GB2535984A

GB2535984A - Healthcare monitoring and alarm system

Info

Publication number: GB2535984A
Application number: GB1502952.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richards Anthony
Original assignee: Loc8tor Ltd
Current assignee: Loc8tor Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-23
Filing date: 2015-02-23
Publication date: 2016-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-23
Also published as: GB2535984B; GB201502952D0

Abstract

A healthcare monitoring and alarm system 100 configured to detect the presence and status of a tag 102 via a hub 104. The tag is configured to communicate with the hub either directly or via a relay 108. The hub has an interface configured to communicate with a remote help centre, a transceiver configured to communicate with the tag and a connection having a transceiver configured to communicate with a relay. The tag has a transceiver configured to communicate to the hub the presence of the tag and the status of the tag, including the barometric status, orientation of the tag and energy readings or acceleration associated with movement of the tag. The transceiver in the tag is further configured to receive an interrogation signal from a locator device and the tag is configured to send a response transmission to enable the tag to be located. A processer in the tag encodes a data packet consisting of the status to the hub via the transceiver. The hub is configured to generate an alarm condition when the tag is not detected, the tag moves to an unauthorised area or the monitored status indicates that a person in possession of the tag needs attention.

Description

HEALTHCARE MONITORING AND ALARM SYSTEM

The invention relates to an improved healthcare monitoring and alarm system for use with vulnerable people such as the young, sick or elderly.

Monitoring systems are known and some systems provide a pendant with a call-button that can be pressed in an emergency. Known systems can detect whether a person wearing such a pendant has a fall.

Known detection systems offer a basic level of detection that provide only a limited level of monitoring. This can lead to false alarms. A long battery life of a pendant is important and improving a systems detection ability often leads to a more complex system resulting in a shorter battery life.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved healthcare monitoring and alarm system that addresses problems associated with known systems According to one aspect, a healthcare monitoring and alarm system configured to detect the presence and status of a tag via a hub, wherein the tag is configured to communicate with the hub either directly or via a relay, wherein the hub has: an interface configured to communicate with a remote help centre, mobile phone or other such electronic device when an alarm condition is detected such that the status, including the alarm status, of the system can be monitored remotely, the interface having at least one of a GSM or WIFI connection for connection to a phone network and/or the internet; a transceiver configured to communicate with the tag; and a connection having a transceiver configured to communicate with a relay, and the tag has: a transceiver configured to communicate to the hub the presence of the tag and the status of the tag, including the barometric status, orientation of the tag and activity associated with movement of the tag, and wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive an interrogation signal from a locator device and the tag is configured to send a response transmission to enable the tag to be located; and a processer configured to encode and transmit a data packet consisting of the status to the hub via the transceiver either directly, or via a relay, wherein the tag is configured to transmit a data packet and the hub and/or a connected database system, connected via the interface, is configured to generate an alarm condition when the tag is not detected, the tag moves to an unauthorized area or the monitored status indicates that a person in possession of the tag needs attention.

The transceiver can additionally or alternatively receive an interrogation signal from the hub and/or relay. The tag can be configured to transmit a data packet at regular intervals, such as, by way of example, every S seconds or even up to every 30 seconds. The tag can also be configured to transmit a data packet in response to an interrogation from the hub, relay and/or a locator device. The locator device can be a portable handset.

The interface can additionally or alternatively connect with a mobile network data, broadband connection or Public Switched Telephone Network.

By using a single transducer within the tag to function to communicate the presence and alarm status, while also being able to respond to a locator device, and processing the data to be transmitted into efficient data packets, enables the system to operate efficiently and more reliably. Battery life can, therefore, be extended.

To be clear, a locator device can be used when a tag is to be located. The tag, in general use, would not transmit a signal that enables accurate location because this could shorten the life of the battery. In response to an interrogation from the hub, relay and/or the locator device the tag can transmit a signal that enables the locator device to pin-point, or accurately locate, the tag. The tag can transmit a signal that enables its location to be located to within approximately 20mm.

The system can further comprising a relay configured to receive a data packet from the tag and communicate it to the hub. This can further extend the battery life of the tag by reducing the power required to transmit the data packet to the hub. A network of relays can be configured to receive a data packet from the tag and communicate it to the hub. The network of relays can comprise of up to 500 relays. The hub and relays can be configured to detect the location of the tag using triangulation.

