{
  "patent_number": "US 12011291",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Wearable Wrap Detects Blood Clots and Swelling in Joints",
  "original_title": "Non-invasive wearable biomechanical and physiology monitor for injury prevention and rehabilitation",
  "summary": "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.",
  "what_it_does": "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).",
  "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."
  ],
  "filed": "2022-02-18",
  "granted": "2024-06-18",
  "expires": "2042-02-18",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "George Mason Research Foundation",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/george-mason-research-foundation",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Rebecca Woodhouse",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/rebecca-woodhouse"
    },
    {
      "name": "Marissa A. Howard",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/marissa-a-howard"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lance A. Liotta",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/lance-a-liotta"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kshamata Neupane",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/kshamata-neupane"
    },
    {
      "name": "Matthew Luu Trang",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/matthew-luu-trang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rachel Naidich",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/rachel-naidich"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ish Sethi",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/ish-sethi"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "biotech",
    "telecommunications",
    "software"
  ],
  "abstract": "A wearable device measures, tracks, and monitors a wearer's physical physiological conditions during a rehabilitation period. Metrics such as temperature, patellar shifting, limb circumference, and acceleration may be collected. Changes in monitored conditions may be assessed for detecting medical abnormalities which require specialized attention, including for example embolisms or infections. A networked communication system and various user interfaces may be used for medical support personnel and patients alike to stay updated with the patient's rehabilitation progress and to make adjustments in a patient's individual rehabilitation program.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12011291/non-invasive-wearable-biomechanical-and-physiology-monitor-for-injury-prevention",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12011291/non-invasive-wearable-biomechanical-and-physiology-monitor-for-injury-prevention/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12011291",
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}