Abstract: An incontinence detection system monitors an area for moisture events and wirelessly transmits moisture-related information to one or more notification devices. The system has a pad that includes a substrate and one or more sensors supported by the substrate. The sensor(s) emit wireless signals indicative of the moisture-related information. A sensor event communication system forwards the sensor signals to another device, such as a notification device. Portions of the system are included in a patient support apparatus, such as a bed.

Abstract: An absorbent article has one or more fluid filter layers to inhibit electrode traces from being exposed to low volumes of fluid to reduce the number of false positives that are indicated by an RFID tag of the incontinence detection pad. An antenna inlay has a sacrificial trace portion to permit testing for proper operation of an RFID chip electrically coupled to the antenna inlay. After testing, the sacrificial trace portion is severed. A fluid barrier layer blocks fluid from reaching portions of electrode traces that are located on a backsheet outside a periphery of an absorbent core of an incontinence detection pad. The power at which an antenna transmits to wirelessly energize a passive RFID tag of an incontinence detection pad is controlled to reduce the number of false positives indicated by the RFID tag.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a wound includes a wound dressing configured to cover a wound surface of the wound, one or more sensing devices attached to the wound dressing, a network interface hardware, and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors, and one or more memory modules storing computer readable and executable instructions. The controller receives data measured by the one or more sensing devices, determines whether an infection is likely to occur based on the data measured by the one or more sensing devices, and outputs an alert, through the network interface hardware, in response to determining that the infection is likely to occur.

Abstract: A method for assessing the condition of a tissue sample includes the steps of: 1. illuminating the sample with incident electromagnetic radiation exhibiting P polarization types, 2. for each of the P polarization types, inspecting the scattered incident radiation for at least one and possibly all of Q polarization types; 3. establishing a transfer function M relating the intensity of the P polarization types of the incident radiation to the intensity of the polarization types for which the scattered radiation was inspected; 4. comparing the established transfer function to one or more reference transfer functions; and 5. reaching a conclusion about the condition of the tissue sample based on the comparison.

Abstract: An incontinence detection system monitors an area for moisture events and wirelessly transmits moisture-related information to one or more notification devices. The system has a pad that includes a substrate and one or more sensors supported by the substrate. The sensor(s) emit wireless signals indicative of the moisture-related information. A sensor event communication system forwards the sensor signals to another device, such as a notification device. Portions of the system are included in a patient support apparatus, such as a bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting hospital bed exit events from video camera systems is disclosed. The system processes video data with a deep convolutional neural network consisting of five main layers: a 1×1 3D convolutional layer used for generating feature maps from raw video data, a context-aware pooling layer used for rectifying data from different camera angles, two fully connected layers used for applying pre-trained deep features, and an output layer used to provide a likelihood of a bed exit event.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a patient in a bed may involve capturing images of the patient with multiple cameras in a vicinity of the bed, wirelessly transmitting the images of the patient from the multiple cameras to a processor including a memory device, processing the images to provide processed image data pertaining to a position of the patient relative to the bed to a user, and analyzing the processed image data to determine whether the patient is exiting the bed. The method may also optionally involve providing an alarm indicating that the patient is exiting the bed.

Abstract: A disposable incontinence detection system monitors an area for incontinence events. The incontinence detection system includes a substrate having a length and a width defining a monitoring area. Additionally, the incontinence detection system includes a moisture sensor positioned within the monitoring area. The moisture sensor includes a circuit that includes traces spaced apart from each other such that the presence of moisture bridging a space between at least two of the traces will close the circuit. Additionally, the circuit includes a removable conductor coupled to one of the traces such that removal of the conductor irreversibly prevents the trace from closing the circuit. The moisture sensor is configured to determine whether the circuit has been closed.

Abstract: An incontinence detection system monitors an area for moisture events and wirelessly transmits moisture-related information to one or more notification devices. The system has a pad that includes a substrate and one or more sensors supported by the substrate. The sensor(s) emit wireless signals indicative of the moisture-related information. A sensor event communication system forwards the sensor signals to another device, such as a notification device. Portions of the system are included in a patient support apparatus, such as a bed.

