# US 2019/0295718 A1 · Methods and systems for managing patient compliance

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- Number: US 2019/0295718 A1
- Document ID: US20190295718A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/463,255
- Filed: 2017-02-16
- Published: 2019-09-26
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-23
- Assignees: Mölnlycke Health Care AB
- Applicants: Mölnlycke Health Care AB
- Inventors: Thomas Lawhorn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190295718A1

## CPC

- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- A61M 1/96: {Suction control thereof}
- G16H 20/40: relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
- A61B 5/1073: {Measuring volume, e.g. of limbs}
- A61M 2205/18: with alarm
- A61M 2205/59: Aesthetic features, e.g. distraction means to prevent fears of child patients
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Methods and systems for managing patient compliance with a treatment are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving data indicative of a time on active therapy. The method can comprise receiving data indicative of a pressure associated with the time on active therapy. The method can further comprise determining a patient compliance factor based on the data indicative of the time on active therapy and the data indicative of the pressure associated with the time on active therapy. The method can comprise determining a graphical object modifier based on the patient compliance factor and displaying a graphical object based on the graphical object modifier.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
receiving, by a negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, data indicative of a time on active therapy;
receiving, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, data indicative of a pressure associated with the time on active therapy;
determining, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, a patient compliance factor based on the data indicative of the time on active therapy and the data indicative of the pressure associated with the time on active therapy;
determining, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, a graphical object modifier based on the patient compliance factor; and
displaying, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, a graphical object based on the graphical object modifier.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the data indicative of the time on active therapy comprises receiving a first periodic timestamp and an indication of a state of a vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the first periodic timestamp.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein receiving, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the data indicative of the pressure associated with the time on active therapy comprises receiving a second periodic timestamp and an indication of a pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein determining, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the patient compliance factor based on the data indicative of the time on active therapy and the data indicative of the pressure associated with the time on active therapy comprises:
matching the first periodic timestamp with the second periodic timestamp;
if the first periodic timestamp matches the second periodic timestamp, determining if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an active state;
determining if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is within a prescribed pressure; and
if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an active state and if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is within the prescribed pressure, updating the patient compliance factor to indicate positive patient compliance.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein determining, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the patient compliance factor based on the data indicative of the time on active therapy and the data indicative of the pressure associated with the time on active therapy comprises:
matching the first periodic timestamp with the second periodic timestamp;
if the first periodic timestamp matches the second periodic timestamp, determining if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an active state;
determining if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is within a prescribed pressure; and
if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an inactive state or if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is not within the prescribed pressure, updating the patient compliance factor to indicate negative patient compliance.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the graphical object modifier based on the patient compliance factor comprises adjusting one or more parameters indicative of one or more of, a size, a color, and a shape of the graphical object.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the one or more parameters indicative of one or more of, the size, the color, and the shape of the graphical object comprises:
determining a plurality of possible values for each of the one or more parameters;
determining which of the plurality of possible values for each of the one or more parameters are associated with a positive patient compliance factor and which of the plurality of possible values for each of the one or more parameters are associated with a negative patient compliance factor; and
increasing or decreasing a value of the one or more parameters based on the plurality of possible values and whether the patient compliance factor is a positive patient compliance factor or a negative patient compliance factor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, an audio signal based on the patient compliance factor; and
emitting, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the audio signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a patient compliance database comprising an association of a periodic timestamp related to an inactive state the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus and one or more of a plurality of cause indicators, wherein the plurality of cause indicators indicate at least one of a vacuum pump being switched off or paused, an air leakage, a loss of power, a canister not being engaged, the canister being full, a system error, an air blockage, or a reduced vacuum pressure.

