A system for detecting pressure sores includes an artificial skin configured to be coupled to a patient's skin. The artificial skin includes a substrate and a strain sensor configured to detect deformation of the substrate. A transmitter is configured to transmit signals indicative of the deformation of the substrate. A control system is configured to receive the signals from the transmitter. The control system includes a timer to track a period of time that the substrate is deformed.

A patient monitoring system to help manage a patient that is at risk of forming one or more pressure ulcers is disclosed. The system includes a patient-worn wireless sensor that senses the patient's orientation and wirelessly transmits information indicative of the sensed orientation to a patient monitor. The patient monitor receives, stores, and processes the transmitted information. It also displays and transmits information indicative of the patient's orientation to help caregivers manage the patient's risk of formation of one or more pressure ulcers. The patient monitor detects patient turns from one position to another. The system can identify the present orientation of the patient and determine how long the patient has been in the present orientation. If the patient remains in an orientation beyond a predefined duration, the system can notify the patient and/or caretakers that the patient is due to be repositioned.

A leg support system includes an ankle cradle for preventing or mitigating pressure ulcers on heels of a patient supported on a top surface of a medical support platform. The ankle cradle includes a cradle base, a first ankle support, and a second ankle support. The cradle base has a bottom surface and is sized and dimensioned to be supported on the top surface of the medical support platform, with the bottom surface of the cradle base contacting the top surface of the medical support platform. The first ankle support is coupled to the cradle base. The second ankle support is spaced apart from the first ankle support and couples to the first ankle support or the cradle base.

A system for monitoring medical conditions including pressure ulcers, pressure-induced ischemia and related medical conditions comprises at least one sensor adapted to detect one or more patient characteristic including at least position, orientation, temperature, acceleration, moisture, resistance, stress, heart rate, respiration rate, and blood oxygenation, a host for processing the data received from the sensors together with historical patient data to develop an assessment of patient condition and suggested course of treatment. In some embodiments, the system can further include a support surface having one or more sensors incorporated therein either in addition to sensors affixed to the patient or as an alternative thereof. The support surface is, in some embodiments, capable of responding to commands from the host for assisting in implementing a course of action for patient treatment. The sensor can include bi-axial or tri-axial accelerometers, as well as resistive, inductive, capactive, magnetic and other sensing devices, depending on whether the sensor is located on the patient or the support surface, and for what purpose.

Systems and methods for reducing the chance that a patient will develop a bedsore may determine whether a caregiver physically approaches a patient and remains in close physical proximity to a patient for a time sufficient to perform a bedsore prevention action. If a planned bedsore prevention action does not appear to be performed, the systems and methods may alert the patient, the caregiver, or others. A determination may be made as to whether the patient's position has changed in a manner consistent with a bedsore prevention action.

Pressure monitoring methods and systems for warning a patient or caregiver that soft tissue pressure has exceeded some predetermined level that over time would necessitate moving the patient to prevent or at least reduce a risk of soft tissue damage. The methods and systems entail the use of a pressure sensing unit adapted to be applied to or near a surface of the patient's body, and a sensor associated with the sensing unit to generate electrical outputs corresponding to soft tissue pressure sensed at the surface. The electrical outputs are wirelessly monitored over a preselected time period to generate a cumulative output signal based on the electrical outputs and corresponding to whether or not the soft tissue pressure has exceeded a predetermined pressure level during the preselected time period. An alarm is generated if the cumulative output signal exceeds a predetermined cumulative threshold until the soft tissue pressure drops below the predetermined pressure level.

A system for monitoring medical conditions including pressure ulcers, pressure-induced ischemia and related medical conditions comprises at least one sensor adapted to detect one or more patient characteristic including at least position, orientation, temperature, acceleration, moisture, resistance, stress, heart rate, respiration rate, and blood oxygenation, a host for processing the data received from the sensors together with historical patient data to develop an assessment of patient condition and suggested course of treatment. In some embodiments, the system can further include a support surface having one or more sensors incorporated therein either in addition to sensors affixed to the patient or as an alternative thereof. The sensor can include bi-axial or tri-axial accelerometers, as well as resistive, inductive, capactive, magnetic and other sensing devices, depending on whether the sensor is located on the patient or the support surface, and for what purpose. Compensation for errors introduced because of chest angle or slope can be automatically performed.

An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a skin assessment member. The skin assessment member is transparent. The skin assessment member is a single, integral member. The skin assessment member is nonporous. A length and a width of the skin assessment member are each between 20 times and 80 times larger than a thickness of the skin assessment member. A density of a material forming the skin assessment member is between 0.75 g/cm.sup.3 and 2.2 g/cm.sup.3. The skin assessment member includes a plurality of markings that are disposed flush with a flat surface of the skin assessment member or fully embedded within the skin assessment member.

Systems and methods for detecting patient movement and ensuring compliance with patient turning, comprising strap having at least a horizontal and one or more sensors positioned on the horizontal component; a display comprising a processor and a database, configured to receive information from the one or more sensors and to generate a timer to ensure patient turning at a predetermined time.

A patient monitoring system to help manage a patient that is at risk of falling is disclosed. The system includes a patient-worn wireless sensor that senses the patient's motion and wirelessly transmits information indicative of the sensed motion to a patient monitor. The patient monitor receives, stores, and processes the transmitted information to determine whether the patient has fallen or is about to fall. Upon such detection, the system can notify the patient's caretakers that the patient has fallen or is about to fall and therefore, is in need of immediate attention.