Person Support Apparatus Activity Mobility Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for person support apparatuses lack the ability to assess and configure settings based on a person's activity and mobility, which are crucial for preventing health issues like pressure sores and hip fractures, and often rely on time-consuming and subjective visual observations.
Innovation Solution
A person support system equipped with sensors and a control system that assesses a person's activity and mobility by monitoring changes in position, enabling the configuration of electronically controllable features such as mattress pressure and airflow based on determined mobility scores, thereby enhancing comfort and reducing health risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual observation methods are used to assess activity and mobility, then the assessment can be performed without additional equipment, but the assessment is time-consuming and subjective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual observation with an automated sensor-based system that uses pressure sensors, load cells, or other detection devices to objectively measure person position and movement on the support apparatus. This substitution eliminates subjectivity and reduces assessment time while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If existing monitoring systems detect large-scale movements, then they can identify position changes and exit risks, but they cannot assess subtle activity and mobility patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring function into multiple levels: existing systems continue to detect large-scale movements for safety monitoring, while new sensors and algorithms detect smaller movements for activity assessment. This segmentation allows the system to handle different measurement precision requirements without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its monitoring sensitivity and configuration based on the detected movement patterns and assessed activity level, allowing it to transition between detecting only large movements and detecting subtle activity patterns as needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the person support apparatus operates with default parameters, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot be optimized for individual person needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically assesses the person's activity and mobility levels using sensor data and configures the support apparatus parameters accordingly without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach maintains operational simplicity while achieving high adaptability to individual needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors person position and movement through sensors, processes this feedback information to assess activity level, and automatically adjusts support apparatus configuration based on the assessment, creating a closed-loop adaptive system.
Data Source
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AI summary
A person support apparatus may, among other things, support a person in a laying-down or a seated position. One or more sensors, which may be operably coupled to the person support apparatus, monitor changes in the position of a person situated on the person support apparatus. A control system receives output from the sensor or sensors over a period of time, while the person is positioned on the person support apparatus. The control system makes a determination relating to the activity and/or mobility of the person positioned on the person support apparatus. The control system may use the activity and/or mobility determination to control a feature of the person support apparatus, or for other purposes.