The hub can have a BluetoothTM interface configured to connect to ancillary healthcare devices including at least one of weighing scales, a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, smoke detector or blood-glucose monitor.

The frequency of data packet transmission can be dependent on the level of activity detected by the tag. The level of activity can be determined from accelerometer readings. The frequency at which a tag transmits data can be controlled remotely to optimize performance and/or extend battery life. The frequency of data packet transmission can be dependent on the battery level of the tag, thus ensuring that the battery within the tag does not deplete to a level at which the tag cannot be located using an interrogation. The maximum frequency of data packet transmission to the hub can be approximately every five seconds.

The data packet can consist of an average pressure reading, orientation status, total activity or energy and a minimum activity or energy reading. The term "activity" is used to refer to the degree of movement sensed by the tag that includes "energy" readings from sensors.

The pressure reading can be based on an average pressure reading over the preceding five seconds before transmission. The orientation status can be based on an average accelerometer reading for each of X, Y and Z readings over the preceding five seconds before transmission. Total energy reading can be based on the sum of the squared X, Y and Z accelerometer readings for each of the preceding 5 seconds before transmission. A minimum energy reading can be based on the minimum value of the squared X, Y and Z accelerometer readings for each of the preceding 5 seconds before transmission.

The data packet can consist of 16 bytes of data with the average pressure reading allocated 3 bytes, the orientation status allocated 3 bytes, the total energy allocated 5 bytes and the minimum energy reading allocated 5 bytes.

The system is configured to detect: low acceleration levels indicative of a free-fall; high acceleration levels indicative of an impact; low acceleration noise indicative of inactivity or unconsciousness; barometric change indicative of movement through a building; and/or orientation indicative of sleep or a fall.

The system can also include a locator configured to send an interrogation signal to the tag and, via a directional antenna array and a signal strength indicator, enable a user to orient a locator according to the signal strength of a transmission from the tag According to another aspect a tag is configured to operate with the system described herein, the tag having: a transceiver configured to communicate to the hub the presence of the tag and the status of the tag, including the barometric status, orientation of the tag and activity readings or acceleration associated with movement of the tag, and wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive an interrogation signal from a locator device and the tag is configured to send a response transmission to enable the tag to be located; and a processer configured to encode and transmit a data packet including or consisting of the status to the hub via the transceiver either directly, or via a relay, wherein the tag is configured to transmit a data packet at regular intervals.

The system can accommodate a plurality of tags, each of which can be monitored individually.

In order that the invention can be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to Figure 1, which shows a schematic view of a system including the healthcare monitoring and alarm system of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a home or building environment 2 is shown connected to the Internet or Cloud 4, which provides an interface to one or more different alarm devices 6 or a response centre. Within the home 2 a number of zones 8 or rooms can be shown dividing the space.

A healthcare monitoring and alarm system 100 is shown installed within the home 2 and located in one of the zones 8 to monitor to local area. A hub 102 having a GSM 104 or WIFI 106 connection enables the hub 102 to communicate with a remote device 6 to enable monitoring of the system 100. The system 100 comprises one or more tags 108 that are configured to communicate either directly with the hub 102 or communicate with the hub indirectly via a relay 110. The relays are optional to the system 100 and can be utilised when the presence and status of a tag is to be detected in a large area or multi-roomed home 2.

The hub 102 has a transceiver configured to communicate with a tag 108. The hub also has a connection having a transceiver configured to communicate with a relay should one or more relays be required for a system 100 to detect and monitor a tag that is too far from the hub to be monitored directly. In other words, one or more relays can extend the range of the system by increasing the distance that a tag can remotely communicate to the hub i.e. via a relay.

The tag will have a limited range determined by the power output of the transceiver and the level of power required to maintain communication with the hub will increase as the tag moves further away from the hub. One or more relays can, therefore, further extend the battery life of the tag by reducing the distance required to transmit the data packet to the hub i.e. transmission is via one or more relays that are connected to the hub.

Each tag 108 has a transceiver configured to communicate to the hub the presence of the tag and the status of the tag, and the same transceiver can be used. Within the tag 108 a barometric sensor and accelerometer are provided and data from these sensors are processed for transmission to the hub 108.

