BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to incontinence detection systems and particularly, to incontinence detection systems that use a pad beneath a patient lying in a hospital bed or garment secured to the patient. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method of providing hygiene services to a patient by determining incontinence device replacement intervals.

Good medical practice dictates that patients who are incontinent should be removed from the wet environment as soon as possible to avoid skin breakdown which can potentially lead to pressure ulcers. Incontinence detection systems alert caregivers to the occurrence of an incontinent event so that hygiene services can be provided as quickly as possible. Hygiene services may include changing patient linens, changing patient garments, and/or moving the patient to a clean hospital bed. However, many patients experience difficulty sleeping in a hospital bed. As a result, it may not be advantageous to provide hygiene services immediately after the occurrence of an incontinent event. Particularly, if a patient experiences an incontinent event while sleeping, the caregiver may not want to wake the patient to provide hygiene services.

SUMMARY

The present application discloses one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter:

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method of providing hygiene services to a patient is provided. The method includes acquiring patient status data of a patient with a sensor, and acquiring incontinence event data with an incontinence detection system. After the occurrence of the incontinence event, the method includes determining a sleep status of the patient based the patient status data. A time period to provide hygiene services to the patient is determined based on the incontinence event data and the sleep status of the patient.

In one embodiment, the method includes at least one of detecting an incontinence event and measuring a fluid volume of the incontinence event. Incontinence event data may be acquired with an incontinence detection system that includes a sensor pad including a plurality of electrically conductive traces. The presence of at least one of urine or fecal matter may be detected, wherein, after detecting fecal matter, the time period to provide hygiene services is as soon as possible. Alternatively, after detecting urine, the method may include determining whether the patient is asleep or awake, wherein, if the patient is awake, the time period to provide hygiene services is as soon as possible.

In one embodiment, the method includes measuring at least one vital sign of the patient, for example measuring at least one of brain activity of the patient with an electroencephalogram and heart activity of the patient with an electrocardiogram.

In one embodiment, the method includes measuring movement of the patient. Movement of the patient may be measured with at least one pressure sensor. Movement of the patient may be measured with a load cell.

In one embodiment, hygiene services include at least one of changing the patient's linens, changing the patient's garments, and moving the patient to a clean hospital bed.

In one embodiment, the method includes at least one of monitoring the occurrence of at least one of non-rapid eye movement sleep and rapid eye movement sleep, determining a period of time that the patient has slept, and comparing a fluid volume of the incontinence event to the period of time that the patient has slept.

In one embodiment, if the patient is asleep and the fluid volume is within a range of approximately 0 ml to approximately 10 ml, hygiene services are not provided. In one embodiment, if the patient is asleep and the fluid volume is within a range of approximately 10 ml to approximately 20 ml, the time period to provide hygiene services is within a range of approximately 1 hour to approximately 2 hours. In one embodiment, if the patient has been asleep for less than approximately four hours and the fluid volume is within a range of approximately 20 ml to approximately 40 ml, the time period to provide hygiene services is within a range of approximately 1 hour to approximately 2 hours. In one embodiment, if the patient has been asleep for a range of approximately four hours to approximately six hours and the fluid volume is within a range of approximately 20 ml to approximately 40 ml, the time period to provide hygiene services is within a range of approximately 30 minutes to approximately 1 hour. In one embodiment, if the patient has been asleep for over approximately six hours and the fluid volume is within a range of approximately 20 ml to approximately 40 ml, the time period to provide hygiene services is as soon as possible. In one embodiment, if the patient has been asleep for less than approximately four hours and the fluid volume is within a range of approximately 60 ml to approximately 80 ml, the time period to provide hygiene services is approximately 30 minutes to approximately 1 hour. In one embodiment, if the patient has been asleep for over approximately four hours and the fluid volume is within a range of approximately 60 ml to approximately 80 ml, the time period to provide hygiene services is as soon as possible. In one embodiment, if the patient is asleep and the fluid volume is greater than approximately 80 ml, the time period to provide hygiene services is as soon as possible.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a system for providing hygiene services to a patient is provided. The system includes a sensor configured to acquire patient status data of a patient and an incontinence detection system configured to acquire incontinence event data. The system also includes, a processor configured to, after the occurrence of the incontinence event, determine a sleep status of the patient based the patient status data. The processor is further configured to determine a time period to provide hygiene services to the patient based on the incontinence event data and the sleep status of the patient.

