can be stored;

[0067] - a control and command unit 20 operatively connected to the light sources 12, the audio playback device 13, the audio and video detection devices 14, the acquisition devices 15 and the memory unit 16, and configured to receive the data detected at least by the audio and video detection devices 14 and the acquisition devices 15, compare them with the reference values and command at least the operation of the light sources 12 and possibly also of the audio playback device 13 in order to obtain light conditions focused on specific colors or color combinations as a function of the comparison and / or on the basis of the stored instructions and operating modes.

[0068] Thanks to the components and operation of the control unit of the apparatus according to the invention, a person suffering from dementia can be left alone at least for short periods, since they are constantly monitored and, if necessary, thanks to a communication module, the apparatus can automatically send a warning to a family member or a contact carer, or to the emergency services.

[0069] According to some embodiments, the operating modes stored in the memory unit 16 can comprise different functions, including a light function, a sound function, a surveillance function and / or a cognitive stimuli function, which can be initiated selectively by the control and command unit 20 automatically, on the basis of the data received and / or pre-set routines, or be selected manually via a user interface 17 that can be disposed on the support body 11 or on a separate remote control.

[0070] According to another aspect of the invention, the light sources 12 can comprise a plurality of LED emitters 18, 19 able to emit radiation substantially in the entire visible spectrum, for example with wavelengths comprised between 400 nm and 700 nm, and selectively controllable to obtain light scenes focused on specific colors or color combinations, in particular for curative purposes and based on chromotherapy.

[0071] The light sources 12, or the LED emitters 18, 19 can comprise TW (Tunable White) sources, which allow to mix whites so as to replicate outdoor light conditions and therefore natural light even inside a building, in order to restore the normal circadian rhythm of the patient, and / or RGB sources that allow to create light scenes that can accentuate and / or alleviate particular emotional situations of the patient. These emotional situations can for example be recognized and identified on the basis of the data detected by the audio and video detection devices 14 and / or the devices 15 for acquiring the physiological parameters of the person, processed by the control and command unit 20.

[0072] The light scenes and lighting conditions similar to those of outdoor natural light can be activated either automatically, on the basis of the detected data, or according to certain stored operating modes, for example according to certain times of the day, or by a voluntary intervention by a user who can command their execution by means of control devices, a user interface and / or through voice commands.

[0073] The apparatus 10 according to the invention provides to use light as a support for the well-being of the patient suffering from neurodegenerative disease, using HCL (Human Centric Lighting) technologies and combining light emissions in the visible spectrum to counteract stress or discomfort situations in real time, and emphasize positive situations with specific light emissions designed for these purposes.

[0074] Chromotherapy is based on the idea that different colors (frequencies of visible light) can affect the body and mind in various ways. Each color is associated with certain therapeutic properties, such as for example red to stimulate energy, blue to relax, etc., which would allow to improve general well-being, reduce stress and improve mood. This therapy can be used to help regulate the circadian rhythm, improving sleep quality and daytime alertness. For example, the LEDs 18, 19 can be commanded in such a way as to obtain a plurality of scenes, including:

[0075] - warm scene with orange or yellow as main colors, which can help counteract depression and / or apathy;

[0076] - cold scene with blue or purple as main colors, to achieve a calming effect and decrease the heart rate;

[0077] - rebalancing scene with green as main color to generate well-being;

[0078] - morning scene to reproduce natural light inside the room S to facilitate awakening;

[0079] - night scene to keep the colors vivid, making any obstacles visible, and to counteract “sundowning syndrome”, that is, the increase in disorientation and confusion that tends to worsen in people suffering from dementia at sunset.

[0080] The audio and video detection devices 14 comprise at least one video camera 21 configured to film both in daylight and also in the absence of visible light. In particular, the video camera 21 can be equipped with infrared sensors 22, suitable to emit a ray of infrared light that is reflected by the objects which it hits, allowing the video camera to produce images in the absence of visible light. The video camera can comprise RGB sensors 23 operating in the field of visible light so as to guarantee operation throughout the entire day.

[0081] According to one aspect of the invention, the video camera 21 is incorporated in the support body 11 and has a viewing angle a of at least 180° and preferably greater, for example 200°. In this way, it is possible to keep substantially the entire area of a room monitored, minimizing any blind spots. In this case, the support body 11 can provide a transparent window, or the video camera 14 can be positioned rotatably on the support body 11.

