The present disclosure relates to monitoring the location of individuals for fall management and other purposes.
Fall management of individuals in health care settings is an area of significant interest for healthcare providers. Individuals with limited mobility may have difficulty exiting a bed, a chair, or another support object without assistance. Such individuals are at high risk of a fall, which may exacerbate an existing condition or cause new injuries. An existing technology for monitoring individuals includes the use of a sensor pad placed under the person being monitored. This technology relies on the patient unloading the sensor pad (i.e., removing their weight from the sensor pad) in order to generate a signal to the caregiver.
Other existing technologies include outfitting the patient with motion, pressure, or other sensing devices, which often proves to be difficult to deploy and potentially unsanitary if the sensing devices are not easy to clean or disposable. Still other existing systems utilize video monitoring techniques, which raise concerns regarding the privacy of the individuals being monitored and are often costly to deploy and maintain.
There continues to be a need for a monitoring solution that is unobtrusive and sanitary, without creating privacy concerns.
The present disclosure provides a system for monitoring an individual. The system includes a processor and a LIDAR sensor in electronic communication with the processor. The processor is configured to receive a set of spatial data from the LIDAR sensor; calculate a first location of the individual relative to a support object based on the set of spatial data; and determine if the first location is at an alert location relative to the support object. The processor may be configured to calculate the first location of the individual relative to the support object by distinguishing spatial data of the individual from spatial data of the support object, and calculating a center of mass of the individual based on the spatial data of the individual.
The processor may be further configured to determine an alert position of the individual relative to the support object by calculating a location of at least one edge of the support object. For example, the alert location may be determined to be where the center of mass of the individual is beyond the edge of the support object. In another example, the alert location may be determined to be where the center of mass of the individual is within a predetermined distance of the edge of the support object. The processor may be further configured to send an alert signal when the first location is determined to be at the alert location.
In some embodiments, the processor may be further configured to receive a second set of spatial data from the LIDAR sensor; calculate a second location of the individual relative to the support object based on the second set of spatial data; and determine if the second location is at an alert location relative to the support object. For example, the processor may be configured to determine if the change from the first location to the second location is indicative of movement to an alert location. The processor may be configured to calculate a probability that the individual will move to an alert location based on the first location and the second location. The processor may be configured to determine a direction of movement of the individual. The processor may be configured to determine a velocity of the individual. In some embodiments, the processor may be configured to determine if the individual has moved from a recumbent position to a sitting position based on the first location and the second location.
In some embodiments, the processor may be configured to receive one or more additional sets of spatial data from the LIDAR sensor and determine an acceleration of the individual based on the first location, the second location, and additional locations based on the one or more additional sets of spatial data.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for monitoring an individual. The method includes receiving a first set of spatial data from a LIDAR sensor, calculating a first location of the individual relative to a support object based on the first set of spatial data, and determining if the first location is at an alert location relative to the support object. In some embodiments, calculating a first location of the individual relative to the support object may include distinguishing spatial data of the individual from spatial data of the support object, and calculating a center of mass of the individual based on the spatial data of the individual.
In some embodiments, determining an alert location of the individual relative to the support object includes calculating a location of at least one edge of the support object. In some embodiments, the alert location may be determined to be where the center of mass of the individual is beyond the edge of the support object. In some embodiments, the alert location may be determined to be where the center of mass of the individual is within a predetermined distance of the edge of the support object. In some embodiments, the method further includes sending an alert signal when the first location is determined to be at an alert location.
In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a second set of spatial data from the LIDAR sensor, calculating a second location of the individual relative to the support object based on the second set of spatial data, and determining if the second location is at an alert location relative to the support object. The method may further include determining if the change from the first location to the second location is indicative of movement to an alert location. The method may further include calculating a probability that the individual will move to an alert location based on the first location and the second location. The method may further include determining a direction of movement of the individual. The method may further include determining a velocity of the individual.
In some embodiments, the method includes receiving one or more additional sets of spatial data from the LIDAR sensor and determining an acceleration of the individual based on the first location, the second location, and additional locations based on the one or more additional sets of spatial data. In some embodiments, the method further includes determining if the individual has moved from a recumbent position to a sitting position based on the first location and the second location.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present disclosure incorporates Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology to unobtrusively monitor an individual. A LIDAR sensor facilitates non-contact monitoring of patients on beds, chairs, and the like (support objects) and does not rely on detailed images of a patient to determine when a patient on a surface is attempting to exit the support surface. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide the ability to determine if an individual has left a support object (e.g., a supporting surface) such as a hospital bed, chair, etc. Furthermore, embodiments may provide the ability to predict that the individual is about to leave the support object, providing time for a caregiver to intercede and provide assistance to the individual.
