US 12,251,346 B2 · Network-enabled systems for mitigating pressure applied to a living body by an underlying surface

Abstract

Introduced here are pressure-mitigation systems able to mitigate the pressure applied to a human body by the surface of an object. A system can include a pressure-mitigation device with chambers whose pressure can be varied by a controller that regulates the flow of fluid produced by a pump. The controller may be deployed as part of a closed loop system that autonomously infers information related to the health of a patient based on data related to the pressure of these chambers. For example, the data may be examined to determine whether the values indicate the patient is properly situated. A notification may be presented responsive to determining that the patient is not situated on the pressure-mitigation device, the patient has been improperly situated on the pressure-mitigation device for a certain amount of time, etc. Thus, real-time feedback may be provided to those responsible for monitoring the patient.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method for establishing whether a pressure-mitigation device that is deployed beneath a human body is being used in compliance with a treatment regimen, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, that the pressure-mitigation device is fluidly connected to the controller;
identifying, by the controller, a programmable pattern from among a series of programmable patterns based on an arrangement of magnets contained in the pressure-mitigation device and detected by the controller;
causing, by the controller, chambers of the pressure-mitigation device to be inflated or deflated to varying degrees in accordance with the programmable pattern,
wherein the chambers are arranged in a geometric pattern that is designed to alleviate force applied to an anatomical region of the human body;
obtaining, by the controller, data that indicates pressure of each chamber of the pressure-mitigation device;
examining, by the controller, the data so as to establish a location of the human body with respect to the geometric pattern;
and
producing, by the controller based on the location, an output that indicates whether the human body is properly positioned on the pressure-mitigation device as required by the treatment regimen.

5 more elements

A method for establishing whether a pressure-mitigation device that is deployed beneath a human body is being used in compliance with a treatment regimen, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, that the pressure-mitigation device is fluidly connected to the controller;
identifying, by the controller, a programmable pattern from among a series of programmable patterns based on an electronic signature emitted by a beacon in the pressure-mitigation device and detected by the controller;
causing, by the controller, chambers of the pressure-mitigation device to be inflated or deflated to varying degrees in accordance with the programmable pattern,
wherein the chambers are arranged in a geometric pattern that is designed to alleviate force applied to an anatomical region of the human body:
obtaining, by the controller, data that indicates pressure of each chamber of the pressure-mitigation device;
examining, by the controller, the data so as to establish a location of the human body with respect to the geometric pattern;
and
producing, by the controller based on the location, an output that indicates whether the human body is properly positioned on the pressure-mitigation device as required by the treatment regimen.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Network-enabled systems for mitigating pressure applied to a living body by an underlying surface

Life of this patent

Network-enabled systems for mitigating pressure applied to a living body by an underlying surface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16