Abstract: One embodiment of a monitoring system includes a sensing subsystem adapted to sense an external parameter within a region of interest relative to an occupant support or an occupant of the occupant support. The monitoring system also includes a processor. The processor is adapted to adapted to receive data representing the sensed external parameter and to execute machine readable instructions thereby causing the monitoring system to evaluate, based on the received data, a likelihood that the occupant will attempt an egress from the occupant support. The processor is also adapted to generate a notification of the likelihood of attempted egress.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating notifications based on bladder volume signals and bladder muscle signals are disclosed. A system includes a processor, a plurality of bladder electrical signal application electrodes, a plurality of bladder volume measurement electrodes, a plurality of bladder muscle measurement electrodes, a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor, and machine readable instructions stored in the memory module. When executed by the processor, the machine readable instructions cause the system to output a first electrical output signal with the plurality of bladder electrical signal application electrodes, receive the bladder volume signal at the plurality of bladder volume measurement electrodes in response to the first electrical output signal, receive the bladder muscle signal at the plurality of bladder muscle measurement electrodes, and generate the notification based on the bladder volume signal and the bladder muscle signal.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for detecting biomarkers are disclosed. A sensing apparatus for detecting the presence of at least one biomarker in subcutaneous tissue is disclosed, the sensing apparatus including a probe comprising a shaft, and a biomarker detection material coated on at least a portion of the shaft of the probe. The sensing apparatus further includes a sensor communicatively coupled to the biomarker detection material, the sensor configured to detect a change in at least one of an electrical property and an optical property of the biomarker detection material. When a change in the at least one of an electrical property and optical property of the biomarker detection material is detected, the change is indicative of the presence of at least one biomarker.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the likelihood that an occupant will exit an occupant support comprises determining if the location of the occupant on the occupant support is displaced relative to a reference location, and if the location of the occupant is so displaced, designating that the occupant is at a risk of exiting the occupant support which is elevated relative to the baseline risk. A support apparatus comprises a framework, a mattress, sensors distributed on the support apparatus to sense occupant weight distribution on the support apparatus, and a processor adapted to designate a risk of occupant egress as a function of the direction of the occupant weight distribution and the elevation status of the perimeter panels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining and tracking a positioning of a subject and displaying an image of a model of a subject are disclosed. A system includes a plurality of thermal markers, one or more thermal imaging devices arranged to capture baseline and updated infrared images of the surface and the thermal markers, and a computing device communicatively coupled to the thermal imaging devices. A first thermal marker is arranged at a first location relative to the surface. The computing device receives the baseline and updated infrared images and determines a corrective movement for at least one of the subject and the surface to align the thermal markers in the updated infrared image with the thermal markers in the baseline infrared image based on a location of the thermal markers in the baseline infrared image and a location of the thermal markers in the updated infrared image.

Abstract: Embodiments include a modular support pad having a support cushion, a fluid-filled bladder coupled to an electronic pressure sensor for sensing a fluid pressure within the fluid-filled bladder, and a ticking surrounding the support cushion and the fluid-filled bladder and providing a person support surface between the fluid-filled bladder and a person. Other embodiments include a modular support pad having a support cushion, a bladder coupled to an electronic pump for circulating a cooling fluid within the bladder, and a ticking surrounding the support cushion and the bladder and providing a person support surface between the bladder and a person. Methods of sensing pressure applied by a support pad are also described.

Abstract: A method of assessing a tissue sample includes the steps of: 1) splitting source electromagnetic radiation into: a) sample arm radiation directed in a Z direction toward a sample thereby illuminating the sample at a first selected XY coordinate pair of the sample, and b) reflector arm radiation directed toward a reflector so that the reflector arm radiation travels a path length; 2) interfering sample-scattered electromagnetic radiation with reflector-reflected electromagnetic radiation thereby establishing an interference pattern associated with the sample; 3) comparing the sample interference pattern to a reference interference pattern; and 4) reaching a conclusion about the sample based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method for assessing the condition of a tissue sample includes the steps of: 1. illuminating the sample with incident electromagnetic radiation exhibiting P polarization types, 2. for each of the P polarization types, inspecting the scattered incident radiation for at least one and possibly all of Q polarization types; 3. establishing a transfer function M relating the intensity of the P polarization types of the incident radiation to the intensity of the polarization types for which the scattered radiation was inspected; 4. comparing the established transfer function to one or more reference transfer functions; and 5. reaching a conclusion about the condition of the tissue sample based on the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention provides adaptive lightweight acoustic signal classification for physiological monitoring applications. In an exemplary implementation, the total energy of a segment of an acoustic signal recording body sounds is first determined. For each of a plurality of signal classes (e.g., good, noisy, weak), the probability that the segment belongs to the signal class is then calculated using the total energy and profile data for the signal class. The segment is then assigned to one of the plurality of signal classes by reference to the probabilities. Physiological data are then selectively generated and outputted using the segment, depending on the assigned signal class, and the segment is selectively applied as feedback to update profile data for the assigned signal class.

Abstract: A sleep apparatus, such as a mattress, comprises a head support surface sized to support a person's head, and a torso support surface sized to support a person's torso. The head support surface is generally laterally sloped moving from a first side toward a second side of the mattress, and the torso support surface is generally laterally sloped moving from the first side toward the second side. In some embodiments, the lateral slope of the head support surface is at least about 15°, the lateral slope of the head support surface is greater than the lateral slope of the torso support surface, and/or, the sleep apparatus slopes in the longitudinal direction as well.

Abstract: Physiological signal quality classification methods and systems designed to improve ambulatory monitoring. Physiological signals are classified as good, noisy or weak based on signal properties. Once classified, signals are processed differently depending on their classification in order to encourage reliance on reliable physiological data, discourage reliance on unreliable physiological data and induce action to improve signal quality. For example, for a good signal, physiological data may be extracted from the signal and displayed to a person being monitored. For a noisy signal, a noisy signal notification may be displayed to the person in lieu of extracted physiological data. For a weak signal, a weak signal notification may be displayed to the person in lieu of extracted physiological data.