WO2012116857A1 - Movement monitor and method for monitoring the movement of a patient - Google Patents

Abstract

A movement monitor (10, 30) for a patient, with a 3D acceleration sensor (11, 31), an evaluation unit (12, 32) and a data transfer interface (13, 33), has an area identification unit (21, 41) for identifying whether the movement monitor (10, 30) stays in a first geographic area (domestic area) or a second geographic area (outdoor area). The evaluation unit (12, 32) has a first evaluation algorithm, for evaluating data of the 3D acceleration sensor (11, 31) in the first geographic area, and a second evaluation algorithm, for evaluating data of the 3D acceleration sensor (11, 31) in the second geographic area, and the area identification unit (21, 41) determines the respective evaluation algorithm.

Description

 Description title

 Motion monitoring apparatus and method for monitoring movement for a patient

The present invention relates to a motion monitoring apparatus and method for monitoring movement for a patient.

State of the art

The recording and evaluation of movement data of patients by means of

Movement knives are made for a variety of medical purposes. Motion monitor devices continuously acquire 3D acceleration data of an acceleration sensor worn on the body, e.g. on the belt, and calculate it online

Motion information, e.g. Steps, slow / fast walking, calorie consumption. DE 10 2009 003 718 A1 describes the detection of movements with a feedback in case of undesired movements. The movements are from one

Algorithm analyzed. A comparison of motion signals with a threshold makes it possible to distinguish between a no-data-idle sleep mode and an active-data-record mode. A compressed data recording is possible.

US 2007/0132558 A1 discloses the monitoring of the presence of a patient in an apartment by means of motion detectors on walls and ceilings, especially over a bed. Information about the location of the patient within the home can be used to trigger an alarm when the patient leaves the bed, or to control a lighting system to guide the patient inside the home. Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, a movement monitoring device and a method for monitoring movement of a patient are proposed, the different

Apply algorithms for the evaluation of movement data in and out of a home environment of a patient, wherein the algorithms for the evaluation of movement data depending on a disease and / or environment evaluate various information and examine for different characteristics.

Usually, a patient usually stays in a home environment. A movement monitoring device according to the invention then uses in one

Evaluation unit implemented therein algorithm for the evaluation of

Movement data in the home environment. The motion sensor "detects" when the home environment is left, whereupon an evaluation unit switches to an algorithm for evaluating motion data in an external environment.

Advantages of the invention

The invention enables a simpler and more reliable classification of

Movement by means of a plausibility check. Be in a home environment

Daily activities, e.g. a walk to the fridge, to the toilet, a TV on / off. Driving a car or using means of transport does not have to be detected in an apartment because it is not possible here. Outside the home, on the other hand, one can expect longer periods of movement, e.g. Going out, going out and of inactive phases in which the patient is being externally accelerated, e.g. Driving a car or using transport. With the invention, a reduction of the necessary computational effort is achieved, which leads to power savings and less effort for a hardware

Motion monitoring device required. This applies to both the movement data evaluating CPU of the sensor and a battery or a battery. Algorithms for the evaluation of movement data have to evaluate various information depending on a disease and / or an environment examine different characteristics. In particular, a switching of the algorithms as a function of the environment is provided according to the invention. Thus, for example, for a COPD patient (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in the home environment already small

Movements, e.g. a few steps, shuffling, getting up, being captured. Outside the apartment, this is not relevant, but driving with high

Reliability can be detected as a non-active state of motion.

The division of the evaluation task according to the invention into different algorithms for the evaluation of movement data in and outside a home environment of a patient makes it possible to perform this evaluation task with little resources

perform.

Brief description of the drawings

1 shows a schematic representation of a movement monitoring device for a patient according to an embodiment of the present invention. shows a schematic representation of a movement monitoring device for a patient according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the motion monitoring method for

 Patients according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention

In Fig. 1 is a movement monitoring device 10 for a patient with a 3D acceleration sensor 1 1, an evaluation unit 12, a

Data transmission interface 13 and a memory 14 shown. The

 Evaluation unit 12 is connected via signal lines 15 to the 3D acceleration sensor 1 1, the data transmission interface 13 and the memory 14. An accumulator 16 supplies the evaluation unit 12, the 3D acceleration sensor 11, the

Data transmission interface 13 and the memory 14 supply lines 17 with electrical voltage. FIG. 1 further shows a separate base station 18, which can be connected to the data transmission interface 13 via a radio link, represented by arrow 20. The base station 18 also includes means for receiving the

Movement monitoring device 10 for charging the accumulator 16. Die

Movement monitoring device 10 further comprises an area recognition unit 21 for detecting whether the movement monitoring device 10 is in a first geographical area - the apartment - or a second geographical area - outside the apartment. The area recognition unit 21 can be realized by software and can be part of the evaluation unit 12.