Data is compiled in to a data packet that is transmitted either directly to the hub 102 or via one or more relays 110. The tag is configured to transmit said data packet at regular intervals and to have this configured to generate an alarm condition when the tag is not detected i.e. it has moved beyond the range of detection from the hub or the tag has moved to an unauthorised area within the home 2 e.g. the tag has moved to an upstairs location and there is a risk that person wearing the tag will fall when returning downstairs. The sensors also enable a number of events to be detected and the hub 102 monitored the status via the data packets which indicate whether a person in possession of the tag needs attention.

One or more ancillary devices 112 can be connected to the hub via a connection such as a Bluetooth connection. Such ancillary devices may include a weighing scale, a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor or a blood-glucose monitor.

In use a tag 108 would be worn by a person being monitored. Such a person may be an elderly person who is at risk of a fall or a dementia sufferer who is likely to wander from a safe zone. The system enables a care worker or family member to monitor in a detailed and unobtrusive manner the presence and status of a tag within a home environment 2. The system 100 can generate an alarm and be pre-programmed to communicate said alarm to a remote device 6.

In the event that a tag moves out of a safe zone within a home 2 or a fall has been detected then a locator device can be used to send an interrogation signal to the transceiver of the tag and the tag transmits a response enabling the tag to be located. Using a directional antenna array the locator can use a signal strength indicator to orient the locator according to the signal strength of the transmission from the tag to pinpoint the location of the tag.

The battery life, size and cost of the tag are important factors in the ergonomics of the tag. Therefore, the directional detection using a locator device utilises the same radio mechanism that is used for reporting the presence and status of the tag to the hub. To be clear, only one radio transceivers is required in the tag 108.

The hub is mains powered and provides a connection between the tag, relay, connected Bluetooth devices and the Cloud database or Internet 4.

The wireless transceivers within the hub enable connection to the tags 108 and/or the relays 110. The hub processes data from the smart devices 112, tags 108 and relays 110 and processes the information to provide information including the whereabouts and alarm status of the wearer, on the basis of readings from the tag, to an alarm device 6 that is typically held by a care worker or family member who is remotely located from the hub 102. Additionally or alternatively, an alarm response centre, remotely located from a tag, can monitor the status of a tag via the hub and/or relays. The Alarm response centre can then notify or inform the relevant people who will investigate.

Relays 110 are similarly mains powered and both extend the range of detection from the hub and reduce the power consumption of the transceiver within the tag 108. Utilisation of a plurality of relays 110 enables finer detection of the location of the tag and more accurate monitoring of whether a tag has moved out of a safe zone. Using signals from the tag received at different relays can enable the system to triangulate the precise position of a tag.

The system 100 is able to increase longevity of the tag by reducing the power consumption of the tag 108. The tag has a single transceiver that is used for communicating the status and the presence of the tag to the hub 102, while also being configured to receive an interrogation signal from a locator device and send a response thereto. In addition to reducing power consumption by optimising the communication between the tag and the hub, the tag encodes data to ensure efficient communication of the status of the tag 108 to the hub 102.

Communication of a data packet to the hub occurs approximately every five seconds unless low activity is detected and, therefore, the frequency of transmission can be reduced accordingly. This may occur when a user is watching television or is sleeping. Even when transmitting data packets approximately every 5 seconds power consumption is minimized. Similarly, the frequency of transmission can increased such that sensor readings are taken and data transmitted more frequently than every seconds. Transmissions can be made up to every second. This may occur when a user is gardening or exercising.

The tag incorporates a barometer to measure pressure change and accelerometers that detect acceleration in the Cartesian axes. Signals from each direction of the X, Y and Z accelerometers are high pass filtered. Using the accelerometer readings directly enables the orientation of the tag to be detected. By summing the square of each filtered X, Y and Z accelerometer reading the energy within the movement created by the tag can be detected thus enabling an impact to be sensed, which when transmitted and subsequently processed by the hub can be construed as an alarm condition.

A freefall condition can also be detected by measuring a minimum of the squared filtered accelerometer readings. The readings from the sensors in the tag 108 are encoded into the data packet to minimise transmission requirements and reduce power consumption.

By way of example, there are 16 bytes of measurement data per packet. Three bytes of data are allocated to the average pressure readings over the previous five seconds. Three bytes of data, one byte per access, are used to indicate the average X Y and Z acceleration readings over a five-second average. Five bytes of data are used, one byte for each of the previous five seconds, to indicate the sum of the squared high pass filtered readings from the X Y and Z accelerometers. Finally, the remaining five bytes of measurement data are taken for each of the previous five seconds indicating the minimum sum of the squared high pass filtered readings from the X Y and Z accelerometers.

