EP1589509A1

EP1589509A1 - Device for monitoring bedridden persons

Info

Publication number: EP1589509A1
Application number: EP05447083A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guillaume Dr. Vandenplas
Original assignee: Sa Bf Engineering
Current assignee: Sa Bf Engineering
Priority date: 2004-04-21
Filing date: 2005-04-20
Publication date: 2005-10-26
Also published as: BE1015990A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for monitoring bedridden persons, comprising a mat-shaped inlay element and applicable onto the bed mattress, provided with connections for communication with a data assembler and supply of current, which inlay element contains means to measure the movement and urine loss of the person, and is characterized in that the inlay element comprises temperature sensors and that the means to measure the urine loss comprise a transmitting antenna, which transmitting antenna is able to communicate through radio frequency waves with a resonance label, that is present in the diaper of the person to be monitored, in immediate contact with the absorbing layer of the diaper.

Description

The invention relates to a device for monitoring bedridden persons, comprising a mat-shaped inlay element and applicable onto a bed mattress, provided with connections for communication with a data assembler and supply of current, which inlay element contains means to measure the movement and urine loss of the person.
The ageing society brings with it a considerable amount of challenges. The increasing demand for care of the ever-growing group of elderly persons, together with the growing shortage of a professional and social network (social isolation for instance) demands new solutions with respect to this care. The observed quality requirements should in this respect be high, but also for a sharp price. With respect to quality the right of privacy, the right to enjoy an optimal night's rest, undisturbed by supervisory measures of nursing and/or care taking personnel, as well as the right of a negligible impact by technical interventions and/or technical apparatus should be guaranteed.
Elderly persons are usually admitted to homes for the elderly when it has been established that they cannot sufficiently take care of themselves, and/or that the social network is lacking to ensure enough care and safety in their situation at home. A rather large percentage of these elderly persons suffers from urinary and, to a lesser extent, from faecal incontinence. Removing elderly persons from their familiar environment generally has a rather negative influence on their mental condition. There is therefore a need for monitoring systems that enable care and surveillance at a distance. Besides from a reduction of their physical possibilities, the elderly in many cases therefore also suffer from uncontrolled urine loss. In order to remedy the consequences of this incontinence, elderly persons are frequently provided with diapers. In the home for the elderly the nursing night personnel usually carries out a control operation at least tree times a night. With incontinent persons the diaper then has to be controlled for saturation or the control of the diaper serves to force the night personnel to actually carry out these control operations. It is customary with respect to saturation control of the diaper to assess the discoloration of a coloring strip, attached to the underside of the diaper, which coloring strip changes color upon saturation with urine. These controls are a significant burden to the personnel, as well as to the patient. Indeed, the patient is at least three times per night disturbed in his sleep. There is therefore a need in homes for monitoring systems that enable care at a distance.
Known devices for monitoring bedridden persons are usually based on an action by the elderly person or patient himself. This person should, when he/she is in need, for instance activate an alarm. It is known from experience that such an, albeit simple action fails to appear due to the fact that the patient or elderly person is in distress as a result of the emergency situation that arose. It thus frequently happens that a fallen down elderly person lies on the floor for hours after a fall, without their being given an alarm signal and without having acquired any injury. The known systems therefore are unreliable.
There have thus been developed systems that are based on generating an automatic signal when the patient has for instance fallen out of bed or finds himself otherwise in an emergency situation.
Such a device is described in US 5144284. In US 5144284 a mat-shaped inlay element is described which is applicable onto a bed of a patient, which inlay element contains means to measure the movement and the urine loss of the person. The inlay element has a moisture impermeable layer, on top of which moisture detectors are provided to measure urine loss. Underneath the moisture impermeable layer the inlay element contains pressure sensors, which may determine whether the patient is present in bed or not. The moisture and pressure sensors generate electrical signals that may be lead to a computer and/or alarm system.
