Systems and methods for monitoring and/or managing a person's orientation over time
A monitoring system and method tracks a patient's position over time and ensures that proper turning or other manipulation is done within the time prescribed. Preferably, the techniques herein continuously monitor patient position and alert medical or other personnel of the need for turning or other patient manipulation. The system may be implemented within a medical or other care facility, or within a patient's home.
1. A method for monitoring an orientation of a person on a support surface of a motion detection system, the method comprising:
receiving, via an input device of the motion detection system, restricted position input defining at least one person-specific restricted body position selected from a plurality of body positions, wherein different regions of the person's body are pressurized by the support surface in different ones of the plurality of body positions;
displaying, via a display device of the motion detection system, the at least one person-specific restricted body position selected via the input device;
generating, by at least one sensor of a wearable sensor device, sensor data associated with an orientation of the person on the support surface;
monitoring the orientation of the person on the support surface over time based on the sensor data;
determining, by a processor of the motion detection system, based on the monitored orientation of the person on the support surface, a turn from a first body position to a second body position;
determining, by the processor of the motion detection system, whether the second body position corresponds with the at least one person-specific restricted body position defined by the received restricted position input;
if the second body position corresponds with the at least one person-specific restricted body position, automatically displaying, via the display device, a restricted position alert and a visual indication of time spent in the second body position; and
if the second body position does not correspond with the at least one person-specific restricted body position:
monitoring, by the motion detection system, a time spent in the second body position;
automatically comparing, by the motion detection system, the monitored time spent in the second body position with a defined threshold time limit for the second body position, wherein the motion detection system dynamically adjusts the defined threshold time limit for the second body position based on a duration of a prior time spent out of the second body position; and
automatically outputting, by an audible or visual output device of the motion detection system, an audible or visual turn alert based on the comparison of the monitored time spent in the second body position with the defined threshold time limit for the second body position, the audible or visual turn alert indicating a needed turn of the person relative to the support surface.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting a base value of the defined threshold time limit for the second body position based on user input, such that the defined threshold time limit for the second body position is customizable.
3. The method of claim 1 , comprising automatically generating the audible or visual turn alert if the monitored time spent in the second body position exceeds the defined threshold time limit for the second body position.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the audible or visual turn alert comprises generating progressively increasing audible or visual turn alerts indicating a needed turn of the person.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting sensor data from the wearable sensor device to a separate monitor device;
maintaining, by the monitor device, a log of patient position and turns over time; and
displaying, at a display device of the monitor device:
an indication the person is currently oriented in the second body position; and
an indication of the monitored time spent in the second body position relative to the defined threshold time limit for the second body position.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the indication of the monitored time spent in the second body position relative to the defined threshold time limit for the second body position comprises an indication of a remaining time until the defined threshold time limit for the second body position.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising displaying, at the display device of the monitor device, an indication of a time since a most recent turn of the person.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the processor, a magnitude of the turn from the first body position to the second body position; and
displaying, at a display device of the monitor device, an indication of determined magnitude of the turn from the first body position to the second body position.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
monitoring a time spent in the second body position comprises monitoring a cumulative time spent in the second body position over a period including multiple discrete instances in the second body position; and
comparing the monitored time spent in the second body position with a defined threshold time limit for the second body position comprises comparing the monitored cumulative time spent in the second body position with a defined cumulative time limit for the second body position.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor of the wearable sensor device comprises as least one accelerometer configured to generate acceleration data.
11. The method of claim 1 , comprising increasing a severity of the displayed restricted position alert indication as a function of increasing time spent in the second body position.
