Patent Application
20110185611
The present subject matter relates generally to an apparatus and method for rapid identification and tracking of individuals in an emergency situation and particularly to a spring loaded band for use in patient triage, hospital tracking, and mass evacuations that may be quickly attached and secured to an individual.
In emergency situations, such as an injury causing accident, a terrorist attack, or a mass evacuation, it is necessary to be able to quickly identify the non-injured, injured, evacuees, incident responders, and the like. In particular, the medical condition of the injured often needs to be quickly identified to enable first responders to efficiently and effectively provide medical care. Moreover, properly identifying the persons involved in an emergency situation is necessary to permit such persons to be accurately tracked as they are transferred from the scene of the emergency to a hospital, an evacuation point, or some other similar location.
Typically, first responders to the scene of an accident use a triage tag, secured to an accident victim's wrist, to quickly note the injury type, vital signs and severity of the injuries of a victim. Triage tags generally consist of paper or vinyl cards secured by string or tether or plastic bands secured with snaps, slots, or similar fastening mechanisms. For example, conventional triage tags require emergency responders to loop a strap around a victim's wrist, pull the strap through a slot, remove a covering off of the end of the strap to expose an adhesive section, and then affix the adhesive section to a portion of the tag to fully secure the triage tag to the victim. Such two-handed operation is typically required for most conventional triage tags, which generally wastes precious time at the scene of the accident and can frustrate the efforts of the emergency responders. Moreover, conventional triage tags are susceptible to falling off or being damaged during transport of a victim to a nearby hospital or emergency care facility.
Accordingly, there is a need for a band that may be quickly attached and secured to an individual to enable such individual to be properly identified and tracked during and/or following an emergency situation.
Aspects and advantages of the present subject matter will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the present subject matter.
In general, the present subject matter is directed to an apparatus and method for rapid identification and tracking of individuals in an emergency situation. For example, the present subject matter discloses a spring loaded band for use in patient triage and hospital tracking that may be quickly attached and secured to an individual. The band is also suitable for use in various other applications. For example, the band may be suitable for use during and/or following a mass evacuation or a terrorist attack.
In one embodiment of the present subject matter, a spring loaded band can include a spring element movable between a first stable position and a second stable position, the spring element being configured to coil lengthwise around an individual's wrist, arm, ankle or leg while transitioning from the second stable position to the first stable position; a hygienic coating being configured to cover the spring element; and a unique patient identifier number disposed on the band.
In this aspect of the present subject matter, the spring element may comprise a metal bi-stable ribbon spring.
Also in this aspect of the present subject matter, the hygienic coating may comprise a hygienic plastic or vinyl coating.
Further in this aspect of the present subject matter, the patient identifier number may be printed, molded or etched onto the hygienic coating.
In this aspect of the present subject matter, the spring loaded band may include a barcode disposed on the hygienic coating. The barcode may correspond to the patient identifier number.
Also in this aspect of the present subject matter, the color of the hygienic coating may be varied so as to correspond to an individual's condition or triage status.
Further in this aspect of the present subject matter, the spring loaded band may include an RFID tag configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the patient identifier number. The RFID tag may be disposed on the band or embedded within the band.
In this aspect of the present subject matter, the spring loaded band may include a removable tag secured to the hygienic coating. The patient identifier number may be disposed on the removable tag.
Also in this aspect of the present subject matter, the removable tag may include a barcode corresponding to the patient identifier number.
Further in this aspect of the present subject matter, the removable tag may include a RFID tag configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the patient identifier number.
In this aspect of the present subject matter, the spring loaded band may include a color coded label removably secured to the hygienic coating. The color of the color coded label may be varied so as to correspond to an individual's condition or triage status.
Also in this aspect of the present subject matter, the spring loaded band may include a detachable extension configured so as to be removable in stages to indicate or update an individual's condition or triage status.
Further in this aspect of the present subject matter, the spring loaded band may include a biometric sensor configured to sense and transmit health readings of an individual.
In this aspect of the present subject matter, the spring loaded band may include a fastening mechanism disposed on the band, wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a VELCRO strip and a corresponding mating surface or a strip of adhesive.
In another embodiment of the present subject matter, a method for identifying and tracking individuals during patient triage, at a hospital or during a mass evacuation is provided. The method can include affixing a spring loaded band to an individual by applying a force to the band so as to initiate a self-transition of the band from a second stable position to a first stable position, wherein the band is configured to coil lengthwise around the individual's wrist, arm, ankle or leg while transitioning to the first stable position; and assigning a patient identifier number associated with the band to the individual so as to permit such individual to be identified and tracked.