The disadvantage of the known device is that, although urine loss may be detected at a distance, for instance by nursing personnel, this urine loss necessarily fouls the bed. The caretaking personnel is therefore forced to change the bed, causing a large disturbance of the night's rest of the patient, as well as a considerable increase in workload of the personnel. Also urine loss monitoring is limited to the loss that occurred in bed. In case the patient left the bed for one reason or another, the known device is not able to detect any possible urine loss. A further disadvantage of the known device is that it is generally not possible to discern between a condition whereby the patient has actually left the bed, and a condition whereby the pressure has been decreased for another reason, for instance because the patient has put himself in an upright position in bed. There is therefore a need for a more sensitive measure of the movement of the patient than provided by the pressure measurements of the known device.
The device according to the invention aims to generate new information about the patient by means of a number of measurements and a combination of the measured data, which information could hitherto not be generated.
The device for monitoring bedridden persons is thereto characterized in that the inlay element comprises temperature sensors and that the means to measure the urine loss comprise a transmitting antenna, which transmitting antenna is able to communicate through radio frequency waves with a resonance label, that is present in the diaper of the person to be monitored, in immediate contact with the absorbing layer of the diaper.
Surprisingly, by the combined measurement of pressure and temperature of the patient it turned out to be possible to make a clear and quasi-immediate distinction between an in-bed position of the patient and the out-of-bed condition. A further advantage is that it is now possible to expediently detect at a distance whether the patient has deceased, or is about to decease. This is not possible with the known device. The means to measure urine loss according to the invention allow to also measuring the urine loss in the out-of-bed condition. Because the transmitting antenna and the resonance label are only able to communicate with each other within a certain adjustable distance, it also becomes possible, in case the patient left the bed, to determine how far from the bed the patient is actually located, for instance whether he/she is still in his/her room, or has moved into the hallway.
The device for monitoring the condition of a patient according to the invention is based on the generation of an electrical and/or electronic signal of at least one of the measuring means each time the status of the measured variable (pressure, temperature and/or degree of saturation of the diaper) corresponding with the measuring means concerned deviates a given amount from the adjusted starting value. The electrical and/or electronical signal may subsequently be transmitted in a known manner to an alarm system. It is likewise possible to measure the electrical and/or electronical signal continuously and transmit it to one or more data assemblers, connected to at least one of the measuring means, for instance a personal computer and/or a larger, centrally arranged computer. If desired portable monitors may also be used. The transmitted signals may subsequently be processed in a known manner, for instance by electronical storage and/or by mans of printers, and the like. In order to be able to transmit the signals the inlay element according to the invention is provided with connections. Suitable connections are all connections known to the person skilled in the art for the above-mentioned purpose. Also connections are provided for energy supply for the measuring means, for instance for electrical current.
The inlay element according to the invention, applicable onto a bed or for instance a chair comprises means to measure the movement of the patient. Suitable means to this end consist of a series of pressure sensors, applied to the mat-shaped inlay element. Such a pressure sensor consists for instance of a multilayered structure whereby an electrical non-conducting, relatively thick and elastically deformable inner layer is applied between two moisture impermeable outer layers, which at their inner side (the sides in contact with the inner layer) have been made electrically conducting, for instance by applying thereto a conducting ink. It is also possible to apply a non-conducting foam, such as for instance polyurethane foam between two electrically conducting strips. When a patient is not present in bed the two conducting inner sides (or strips) are kept apart by the electrically non-conducting inner layer. By measuring for instance the resistance and/or the capacity of an electrical circuit in which circuit both inner sides and the inner layer are included it is possible to assess whether or not the patient is still present in bed. In case the patient is still present, the inner sides (or the strips) are pressed onto each other by his/her weight causing a "short circuit", and a presence-signal is given. Upon leaving the bed the inner sides (or the strips) are separated by the elastic resilience of the inner layer and the circuit is interrupted. Other suitable pressure sensors consist of thin-walled flexible tubes wherein a fluid is contained, and which at one side of the tube is connected to a manometer.
