Patents

Internet of Things (IoT) Solution for Management of Urinary Incontinence

U.S. Patent No. 12,303,362

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By: Tara Olivo

Associate Editor at Nonwovens Industry

Gregory Dean, Philadelphia, PA. Assigned to Driq Health, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Filed: 3/4/20
Issued: 5/20/25

A method for determining urinary incontinence, comprising: electronically determining, by a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, a first energy level that is measured by an RFID sensor disposed on or in an exterior side or nonabsorbent side of a liquid impermeable barrier of an undergarment or absorbent pad worn by a patient based on first energy level data, wherein: the RFID system comprises (i) an RFID reader comprising a first programmable integrated circuit with a first storage medium and first memory for data storage and processing, and a first data transceiver, and (ii) the RFID sensor; the RFID sensor comprises a second programed integrated circuit with a second storage medium and second memory for data storage and processing, the RFID sensor does not directly contact moisture or liquid from the undergarment or absorbent pad, and wherein the electronically determining comprises: electronically transmitting, by the RFID reader at a first time, a first radio frequency (RF) signal to the RFID sensor to cause the RFID sensor to collect the first energy level data in the RFID system; electronically harvesting or collecting, by the RFID sensor, the first energy level data; electronically reflecting and/or transmitting, by the RFID sensor, the first RF signal further comprising the first energy level data back to the RFID reader, wherein the reflected first RF signal comprises the first energy level data; and electronically processing, by the RFID system, the reflected first RF signal comprising the first energy level data to determine the first energy level, wherein first energy level corresponds to a change in energy levels proximate to the RFID sensor via energy state changes at the first time, and wherein the first energy level is determined based on an impedance change evaluated by a difference between the first RF signal and the reflected first RF signal; electronically determining, by the RFID system, that the first energy level is associated with a dry or normalized condition in the undergarment or absorbent pad, based on a comparison between the first RF signal and the reflected first RF signal comprising the first energy level data; electronically determining, by the RFID system, a second energy level that is measured by the RFID sensor based on second energy level data, wherein the determining comprises: electronically transmitting, by the RFID reader at a second time that is after the first time, at least one second RF signal to the RFID sensor to cause the RFID sensor to collect the second energy level data in the RFID system; electronically harvesting or collecting, by the RFID sensor, the second energy level data; electronically reflecting and/or transmitting, by the RFID sensor, the second RF signal comprising the second energy level data back to the RFID reader, wherein the reflected first RF signal comprises the first energy level data; and electronically processing, by the RFID system, the reflected second RF signal comprising the second energy level data to determine the second energy level, wherein the second energy level corresponds to a change in energy levels proximate to the RFID sensor via energy state changes at the second time, and wherein the second energy level is determined based on an impedance change evaluated by a difference between the at least one second RF signal and the reflected at least one second RF signal; electronically determining, by the RFID system, that the second energy level associated with a moisture event in the undergarment or absorbent pad is an incontinence event by the patient, based on a comparison between the second RF signal and the reflected second RF signal comprising the second energy level data; electronically determining, by the RFID system, that the patient has had the incontinence event based on the determining of the first and second energy levels; and electronically generating and transmitting, by the RFID system, a notification to a user interface comprising information concerning the incontinence event associated with the patient.

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