In this aspect of the present subject matter, the method may include selecting the spring loaded band to be affixed to the individual so that the color of the band corresponds to the individual's condition or triage status, wherein the color of the band may be varied to correspond to a particular condition or triage status.
Also in this aspect of the present subject matter, the method may include securing a color coded label to the spring loaded band so as to indicate or update the individual's condition or triage status, wherein the color of the color coded label may be varied to correspond to a particular condition or triage status.
Further in this aspect of the present subject matter, the method may include securing a removable tag to the spring loaded band, wherein the patient identifier number is disposed on the removable tag.
In this aspect of the present subject matter, the removable tag may include a barcode corresponding to the patient identifier number and a RFID tag configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the patient identifier number.
Also in this aspect of the present subject matter, the method may include removing tabs from a detachable extension of the spring loaded band so as indicate or update the condition or triage status of the individual.
Further in this aspect of the present subject matter, the method may include sensing an individual's vital health information with a biometric sensor disposed on the spring loaded band.
In this aspect of the present subject matter, the method may include securing a fastening mechanism to the band.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present subject matter will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present subject matter and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present subject matter.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the present subject matter, not by way of limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present subject matter without departing from the scope or spirit of the present subject matter. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present subject matter covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
In accordance with an aspect of the present subject matter,
In general, the spring loaded band 10 may be configured so as to be quickly attached and secured to an individual's arm, wrist, leg, ankle or other body part. Thus, the band 10 may include a spring element 12 movable between first and second stable positions. Additionally, the spring element 12 may be configured to coil lengthwise around an individual's wrist, arm, ankle or leg while transitioning to the first stable position. The spring loaded band 10 may also include a hygienic coating 14 configured to cover the spring element 12. Further, a unique patient identifier number 16 may be disposed on the band 10.
From the second stable position 28, the spring element 12 may be quickly and easily returned to the first stable position 26 by the application of a bending or buckling force F (
Referring back to
In a preferred embodiment, the hygienic coating 14 may be composed of a plastic or vinyl hygienic material. However, it should be appreciated that the hygienic coating 14 may be generally composed of any material that can be used to prevent mold, bacteria, or other harmful micro-organisms from collecting or growing on the spring loaded band 10. Such a hygienic coating 14 may be particularly desirable in a triage application, as the outside of the band 10 may be exposed to the open wounds of injured patients. Additionally, the hygienic coating 14 may be used to prevent direct exposure of an individual's skin to the spring element 12. For example, the coating 14 can minimize the likelihood of injury due to the spring element 12 rubbing against an individual's wrist, arm, leg, ankle or other body part.
Further, as indicated above, a unique patient identifier number 16 may be disposed on the spring loaded band 10. This may be included so that emergency responders and medical service providers can properly identify an individual while still complying with federal laws regulating the privacy of certain health information. It should be appreciated that the patient identifier number 16 may be generally disposed at any location on the band 10. In one embodiment, illustrated in
Referring still to
In addition to the inclusion of a barcode 22 or as an alternative thereto, the spring loaded band 10 may also include a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tag 24 disposed on the band 10 or embedded within the band 10. A RFID tag 24 may be configured to transmit a radio-frequency signal. Thus, in accordance with an aspect of the present subject matter, the RFID tag 24 may be configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the unique patient identifier number 16 associated with a particular band 10. Such a configuration may allow emergency responders to identify and/or track multiple persons simultaneously during an emergency situation.
It should be appreciated that the RFID tag 24 may be generally disposed at any location on the spring loaded band 10. As illustrated in
The use of barcodes 22 and/or RFID tags 24 in the spring loaded band 10 of the present subject matter may be useful in providing quick and easy tracking of injured patients or, in the case of a mass evacuation, evacuees. For example, first responders to an emergency situation may be equipped with handheld devices capable of scanning the barcodes 22 and/or receiving transmissions from the RFID tags 24 disposed on or embedded within an individual's band 10. Preferably, the handheld device may be configured to run a software tracking package, which can allow medical providers to quickly input patient information corresponding to the scanned or received patient identifier number 16 and share such information with the hospital, health care system, shelter, or similar location to which the injured patient or evacuee is being transported. As an example, one suitable, commercially available software package includes PATIENT TRACKING SOLUTION® by GLOBAL EMERGENCY RESOURCES™, LLC (Augusta, Ga.).
