Systems and methods for prevention of pressure ulcers

[0006]A preferred embodiment can employ a conformable sensor patch that can be fixedly attached to one or more body locations of a particular patient. The device can include a wireless transmitter, a data processor, a power source such as a battery, and one or more sensor elements such as a pressure sensor or array of sensors, a bioimpedance sensor, a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, an acceleration sensor, a motion sensor, and/or a light sensor. The processor can be programmed to determine a diagnostic value based on the measured data and communicate this value to the patient or other user. The sensor device is attached to the skin of the patient at specific body location(s) to perform time domain measurements to provide continuous or periodic measurements. The pressure sensor can be triggered to actuate device operation when a threshold pressure level is sensed for a preset time period or when the pressure reaches a level that could cause an impact injury, such as the patient falling. Pressure ulcer injury often occurs with the occlusion of microvasculature between a bone and a region of skin under pressure. Sustained oxygen deprivation of tissue arising from vascular occlusion over days or weeks can eventually cause ulcer formation. Triggering based upon pressure measurements can limit consumption of battery power by actuating device operation only during those times when a particular body location is subject to a pressure that can contribute to pressure ulcer formation. The device can also be activated by receipt of wired or wireless transmission of data by an onboard receiver that receives diagnostic data (e.g. blood pressure, blood oxygenation) from a separate sensor device.

As the conditions under which pressure ulcers will occur in a given patient depend on the specific condition of that patient, simply measuring the pressure applied at any instant to the skin of a patient does not provide meaningful information that is useful to the patient or caregiver.

In conventional systems, time domain based measurements to determine the accumulated effects at a selected location on a patient's body are not available.

Sustained oxygen deprivation of tissue arising from vascular occlusion over days or weeks can eventually cause ulcer formation.