US6160478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wireless health monitoring system
Assignee: Mobile Monitoring Systems LLC
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Filing: 1998-10-27
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Granted: 2000-12-12
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Expires: 2018-10-27
Abstract
Abstract A system for remotely monitoring a person's physical activity includes at least one accelerometer capable of measuring both the magnitude and direction of an acceleration. The acceleration data is processed to determine motion/position status and to decide whether there is a likelihood that the person has fallen, and if so, the likely direction that the person has fallen. Based on this data, the likely severity of the fall is calculated. If the severity of the fall is outside an acceptable limit, an alert state is reached upon which a signal is communicated to a remote monitoring unit. Likewise, various physiological conditions may be measured to determine the existence of any anomalous vital signs that would trigger an alarm state. If so, the remote monitoring unit will sound or otherwise communicate an alarm to a person associated with the remote monitoring unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen C Jacobsen
- 👤 Tomasz J. Petelenz
- 👤 Stephen C. Peterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:04
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B25/00; G08B25/006; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0002; A61B5/0015; A61B5/002; A61B5/0022; A61B5/103; A61B5/11; A61B5/1116; A61B5/1117; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6813; A61B5/6825; A61B5/6826; A61B5/683; A61B5/6831; A61B5/6838; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; G08B21/04; G08B21/0438; G08B21/0446; G08B21/0453; G08B5/00; G08B5/22; G08B5/222; G08B5/223; G16; G16H; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/67; G16H50/00; G16H50/20; A61B5/02; A61B5/021; A61B5/024; A61B5/74; A61B5/7465; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for monitoring physical activity of a person, comprising: a multi-dimensional accelerometer disposed on at least one body part of the person for measuring a magnitude and relative direction of movement of the body and generating a signal indicative of the measured acceleration; processing means associated with the multi-dimensional accelerometer for receiving the signal from the multi-dimensional accelerometer and converting the signal into data, wherein the processing means analyzes data from the multi-dimensional accelerometer until it receives a spike pulse to indicate a possibility that a fall has occurred and then the severity of the fall is determined based on the spike pulse magnitude; first communication means associated with the processor means for sending the data to a remote location; and second communication means at a remote location for receiving the data from the first communication means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for monitoring physical activity of a person, comprising: a multi-dimensional accelerometer disposed on at least one body part of the person for measuring a magnitude and relative direction of movement of the body and generating a signal indicative of the measured acceleration; processing means associated with the multi-dimensional accelerometer for receiving the signal from the multi-dimensional accelerometer and converting the signal into data, wherein the processing means analyzes data from the multi-dimensional accelerometer until it receives a spike pulse to indicate a possibility that a fall has occurred and then the severity of the fall is determined based on the spike pulse magnitude; first communication means associated with the processor means for sending the data to a remote location; and second communication means at a remote location for receiving the data from the first communication means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the processing means includes a maximum allowable acceleration change value which is compared to the spike pulse, and an alert signal is sent when the spike pulse exceeds the maximum allowable acceleration change value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the processing means includes determining whether a person is in a prone position following a spike pulse and sending an alert signal if they remain in a prone position for a selected length of time after a spike pulse.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the processing means includes determining whether a person is in a prone position following a spike pulse and sending no alert signal if they quickly return to a vertical position within a selected length of time after a spike pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one physiological sensor disposed on the person for generating a signal indicative of at least one physiological condition and in communication with said processing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 5, further including a wireless local area communications means for communicating between the at least one physiological sensor and said processing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said at least one physiological sensor comprises at least one of a pulse sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an ECG sensor, a S p O 2 sensor, and a blood perfusion sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said first communications means comprises a device capable of communicating by at least one of: local RF, cellular networks, and telephone land lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said second communications means comprises a device capable of communicating with said first communications means by at least one of: local RF, cellular networks, and telephone land lines.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said processing means includes means for comparing the data with predetermined acceptable ranges.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said processing means further includes data storage means for recording said sensor data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said processor means further comprises access means for enabling access to information recorded in the data storage means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 10, further comprising alarm means for generating a humanly perceptible alarm when the data is outside a predetermined range.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said alarm means is associated with said second communications means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said second communications means further includes display means for displaying information based on the data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said second communications means further comprises a data storage mechanism having a plurality of acceptable ranges for physiological values stored therein, and processor means for comparing the data received from the first communications means with the acceptable ranges stored in the data storage mechanism.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 16, wherein the data storage mechanism further comprises storage means for storing sensor data received from the first communications means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
140 words