[0082] According to one aspect of the invention, the video camera 14 is provided with a tracking function, able to follow the movements within the room, so as to also determine the direction in which the person 100 moves (fig. 2) and monitor their movements continuously. According to one aspect of the invention, the audio and video detection devices 14 comprise audio detection sensors 24, which can be configured to detect both sounds and voices during daylight hours, and also any night-time noise. These audio detection sensors 24 can be configured to operate, at least during the night, in order to identify any noises or sounds which exceed a given threshold value that can be stored in the memory unit 17, for example 30-40dB.

[0083] According to some embodiments, audio detection sensors 24 dedicated to operating in certain time slots can be provided, or the same sensors can be made to operate differently depending on whether it is day or night.

[0084] According to one aspect of the invention, the devices 15 for acquiring physiological parameters are configured to detect one or more of either oxygen saturation, heart rate or temperature of the person 100.

[0085] The acquisition devices 15 also allow to acquire information on other non- physiological parameters, for example any falls, prolonged absence of the person 100 in the vicinity of the apparatus 10 or in the area pertaining to the video camera 21, excessive immobility of the person 100, or even any intake of drugs that may affect one or more of the parameters listed above.

[0086] According to some embodiments, the acquisition devices 15 are of the contactless type and can comprise radar sensors 25 able to operate on different frequency / wavelength bands so as to be able to collect a plurality of physiological signals without requiring any direct contact with the person 100.

[0087] According to possible variants, the apparatus 100 can comprise a communication module 26 configured to communicate in wireless mode, for example bluetooth or internet network, with a device 27 for acquiring physiological parameters which can be worn by a user 100, for example a bracelet.

[0088] According to other variants, the apparatus 10 can comprise, integrated in the support body 11, a compact, lightweight and portable pulse oximeter 28, capable of monitoring and displaying oxygen saturation, heart rate and temperature.

[0089] The data detected by the various sensors and devices can be collected via bluetooth or similar communication and stored in the memory unit 16 or sent to a remote unit, guaranteeing their accessibility for any subsequent analysis.

[0090] An artificial intelligence (Al) can be integrated in the control unit 20 able to process the physiological data received in real time, and quickly identify any anomalous and / or emergency situations, and possibly signal them by entering signaling mode.

[0091] The signaling can occur by activating the audio playback device 13, or by sending a signal to an electronic device 30 on which a certain software application is installed, for example a smartphone of a family member or in general an assistant or a caregiver of the monitored person, or by activating an emergency call system, for example on the basis of preferred emergency numbers stored in the memory unit 16.

[0092] According to another aspect of the invention, a plurality of different light scenes can be stored in the memory unit 16, and the control unit 20 can command the light sources 12 in order to obtain one or the other light scene as a function of the time of day or night and / or the detected physiological parameters of the person 100 to be monitored.

[0093] One or more audio or musical profiles, possibly customizable, can also be stored in the memory unit 16, which can be selected autonomously through the interface 17 or activated by the control and command unit 20 on the basis of the data it receives. For example, the profiles can comprise one or more of either:

[0094] - a collection of natural sounds, such as for example the sound of the sea, the rustling of trees or the sound of rain to relax or provide cognitive stimuli;

[0095] - a favorite playlist of songs and music;

[0096] - music playlists organized by theme.

[0097] According to some embodiments, the audio playback device 13 is integrated in the support body 11.

[0098] According to possible variants, which can be combined with, or be an alternative to, the previous one, the audio playback device 13 is outside the support body 11, and it can be for example an electronic device 30 such as a smartphone on which a dedicated application is installed, or a voice assistant such as Alexa 31 or Google, which interface with the control and command unit 20, for example via the communication module 26.

[0099] Also with regard to the sound function, this can be selected manually via the interface 17 or commanded automatically by the control unit 20 on the basis of predefined routines or on the basis of the detected data.

[0100] For example, the sound function can comprise listening to music on the basis of the stored profiles, or playlists generated by artificial intelligence on the basis of the data collected by the devices for acquiring physiological parameters, or listening to voice recordings of family members or carers, or listening to cognitive games and instructions for physical games, designed to support patients suffering from Alzheimer’s with their memory, in conversations with other users and their mobility.

[0101] Adjusting the volume of the music or the difficulty of the exercises can be done automatically or manually through the interface 17 or the application installed on the electronic device 31 .

[0102] According to some embodiments, the application can provide a daily activity plan with well-defined routines, so as to allow the stimulation of four fundamental cognitive areas through physical exercises and interactive games: Problem solving; Speed; Memory; Attention.

[0103] This is with the aim of guaranteeing a healthy aging for those living with memory problems such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, and for those with a family history of cognitive decline. It is possible to personalize workout routines based on the person’s fitness level.

[0104] In the application it is also possible to track progress and goals, facilitating a path to a healthier life or at least slowing down the progression of the disease.