In operation, the base station 18 transmits an identifier over the radio link 20. The radio link 20 may be in accordance with Bluetooth, Zigbee and another wireless

Transmission methods are done and are within your reach of a few meters, typically e.g. 10 m, limited. Thus, a cover of a dwelling of a patient as the home environment is possible. If the patient is in the home environment, the radio connection 20 exists and the area detection unit 21 detects the radio connection 20 and thus recognizes that the

 Movement monitoring device 10 in the first geographical area stops. The area detection unit 21 outputs a first signal when the radio connection 20 is detected, to which the evaluation unit 12 applies a first algorithm

 Evaluation of data of the 3D acceleration sensor, i. Movement data used in the home environment. The acceleration sensor 11 decreases

Transaction data of the patient. These motion data are evaluated with the currently used first algorithm.

When the patient leaves his apartment, he also leaves the area where the patient is leaving his home

Motion monitoring device 10 may receive the radio identifier. The

Area detection unit 21 determines the breakdown of the radio connection 20 and outputs a second signal to which the evaluation unit 12 uses a second algorithm for the evaluation of movement data in the external environment. Thus, the motion sensor or movement monitoring device 10 "detects" when the home environment is exited, whereupon the evaluation unit 12 switches from the home environment to the external environment. The acceleration sensor 1 1 continues to record movement data of the patient. These motion data are now evaluated with the currently used second algorithm. The movement data of the acceleration sensor 11 are compressed in the evaluation and compressed in the memory 14 is stored. The stored data can be read out at longer intervals via an interface, not shown, and assessed medically.

FIG. 2 shows a movement monitoring device 30 for a patient according to a further embodiment of the invention with a 3D acceleration sensor 31, an evaluation unit 32, a data transmission interface 33 and a memory 34. The evaluation unit 32 is connected via signal lines 35 to the 3D acceleration sensor 31, the data transmission interface 33 and the memory 34. An accumulator 36 supplies the evaluation unit 32, the SD acceleration sensor 31, the data transmission interface 33 and the memory 34 supply lines 37 with electrical voltage. FIG. 2 furthermore shows a separate base station 38, which can be connected to the data transmission interface 33 via a radio link, represented by double arrow 40. The base station 38 also includes means for receiving the

Motion monitoring device 30 for charging the accumulator 36. The

Motion monitoring device 30 further comprises an area recognition unit 41 for detecting whether the movement monitoring device 30 is in a first geographical area - the apartment - or a second geographical area - outside the apartment. The area recognition unit 41 can be realized by software and can be part of the evaluation unit 31. In this embodiment, the base station 38 is part of a telemedicine system (not shown), the radio link 20 is bidirectional and capable of transmitting motion data from the motion monitoring device 30 to the

telemedical system. Furthermore, the

 Motion monitoring device 30 on a connected to the area detection unit 41 via line 39 Passiererkennungseinrichtung 42. The

Passier recognition device 42 forms with an external detector device 43, a radio barrier, which detects passing of the detector device 43 by a short-term short-range radio link 44, for example by means of RFID tag. With detector devices can be registered by corresponding radio detection on the apartment doors entering or leaving the apartment and a stay in or outside the apartment are recognized by the area detection unit 41. If the patient is in the home environment, the

 Area detection unit 41 already recognized due to an initialization or due to a corresponding identifier of Passiererkennungseinrichtung 42 the residence in the first 5 geographical area and given a first signal to which the

 Evaluation unit 32 a first algorithm for the evaluation of data of the SD acceleration sensor, i. Movement data used in the home environment. The acceleration sensor 1 1 records movement data of the patient. These movement data are evaluated with the currently used first algorithm.0 The evaluated movement data will be over that when staying in the home

 Existing radio link 40 to the base station 38 of the telemedicine system.

When the patient leaves his apartment, the passport recognition device 42 sends a corresponding identifier to the area recognition unit 41

 Area detection unit 41 outputs a second signal to which the evaluation unit 32 uses an algorithm for evaluating movement data in the external environment. Thus, the motion sensor or "recognizes"

 Motion monitoring device 30, when the home environment is abandoned, o whereupon the evaluation unit 32 switches from the home environment to external environment. The acceleration sensor 31 continues to record movement data of the patient. This movement data will now be used with the currently used second one

 Algorithm evaluated. 5 The movement data of the acceleration sensor 31 are in the evaluation

 compressed and compressed or uncompressed stored in the memory 34. In this embodiment, storage primarily concerns the movement data outside the home. The stored data is transmitted to the telemedicine system as soon as the patient is back in the apartment and the radio link 40 is established. The o movement data are evaluated or unausgeged to the telemedical

 Transfer system and are there medically evaluated.

The embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 2 make it clear that the recognition of the geographical area can take place in various ways and regardless of5 a radio link can be used both for recognizing a geographical area and for transmitting movement data. Combinations are so According to the invention possible, for example, a use of a radio link 40 to a

Patient terminal of a telemedical system for recognizing the geographical area similar to radio link 20. An alternative embodiment of the invention provides that the

 Motion monitoring device comprises a GPS receiver and the

Area detection unit uses signals from the GPS receiver to detect if the motion monitoring device is in or out of the first geographic area. This embodiment would correspond to Fig. 2, the

Area recognition unit 41 could again be realized by software and be part of the evaluation unit 31, adapted to the evaluation of a GPS signal. In this embodiment, the pass detection means 42 would be replaced by a GPS receiver and the detector means 43 and the short-term short-range

Radio connection 44 in Fig. 2 accounted for.

According to another alternative embodiment of the invention recognizes the

Area detection unit based on a defined movement pattern, whether the motion monitoring device is located in or out of the first geographical area. For example, walking with more than 50 steps or more than 2 minutes without interruption may be considered out of the home. This embodiment would correspond to FIG. 1, but in this case the area detection unit 21 in FIG. 1 would be replaced by a unit for motion-pattern-supported area recognition. A further alternative embodiment of the invention provides a patient-specific or home-specific radio identification in order to be able to monitor different patients in nursing homes or nursing homes.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram 50 of the method for monitoring movement for a patient according to an embodiment of the present invention. The procedure for

Motion monitoring for a patient with a

 Motion monitoring device comprises the repetitive method steps:

a) recording movement data of the patient;

b) identifying whether the patient is in a first geographic area or a second geographic area; c) if the patient is in the first geographic area evaluating the movement data of the patient with a first evaluation algorithm; and

d) if the patient is in the second geographic area evaluating the movement data of the patient with a second evaluation algorithm.

The detection is preferably carried out by means of the existence of a radio link with a limited to the first geographical area range. Advantageously, the radio connection between the movement monitoring device and a telemedical system.

The detection is alternatively carried out by means of a pass detection means which detects entering and leaving the first geographical area by communication with a detector device at an entrance of the first geographical area. The detection also takes place alternatively by means of a GPS device, which recognizes entering and leaving the first geographical area.

The detection also takes place alternatively by means of a movement pattern detection, which recognizes an entering and leaving the first geographical area on a defined movement pattern.

Claims

Claims 1. A movement monitoring device (10, 30) for a patient with an SD acceleration sensor (1 1, 31), an evaluation unit (12, 32) and a Data transmission interface (13, 33), characterized in that the Motion monitoring device (10, 30) a region recognition unit (21, 41) for detecting whether the motion monitoring device (10, 30) resides in a first geographical area or a second geographical area. 2. Motion monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluation unit (12, 32) has a first evaluation algorithm for evaluating data of the 3D acceleration sensor (11, 31) in the first geographical area and a second evaluation algorithm for evaluating data of the SD acceleration sensor (1 1, 31) in the second geographical area and the area detection unit (21, 41) determines the respective evaluation algorithm. 3. movement monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized characterized in that the first geographic area substantially coincides with a dwelling of the patient. 4. Motion monitoring device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movement monitoring device (10, 30) a Radio interface (13, 33), which can communicate with a base station (18, 38) in the first geographical area via a radio link (20, 40). 5. Motion monitoring device according to claim 4, characterized in that the first geographical area is determined by the position of at least one base station (18) in the first geographical area and the range of the radio link. 6. movement monitoring device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized characterized in that the base station (38) is part of a patient terminal of a telemedical system. 7. movement monitoring device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movement monitoring device (30) a  Passiererkennungseinrichtung, which is an entering and leaving the first geographical area by communication with a detector device to a 5 Input of the first geographic area detects. Motion monitoring device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movement monitoring device comprises a GPS device which detects entering and leaving the first geographical area  9. movement monitoring device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movement monitoring device a  Movement pattern detecting means which detects an entering and leaving the first geographical area on a defined movement pattern. 5  10. A method of monitoring movement for a patient with a  Motion monitoring apparatus, comprising the repetitive method steps a) recording movement data of the patient;  b) detecting whether the patient is in a first geographic area or a second geographic area;  c) if the patient is in the first geographic area evaluating the movement data of the patient with a first evaluation algorithm; and  d) if the patient is in the second geographic area evaluating the movement data of the patient with a second evaluation algorithm. 5  1 1. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the detection takes place by means of the existence of a radio link with a limited to the first geographical area range. 0 12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the radio connection between the movement monitoring device and a telemedicine system consists. 13. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the detection by means of a Passiererkennungseinrichtung 5 takes place, the entering and leaving the first recognizes geographical area by communicating with a detector device at an entrance of the first geographical area. 14. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the detection is carried out by means of a GPS device which detects an entering and leaving the first geographical area. 15. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the detection takes place by means of a movement pattern detection, which recognizes an entering and leaving the first geographical area on a defined movement pattern.