US 12,367,751 B2
Alert system
Elizabeth Blanchard, Sydney (AU); Laurent Parsy, Sydney (AU); Bruce Brew, Sydney (AU); Helene Blanchard, Sydney (AU); Andreanne Blanchard, Sydney (AU); and Serge Lauriou, Sydney (AU)
Assigned to MY MEDIC WATCH PTY LTD, Sydney (AU)
Filed by MY MEDIC WATCH PTY LTD, Sydney (AU)
Filed on May 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/320,801.
Application 17/320,801 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/339,220, abandoned, previously published as PCT/AU2017/000209, filed on Oct. 5, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 2016904045 (AU), filed on Oct. 5, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0295668 A1, Sep. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. G08B 21/04 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/11 (2006.01); G06N 20/00 (2019.01); G08B 29/18 (2006.01)
CPC G08B 21/043 (2013.01) [A61B 5/1117 (2013.01); A61B 5/4094 (2013.01); A61B 5/681 (2013.01); G06N 20/00 (2019.01); G08B 21/0446 (2013.01); G08B 29/185 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fall detection apparatus adapted to be worn by a user, the apparatus comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive data input comprising an acceleration signal and a time reference signal and determine a fall event from the data input;
an accelerometer configured for substantially continuous recording of the acceleration signal and communication of the acceleration signal to the processor, the acceleration signal quantifying acceleration of the fall detection apparatus relative to a reference frame; and
a timer configured for substantially continuous communication of the time reference signal to the processor;
wherein the processor is configured to implement a threshold-based algorithm comprising:
substantially continuously monitor the acceleration signal for detection of a low acceleration signal (LAS) within a low acceleration range (LAR), using the time reference signal, to compare a duration of the LAS to a predetermined first period of time, t1;
substantially continuously monitor the acceleration signal for detection of a high acceleration signal (HAS) in a high acceleration range (HAR), subsequent to t1, and using the time reference signal, to compare a duration of the HAS to a predetermined second period of time, t2;
wherein on detection of the HAS having a duration longer than the predetermined second period of time, t2, the processor is configured to generate a fall detection signal indicative of a fall by said user onto a surface;
wherein, on generation of the fall detection signal, the processor is configured to:
monitor the time reference signal and the acceleration signal during a third predetermined period of time, t3, subsequent to t2; and
generate a user immobile signal based on the acceleration signal remaining in a predetermined very low acceleration range (VLAR) during the third predetermined period of time, t3,
wherein the processor is configured to generate the immobile signal by processes including:
initiate a Time To Detect On The Floor (TTDOTF) time setting which corresponds to t3,
analyze the acceleration signal for all time during t3;
measure at least one Time On The Floor (TOTF) period defined as a time period that the acceleration signal is within an On The Ground acceleration Sensitivity (OTGS) setting during the TTDOTF time setting,
exclude time segments corresponding to the acceleration signal outside the OTGS during t3 before and/or after the at least one TOTF period,
confirm a fall detection event in response to the user immobile signal by the processor being configured to determine that a sum of the at least one TOTF period is greater than a TOTF setting;
customize at least one of the LAR, the HAS and the predetermined VLAR for the user with reference to personal profile settings unique to said user.