Mobile Sensor Fall Detection for Automatic Medical Event Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals experiencing medical emergencies like heart attacks or strokes may be unable to contact emergency medical responders due to unconsciousness, and existing technologies lack the ability to promptly notify responders outside of medical facilities.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using sensors in mobile devices to detect kinetic actions, analyze them against predefined models, and automatically contact emergency services when a medical emergency is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing medical equipment is used to detect medical emergency events, then detection capability is provided, but cost and availability are limited to hospitals or medical facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, wearables) as copies or replicas of traditional medical equipment. These devices contain simplified sensor systems (accelerometers, gyroscopes, heart rate monitors) that replicate the detection function of expensive hospital equipment but in a portable, consumer-friendly form factor, making emergency detection accessible outside medical facilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical medical equipment with electronic and computational systems. Instead of using traditional medical monitors and diagnostic devices, the system uses software algorithms running on mobile devices to analyze sensor data and detect medical emergencies, substituting mechanical complexity with computational intelligence
2Ease of operation
If an individual experiences a medical emergency and is alone, then no one is available to notify emergency responders, but the individual may be incapacitated and unable to request services
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device performs self-service by automatically detecting the medical emergency through its sensors and initiating contact with emergency responders without requiring the incapacitated individual to take any action. The device autonomously monitors vital signs, detects anomalies, and triggers emergency calls, freeing the user from the need to manually activate help
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and assessment actions before the individual becomes fully incapacitated. By continuously monitoring vital signs and detecting early signs of medical emergencies, the system can initiate the emergency response process before the individual loses the ability to communicate, ensuring timely intervention
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
Enables timely notification of emergency services even when the individual is incapacitated, potentially saving lives by ensuring prompt medical intervention.
Implementation Method 1
A first step 102 of the method 100 may include obtaining sensor data from one or more data sensors of a mobile computing device, with such sensor data indicative of kinetic actions of a user. For example, in some embodiments, the one or more data sensors may comprise an accelerometer configured to obtain sensor data in the form of acceleration data of the user.
Implementation Method 2
The data sensors may comprise a gyroscope configured to measure rotational movement of the mobile device.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method can include processing sensor data, using one or more processors, to determine if a user has experienced a form of a kinetic action comprising the user falling to a ground, wherein the kinetic action is indicated by one or more sensors measuring one or more alternating changes in acceleration. The computer-implemented method can also include comparing, via the one or more processors, the kinetic action of the user with a model of kinetic actions to determine whether the kinetic action is indicative of a medical event. The computer-implemented method can further include, upon determining that the kinetic action is indicative of the medical event, contacting a third party to request a service for the user. Other embodiments are disclosed.