Reduced pressure therapy systems and methods for monitoring patient movement

Abstract

According to certain embodiments, an apparatus for applying negative pressure to a wound can include a negative pressure source, a sensor, and a controller. The negative pressure source can be configured to couple via a fluid flow path to a wound dressing and provide negative pressure to the wound dressing. The sensor can be configured to monitor a magnitude or frequency of pressure in the fluid flow path generated by the negative pressure source. The controller can be configured to determine an activity classification, such as breathing, changing positions while lying, sitting, walking, standing, jumping, traversing stairs, leg extending, leg bending, and performing chair squats, based on a change in the magnitude of pressure over time while the negative pressure source maintains the magnitude of pressure in the fluid flow path below a negative pressure threshold. The controller can output an indication of the activity classification.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A system for treating a wound and/or for monitoring the movement of a patient, comprising:
 a source of negative pressure and a wound dressing;   a sensor configured to receive pressure data indicative of a magnitude or frequency of pressure measured in a fluid flow path coupling the negative pressure source to the wound dressing; and   a controller configured to determine an activity classification for the patient during a period of time from the pressure data measured by the sensor wherein the controller is configured to determine the activity classification based on a change of the magnitude of pressure over time or by comparing the detected pressure signals to one or more frequency thresholds;   wherein the controller is further configured to output an indication denoting the activity classification for the patient; and   wherein the system further includes a user interface configured to output the indication of the activity classification for presentation.   
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure pressure at or near the wound dressing. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the fluid flow path comprises at least one lumen or a plurality of lumens and wherein the controller is configured to monitor the pressure in one or lumens of the fluid flow path or at an inlet of the negative pressure source. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the system is a negative pressure wound therapy system. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the activity classification is indicative of a type of activity engaged in by the patient while wearing the wound dressing. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the activity classification is one or more of breathing, changing positions while lying, sitting, walking, standing, jumping, traversing stairs, leg extending, leg bending, and performing chair squats. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that a patient is changing positions while lying down or in another position in response to a change in magnitude of pressure measured by the sensor. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the controller is further configured to output an indication that the individual is changing positions while lying in response to the change in the magnitude of pressure satisfying a threshold pressure change. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect a duration of time during which the patient has not changed positions while lying down or in another position and output another indication in response to the detected duration satisfying a threshold duration. 
     
     
         58 . The system of claim of  claim 49 , wherein the controller is further configured to compare the activity classification to an assigned classification associated with the patient and output an indication of whether the activity classification matches the assigned classification. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the user interface is configured to receive the assigned classification as a user input to the user interface. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 49 , further comprising a memory device configured to store the activity classification. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the system is further configured to transmit the indication of the activity classification to a computing device via a communication network. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect the patient’s respiration rate or breathing when the dressing is applied to an area of the body. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect the patient’s heart rate or pulse when the dressing is applied to an area of the body.