US 11,712,186 B2
Incontinence detection with real time location information
Gavin M. Monson, Oxford, OH (US); Dan R. Tallent, Hope, IN (US); Brandon M. Ayers, Carrboro, NC (US); and Frederick C. Davidson, Apex, NC (US)
Assigned to Hill-Rom Services, Inc., Batesville, IN (US)
Filed by Hill-Rom Services, Inc., Batesville, IN (US)
Filed on Sep. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/27,881.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/908,001, filed on Sep. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0093244 A1, Apr. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 5/20 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/202 (2013.01) [A61B 5/002 (2013.01); A61B 5/0004 (2013.01); A61B 5/6891 (2013.01); A61B 5/746 (2013.01); A61B 2560/0204 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for detecting and locating an incontinence event comprising
a patient support apparatus configured to support a patient thereon,
an incontinence detection pad including an absorbent substrate and a condition-responsive sensor coupled to the absorbent substrate and configured to transmit an input signal when moisture is present on the absorbent substrate, the condition-responsive sensor including: (i) a detection grid including a plurality of traces coupled to the substrate and (ii) a radiofrequency identification tag coupled to the detection grid and configured to provide the input signal in response to moisture being present on the detection grid, and
an ultra-wideband communication system coupled communicatively with the condition-responsive sensor of the incontinence detection pad and configured to provide a transmission of data signals including: (i) incontinence signals indicative of the incontinence data sensed by the condition-responsive sensor and (ii) location signals indicative of location data of the incontinence detection pad and the patient support apparatus,
wherein the ultra-wideband communication system includes an ultra-wideband tag in communication with the condition-responsive sensor and configured to receive the input signal from the radiofrequency identification tag of the condition-responsive sensor, an ultra-wideband reader in wireless communication with the ultra-wideband tag and configured to receive the incontinence signals and location signals from the ultra-wideband tag, and a controller including a microprocessor and a memory storage device storing instructions that when executed by the microprocessor cause the controller to output a command signal to notify a caregiver of the incontinence data and the location data of the incontinence detection pad and the patient support apparatus.
 
7. A system for detecting and locating an incontinence event comprising
a patient support apparatus configured to support a patient thereon,
an incontinence detection pad including an absorbent substrate and a condition-responsive sensor coupled to the absorbent substrate and configured to transmit an input signal when moisture is present on the absorbent substrate, the condition-responsive sensor including: (i) a detection grid including a plurality of traces coupled to the substrate and (ii) and an ohmic sensor configured to measure a resistance between at least two traces of the plurality of traces and provide the input signal in response to the resistance reaching a predetermined threshold, and
an ultra-wideband communication system coupled communicatively with the condition-responsive sensor of the incontinence detection pad and configured to provide a transmission of data signals including: (i) incontinence signals indicative of the incontinence data sensed by the condition-responsive sensor and (ii) location signals indicative of location data of the incontinence detection pad and the patient support apparatus,
wherein the ultra-wideband communication system includes an ultra-wideband tag in communication with the condition-responsive sensor and configured to receive the input signal from the ohmic sensor of the condition-responsive sensor, an ultra-wideband reader in wireless communication with the ultra-wideband tag and configured to receive the incontinence signals and location signals from the ultra-wideband tag, and a controller including a microprocessor and a memory storage device storing instructions that when executed by the microprocessor cause the controller to output a command signal to notify a caregiver of the incontinence data and the location data of the incontinence detection pad and the patient support apparatus,
wherein the ultra-wideband tag includes a microprocessor and a memory device storing instructions that, when executed, cause the ohmic sensor to change from a sleep mode, in which the ohmic sensor provides no signals to the ultra-wideband reader, and an active mode, in which the ohmic sensor is awake and provides the input signal so that the ultra-wideband tag provides the incontinence signals to the ultra-wideband reader.