The inlay element according to the invention comprises also means to measure the temperature of the patient. Suitable means to this end consist of a series of temperature sensors, applied to the mat-shaped inlay element. Such a temperature sensor consists for instance of two mutually connected strips of a heat-conducting material, preferably metal, whereby the materials possess a different coefficient of expansion (bimetallic element). Upon heating the strips expand to a different extent causing the entire unit to warp. This deformation is converted in an electrical signal. It is also possible to use a temperature sensor of the type used in electronical body thermometers.
The inlay element according to the invention may be positioned into a bed onto the mattress at for instance shoulder and/or pelvis height. A further advantage of the inlay element according to the invention is that the position onto the bed may be chosen with a high degree of freedom. It is possible for instance to take into account the specific condition and position of the patient. Because the means for the pressure and the temperature measurement, as well as the measuring means for the saturation of the diaper are uncoupled, the measuring means for the pressure for instance need not necessarily be located at pelvis height. A suitable dimension of the inlay element with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bed amounts to about half a meter. The inlay element may according to the invention extent to only a part of the width of the bed, but preferably over the total width of the bed. The inlay element may be provided with means to secure it to the bed and/or mattress. These may for instance be elastic bands or belts, attached to the inlay element, which may be applied around the mattress at the corners or which may be run underneath the mattress. The inlay element according to the invention is preferably build up of an upper and a lower layer of a flexible material, wherein between are located at least one pressure sensor, one temperature sensor, and a transmitting antenna. Suitable flexible materials are polymer foils, or for instance rubber. Advantageously transparent polymer foils are used, since in that case the internal parts of the inlay element, such as for instance the wiring of the different measuring sensors and/or the transmitting antenna, may be easily inspected visually. It also has advantages to use polymer foils which show a good resistance against moisture, detergents, and antiseptic means, and which do not rupture and/or easily wrinkle as a consequence of movements of the patient.
The sensors are secured in an known manner to the upper and lower layer, for instance by adhesive bonding, stitching, welding, etc. The wiring of the measuring sensors and of the transmitting antenna preferably leave the inlay element through the lateral side with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bed, allowing to put it away immediately under the mattress. In this way the patient is not hindered and the wiring is well protected.
Preferably the device according to the invention is characterized in that the inlay element consists of at least an upper and a lower layer, and in- between at least one intermediate layer of a thermally insulated material, and that the temperature sensors are located between the upper and intermediate layer.
Hereby is achieved that the response time of the temperature measurement is shortened, enabling a fast action when unwanted temperature variations of the patient occur. Moreover by this preferred embodiment is achieved that also small temperature variations in the vicinity of the patient may be detected, for instance in case the patient happens to become at least partly uncovered. Even this relatively undesired condition of the patient may in this manner be made known at a distance to the caretaking personnel.
Suitable thermally insulated materials are for instance polymer foils with a reflective coating, whereby the reflective coating has to point towards the patient's side, and/or metal foils, such as for instance aluminum foils, and/or multilayered foils, build up of at least one layer of polymer foil and at least one layer of metal foil. In such cases the layer located closest to the side of the patient is under normal operation a metal foil.
The device according to the invention preferably is characterized in that the upper and lower layer are connected to each other along several contour lines so as to form mutually separated compartments, in which the means to measure movement, urine loss and temperature of the person are located distinct from each other.
Hereby undesired interference and/or mutual influence between the signals emitted by the means for measuring movement, urine loss and temperature, and possibly by aiding means such as for instance the thermally insulated foil may be decreased and/or prevented. Attachment of the upper and lower layer may be accomplished in a known manner, for instance by stitching, adhesive bonding, and/or welding. When using polymer foils for upper and lower layer these are preferably welded together. The mutual attachment of upper and lower layer along the contour lines extends over a suitable width. In this manner connection seams originate with this suitable width.
