Patient Tracking via Mobile Stationary Device Intermediaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical device operation in medical rooms is hindered by the lack of effective tracking of patients' and staff members' positions relative to medical devices, leading to inefficient and potentially hazardous device movements, especially when multiple devices are involved.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing mobile and stationary devices to track the position of individuals and medical equipment in a medical room, where mobile devices attached to patients or staff follow their movements and are identified by stationary devices, allowing processors to calculate and update relative positions for precise device operation and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the medical device is located with respect to the patient's bed, then the device position is fixed, but the relative position becomes inaccurate when the patient moves on the bed
Solution Approach 1:
A mobile device is introduced as an intermediary between the patient and the medical device tracking system. This mobile device is positioned near the patient and tracks the patient's position, serving as a mediator that enables accurate relative position calculation without directly attaching sensors to the patient or complicating the medical device itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical position tracking methods with electromagnetic field-based tracking using stationary devices and mobile devices. This substitution enables non-contact, real-time position monitoring that automatically updates when the patient moves, eliminating the need for mechanical adjustments or complex physical tracking mechanisms
2Reliability
If real-time tracking of patient and staff positions is implemented, then safety and efficiency are improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device serves multiple functions: it tracks patient position, tracks staff position, and provides data for both medical device positioning and safety monitoring. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate tracking systems for different purposes, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking system automatically updates position information without requiring manual intervention. The mobile device and stationary devices continuously exchange data to maintain real-time position information, and the system self-adjusts to provide accurate relative position calculations, reducing the operational complexity despite enhanced safety capabilities
3Productivity
If the relative position between staff members and medical devices is tracked, then device operation efficiency is improved, but the measurement and data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback by constantly monitoring the positions of mobile devices (near patients and staff) and medical devices, then automatically calculating and updating relative positions. This real-time feedback loop enables staff to efficiently operate medical devices based on current position information without manually assessing spatial relationships, thereby improving productivity while managing measurement complexity through automation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for tracking the position of a person in an environment, such as a medical room, relative to a medical device is presented. The method comprises identifying the position of a medical device in the environment, providing a mobile device in the vicinity of a person in the environment, the mobile device configured to follow movement of the person in the environment, and identifying the position of the mobile device in the environment by using at least one stationary device. Further, the method comprises using a processor to process data relating to the position of the mobile device in the environment to obtain an expected position of the person in the environment, data relating to the position of the medical device in the environment, and data relating the expected position of the person in the environment to obtain an expected relative position of the person with respect to the medical device.