Patient Video Monitoring for Safe Remote Bed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient monitoring systems lack effective means to prevent adverse events, unauthorized use, and ensure safe remote control of patient support apparatuses while integrating video monitoring and sensor data for timely medical intervention.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus equipped with cameras, actuators, and controllers that enable safe remote control, video stream transmission, and integration of sensor data to prevent adverse events and unauthorized use, while allowing synchronized video and sensor data analysis for medical attention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote control is enabled for patient support apparatus, then ease of operation is improved, but patient safety may be compromised due to unauthorized use or miscontrol
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures video streams and analyzes them to detect the patient's presence and state. The controller receives feedback from the camera system about whether the patient is present and in what condition, and only allows remote control commands to execute when the patient is detected to be in a safe state. This feedback loop prevents unauthorized or unsafe operation while maintaining remote control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical interlocks and physical safety switches with an automated vision-based control system. Instead of requiring physical presence detection or manual safety checks, the system uses computer vision algorithms to analyze video streams and automatically control the actuator, eliminating the need for complex mechanical safety mechanisms while improving operational ease.
2Measurement precision
If video monitoring is integrated with sensor data, then measurement precision is improved for medical analysis, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the video stream from the camera with sensor data from the patient monitoring system by synchronizing them through a common timestamp reference. The controller combines these data streams into a unified structure that preserves temporal relationships between video frames and sensor readings, enabling precise correlated analysis without requiring separate complex synchronization systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves multiple functions: it processes video streams for patient presence detection, synchronizes sensor data with video timestamps, analyzes both data types for medical conditions, and controls the actuator based on this integrated analysis. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated processing systems, thereby managing complexity while improving measurement precision.
3Reliability
If camera monitoring is used to detect patient conditions, then reliability of medical alert is improved, but loss of time may occur due to data processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of video data by continuously analyzing frames for patient presence and basic conditions in the background. This preliminary action prepares the data structure and identifies potential issues before they require urgent medical attention, allowing the system to respond more quickly when actual alerts are needed without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously processes video streams and sensor data in real-time, maintaining constant monitoring without interruption. This continuous processing eliminates gaps in detection and ensures that medical conditions are identified as they occur, minimizing time loss while maintaining high reliability through uninterrupted monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A monitoring system for a patient and/or patient support apparatus includes one or more cameras that capture images and depth data. A computer processes the image signals and depth data and performs one or more of the following functions: (a) enabling/disabling a remote control adapted to move a component of the patient support apparatus; (b) detecting patient breathing abnormalities; (c) detecting the presence of a ligature and its attendant strangulation risk to the patient; (d) identifying a sheet and/or a patient gown in the captured images; (e) disabling/enabling controls on the patient support apparatus based on patient position; (f) synchronizing readings from one or more sensors with the image signals; (g) stitching together images captured from multiple cameras; and/or other functions. The cameras may be positioned on the patient support apparatus and/or elsewhere, and the computer may be a server and/or a controller on the patient support apparatus.