Patent Publication Number: US-2019198151-A1

Title: Compression And/Or Contention Item, Pair Of Items, System And Method For Managing The Wearing Of An Item

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention concerns a compression and/or contention item designed to be fitted to a limb of a wearer, particularly for the treatment of venous insufficiency. The invention also concerns a pair of items. The invention also relates to a system and a method of managing the wearing of an item. 
     The field of the invention is that of compression and/or contention items, such as socks, stockings and sleeves, designed to be fitted to the upper or lower limbs of a person. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In order to benefit from optimal therapeutic effect, it is essential that the wearer of the item comply with the recommendations of the manufacturer and the doctor. Different systems have therefore been developed to evaluate compliance, i.e. compliance with the therapeutic treatment. Some systems comprise labels for pairing items, in order to ensure that the wearer is equipped with a pair of items having characteristics suitable for his health condition. Other systems comprise surface sensors incorporated into the items, in order to detect their wearing. 
     For example, the documents DE102012012324, JP2014185411 and US2015145671 describe different systems for managing the wearing of items of clothing. In these examples, the items are provided with labels that can be read by a reader, particularly a mobile phone. 
     In DE102012012324, the system seeks to facilitate the pairing of items. Each item comprises an RFID label making it possible to identify that it belongs to a specific pair. 
     In JP2014185411, the system seeks to keep a record of items based on seasons, climate, function, etc. 
     In US2015145671, the system has numerous functionalities, but is relatively complex. According to a preferred embodiment, each item includes at least one surface sensor making it possible to detect the wearing thereof. The item also includes a clock enabling the data collected by the sensors to be dated. The date on which the item is first worn is recorded during the first detection by the sensor. 
     SUMMARY 
     The purpose of the present invention is to propose a new solution for managing the wearing of a compression and/or contention item. 
     To that end, an object of the invention is a compression and/or contention item designed to be fitted to a limb of a wearer, particularly for the treatment of venous insufficiency, the item incorporating a memory for storing data, which can be read and for some written by a distinct electronic device provided for that purpose, the memory including at least one datum for identifying the item. 
     According to the invention, the memory is configured to record a date on which the item is first worn, in an activation operation that is carried out on the day the item is first worn and which comprises a transfer of data, including the date on which the item is first worn, from the electronic device to the memory. 
     Thus, the invention makes it possible to ensure that the date on which the item is first worn is known, which facilitates the monitoring of the treatment and makes it possible to warn the wearer when it is time to wear a new item, at the end of a predefined period of use. 
     According to other advantageous characteristics of the item according to the invention, taken alone or in combination:
         The item is devoid of a sensor for detecting wearing by the wearer.   The item is devoid of a battery.   The memory includes at least one datum of identification of the items selected among the following: an item reference; a pair identifier, when two items must be worn simultaneously; an item type; and/or a date of manufacture.   The at least one datum of identification of the item is fixed and unchangeable in the memory.   The memory includes a wearer identifier, a site identifier and/or an owner identifier.   The item is equipped with RFID or NFC communication means for communication with the electronic device.   The communication means are activated only in the event data are read or written in memory by the electronic device. The rest of the time the item is “inert” in terms of emission of waves.       

     An object of the invention is also a pair composed of two items, such as those defined above. The activation operation is performed for each item of the pair, so that the said items have a common date on which they are first worn. 
     An object of the invention is also a system of managing the wearing of an item, comprising at least: one item as defined above; and an electronic device configured to read the data and write some data in the memory incorporated in the item. 
     According to other advantageous characteristics of the system according to the invention, taken in isolation or in combination:
         The system comprises at least one pair of items.   The system comprises a remote server, in communication with the electronic device.   The system comprises additional electronic devices configured to read the data stored in the memory of the item.   A device identifier and a read time are recorded during an operation of reading the memory by one of the additional electronic devices.   The device identifier and the read time are recorded in the memory, in the electronic device and/or on the remote server.       

     The object of the invention is also a method for managing the wearing of an item as described above. The method comprises an activation operation performed on the day the item is first worn and which comprises a transfer of data, including the date on which the item is first worn, from the electronic device to the memory. 
     According to other advantageous characteristics of the method according to the invention, taken alone or in combination:
         The activation operation is performed by manually scanning the memory with the electronic device.   The activation operation is performed by automatically detecting the memory with the electronic device, then carrying out a manual validation on the electronic device.   During the activation operation, the date of first wearing is recorded in a memory that is different from the memory of the item. For example, the date of first wearing is recorded in the electronic device and/or on the remote server.   The method comprises a notification operation consisting of warning the wearer when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the item was first worn.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely as a non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying figures wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a system for managing the wearing of an item, according to the invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a building equipped with a system for managing the wearing of an item, according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A system S 1  for managing the wearing of the therapeutic items  1 , in this instance compression socks, is represented in  FIG. 1 . 
     As an alternative, the items  1  can be any type of compression and/or contention items, designed to be fitted to the upper or lower limbs of a person. 
     The items  1  are designed to produce a therapeutic effect, for example the treatment of venous insufficiency. The items  1  constitute a pair  2  and are intended to be worn simultaneously. 
     Each item  1  incorporates a memory  3  for storing data D, for example in the form of an electronic chip. According to a particular example, the memory  3  can be an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip, coupled to an RFID antenna. 
     According to another example, the memory  3  can be an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip, coupled to an NFC antenna. According to another example, the memory  3  may have no antenna. 
     The memory  3  comprises data D specific to the item  1  and/or the pair  2 . For example, these data D can include an item reference D 11 , a pair identifier D 12 , an item type D 13  and a date of manufacture D 14 . Preferably the data D 11 -D 14  are recorded in the memory  3  during manufacture of the item  1 . The data D 11 -D 14  are fixed and unchangeable. 
     The memory  3  also comprises data D specific to the use of the item  1  and/or the pair  2 . For example, the said data D can include an identifier of the wearer D 21 , a site identifier D 22 , an owner identifier D 23  and a date D 24  of first wearing. The data D 21 -D 24  are not necessarily known during the manufacture of the item  1  and can be recorded in the memory  3  at a later stage. Once recorded in the memory  3 , the data D 21  and D 24  are fixed and unchangeable during the life of the item  1 . 
     The system S 1  further comprises an electronic device  4  that is different from the item  1 . The device  4  is configured to read the memory  3  of the item  1 , more specifically the data D. The device  4  is further configured to write certain data D in the memory  3 , in this instance the data D 21 -D 24 . Indeed, a transfer of data T is performed from the device  4  to the memory  3 . 
     In practice, the identifier of the wearer D 21  is recorded in the memory  3  when the pair  2  of items  1  is assigned to a particular wearer. The site identifier D 22  is recorded in the memory  3  when the pair  2  is assigned to a particular site, such as a hospital or a nursing home. The identifier of the owner D 23  is recorded in the memory  3  when the pair  2  is sold to a particular owner, for example the wearer or the site manager. The date D 24  of first wearing is recorded in the memory  3  when the pair  2  is worn for the first time, or just prior to being worn for the first time, as detailed hereinafter. 
     The device  4  can be of any type suitable for the planned application, so that the transfer of data T can take place without a wired connection between the memory  3  and the device  4 . In other words, the transfer T is performed by implementing a wireless communication standard. 
     The device  4  can be an RFID or NFC reader. The device  4  can be a smartphone, a digital tablet or a computer. 
     The device  4  preferably has an internal memory for storing data D related to each of the items  1 . This is particularly useful when the system S 1  comprises a plurality of pairs  2  of items  1  under management. 
     Optionally, the system S 1  can comprise a remote server  5  for storing data D. For example, the device  4  can transmit the data D read and written in the memory  3  of each item  1  to the server  5 . This is useful when the system S 1  comprises a large number of pairs  2  of items  1  under management and/or when device  4  does not have sufficient internal memory. 
     Within the scope of the invention, an activation operation is performed for each item  1  of the pair  2  on the date the item  1  is first worn. This operation can be performed by the wearer or by another person. This operation is performed intentionally the day of the first wearing of the pairs  2  of items  1 , with at least one manual intervention. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the activation operation is performed by scanning the memory  3  of each item  1  with a device  4 . In this case, the device  4  is preferably an NFC reader. The manual intervention consists of bringing the device  4  to within detection distance of the memory  3 . Preferably, the scan is sufficient to perform the activation operation. As an alternative, a manual validation on the device  4  may be required after the scan in order to confirm the activation operation. 
     According to an embodiment variant, the activation operation can comprise automatic detection of the memory  3  by the device  4 , then manual validation on the device  4 . In this case, the device  4  is preferably an RFID reader. The memory  3  is detected by the device  4  when the item  1  is located within the predefined detection area around the device  4 . Manual validation on the device  4  is required to confirm the activation operation. Manual validation makes it possible to prevent any accidental recording of data D in the memory  3 . 
     The activation operation comprises a transfer of data T, including the date D 24  the item  1  is first worn, from the device  4  to the memory  3  of the said item  1 . Thus, the date D 24  is recorded in the memory  3  of each item  1 . Preferably, the date D 24  is also recorded in the device  4  and/or on the server  5 . The date D 24  of first wearing comes from the device  4 , and not directly from the item  1 . 
     Afterwards, the wearer of the item  1  can be informed of the period of time elapsed since the date D 24 . This information can be obtained at any time, for example by scanning the memory  3  with the device  4 . As an alternative, this information can be obtained automatically, for example in the form of a notice sent to the wearer and/or to another person by the device  4  or the server  5 . Advantageously, said notice can be sent a short time before the item  1  reaches end of life and/or when the item  1  reaches end of life. 
     For example, the working life of the pair  2  of items  1  can be fixed at six months, after which said item  1  no longer provides sufficient therapeutic effect. The wearer must then change pair  2  in order to benefit from the desired therapeutic effect. 
     According to a particular embodiment, the item  1  may be provided with a sensor for detecting the wearing by the wearer, for example in the form of a conductive wire or pressure switch. This makes it possible to know the times of wearing of the item  1  by the wearer, and thus to have additional information about compliance. 
     As an alternative, the item  1  may not have a sensor for detecting wearing by the wearer. The item  1  is then simpler and less expensive to manufacture. The key information is the time elapsed from the date D 24  of first wearing. 
     A second embodiment of a system S 2  for managing the wearing of therapeutic items  1  according to the invention is represented in  FIG. 2 . 
     The system S 2  is installed in a building  20 . A wearer  10 , equipped with a pair  2  of items  1 , lives and moves about within the building  20 . For example, the building  20  is a nursing home, the wearer  10  is an elderly person, and the items  1  are socks. 
     The system S 2  includes the electronic device  4  of  FIG. 1 , not shown in  FIG. 2  for purposes of simplification. An activation operation is performed with the device  4  when the wearer  10  puts on the pair  2  for the first time, so that the date D 24  of first wearing of each item  1  is recorded in the memory  3 . 
     The building  20  comprises a first floor  21  and a second floor  22 , each having several doors  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26  and several rooms. The first floor  21  includes an entry door  23  and an elevator door  25 . The second floor  22  includes a door  24  to a room and an elevator door  26 . The door  24  is the one to the room of the wearer  10 . 
     The system S 2  comprises various electronic devices  43 ,  44 ,  45  and  46 , positioned respectively beside the doors  23 ,  24 ,  25  and  26 . The devices  43 - 46  are configured to read the data D recorded in the memory  3  of the items  1  when the wearer  10  passes nearby. The devices  43 - 46  are for example RFID or NFC sensors. 
     The devices  43 - 46  can be connected to the device  4  and/or to the remote server  5  of  FIG. 1 , in order to transmit thereto the data D read in the memory  3 . Each read operation can be associated with a device identifier  43 - 46  and a read time (date and time). Thus, the network of devices  43 - 46  makes it possible to track the movements of the wearer  10  in the building. 
     In addition or as an alternative, the memory  3  can be configured to store the device identifier  43 - 46  and the read time corresponding to each read operation. 
     The system S 2  makes it possible to track the movements of the wearer  10  in the building when the wearer  10  is wearing the items  1 . The personnel of the building  20  can thus know the approximate position of the wearer  10  in the building  20 . According to one particular embodiment, a visual or audible alert can be issued when the wearer  10  enters an unauthorized area, for example when the wearer  10  approaches too close to the entry door  23 . 
     The system S 2  further makes it possible to ensure that the wearer  10  is properly wearing the items  1  belonging to the same pair  2  and having the same date D 24 . This is particularly important in terms of compliance. 
     When there is a large number of wearers  10  and items  1  are present in the building  20 , the data D 11 -D 14  and D 21 -D 24  facilitate the management by the site operator of the items  1 . 
     Irrespective of the embodiment of the invention, the memory  3  of each item  1  is configured to record the date D 24  said item  1  is first worn, in an activation operation performed the day the item is first worn  1  and which comprises a transfer of data T (including the date D 24 ) from the electronic device  4  to the memory  3 . 
     Furthermore, the items  1  and the management systems S 1 /S 2  can be configured differently from  FIGS. 1 to 2  without going beyond the scope of the invention. Moreover, the technical characteristics of the various embodiments and variants mentioned above can be, in whole or for some of them, combined with each other. Thus, the items  1  and the systems S 1 /S 2  may be adapted in terms of cost, functionality and performance.