# 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. - **Patent:** US 12011291 - **Original title:** Non-invasive wearable biomechanical and physiology monitor for injury prevention and rehabilitation - **Owner:** George Mason Research Foundation - **Granted:** 2024 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, biotech, telecommunications, software ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Smart rehabilitation braces 2. Post-surgical monitoring wearables 3. Remote patient monitoring systems for orthopedic recovery ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12011291/non-invasive-wearable-biomechanical-and-physiology-monitor-for-injury-prevention **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12011291 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Wearable Sensor for Tracking Body Movement and Muscle Activity](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10335080/biomechanical-activity-monitoring) — This patent describes a wearable device that combines motion sensing with muscle vibration detection to understand how a body moves and which muscles are being used. - [How Sensors Measure Body Joint Movement Across Different Sections](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10234934/sensor-array-spanning-multiple-radial-quadrants-to-measure-body-joint-movement) — This patent describes a system of bendable and stretchable electromagnetic sensors placed around a body joint in four distinct sections to precisely track its movement. - [Smart Clothing That Compares Pulse Signals from Both Sides of Your Body](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20200281484/an-apparatus-for-monitoring-the-pulse-of-a-person-and-a-method-thereof) — This patent describes a piece of clothing, like a t-shirt, with built-in sensors in its sleeves or legs to measure and compare pulse characteristics from different limbs, helping to detect subtle health differences. - [How Fabric Sensors Measure Pressure on Your Body](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11137298/supercapacitive-iontronic-nanofabric-sensing) — This patent describes a flexible, all-fabric sensor that uses special ionic and conducting materials woven into a cloth to detect tiny pressure changes on the body, like blood pulses or movements. - [How a Sensor Checks Itself for Accuracy Using Other Body Data](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20230263439/systems-and-methods-for-multi-analyte-sensing) — This patent describes a smart system that uses additional body measurements or relationships between different body chemicals to figure out if an analyte sensor, like a glucose monitor, is giving wrong readings and then fixes it or tells you to replace it.