System and method for fall detection

A method for generating a potential fall alert for a subject in a support structure with a system comprising one or more body position sensors, one or more physiological sensors, and one or more physical computer processors, the method comprising:

• generating, with the one or more body position sensors, output signals conveying information related to a position of one or more body parts of the subject;
• generating, with the one or more physiological sensors, output signals conveying physiological information related to the subject;
• obtaining, with the one or more physical computer processors, a set of fall criteria that describe whether the subject is likely to fall;
• determining, with the one or more physical computer processors, one or more body position parameters, and one or more physiological parameters based on the output signals generated by the one or more body position sensors, and the one or more physiological sensors;
• comparing, with the one or more physical computer processors, the determined one or more physiological parameters, and the one or more body position parameters to criteria in the set of fall criteria;
• and
• responsive to the one or more body position parameters, and the one or more physiological parameters satisfying the fall criteria in the set of fall criteria, generating an alert with the one or more physical computer processors.

A system to generate a potential fall alert for a subject in a support structure, the system comprising:

• means for generating output signals conveying information related to a position of one or more body parts of the subject;
• means for generating output signals conveying physiological information related to the subject;
• means for obtaining a set of fall criteria that describe whether the subject is likely to fall;
• means for determining one or more body position parameters, and one or more physiological parameters based on the output signals;
• means for comparing the determined one or more physiological parameters, and the one or more body position parameters to criteria in the set of fall criteria;
• and
• means for generating an alert responsive to the one or more body position parameters, and the one or more physiological parameters satisfying the fall criteria in the set of fall criteria.