Patent ID: 9149211
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: A61B,A61G

Abstract:
1. A method of monitoring pressure at a seat having a contact surface, the contact surface for engaging a user, the contact surface including a specified width (W C ), a median of the specified width, and a rear edge in relation to the contact surface of the seat, the method for prevention of pressure sores, the method being performed by a controller and comprising: receiving a signal from each of a plurality of force sensors, the force sensors defining a sensing band and mounted in relation to the rear edge of the contact surface, the force sensors each providing said signal in proportion to an amount of force detected, each force sensor having an effective sensor width (D wherein said D wherein the force sensors within the sensing band are positioned in relation to the contact surface in accordance with a quartic function, wherein the quartic function is symmetrical about the median of the contact surface, wherein the quartic function is of the form y=ax and has symmetrical non-zero roots (X wherein S wherein the sensing band is offset from the rear edge of the contact surface of the seat by a distance L grouping force sensors into subset groups of the plurality of sensors based on location within the sensing band, including one side of the median, other side of the median, forward, middle, and back, determining one or more values associated with each force sensor; calculating a difference between a first one or more values associated with a first subset group of force sensors with a second one or more values associated with a second subset group of force sensors; determining from said difference whether a threshold between said first one or more values and said second one or more values has been exceeded over a period of time; controlling, based on said determining, an indicator to provide an indication to the user to indicate a first responsive action, the first responsive action for performing a lean task towards said second subset group of force sensors, the first responsive action for increasing of pressure to said second subset group of force sensors; determining from the first and second one or more values associated with each force sensor whether said lean task has been satisfied by determining whether a second threshold has been exceeded by a calculated difference between said second one or more values and said first one or more values over a subsequent period of time, and in response to determining that said lean task has been satisfied outputting an indication of the second threshold being exceeded to the indicator.