### Claim 10

A method comprising:
receiving, by a negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, data indicative of a time on active therapy;
receiving, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, data indicative of a pressure associated with the time on active therapy;
determining, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, a patient compliance factor based on the data indicative of the time on active therapy and the data indicative of the pressure associated with the time on active therapy; and
transmitting, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, an alert indicative of the patient compliance factor to one or more remote computing devices.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein receiving, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the data indicative of a time on active therapy comprises receiving a first periodic timestamp and an indication of a state of a vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the first periodic timestamp.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein receiving, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the data indicative of the pressure associated with the time on active therapy comprises receiving a second periodic timestamp and an indication of a pressure applied by a vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein determining, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the patient compliance factor based on the data indicative of the time on active therapy and the data indicative of the pressure associated with the time on active therapy comprises:
matching the first periodic timestamp with the second periodic timestamp;
if the first periodic timestamp matches the second periodic timestamp, determining if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an active state;
determining if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is within a prescribed pressure; and
if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an active state and if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is within the prescribed pressure, updating the patient compliance factor to indicate positive patient compliance.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein determining, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the patient compliance factor based on the data indicative of the time on active therapy and the data indicative of the pressure associated with the time on active therapy comprises:
matching the first periodic timestamp with the second periodic timestamp;
if the first periodic timestamp matches the second periodic timestamp, determining if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an active state;
determining if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is within a prescribed pressure; and
if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an inactive state or if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is not within the prescribed pressure, updating the patient compliance factor to indicate negative patient compliance.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the alert indicative of the patient compliance factor to the one or more remote computing devices comprises:
determining a severity of the patient compliance factor;
selecting one or more recipients based on the severity of the patient compliance factor;
identifying a mode of communication associated with each of the selected one or more recipients; and
transmitting the alert to the selected one or more recipients according to the associated mode of communication.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein determining the severity of the patient compliance factor comprises:
determining if the patient compliance factor indicates a negative compliance or a positive compliance;
determining a length of time the patient compliance factor has indicated a negative compliance or a positive compliance; and
determining that the patient compliance factor indicates a high risk if the patient compliance factor indicates a negative compliance and the length of time the patient compliance factor has indicated a negative compliance exceeds a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein determining the severity of the patient compliance factor comprises:
determining if the patient compliance factor indicates a negative compliance or a positive compliance;
determining a length of time the patient compliance factor has indicated a negative compliance or a positive compliance; and
determining that the patient compliance factor indicates a low risk if the patient compliance factor indicates a positive compliance and the length of time the patient compliance factor has indicated a positive compliance exceeds a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
determining, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, an audio signal based on the patient compliance factor; and
emitting, by the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus, the audio signal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising establishing a patient compliance database comprising an association of a periodic timestamp related to the inactive state of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus and one or more of a plurality of cause indicators, wherein the plurality of cause indicators indicate at least one of a vacuum pump being switched off or paused, an air leakage, a loss of power, a canister not being engaged, the canister being full, a system error, an air blockage, or a reduced vacuum pressure.

### Claim 20

An apparatus comprising:
a wound cover configured for creating a sealable space defined in part by a wound surface;
a vacuum pump, coupled to the wound cover though a tube, wherein the vacuum pump is configured to apply negative pressure to the sealable space through the tube;
a processor, in electronic communication with the vacuum pump, wherein the processor is configured to,
determine a state of the vacuum pump,
determine an amount of the applied negative pressure of the vacuum pump,
determine a patient compliance factor based on the state of the vacuum pump and the amount of the applied negative pressure, and
determine a graphical object modifier based on the patient compliance factor; and
a display, in electronic communication with the processor, configured to display a graphical object based on the graphical object modifier.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to:
associate a first periodic timestamp with the state of the vacuum pump; and
associate a second periodic timestamp with the amount of the applied negative pressure.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to determine a patient compliance factor based on the state of the vacuum pump and the amount of the applied negative pressure by performing steps comprising:
matching the first periodic timestamp with the second periodic timestamp;
if the first periodic timestamp matches the second periodic timestamp, determining if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an active state;
determining if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is within a prescribed pressure; and
if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an active state and if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is within the prescribed pressure, updating the patient compliance factor to indicate positive patient compliance.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to determine a patient compliance factor based on the state of the vacuum pump and the amount of the applied negative pressure by performing steps comprising:
matching the first periodic timestamp with the second periodic timestamp;
if the first periodic timestamp matches the second periodic timestamp, determining if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an active state;
determining if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is within a prescribed pressure; and
if the state of the vacuum pump associated with the first periodic timestamp is an inactive state or if the pressure applied by the vacuum pump of the negative pressure wound treatment apparatus associated with the second periodic timestamp is not within the prescribed pressure, updating the patient compliance factor to indicate negative patient compliance.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to:
determine a severity of the patient compliance factor;
select one or more recipients based on the severity of the patient compliance factor;
identify a mode of communication associated with each of the selected one or more recipients; and
send a control signal to the communication device to transmit the alert to the selected one or more recipients according to the associated mode of communication.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to determine a graphical object modifier based on the patient compliance factor by performing steps comprising adjusting one or more parameters indicative of one or more of, a size, a color, and a shape of the graphical object.

### Claim 26 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a communication device, in electrical communication with the processor, configured to transmit an alert indicative of the patient compliance factor to one or more remote computing devices.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the alert to the selected one or more recipients is an audio signal.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the alert to the selected one or more recipients is communicated by adjusting one or more parameters indicative of one or more of, a size, a color, and a shape of the graphical object.

### Claim 29 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a patient compliance database comprising a periodic timestamp of an inactive state or a state not within a prescribed pressure, and wherein the periodic timestamp is associated with a cause indicator related to at least one of the vacuum being switched off or paused, an air leakage, a loss of power, a canister not being engaged, the canister being full, an air blockage, a system error, or a reduced vacuum pressure level.