Preferably the connection seams of the mat-shaped inlay element according to the invention comprise aeration openings, which extend over the entire thickness of the inlay element.
Hereby an improved comfort level is achieved for the patient. Because of the improved exchange of air and moisture, such as for instance perspiration moisture, between the bed mattress and the patient at the height of the inlay element, the risk for bedsores, which occur frequently with bedridden persons, is minimalized.
The inlay element according to the invention also comprises means to measure the urine loss of the patient. These means comprise according to the invention a transmitting antenna, which transmitting antenna is able to communicate through radio frequency waves with a resonance label, which is located in the diaper of the person to be monitored, in immediate contact with the absorbing layer of the diaper.
Such means are known per se and are used to prevent theft in shops and the like. A detailed description of these antitheft resonance labels is for instance provided in US3707711. The content of US3707711 is hereby expressly incorporated in the present description. The working mechanism of these resonance labels is as follows. An energetic signal of any kind is emitted by a transmitting antenna to the resonance label. This signal is subsequently 'processed' by the label, and thereafter in modified form reemitted to a receiver with receiving antenna. The label is thus subjected to an inquiry by the transmitting antenna and emits, depending on the specific circumstances wherein the label finds itself, a response signal to the receiver. The known antitheft system inquires resonance labels, attached to a product carried by the customer at the exit of the shop. When these labels have not been inactivated by a cash point employee (therefore have not been paid) the label returns upon inquiry a response signal to the receiving antenna where after an alarm goes off.
Resonance labels have since been introduced for more than ten years on a large scale and easily obtainable, for instance from the company All-Tag Security in Belgium. Resonance labels (also designated as transponders) suitable for the invention are usually obtainable in two kinds: passive labels and active labels. Passive labels contain on themselves no energy supply but obtain this supply from the emitter and/or receiver. Active labels do have an autonomous energy supply. The device according to the invention preferably makes use of passive labels since such labels are small, may readily be applied onto for instance a diaper, moreover have a theoretically infinite life and are cheap. Suitable passive resonance labels contain at least one antenna, and for instance a capacity element and a microchip. The antenna is able to absorb electromagnetic radiation, for instance radio frequency waves, originating from a transmitting antenna (emitter). The capacity element stores this energy and uses it subsequently to emit a response signal under the form of an electromagnetic radiation, for instance radio frequency waves. Information, possibly present in the microchip may also be emitted, for instance by modulating the incoming signal and subsequently emit the modulated signal. It is also possible to incorporate both the emitting function (emitter) and the receiving function (receiver) into one antenna unit. The receiver is usually constructed such that it is able to read the relatively weak signal from the resonance label and to process it further.
The transmitting antenna of the device according to the invention may be any transmitting antenna customary in combination with resonance labels. The usual emitting frequencies vary from for instance 100 kHz to several GHz, among other things dependent of the desired range. It is for instance possible to select a transmitting antenna-resonance label combination in the low frequency range of 100 to 500 kHz when it is desired to detect whether a patient has removed himself far from his/her bed. In cases when this is not desirable - for instance for patients still living at home - the high frequency range may be chosen instead.
Suitable transmitting antennas are available in many forms. Suitable transmitting antennas are for instance available under the form of a small box of a few cm in cross-section. These may easily be secured to the bed of the patient or elsewhere in the room, for instance onto a doorsill. It is also possible to incorporate the transmitting antenna the mat-shaped inlay element. It is also possible to use filamentary (threadlike) transmitting antennas.
The device according to the invention is preferably characterized in that the transmitting antenna has the form of a loop that is substantially located along the circumference of the inlay element.
Hereby the antenna becomes integrated with the other measuring sensors, and hindrance of the patient by the transmitting antenna is prevented. Moreover the location of the transmitting antenna is now well defined with respect to the other measuring sensors, thereby allowing to well interpret all integrated information.