A personal alert system for monitoring a person, comprising: a monitoring unit configured for wearing by a person and having at least one acceleration sensor disposed thereon for generating sensor data indicative of the magnitude and direction of movement of at least one body part of the person; a communications device associated with said at least one acceleration sensor and configured for wearing by the person, said communications device capable of sending a signal to a remote location; a processing device, capable of receiving said sensor data, for determining when a spike pulse has been received that indicates the possibility a fall has occurred and then evaluates the severity of the fall based on the spike pulse magnitude; and a remote unit for communicating with the communications device and generating an alarm when said processing device causes said alert state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
140 words
A personal alert system for monitoring a person, comprising: a monitoring unit configured for wearing by a person and having at least one acceleration sensor disposed thereon for generating sensor data indicative of the magnitude and direction of movement of at least one body part of the person; a communications device associated with said at least one acceleration sensor and configured for wearing by the person, said communications device capable of sending a signal to a remote location; a processing device, capable of receiving said sensor data, for determining when a spike pulse has been received that indicates the possibility a fall has occurred and then evaluates the severity of the fall based on the spike pulse magnitude; and a remote unit for communicating with the communications device and generating an alarm when said processing device causes said alert state.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said at least one acceleration sensor comprises a multi-dimensional accelerometer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said monitoring unit and said communications device are contained within a single relatively small housing configured for wearing by a person.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said communications device is capable of communicating by at least one of: local RF, cellular networks, and telephone land lines.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 21, wherein said remote unit is capable of communicating with said communications device by at least one of: local RF, cellular networks, and telephone land lines.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 22, wherein said remote unit comprises a pager.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said processing device includes at least one of firmware and software for comparing the data with predetermined acceptable ranges.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 24, wherein said processing device further includes data storage means for recording said sensor data and storing said predetermined acceptable ranges.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 25, further including access means associated with said processing device for enabling access to information recorded in the data storage means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 24, further comprising a humanly perceptible alarm associated with said remote unit for providing an alarm when the data is outside a predetermined range.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 27, wherein said remote unit further includes display means for displaying information based upon the data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said remote unit further comprises a data storage mechanism having a plurality of acceptable ranges for physiological values stored therein, and processor means for comparing the data received from the first communications means with the acceptable ranges stored in the data storage mechanism.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the data storage mechanism is capable of storing sensor data received from the communications device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 18, further comprising at least one physiological sensor disposed on the person for generating a signal indicative of at least one physiological condition in communication with said processing device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 31, further including a wireless local area network for communicating between the at least one physiological sensor and said processing device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said at least one physiological sensor comprises at least one of a pulse sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an ECG sensor, a S p O 2 sensor, and a blood perfusion sensor.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of monitoring physical activity of a person, comprising: measuring relative movement of the person with a multi-dimensional accelerometer; generating signals representing the measured movement; transmitting the signals to a base unit; processing the signals into data; and comparing the data until a spike pulse is received from the multi-dimensional accelerometer to indicate the possibility that a fall has occurred and then the severity of the fall is determined based on spike pulse magnitude.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of monitoring physical activity of a person, comprising: measuring relative movement of the person with a multi-dimensional accelerometer; generating signals representing the measured movement; transmitting the signals to a base unit; processing the signals into data; and comparing the data until a spike pulse is received from the multi-dimensional accelerometer to indicate the possibility that a fall has occurred and then the severity of the fall is determined based on spike pulse magnitude.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 34, wherein said measuring includes securing at least one sensor to the person.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 34, wherein the transmitting includes communicating by employing at least one of a satellite, radio waves, and a land line.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 34, wherein said measuring includes sensing at least one activity selected from the group comprising: walking, running, being still, and falling.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 37, wherein said measuring includes sensing at least one position of the person selected from the group comprising: prone, supine, vertical, and combinations thereof.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said sensing the activity of falling further includes sensing the direction that the person has fallen.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 34, further comprising generating a humanly perceptible signal when the values indicative of the measured physical conditions are outside of the acceptable ranges.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 34, further including measuring at least one physiological parameter and generating a signal indicative thereof, comparing the signal with at least one value indicative of a limit of said at least one physiological parameter, and determining whether said at least one physiological parameter is beyond said limit.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 39, further including determining whether a change in other sensor data correlates with the fall.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 39, further including determining whether a cardiac arrhythmia may have occurred, and correlating such an event with the fall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-12 | 2004-06-12 | 2004-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-12 | 2008-06-12 | 2008-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-12 | 2012-06-12 | 2012-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |