Patent ID: 7378975

Claim:
An apparatus for reducing the risk of occurrence of pressure ulcers in a patient at rest on a support surface, comprising: (a) a patient location sensor for determining at least approximately a location of the patient on the support surface; (b) a time circuit; (c) a microprocessor in electronic communication with said patient location sensor and said time circuit, said microprocessor at least for (c1) determining an initial location of the patient, (c2) using said patient location sensor to determine that the patient has moved from said initial location, (c3) subsequently using said patient location sensor and said time circuit to determine whether or not said patient move from said initial location is a significant move, (c4) initiating a signal indicative of a state of the patient depending on whether or not said patient move from said initial location is a significant move; and, (d) an alarm in electronic communication with said microprocessor and responsive thereto, said alarm at least for responding to said signal indicative of a state of the patient to produce an alarm signal.