With the small and efficient data packet the tag 108 is able to communicate information to the hub 102 and the hub is able to detect events from low acceleration readings indicating a freefall, high acceleration readings indicating an impact, low acceleration noise indicating that the wearer of the tag is inactive or unconscious, barometric changes from the pressure readings indicating that the wearer has moved into a different room within a building such as upstairs or has fallen and finally the orientation of the wearer of a tag indicating that the wearer is either asleep or has had a fall.

The present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention, which extends to equivalents of the features described and combinations of one or more features described herein. The invention also consists in any individual features described or implicit herein.

Claims

Claims 1. A healthcare monitoring and alarm system configured to detect the presence and status of a tag via a hub, wherein the tag is configured to communicate with the hub either directly or via a relay, wherein the hub has: an interface configured to communicate with a remote help centre, mobile phone or other such electronic device when an alarm condition is detected such that the alarm status of the system can be monitored remotely, the interface configured to connect to a phone network and/or the internet via at least one of a GSM, WIFI or analogue connection; a transceiver configured to communicate with the tag; and a connection having a transceiver configured to communicate with a relay, and the tag has: a transceiver configured to communicate to the hub the presence of the tag and the status of the tag, including the barometric status, orientation of the tag and energy readings or acceleration associated with movement of the tag, and wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive an interrogation signal from a locator device and the tag is configured to send a response transmission to enable the tag to be located; and a processer configured to encode and transmit a data packet consisting of the status to the hub via the transceiver either directly, or via a relay, wherein the tag is configured to transmit a data packet at regular intervals and the hub is configured to generate an alarm condition when the tag is not detected, the tag instructs the hub to raise an alert, the tag moves to an unauthorized area or the monitored status indicates that a person in possession of the tag needs attention.
2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a relay configured to receive a data packet from the tag and communicate it to the hub.
3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a network of relays configured to receive a data packet from the tag and communicate it to the hub.
4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the network of relays comprises up to 500 relays.
5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the hub and relays are configured to detect the location of the tag using trilateration.
6. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the hub has a BluetoothTM interface configured to connect to ancillary healthcare devices including at least one of weighing scales, a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor or blood-glucose monitor.
7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the frequency of data packet transmission is dependent on the level of activity detected by the tag.
8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the maximum frequency of data packet transmission to the hub is approximately every one second, and preferably up to every five seconds.
9. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the data packet consists of an average pressure reading, orientation status, total energy and a minimum activity reading.
10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the pressure reading is based on an average pressure reading over the preceding five seconds before transmission, the orientation status is based on an average accelerometer reading for each of X, Y and Z readings over the preceding five seconds before transmission, total energy reading is based on the sum of the squared X, Y and Z accelerometer readings for each of the preceding 5 seconds before transmission and a minimum energy reading based on the minimum value of the squared X, V and Z accelerometer readings for each of the preceding 5 seconds before transmission.
11. A system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the data packet consists of 16 bytes of data with the average pressure reading allocated 3 bytes, the orientation status allocated 3 bytes, the total energy allocated 5 bytes and the minimum energy reading allocated 5 bytes.
12. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the system is configured to detect: low acceleration levels indicative of a free-fall; high acceleration levels indicative of an impact; low acceleration noise indicative of inactivity or unconsciousness; barometric change indicative of movement through a building; and/or orientation indicative of sleep or a fall.
13. A system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a locator configured to send an interrogation signal to the tag and, via a directional antenna array and a signal strength indicator, enable a user to orient the locator according to the signal strength of a transmission from the tag.
14. A tag configured to operate with the system of claim 1, the tag having: a transceiver configured to communicate to the hub the presence of the tag and the status of the tag, including the barometric status, orientation of the tag and activity or energy readings or acceleration associated with movement of the tag, and wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive an interrogation signal from a locator device and the tag is configured to send a response transmission to enable the tag to be located; and a processer configured to encode and transmit a data packet consisting of the status to the hub via the transceiver either directly, or via a relay, wherein the tag is configured to transmit a data packet at regular intervals.
15. A system as hereinbefore described.
16. A tag as hereinbefore described.