Wearable Wrap Detects Blood Clots and Swelling in Joints
This patent describes a smart wrap for joints like knees or elbows that uses temperature sensors to spot early signs of dangerous blood clots and stretch sensors to detect swelling during recovery.
Original patent title: “Non-invasive wearable biomechanical and physiology monitor for injury prevention and rehabilitation”
This patent describes a smart wrap for joints like knees or elbows that uses temperature sensors to spot early signs of dangerous blood clots and stretch sensors to detect swelling during recovery. Granted to George Mason Research Foundation in 2024 with 21 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2042.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The device includes a wrap designed for a patient's joint, such as a knee, elbow, wrist, hip, ankle, or shoulder (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). It has at least two temperature sensors: a first sensor on the back of the joint and a second sensor on the front (Claim 1). A built-in processor analyzes the temperature difference between these two points. If the processor detects an 'elevation' (a significant difference) between the front and back temperatures, it determines this is indicative of an embolism, or blood clot, and provides a diagnostic output (Claim 1). For example, if a patient recovering from knee surgery wears the wrap, and the front of their knee becomes much warmer than the back, the device could alert them or their doctor to a potential embolism (Claim 3). The device can also include stretch sensors to detect changes indicative of swelling at the joint (Claim 7, 8), combining this data with temperature readings for a more comprehensive assessment (Claim 9).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover general body temperature monitoring without specific front-to-back joint temperature comparison.
- Does not cover embolism detection methods that do not rely on a temperature elevation between a front and back joint position.
- Does not cover wearable devices that monitor physiological conditions without a wrap specifically for a joint.
- Does not cover detection of conditions other than embolism or swelling, unless explicitly derived from the claimed temperature and stretch sensor data.
- Does not cover devices that use only a single temperature sensor to detect medical abnormalities.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the specific combination of a wearable joint wrap with two strategically placed temperature sensors (front and back of a joint) to detect a temperature difference that specifically indicates an embolism, alongside optional stretch sensors for swelling.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Smart rehabilitation braces
Post-surgical monitoring wearables
Remote patient monitoring systems for orthopedic recovery
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology aims to improve patient safety during rehabilitation from injuries or surgeries by providing early detection of serious complications. Conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening, and this device offers a non-invasive way to monitor for their early signs. By providing timely alerts, it could help medical support personnel intervene sooner, potentially preventing severe health outcomes and optimizing a patient's recovery program.
Filed
February 18, 2022
Granted
June 18, 2024
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The patent is assigned to George Mason Research Foundation Inc., suggesting its origins in academic research. Companies in the medical wearables and remote patient monitoring space, such as those developing smart braces or post-operative recovery devices, could potentially build upon or licenselicensePermission from the patent owner to make, use, or sell the invention — usually in exchange for payment. Doesn't transfer ownership.Read more → this technology. This includes startups focused on digital health solutions for rehabilitation.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the growing market of wearable health technology, specifically targeting rehabilitation and post-operative care. Its focus on early detection of critical complications like embolisms could enhance patient safety and reduce healthcare costs associated with treating advanced conditions. It enables more proactive and personalized patient management, potentially influencing the design of future smart medical devices and remote monitoring platforms.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The device includes a wrap designed for a patient's joint, such as a knee, elbow, wrist, hip, ankle, or shoulder (Claim 1). It has at least two temperature sensors: a first sensor on the back of the joint and a second sensor on the front (Claim 1). A built-in processor analyzes the temperature difference between these two points. If the processor detects an 'elevation' (a significant difference) between the front and back temperatures, it determines this is indicative of an embolism, or blood clot, and provides a diagnostic output (Claim 1). For example, if a patient recovering from knee surgery wears the wrap, and the front of their knee becomes much warmer than the back, the device could alert them or their doctor to a potential embolism (Claim 3). The device can also include stretch sensors to detect changes indicative of swelling at the joint (Claim 7, 8), combining this data with temperature readings for a more comprehensive assessment (Claim 9).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific combination of a wearable joint wrap with two strategically placed temperature sensors (front and back of a joint) to detect a temperature difference that specifically indicates an embolism, alongside optional stretch sensors for swelling.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover general body temperature monitoring without specific front-to-back joint temperature comparison.
- Does not cover embolism detection methods that do not rely on a temperature elevation between a front and back joint position.
- Does not cover wearable devices that monitor physiological conditions without a wrap specifically for a joint.
- Does not cover detection of conditions other than embolism or swelling, unless explicitly derived from the claimed temperature and stretch sensor data.
- Does not cover devices that use only a single temperature sensor to detect medical abnormalities.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
14/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$51K – $165K
Midpoint $103K · 15.4 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
21 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Woodhouse, R., Howard, M. A., Liotta, L. A., Neupane, K., Trang, M. L., Naidich, R., & Sethi, I. (2024). Wearable Wrap Detects Blood Clots and Swelling in Joints (U.S. Patent No. 12,011,291). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12011291/non-invasive-wearable-biomechanical-and-physiology-monitor-for-injury-prevention
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wearable Wrap Detects Blood Clots and Swelling in Joints cover?
This patent describes a smart wrap for joints like knees or elbows that uses temperature sensors to spot early signs of dangerous blood clots and stretch sensors to detect swelling during recovery.
Who owns patent US 12011291?
George Mason Research Foundation owns this patent, granted in 2024.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 18, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology aims to improve patient safety during rehabilitation from injuries or surgeries by providing early detection of serious complications. Conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening, and this device offers a non-invasive way to monitor for their early signs. By providing timely alerts, it could help medical support personnel intervene sooner, potentially preventing severe health outcomes and optimizing a patient's recovery program.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover general body temperature monitoring without specific front-to-back joint temperature comparison.
Patent monitoring