# US 10,368,796 B2 · Systems and methods for monitoring and providing therapeutic support for a user > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,368,796 B2 - Document ID: US10368796B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/063,056 - Filed: 2016-03-07 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-22 - Assignees: TC13—Pressure Applications LLC - Applicants: Tci3-Pressure Applications LLC - Inventors: Marc C. Jacofsky; David J. Jacofsky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368796B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/447: {specially adapted for aiding the prevention of ulcer or pressure sore development, i.e. before the ulcer or sore has developed} - A47C 27/083: {with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors} - A47C 31/123: {for beds or mattresses} - G05B 15/02: electric - G16H 20/30: relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising - G16H 20/40: relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture - G16H 40/63: for local operation - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet} - A61B 5/0024: {for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network} - A61B 5/7275: {Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor} - A61B 2562/0247: Pressure sensors - A61B 2562/028: Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS] - A61G 2203/34: for pressure - F04C 2270/041: Controlled or regulated - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) - F04C: ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS (engines F03C); ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS ## Abstract Systems and methods for monitoring pressure exerted on an individual at one or more points by a support structure and adjusting the support structure in response to the monitored pressure are disclosed. The method for monitoring pressure may include the step of periodically receiving with at least three radio frequency readers, localized contact pressure data from a radio frequency addressable sensor placed on an individual. The method may further include, when an adjustment is required, calculating a radial distance defining a radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the at least three radio frequency readers, and calculating an intersection location or overlap of the radii such that the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined. The method may also include, when the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined, adjusting cells within a zone or subzone corresponding to the location. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for monitoring pressure at a point on an individual and automatically adjusting a section of a support structure having a plurality of adjustable cells, wherein the support structure is divided into a plurality of zones and one or more of the zones is divided into a plurality of subzones, the method comprising: periodically receiving with at least three radio frequency readers disposed such that they are substantially co-planar, localized contact pressure data from a radio frequency addressable sensor placed on an individual; determining whether an adjustment in the support structure is required using the received localized contact pressure data; when an adjustment is required, calculating a radial distance defining a radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the at least three radio frequency readers, and calculating an intersection location or overlap of the radii such that the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined; and when the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined, adjusting cells within a zone or subzone corresponding to the location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: measuring a time delay between when an antenna of a radio frequency reader is energized and when a response signal from the radio frequency addressable sensor is received to calculate the radial distance defining the radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the radio frequency reader. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the antennae of the at least three radio frequency readers are energized in series. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the antennae of the at least three radio frequency readers are energized in parallel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: measuring signal intensity received at the radio frequency reader; and applying a decay function to the signal intensity to calculate the radial distance defining the radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the radio frequency reader. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the antennae of the at least three radio frequency readers are energized in series. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the antennae of the at least three radio frequency readers are energized in parallel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: applying wave front interferometry such that the resolution of the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is increased. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving an identifier corresponding to a body position of an individual of the radio frequency addressable sensor; and applying the identifier to identify a likely position of the radio frequency addressable sensor on the support structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: analyzing an interference pattern of at least two discrete signals transmitted by the radio frequency addressable sensor to the calculate the radial distance defining the radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the radio frequency reader. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: maintaining the adjustments for a predetermined period of time; and receiving updated localized contact pressure data from the one or more radio frequency addressable sensors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: returning one or more of the adjustable sections to a pre-adjusted level if the localized contact pressure data is not improved after the predetermined period of time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: adjusting an adjacent adjustable section if the localized contact pressure data is not improved after the predetermined period of time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: alerting an external monitoring station if the localized contact pressure data does not approve after a predetermined number of adjustments. ### Claim 15 A system for preventing and/or treating pressure wounds on an individual, the system comprising: a support structure including a plurality of adjustable cells, wherein the support structure is divided into a plurality of zones and one or more of the zones is divided into a plurality of subzones; at least three radio frequency sensor readers disposed on respective corners of a support pad and configured to receive localized contact pressure data from an radio frequency addressable sensor placed adjacent to the skin of the individual; a processor coupled to the support structure and each of the radio frequency sensor readers, wherein the processor is configured to: determine whether the localized contact pressure data in the radio frequency addressable sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold, and isolate a location on the individual of the radio frequency addressable sensor by calculating a radial distance defining a radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the at least three radio frequency readers, and calculating an intersection location or overlap of the radii such that the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined, and when the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined, adjusting cells within a zone or subzone corresponding to the location. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, the processor further configured to measure a time delay between when an antenna of a radio frequency reader is energized and when a response signal from the radio frequency addressable sensor is received to calculate the radial distance defining the radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the radio frequency reader. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, the processor further configured to maintain the adjustments for a predetermined period of time, and to receive updated localized contact pressure data from the radio frequency addressable sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, the processor further configured to return one or more of the adjustable sections to a pre-adjusted level if the localized contact pressure data is not improved after the predetermined period of time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, the processor further configured to adjust an adjacent adjustable section if the localized contact pressure data is not improved after the predetermined period of time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the radio frequency addressable sensor is included in a bandage affixed to the skin of the individual. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the support structure is selected from a bed, pad configured for use on a bed, chair, wheel chair, or pad configured for use on a chair. ### Claim 22 A method for monitoring pressure at a point on an individual and automatically adjusting a section of a support structure having a plurality of adjustable cells, wherein the support structure is divided into a plurality of zones and one or more of the zones is divided into a plurality of subzones, the method comprising: periodically receiving with at least three radio frequency readers, localized contact pressure data from a radio frequency addressable sensor placed on an individual; determining whether an adjustment in the support structure is required using the received localized contact pressure data; receiving an identifier corresponding to a body position of an individual of the radio frequency addressable sensor; and applying the identifier to identify a likely position of the radio frequency addressable sensor on the support structure; calculating a radial distance defining a radius of the radio frequency addressable sensor to the at least three radio frequency readers, and calculating an intersection location or overlap of the radii such that the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined when an adjustment is required; and adjusting cells within a zone or subzone corresponding to the location when the location of the radio frequency addressable sensor is determined.