When in use the transmitting antenna emits at specific instants of time, for instance every ten minutes, a radio signal to the resonance label present in the diaper of the patient, in immediate contact with the moisture absorbing layer of the diaper. In case of a dry diaper the resonance label will return a response signal to the receiver, which will subsequently store this condition and/or pass on to the data assembler that the condition does not require any further action. In case the resonance label comes into contact with urine the label is inactivated and will not send a response signal, which will be interpreted by the receiver as a condition of saturation of the diaper. It is also possible to use a resonance label that is able to send specific information about the condition to the receiver. In case the receiver detects a condition of saturation a signal to undertake action, such as for instance the change of a diaper, will be transmitted through the data assembler. In order to prevent premature changing of diapers, the resonance label is preferably, after a first condition of saturation has been detected, subjected to an inquiry a number of subsequent times, for instance every two minutes. Only when a preset number of times, for instance 5 times, the condition of saturation has been detected will the signal for action be given.
Usually diapers are build up of a moisture impermeable outer layer of a suitable polymer in which a strongly moisture absorbing intermediate layer is included. Often the diaper also contains an inner layer of a porous nonabsorbent polymer, which is in immediate contact with the skin and provides for extra comfort. For a good operation of the device according to the invention the resonance label has to make immediate contact with the moisture-absorbing layer of the diaper. This may for instance be assured by securing the label at the inner side of the diaper at the height of the crotch, either directly onto the skin, either between the absorbing layer and the optional porous inner layer, either in the absorbing layer itself.
Preferably the resonance label is releasably applied onto the backside of the diaper of the person at the height of the sacrum.
Hereby is achieved that only at about complete saturation of the diaper the condition of saturation is detected. Moreover in this way the resonance label is easily applied and removed. Also special diapers need not be used. Before securing the label and to assure direct contact with the moisture-absorbing layer, part of the outer layer of the diaper is removed at the position of the preferred location of the label.
The device for monitoring bedridden persons according to the invention will now be further described with the aid of the following figures, without however being limited thereto.
Figure 1 schematically shows a cross-section of a device according to the invention applied onto a mattress;
Figure 2 schematically shows an upper view of a device according to the invention applied onto a mattress;
Figure 3 shows the mat-shaped inlay element of a device according to the invention in spread-out condition;
Figure 4 shows the lower layer of the inlay element of a device according to the invention in spread-out condition;
Figure 5 schematically shows an upper view of a pressure sensor according to the invention applied onto the lower layer of the inlay element;
Figure 6 schematically shows a side view of an inlay element according to the invention;
Figure 7 schematically shows an upper view of an inlay element according to the invention;
Figure 8 schematically shows a diaper in spread-out condition with a resonance label according to the invention;
Figure 9 finally shows a side view of a resonance label according to the invention, applied onto a diaper.
In figure 1 a mattress M is shown in cross-section onto which mattress a mat-shaped inlay element (D, D1) is applied. The mat-shaped inlay element has a patient side D which extends in the transversal direction over about the complete width of mattress M and which is, during normal operation, located at the top side of mattress M. The mat-shaped inlay element has two sides D1 extending substantially along the sides of mattress M, and two slips D2, which are folded under mattress M and in between which an elastic fastener V1 is applied. Fastener V1 provides a sufficient tension force to be able to apply the inlay element (D, D1) sufficiently tight onto mattress M, thereby stabilizing the element against tangential forces. To further protect the inlay element (D, D1) a cover Dd is preferably tightened over the mat-shaped inlay element with the aid of elastic fastener V2. The cover Dd may for instance be made of light moisture resorbing fabric (sponge good) and also provides comfort to the patient.
As indicated in Figure 2 the mat-shaped inlay element is preferably located with the patient side D upwards at the height of the pelvis zone of the patient, whereby the comfort layer Dd extends at both sides in the longitudinal direction of the mattress M (of the bed) further than inlay element D. In figure 2 the head is denoted by H, the foot by V.
