Emergency Patient Weight Estimation via Equipment Deduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency medical personnel face challenges in accurately determining a patient's weight, particularly in non-responsive or critically ill patients, due to factors like obesity, clothing, and equipment, which can lead to incorrect medication dosages and increased risk of adverse events.
Innovation Solution
A computer-driven system that estimates a patient's weight by inputting information about clothing, equipment, and other factors, using databases to adjust for these variables, allowing for accurate medication dosages and treatment protocols without the need for direct weighing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If emergency personnel use visual estimation to determine patient weight, then the process is quick and simple, but the measurement precision is poor leading to incorrect medication dosages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation system that uses the known weight of equipment (stretcher, backboard, clothing) as a mediator to derive the patient's weight. By measuring the total weight of patient plus equipment and subtracting the known equipment weight, the system obtains an accurate patient weight without requiring direct patient weighing or subjective estimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by using the inherent weight information of standard emergency equipment to automatically calculate patient weight. The pre-programmed weights of equipment like stretchers and backboards allow the system to self-determine patient weight through simple subtraction, eliminating the need for external weighing devices or expert estimation.
2Productivity
If emergency personnel administer medications based on estimated weight, then treatment can be initiated quickly, but the reliability of medication dosage is poor leading to adverse events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-programming the weights of all emergency equipment (stretchers, backboards, clothing types) into the system before use. This allows the system to immediately calculate accurate patient weight and corresponding medication dosages as soon as the patient is placed on the equipment, eliminating delays while ensuring reliability through pre-validated weight data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the calculated patient weight and using it to determine appropriate medication dosages. The system provides feedback to the emergency personnel about the calculated weight and recommended dosage, allowing for verification and adjustment before medication administration, thereby ensuring both speed and reliability.
3Measurement precision
If direct weighing of the patient is performed, then accurate weight measurement is achieved, but the complexity of the procedure increases and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by separating the patient weight measurement from the total weight measurement. Instead of directly weighing the patient, the system measures the total weight of patient plus equipment and extracts the patient's weight by subtracting the known equipment weight. This simplifies the procedure while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copying by creating a mathematical model of the patient's weight based on the total weight measurement and the pre-programmed equipment weight. Rather than requiring direct physical weighing of the patient, the system copies the weight information through calculation, achieving the same result with less complexity.
4Measurement precision
If emergency personnel rely on patient or companion information for weight, then accurate weight may be obtained, but this is not available in many critical cases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to serve itself by using the intrinsic weight properties of the emergency equipment to determine patient weight without requiring external information sources. The pre-programmed equipment weights allow the system to autonomously calculate patient weight even when patients are non-responsive and cannot provide information, making the system universally applicable to all emergency situations.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer based system is disclosed for providing emergency medical personnel with a means for rapidly ascertaining an accurate estimated weight for a non-responsive and potentially critically ill patient. The system acquires the gross weight of the patient, the support upon which the patient is lying and all life support equipment that may be on that support. From data stored in a data base, and from information input into the system by the personnel on hand, the weights of everything except the patient are deducted by the system to arrive at the patient's weight. That weight is then resident in the system and serves to allow the system to accurately calculate the correct dosages of medications to be administered to the patient while warning the personnel if dangerous interactions are possible. The system includes protocols for treating a wide variety of emergency medical conditions in both hospital and military environments.