12. A system for monitoring an orientation of a person on a support surface, the system comprising:
a user input device configured to receive restricted position input defining at least one person-specific restricted body position selected from a plurality of body positions, wherein different regions of the person's body are pressurized by the support surface in different ones of the plurality of body positions;
a display device to display the at least one person-specific restricted body position selected via the input device;
a wearable sensor device including at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data associated with an orientation of the person on the support surface; and
at least one processor configured to:
monitor the orientation of the person over time on the support surface based on the sensor data;
determine, based on the monitored orientation of the person on the support surface, a turn from a first body position to a second body position;
determine whether the second body position corresponds with the at least one person-specific restricted body position defined by the received restricted position input;
if the second body position corresponds with the at least one person-specific restricted body position:
automatically display, via the display device, a restricted position alert; and
display, via the display device, a visual indication of time spent in the second body position; and
if the second body position does not correspond with the at least one person-specific restricted body position:
monitor a time spent in the second body position;
dynamically adjust a defined threshold time limit for the second body position based on a duration of a prior time spent out of the second body position;
compare the monitored time spent in the second body position with the defined threshold time limit for the second body position; and
automatically cause an audible or visual output device to output an audible or visual turn alert based on the comparison of the monitored time spent in the second body position with the defined threshold time limit for the second body position, the audible or visual turn alert indicating a needed turn of the person relative to the support surface.
13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a monitor device configured for wireless communications with the wearable sensor device, the monitor device including a speaker or display configured to output the audible or visual turn alert.
14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a monitor device configured for wireless communications with the wearable sensor device, the monitor device including a display device;
wherein the sensor device is configured to wireless transmit the sensor data or data derived from the sensor data; and
wherein the monitor device is configured to:
maintain a log of patient position and turns over time; and
display via the display device:
an indication the person is currently oriented in the second body position; and
an indication of the monitored time spent in the second body position relative to the defined threshold time limit for the second body position.
15. A method for monitoring an orientation of a person on a support surface with respect to a plurality of body positions, wherein different regions of the person's body are pressurized by the support surface in different ones of the plurality of body positions, the method comprising:
receiving, via a user input device, user input defining a time-on threshold for a first body position;
generating, by at least one sensor of a wearable sensor device, sensor data associated with an orientation of the person on the support surface;
monitoring the orientation of the person on the support surface over time based on the sensor data;
managing, by a processor, a first timer associated with the first body position based on the monitored orientation of the person on the support surface over time, said managing including:
for a first instance of the person oriented in the first body position, increasing the first timer by a first amount corresponding with a duration of the first instance of the person oriented in the first body position;
comparing the first timer to the first time-on threshold defined by the user input;
determining a first turn away from the first body position;
determining a second turn back to the first body position;
determining a duration of time between the first and second turns;
adjusting the first time-on threshold based on the duration of time between the first and second turns, wherein the first time-on threshold is decreased in proportion to an increase in the determined duration of time between the first and second turns;
for a second instance of the person oriented in the first body position, increasing the first timer by a second amount corresponding with a duration of the second instance of the person oriented in the first body position; and
comparing the first timer to the adjusted first time-on threshold; and
automatically outputting, by an audible or visual output device, an audible or visual turn alert based on the comparison of the first timer to the adjusted first time-on threshold, the audible or visual turn alert indicating a needed turn of the person relative to the support surface.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first time-on threshold and the adjusted first time-on threshold each define a time for a turn away from the first body position, according to a defined turn protocol.
17. The method of claim 15 comprising automatically generating the audible or visual turn alert if the first timer exceeds the adjusted first time-on threshold.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
transmitting sensor data from the wearable sensor device to a separate monitor device;
maintaining, by the monitor device, a log of patient position and turns over time; and
displaying, at a display device of the monitor device:
an indication the person is currently oriented in the first body position; and
an indication of the first timer relative to the adjusted first time-on threshold.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first timer relative to the adjusted first time-on threshold comprises an indication of a remaining time until the adjusted first time-on threshold.
20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising displaying, at the display device of the monitor device, an indication of a time since a most recent turn of the person.
21. The method of claim 15 , comprising receiving, via the user input device, user input defining a time-on threshold for a second body position, wherein the time-on threshold for a second body position is different than the time-on threshold for the first body position.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first timer associated with the first body position comprises a cumulative timer indicating a cumulative time spent in the first body position over a period including multiple discrete instances in the first body position.