The mat-shaped inlay element (D, D1) has a measuring zone D at the patient side, two sides D1, and two slips D2, which are provided with securing openings for elastic fastener V1. Measuring zone D is provided with several measuring sensors for monitoring of the movement, the urine loss and the temperature variations of the patient. According to the invention the inlay element comprises in the measuring zone D a number of measuring sensors F for monitoring the movement of the patient. At least at the height of measuring zone D and both sides D1, the inlay element is provided with a supporting bottom layer E, which for instance consists of a coarse-mazed, coarse-threaded plastified fabric. Such bottom layers are frequently used as lower layer in tapestry. Round openings F are applied onto bottom layer E at different positions, where pressure sensors F2 are attached. From positions F connection means Fa,b,c,d are provided for communication with a data assembler. The connection means Fa,b,c,d for the pressure sensors F2 consist of conventional electrical wiring. Positions F may be selected at will scattered over the measuring zone D. Also the amount of positions F for pressure sensors F2 may be chosen freely, whereby a compromise is sought between cost and the desired accuracy of the measurement of the movement. Advantageously, the areal density of the positions F is increased at the side of the bed whereof the patient usually gets out. Positions F are in this preferred embodiment therefore asymmetrically arranged with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the bed (or the mattress M). The inlay element as depicted in figure 4 then has for instance more positions F at the right side than at the left side, assuming that the right side corresponds to the side of the bed where the patient usually leaves the bed.
Pressure sensors F2 are according to the invention applied at the height of positions F onto about circular plates F1 from a hard polymer. Plates F1 are secured onto the bottom layer E, for instance by means of an adhesive. The wiring Fa,b,c,d for the pressure sensors F2 each consists of a relatively stiff welding strip F3, that is connected through a small opening in plate F1 with electrical wiring F4. Plate F1 protects the welding connection F3 against deformation and weld fracture. Moreover, plate F1 increases the sensitivity of pressure sensor F2.
The inlay element according to the invention further comprises a multilayered structure (1,2,3,4), which is applied onto bottom layer E with a suitable adhesive. The multilayered structure substantially consists of an intermediate layer 2 of a thermally insulated material, for instance a metal foil which at upper and under side is provided with one or more upper layers 3 and/or 4, and a lower layer 1. The under and upper layers preferably consist of a transparent polymer. The metal foil is preferably an aluminum foil with a shiny and a dull side, whereby the shiny side is turned towards the patient side, upwards therefore in figure 6. Temperature sensors 6 are located onto the metal foil at the measuring positions indicated in figure 7. These are in a similar fashion applied onto the underlying structure as the pressure sensors, i.e. through a plate 5 from a hard polymer. At the locations 7 depicted in figures 6 and 7 the multilayered structure is interrupted, so that aeration may occur through the openings in the coarse-meshed bottom layer E. This aeration improves the comfort level of the patient. Upper layer 4 seals the entire structure between the aeration contours 7 in a hermetical and moisture proof fashion.
As is depicted in figure 7, the entire surface formed by the reflective metal foil 2 is divided in a number of parts (2, a, b) by the aeration openings 7. The dotted parts 2, wherein the positions for the temperature sensors 6 are chosen, define zones where the reflective metal foil 2 operates as a thermally insulated layer. By the presence of the metal foil 2 the heat given off by the body will at least to a large extent not be able to penetrate into the mattress. By insulating the mattress from the heat of the body the temperature sensors 6 will immediately register small variations in temperature. Because of this high sensitivity it becomes possible to immediately take action upon small variations in temperature. It also becomes possible to better detect the nature and origin of temperature variations.
Part a of the metal foil is the transmitting antenna of the means to measure the urine loss. Part b of this corresponds to the receiving antenna. Both antennas are connected to a data assembler, and are able to communicate through radio frequency waves with a resonance label T provided in a diaper, as shown in figures 8 and 9. Transmitting antenna a is preferably located in the vicinity of the circumference of the inlay element, thereby ensuring that the area of operation of the measuring means for the urine loss is as large as possible. Although it is possible to integrate the emitting and the receiving antenna into only one metal foil part, two separate antennas a and b are advantageously provided. In this case namely, it has surprisingly been established signal disturbance does almost not occur by the presence of the metal foil parts 2.
