Portable Emergency System for Operator-Guided Patient Triage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency healthcare support systems are limited to hospital contexts, require qualified operators, and lack decision-making support for first aid procedures based on patient conditions and operator competencies.
Innovation Solution
A portable emergency support system comprising a wearable TAG device with sensors to detect biometric parameters, a mobile device for processing data and selecting appropriate therapeutic procedures based on patient condition and operator profile, and a control station for coordinating operations and arranging transport to equipped healthcare facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a centralized system is used to assess patient severity and allocate treatment, then coordination of health care operators is improved, but the system is limited to hospital contexts and requires qualified health care operators
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the emergency response into two segments: automated triage assessment (performed by the system on any operator) and qualified operator intervention (only when needed). This allows lay operators to perform initial assessment while maintaining the option for professional intervention, thus expanding applicability without universally requiring qualified operators
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an automated triage algorithm as an intermediary between the operator and the complex medical decision-making process. This intermediary handles the severity assessment and treatment allocation logic, allowing unqualified operators to effectively perform triage functions while the system ensures medically sound decisions
2Loss of time
If biometric parameters are detected to automatically assign treatment priority, then the time needed to attend to patients is reduced, but the biometric parameters detected are partial and insufficient to effectively outline the patient's clinical state
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple data sources including biometric parameters from sensors, operator observations, environmental context, and historical data into a comprehensive assessment. This combination allows rapid evaluation while maintaining clinical accuracy by compensating for the limitations of any single parameter source
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to work with multiple types of sensors and data sources that can be universally applied across different emergency contexts. The triage algorithm can process various biometric parameters regardless of their completeness, adapting to available resources while maintaining assessment accuracy
3Productivity
If automated severity assessment is implemented without considering operator competencies, then processing speed is improved, but operators may be required to provide treatment for which they have not received adequate training
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the treatment recommendations based on the operator's competency level. The triage algorithm adjusts the complexity and scope of recommended interventions to match the operator's training, allowing rapid assessment while ensuring that recommended treatments are appropriate for the operator's capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback loops where operator actions and outcomes are monitored. The system learns from operator performance and adjusts future recommendations, while also providing real-time feedback to operators about the appropriateness of their actions based on their training level and the patient's condition
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables efficient assessment of patient severity, automatic assignment of treatment priorities, and decision-making support for operators, reducing the risk of errors and optimizing rescue operations in various emergency settings.
Implementation Method 1
at least one portable electronic appliance (or TAG) positionable at the patient and comprising one or more sensors used to detect one or more biometric parameters of the patient
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A system (1) for aiding an operator (2) in an emergency situation involving a patient (3), comprises: at least one portable electronic appliance (5) defining a TAG which can be associated with the patient and comprising one or more sensors (6) for detecting biometric parameters of the patient (3); at least one mobile device (4), for example a tablet or a smart phone, connectable wirelessly to the TAG to receive the biometric parameters and storing them in a memory and having a display (8) and a processor programmed to process the biometric parameters received according to at least one diagnostic algorithm for deriving a level of severity of the patient's condition; a data bank containing a plurality of codes for identifying the operators (2), and containing a plurality of professional profile categories for the operators, combined with the identification codes of each operator (2). The mobile device (4) receives the operator's identification code and selects a therapeutic procedure (from a plurality of procedures stored) as a function of the professional profile category of the operator (2) who is using the mobile device (4) and as a function of the severity level derived for the patient. The system integrates intercommunicating health care technologies to reinforce and extend a person's first aid capabilities in emergency situations and to provide support for a group of rescue workers working together.