In yet a further embodiment of the present subject matter, the particular color of a spring loaded band 10 may be varied so as to correspond to the condition or triage status of an individual. For instance, the hygienic coating 14 may be provided in a plurality of colors, with each color signifying a condition or status in a chosen color code. Thus, as a non-limiting example, the hygienic coating 14 of a particular band 10 may be one of the following colors so as to correspond to the following patient condition or triage status: green to indicate that the individual should be held at a particular location, yellow to indicate that the individual is ready for transport or should be transported, red to indicate that the individual's status is critical, black to indicate that an individual is deceased or white to indicate that an individual is non-injured. Of course, it should be appreciated that that the spring loaded band 10 may be provided in numerous other colors so as to correspond to various other patient and/or triage conditions.
In still another embodiment of the present subject matter, illustrated in
Moreover, still referring to
In a further embodiment of the present subject matter, a color coded label 36 may be removably secured to the spring loaded band 10. For example, as shown in
The particular color of a color coded label 36 may be generally varied so as to correspond to a certain condition or triage status. In a preferred embodiment, the color code used for the color coded label 36 may be same as the color code used for the spring loaded band 10. Thus, referring to the embodiment described above, the color coded label 36 may be one of the following colors so as to signify the following condition or triage status: green to indicate that the individual should be held at a particular location, yellow to indicate that the individual is ready for transport, red to indicate that the individual's status is critical, black to indicate that an individual is deceased and white to indicate that an individual is non-injured. In addition, the color coded label 36 may also include the corresponding condition or triage status printed directly on the label 36. Thus, as seen in
One of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that, since the color coded label 36 may be configured to be easily attached to and removed from the band 10, the label 36 may also be used to indicate a change in the condition or triage status of an individual so to provide flexibility in monitoring persons at the scene of an accident. For example, a patient at the scene of an accident may be initially examined and a white spring loaded band 10 may be secured to the patient to signify that the patient is not injured. However, it may become apparent after a short period of time that the patient has actually suffered an injury. At that point, an emergency responder or medical service provider may then secure a particular color coded label 36 to the band 10 in order to properly indicate and update the patient's condition.
In yet still another embodiment of the present subject matter, shown in
Moreover, the detachable extension 38 may be configured such that each of the tabs 40 may be separately removed from the band 10. For example, as illustrated in
Referring now to
To ensure that the health readings taken by the biometric sensor 46 are accurate, it may be desirable for the sensor 46 to be disposed on the spring loaded band 10 so as be in direct contact with an individual's wrist, arm, ankle or leg. Thus, in the embodiment shown in
It should be appreciated that, although the spring loaded band 10 may be configured to be self-latching, the band 10 may also include an fastening mechanism so as to further secure the band 10 to an individual. For example, in one embodiment, the band 10 may include a fastening mechanism in order to maintain the pressure exerted by the band 10 on an individual's wrist or other body part at a certain level. This may be desirable, for instance, to allow a biometric reader 46 disposed on the band 10 to continuously monitor an individual's vital health information. Additionally, a fastening mechanism may be included to reduce the risk of the spring loaded band 10 being tampered with or accidentally removed.
One of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that the fastening mechanism may take various forms and may comprise any suitable attachment or fastening means generally known. In one embodiment, the fastening mechanism may comprise at least one strip of VELCRO 50 and a corresponding mating surface 52. In general, the VELCRO strip(s) 50 may be disposed at any location on the spring loaded band 10 such that the VELCRO 50 mates and locks together with the mating surface 52 when the band 10 is coiled upon itself For example, as shown in
In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in
It should be appreciated that the present subject matter also encompasses a method for identifying and tracking individuals during patient triage, at a hospital or during a mass evacuation. The method generally includes affixing a spring loaded band 10 to an individual by applying a force F (
In another embodiment of the present subject matter, the method may further include selecting the spring loaded band 10 to be affixed to an individual so that the color of the band 10 corresponds to the individual's condition or status. In such an embodiment, the color of a band 10 may be varied to correspond to a particular condition or triage status.
In a further embodiment of the present subject matter, the method may further include securing a color coded label 36 to the spring loaded band 10 so as to indicate or update an individual's condition or triage status. In such case, the color of the color coded label 36 may be varied to correspond to a particular condition or triage status.
In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the method may further include securing a removable tag 34 to the spring loaded band 10, wherein the patient identifier number 16 may be disposed on the removable tag 34. Additionally, the removable tag 34 may include a barcode 22 and/or a RFID tag 24 to facilitate identification and tracking
In still a further embodiment of the present subject matter, the method may further include removing tabs 40 from the detachable extension 38 of the spring loaded band 10 so as indicate or update an individual's condition or triage status. Additionally, the method may include sensing an individual's vita health information with a biometric sensor 46 disposed on the band 10. Further, the method may include securing a fastening mechanism to the band 10.
While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
