System and method of monitoring association between wireless sensors and a monitored patient

Abstract

Systems and methods of wireless sensing of physiological data includes obtaining physiological data from a patient with a wireless sensor. A patient location device determines a location of the patient. A location of the wireless sensor is obtained. The physiological data from the wireless sensor is associated to the patient based upon a determined proximity of the location of the wireless sensor to the location of the patient.

1 . A system for wireless patient sensing, the system comprising:
 a first wireless sensor comprising a physiological sensor configured to obtain first physiological data from a first patient;   a patient location device configured to determine a location of the first patient; and   a processor configured to:
 track a location of the first wireless sensor; 
 receive the location of the first patient and digitally position a model of the first patient at the location of the first patient; 
 compare the location of the first wireless sensor to the positioned model of the first patient; and 
 assign the first physiological data to the first patient based upon the comparison. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate an association confidence level between the first wireless sensor and the first patient based on the location of the first wireless sensor and the model of the first patient positioned at the location of the first patient. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the association confidence level is further based on a proximity of the first wireless sensor to the first patient model over time. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first wireless sensor is assigned to the first patient if the location of the wireless sensor remains within a predetermined proximity of the first patient model for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first physiological data is assigned to the first patient if the location of the first wireless sensor is within a predetermined distance of an envelope of the model of the first patient. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient location device includes a plurality of patient location devices placed at specific anatomical locations on the first patient and the model of the first patient comprises measurements between the locations of the patient location devices. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the patient location devices is a beacon configured to broadcast a signal tracked by the processor to receive the location of the first patient. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the model of the first patient is based on at least one measurement of the first patient's body. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the model of the first patient incorporates anatomical data extracted from an image of the first patient. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient location device is a first patient location device and further comprising:
 a second patient location device configured to determine a location of the second patient; and   a second wireless sensor comprising a physiological sensor configured to obtain second physiological data from the second patient;   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 track a location of the second wireless sensor; 
 receive the location of the second patient and digitally position a model of the second patient at the location of the second patient; 
 compare the location of the second wireless sensor to the positioned models of the first patient and the second patient; and 
 assign the second physiological data to the first patient or the second patient based upon the comparison. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate an association confidence level between at least one of the first wireless sensor and the second wireless sensor and at least one of the first patient and the second patient; and
 the processor is configured to evaluate at least one of the assignment of the first wireless sensor and the assignment of the second wireless sensor based on the association confidence level.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate the association confidence level between each of the first wireless sensor and the second wireless sensor and each of the first patient and the second patient based on the locations of each wireless sensor and the locations of each model and assign the wireless sensor to the first patient or the second patient based upon which association confidence level is greater. 
     
     
         13 . A method of wireless sensing of physiological data, the method comprising:
 receiving physiological data wirelessly transmitted from a plurality of wireless sensors;   obtaining a location of each wireless sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors;   obtaining from at least one patient location device, a location of a first patient;   obtaining a first model of the first patient and positioning the first model at the obtained location of the first patient;   comparing the locations of each of the wireless sensors of the plurality of wireless sensors to the first model; and   assigning the physiological data received from each wireless sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors to the first patient based upon a proximity of the location of each wireless sensor to the first patient model.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the location of each of the plurality of wireless sensors is determined over time, and wherein the physiological data is assigned to the first patient based on the locations of the plurality of wireless sensors over time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 calculating an association confidence level between each of the plurality of wireless sensors and the first patient; and   evaluating the association between the first patient and the plurality of wireless sensors based on the association confidence levels.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 obtaining from the at least one patient location device, a location of a second patient;   obtaining a second model of the second patient and positioning the second model at the obtained location of the second patient;   comparing the locations of each of the wireless sensors of the plurality of wireless sensors to the second model; and   assigning the physiological data received from each wireless sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors to the first patient or the second patient based upon the proximity of the location of each wireless sensor to the first patient model and the second patient model.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the proximity of the location of each of the plurality of wireless sensors to the first patient model and the second patient model is determined over time and the plurality of wireless sensors is assigned to the first patient or the second patient if each of the plurality of wireless sensors remains within a predetermined proximity of the first patient model or the second patient model for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising sorting the received physiological data from the plurality of wireless sensors between electronic records of the first patient and the second patient based upon the assignment of the physiological data to the first patient or the second patient. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 calculating a first association confidence level between each of the plurality of wireless sensors and the first patient, and a second association confidence level between each of the plurality of wireless sensors and the second patient; and   selectively assigning of the plurality wireless sensors to either the first patient or the second patient based upon the first association confidence level and the second association confidence level.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 evaluating, for each of the plurality of wireless sensors, if an association confidence level is greater between the respective wireless sensor and first patient or the second patient; and   assigning the respective wireless sensor to the first patient or the second patient based upon the evaluation.