[0105] According to some embodiments, through the application and the apparatus 10 it is also possible to manage appointments and visiting hours, or the times at which certain medications have to be administered.

[0106] Thanks to its functionalities and characteristics, the apparatus 10 allows to provide daily and constant support to a patient suffering from degenerative diseases, in terms of visual, auditory, cognitive, and emotional stimuli which aim to preserve their neurological functions and prolong their stay in their home and family environment, delaying their access to medical and healthcare facilities which, however specialized, are unfamiliar environments to them that place significant stress on the patient’s routines and contribute, sometimes irreversibly, to neurodegenerative deterioration that is difficult to reverse.

[0107] The apparatus 10 can also have a support body 1 1 having attractive and aesthetically pleasing shapes, so as to be configured as a furnishing and design element with particular characteristics aimed at supporting patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases and their caregivers.

[0108] The present invention also concerns a method for managing the apparatus 10, which provides to:

[0109] - position the apparatus 10 inside a room S;

[0110] - detect the presence and / or movements of a person 100 in the room S;

[0111] - acquire that person’s 100 physiological parameters;

[0112] - compare the data detected by the audio and video detection devices 14 and the devices 15 for acquiring physiological parameters with the reference values and command at least the operation at least of the light sources 12 and possibly also of the audio playback device 13 in order to obtain light conditions focused on specific colors or color combinations as a function of this comparison and on the basis of the instructions and operating modes stored in the memory unit 16. The method provides to process the data detected by the audio and video detection devices 14 and by the devices 15 for acquiring physiological parameters to determine whether, with respect to the reference values, the person 100 is in a normal psycho-physical state or in an altered state, for example found if the level of sounds / noises is above or below predefined thresholds, or if movements that are too sudden, fast and substantially continuous are detected, which may indicate the person 100 is in a state of distress.

[0113] In this case, the method can provide to verify the distress level and, if it is low, activate the light sources 12 and / or the audio playback device 13 in order to reproduce light scenes with a calming effect, for example focused on green or blue / purple tones, and / or relaxing music or voice messages recorded by a family member.

[0114] In addition or alternatively, the control unit 20 can command the light sources 12 and the audio playback device 13 in order to reproduce pulsating lights followed by a sound to attract the attention of the person, thus trying to bring them back to the normal state.

[0115] It can also be provided to continue to monitor the physiological parameters and movements over time so as to verify whether the visual and sound stimuli have had any positive effect and if not, to send a signal to an electronic device 30 of a family member through the dedicated software application, or possibly make a phone call to predefined numbers of family members and / or emergency services in cases of greater severity.

[0116] According to other embodiments, the method according to the invention provides to process the detected physiological parameters in real time, by means of an artificial intelligence installed in the control and command unit 20 so as to quickly identify any anomalies or danger indicators and immediately notify the contact person(s) or the emergency services.

[0117] According to other embodiments, the method can also provide to constantly monitor the position of the person and transmit the detected data to the electronic device 30 of the family member via the dedicated application. In this case, if the person 100 is away from the apparatus 10 and the video camera 14 for an excessive amount of time, the family member can command, through the dedicated application, any surveillance cameras 32 in order to detect the position of the person 100 and possibly activate the audio playback device 13 to recall them into the monitored room S.

[0118] The data can be processed by the artificial intelligence implemented in the control and command unit 20 to also monitor the position of the person 100.

[0119] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of an intelligent home medical assistance apparatus 10 and corresponding management method, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

[0120] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Portable intelligent home medical assistance apparatus (10), comprising:- a support body (11), in particular made of material resistant to impacts or falls;- a plurality of light sources (12) with different wavelengths in the visible light range and selectively controllable;- an audio playback device (13);- audio and video detection devices (14) configured to detect the presence and / or movements of a person (100) within a space, in particular a person suffering from dementia or similar diseases;- devices (15) for acquiring physiological parameters of said person (100);- a memory unit (16) in which both reference values relating to the movement and / or physiological parameters of said person (100) and also specific instructions and operating modes for said apparatus (10) are stored, possibly differentiated based on certain time slots;- a control and command unit (20) operatively connected to said light sources (12), said audio playback device (13), said audio and video detection devices (14), said acquisition devices (15) and said memory unit (16), and configured to receive the data detected by said audio and video detection devices (14) and said devices (15) for acquiring physiological parameters, compare them with said reference values and command at least the operation of said light sources (12) to obtain specific lighting conditions or light scenes focused on specific colors or color combinations as a function of said comparison and / or on the basis of said stored instructions and operating modes.

2. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said control and command unit (20) is configured to command the operation of said audio playback device (13), together with or alternatively to the light sources (12), as a function of the data detected and the stored instructions and operating mode.

3. Apparatus (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said audio and video detection devices (14) comprise at least one video camera (21) configured to film both in daylight and also in the absence of visible light, equipped with infrared sensors (22) and RGB sensors (23).

4. Apparatus (10) as in claim 3, characterized in that said video camera (21) has a viewing angle (a) of at least 180° and is provided with a tracking function ableto follow movements inside the room so as to also determine the direction in which the person (100) moves and continuously monitor their movements.

5. Apparatus (10) as in one or the other of the previous claims, characterized in that said light sources (12) comprise TW (Tunable White) sources, configured to allow to mix whites in order to replicate outdoor light conditions and therefore natural light also inside the building, so as to re-establish the normal circadian rhythm of the patient, and / or RGB sources configured for light scenes able to accentuate and / or alleviate particular emotional situations of said person (100) identified on the basis of the data detected by said audio and video detection devices ( 14) and / or said devices ( 15) for acquiring physiological parameters of said person (100) processed by the control and command unit (20).

6. Apparatus (10) as in one or the other of the previous claims, characterized in that said light sources (12) comprise a plurality of LEDs (18, 19) able to emit radiation substantially in the entire visible spectrum, and that a plurality of different light scenes are stored in said memory unit (16) and said control and command unit (20) is configured to command said light sources (12) in order to obtain one or the other light scene as a function of the time of day or night and / or said physiological parameters detected.

7. Apparatus (10) as in one or the other of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises a communication module (26) configured to communicate in wireless mode with an electronic device (30) on which a dedicated software application is installed, and said control and command unit (20) is configured to send a signal to said electronic device (30) in the event that an anomaly is detected in the physiological parameters or in the movements detected.

8. Apparatus (10) as in one or the other of the previous claims, characterized in that said acquisition devices (15) are configured to detect one or more of either oxygen saturation, heart rate or temperature of said person (100).

9. Apparatus (10) as in claim 8, characterized in that said acquisition devices (15) comprise one or more radar sensors (25) able to operate on different frequency / wavelength bands and gather a plurality of physiological signals without requiring direct contact with said person (100).

10. Apparatus (10) as in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said acquisition devices (15) comprise a device (27) for acquiring physiological parameterswearable by a user or a pulse oximeter (28) integrated in said support body (11).

11. Method for managing an intelligent home medical assistance apparatus (10) as in one or the other of claims from 1 to 10, which provides to:- position said apparatus (10) inside a room (S);- detect the presence and / or movements of a person (100) in the room (S);- acquire physiological parameters of said person (100);- compare the data detected by said audio and video detection devices (14) and said devices (15) for acquiring physiological parameters with the reference values stored in said memory unit (16) and command at least the operation of said light sources (12) to obtain specific lighting conditions or light scenes focused on specific colors or color combinations as a function of said comparison and / or on the basis of said stored instructions and operating modes.

12. Method as in claim 11, characterized in that it provides to process in real time the data detected by said audio and video detection devices (14) and said devices (15) for acquiring physiological parameters by means of an artificial intelligence installed in said control and command unit (20) in order to determine whether, with respect to reference values, the person (100) is in a normal psychophysical state or in an altered state, for example found if the level of sounds / noises is above or below predefined thresholds, or if movements that are too sudden, fast and substantially continuous are detected, which may indicate the person is in a state of distress.

13. Method as in claim 12, characterized in that it provides to determine a distress level of the person on the basis of data stored in the memory unit (16) and, if the level is low, to activate said light sources (12) and / or said audio playback device (13) in order to reproduce light scenes with a tranquilizing effect, and to continue to monitor said physiological parameters and movements over time in order to verify whether the visual and / or sound stimuli have had any positive effect and if not, to send a signal to an electronic device (30) of a family member by means of a dedicated software application, or make a phone call to predefined numbers.

14. Method as in claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it provides to process the detected physiological parameters in real time, by means of said artificial intelligence and in the event that an altered state of said person is identified, senda signal to an electronic device (30) on which a specific software application is installed, such as a smartphone of a family member or in general an assistant or a caregiver of the monitored person, or to activate an emergency call system based on preferred emergency numbers stored in the memory unit (16).

15. Method as in any claim from 11 to 14, characterized in that it provides to constantly monitor the position of the person and transmit the detected data to the electronic device (30) of the family member via the dedicated application, so as to consequently command surveillance cameras (32) in order to detect the position of the person (100) and / or activate the audio playback device (13) to call the person back into the monitored room (S).

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