The application of a LIDAR range sensing device to constantly monitor the surface of a patient support platform (chair, bed, etc), detecting the presence or absence of a patient, and monitoring the movement of a patient on a surface. The sensor signal can be processed to anticipate that the individual patient is attempting to exit from the support surface unexpectedly.
In an aspect, the present disclosure may be embodied as a system 10 for monitoring an individual (see, e.g.,
In a first scenario depicted in
Although
The processor 20 is configured to receive a set of spatial data from the LIDAR sensor 30. The received spatial data may be used to calculate a first location of the individual. A priori information is used to determine a support surface of the support object, other fixed features of the support object (such as, for example, bed rails), and other room features (such as, for example, the floor, nightstand, etc.) In this way, the spatial data of the individual may be distinguished from the spatial data of the support object. In some embodiments, a center of mass of the individual is calculated based on the spatial data of the individual. In this way, the first location may be the location of the center of mass of the individual. The first location may be calculated with relative to the support object. The processor may also be configured to determine if the first location is at an alert location relative to the support object. For example, the alert location may be at or near an edge of the support object (e.g., an edge of the bed). In some embodiments, the alert location may be beyond the edge of the support object. In such an example, the processor may be configured to determine if the individual has left the bed (whether intentional or not). In some embodiments, the alert location is determined if the center of mass of the individual is within a predetermined distance of the edge of the support object.
The processor 20 may be configured to send an alert signal when the first location is determined to be at the alert location. For example, the alert signal may be an audible alarm, a visual alarm, a haptic alarm, an electronic signal to a separate device (e.g., a signal to a nurse call system, a text message to a smart phone, etc.), or any other type of alert or combination of such alerts.
In some embodiments, the process 20 may be configured to receive a second set of spatial data from the LIDAR sensor 30. For example, as described above, the LIDAR sensor may scan its field of view over multiple passes, and a second set of spatial data may correspond to a second pass of the sensor. In other embodiments, the each of the first set and second set of spatial data may be made up of multiple passes of the LIDAR sensor. A second location of the individual is calculated based on the second set of spatial data. The second location may be calculated relative to the support object. The processor may determine if the second location is at an alert location relative to the support object.
In some embodiments, the processor 20 is further configured to determine if the change from the first location to the second location is indicative of movement to an alert location. For example, the processor may determine a direction of travel of the individual and/or a velocity of the individual. The processor may calculate a probability that the individual will move to the alert location. The calculation of probability may be based on the first location and the second location. For example, the calculation of probability may be based on the velocity and/or direction of the individual. In this way, if the location of the individual (e.g., the center of mass of the individual) is determined to be moving quickly in the direction of the edge of the bed, the probability of the individual moving to the edge of the bed may be high-indicating the individual is leaving the bed.
The scanning plane may be pre-determined. For example, the scanning plane may be configured (e.g., the LIDAR sensor positioned) based on knowledge of the support object configuration. With reference to
In some embodiments, the processor 20 is further configured to receive additional sets of spatial data from the LIDAR sensor 30 (e.g., a third set, a fourth set, etc.) Such additional sets of spatial data may be used to parameters such as updated velocity(ies), acceleration, and/or updated location(s), etc.
In some embodiments, the processor may determine if the individual has moved from a reclined position to a less reclined position. For example, the individual may raise the head of the bed such that they are less reclined.
A LIDAR device provides distance and angular position measurements from a fixed point which, when communicated to a computing device, can be used to create a polar coordinate or Cartesian coordinate model of an environment, including objects in the environment. A LIDAR device typically provides individual measurement data such as distance and angle pairs in rapid succession in time, which are typically illustrated as points. Collections of this type of data are usually graphed, generating visible points in such close proximity to each other that a human-viewable image of the data is possible.
In this illustration, a 2 dimensional LIDAR (360° line scan) device mounted in a fixed position (near the top of a room) is used to generate a model of a room environment. The LIDAR device is positioned so as to include a scan across a patient surface, typically aimed to include an area of the surface most likely to be occupied by a patient when the patient is using the patient surface. In this image, the patient support surface can be defined by two edges, and is observed to most likely be empty (no significant disturbance on the patient surface).