In operation the transmitting antenna a emits a radio signal to the transponder (of resonance label) T. Resonance label T consists of an aluminum circuit applied onto paper, which circuit reacts with a frequency of 8.2 MHz (with a deviation of 5%), and is obtainable from the company All Tag in Belgium. Resonance label T is located in the diaper of the patient, preferably at the height of the side B of the diaper at the tailbone of the patient. Resonance label T is preferably applied at the outer side of the diaper (the visible side in figure 8), in order to prevent a too fast reaction upon partial saturation of the diaper only. The diaper is in cross-section made up of a moisture-absorbing layer, which is located between the patient side P, and the outer side of the diaper. The outer side of the diaper consists of a moisture impermeable membrane. In the outer membrane of the diaper a substantially circular opening is made at the tailbone side, against which the resonance label T is applied with the active side oriented towards the moisture-absorbing layer. Because an opening has been made in the outer membrane, the active side of the resonance label is in direct contact with the moisture-absorbing layer. When this layer is saturated with urine, a short circuit will occur in the active side of the resonance label, i.e. in the printed electronical circuit applied onto the substrate of the label. As a result here from, emission of the radio signal by the resonance label to the receiving antenna will be interrupted. This condition is being transmitted to the data assembler through the receiving antenna. Once the resonance label has been dried again, the label will resume emission of his specific code.
In this way it is possible to detect for instance whether complete saturation of the diaper has occurred. Indeed, when complete saturation of the diaper has not yet occurred, the resonance label will because of moisture collection on the spot of the label short circuited during a certain period of time. Because of the high moisture absorbing capacity of the diaper material this moisture will, in case of incomplete saturation of the diaper be sucked away towards the drier parts of the moisture absorbing material of the diaper, causing the label to resume its emission. Upon increasing saturation, the time periods of emission and non-emission will follow each other increasingly faster as a complete saturation is approached. By assembling the measuring signals this process may be followed.
It will be apparent that the inlay element and the device according to the invention make it possible to register and analyze information with respect to movement, urine loss and temperature variations of the patient, and that in this way insight is obtained about the condition of the patient, which insight surpasses what has been possible hitherto.

Claims

Device for monitoring bedridden persons, comprising a mat-shaped inlay element and applicable onto a bed mattress, provided with connections for communication with a data assembler and supply of current, which inlay element contains means to measure the movement and urine loss of the person, characterized in that the inlay element comprises temperature sensors and that the means to measure the urine loss comprise a transmitting antenna, which transmitting antenna is able to communicate through radio frequency waves with a resonance label, that is present in the diaper of the person to be monitored, in immediate contact with the absorbing layer of the diaper.
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlay element consists of at least an upper and a lower layer, and in-between at least one intermediate layer of a thermally insulated material, and that the temperature sensors are located between the upper and intermediate layer.
Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper and lower layer are connected to each other along several contour lines so as to form mutually separated compartments, in which the means to measure movement, urine loss and temperature of the person are located distinct from each other.
Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the connection seams contain aeration openings extending over the entire thickness of the mat-shaped inlay element.
Device according to any one of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the transmitting antenna has the form of a loop, which is substantially located along the circumference of the inlay element.
Device according to any one of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the resonance label is releasably applied onto the backside of the diaper of the person at the height of the sacrum.
The use of a resonance label for measuring the state of saturation of a diaper, by applying the resonance label onto the diaper in immediate contact with the absorbing layer of the diaper, and subsequently interrogating the resonance label by a transmitting antenna, located within distance of reach.
A diaper provided with a resonance label in immediate contact with the moisture-absorbing layer.