To more accurately detect a movement of a patient from a centered position to an edge position, the LIDAR data can be used to estimate changes in the center of mass or center of gravity of the patient. Several techniques are suitable for this purpose. For example, the center of mass calculation may be based on the summation of the products of individual distance measurement element height (distance from the support surface to measured individual height) and the distance element width (distance between measured points, correlated to the measurement angle) across the individual combined with an assumption of homogeneous patient composition (density) can be used to approximate an instantaneous center of mass. This may be compared with subsequent center of mass calculations to determine when a pattern of movement of the center of mass of the patient toward an edge of the support surface is an attempt by the individual to exit the surface. When movement of the individual's center of mass toward an edge is detected, a notification can be sent to caregiver(s) indicating that the individual may be attempting to exit the bed.
A second technique for using LIDAR sensing to predict or anticipate a user attempting to exit from a bed or other patient surface is a method where a virtual plane is established by the LIDAR sensor over or around a patient area, and unexpected changes or interruptions in the virtual plane provides an indication of patient activity. The virtual plane can be established above a patient seated on a chair or seating surface. As the patient attempts to stand, portions of their body interrupt the plane and are detected, resulting in a notification being sent to caregiver(s) indicating the activity. In another embodiment, a virtual plane is established over the bed of a patient, and activity such as sitting up in the bed projects a portion of the body of the patient through the plane, resulting in a break or change in the virtual plane that is detected and converted to a notification sent to caregiver(s).
The system may be configured in different ways with respect to the support object, room configuration, etc. For example, in some embodiments, the system may be affixed to a wall of the room. Such a configuration is advantageous because the system may also be used to detect the presence of a bed. In this way, if no bed is present, the system may disable any alerts (e.g., false alerts), provide information to other systems indicating no patient is located in the room, etc. Furthermore, such a configuration allows rooms to be reconfigured without the need to reconfigure the system (e.g., associate the LIDAR system with a new room, etc.) In other embodiments, the system may be affixed to the support object thereby providing advantages such as a potentially-improved knowledge of the support object configuration for more accurate calculations.
With reference to
In some embodiments, determining 109 an alert location of the individual relative to the support object includes calculating 118 a location of at least one edge of the support object. In some embodiments, the alert location may be determined if the center of mass of the individual is beyond the edge of the support object (i.e., the individual is determined to be at the alert location if the center of mass of the individual is beyond the edge of the support object). In some embodiments, the alert location may be determined if the center of mass of the individual is within a predetermined distance of the edge of the support object. The method 100 may include sending 121 an alert signal when the first location is determined to be at an alert location.
In some embodiments, the method 100 include receiving 124 a second set of spatial data from the LIDAR sensor. A second location of the individual is calculated 127 relative to the support object based on the second set of spatial data. The method may include determining 130 if the second location is at an alert location relative to the support object. The method 100 may include determining 133 if the change from the first location to the second location is indicative of movement to an alert location. The method 100 may include calculating 136 a probability that the individual will move to an alert location based on the first location and/or the second location. The method 100 may include determining 139 a direction of movement of the individual. The method 100 may include determining 142 a velocity of the individual. The movement and/or velocity may be determined using the first location and the second location (for example, using the locations of the center of mass of the individual).
In some embodiments, the method may further comprise receiving one or more additional sets of spatial data from the LIDAR sensor. Such one or more additional sets of spatial data may be used with the first location and/or the second location to determine additional characteristics of the individual. For example, an acceleration of the individual may be determined using the one or more additional sets of spatial data (e.g., one or more additional locations of the individual) either alone or in combination with the first location and/or the second location.
In some embodiments, the method include determining if the individual has moved from a recumbent position to a sitting position (seated position) based on one or more of the first location, the second location, and the one or more additional locations.
The systems and methods of this disclosure are described for convenience with 2-dimensional or single-plane LIDAR devices. Such 2D devices may provide an economical deployment of the technology. The same concepts apply to, and may benefit from, the deployment of 3-dimensional LIDAR devices, which is within scope of the present disclosure. The use of 3-dimensional LIDAR would make multiple planes or surfaces available for use in detecting patient activity. Additionally, the use of LIDAR for the purposes shared in this disclosure also benefit from the use of LIDAR devices that have limited or narrowed ranging areas, reducing or eliminating the need to sort through additional data provided by LIDAR units which may sweep or scan a full 360° range when in use.
Although the present disclosure has been described with respect to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/077,850, filed on Sep. 14, 2020, now pending, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63077850 | Sep 2020 | US |