Real Time Location Systems

Sonitor Technologies is a leading provider of Real Time Location Systems (RTLS)

solutions and develops, manufactures and supplies a proprietary ultrasound
indoor positioning system (IPS) that automatically tracks with 100% room or
sub-room accuracy the real-time location of moveable equipment and people in
complex indoor environments, such as hospitals. Sonitor Technologies RTLS
technology is designed for seamless integration with third party applications
software and integration solutions.

P-Tag For Patients and Personnel

The Sonitor P-Tag has been designed using feedback from hospital personnel, specifically
to be worn by patients and personnel. The unique construction consists of a reusable
electronics core and a disposable, single use (and waterproof) outer shell which makes the PTag safe, comfortable and economical to use.
Design

The low-cost, single patient disposable shell eliminates infection control issues, and the
reusable core allows for repeated use of the electronics components.
P-Tag Core

The core contains the electronic circuitry for the Sonitor ultra-sound-based indoor positioning
system (IPS). Protected against possible infectious contamination by the disposable
outershell, the core is designed for repeated use without the need for cleaning.P-Tag Shell
The disposable shell is designed for single patient-use. To eliminate battery handling
concerns, disposable batteries are already installed.

The materials and shape have been chosen for wearable comfort as well as easy attachment
and removal by authorized hospital personnel.
Use

The P-Tag clam shell snaps easily onto, and becomes safely attached to, any standard patient
wristband, or similar band or lanyard. Opening the disposable shell to remove the core
requires a special tool, and renders the shell useless, thus preventing reuse of a potentially
contaminated shell.
The removed core is now immediately ready for repeat use inside a new shell.

E-Tag The Multifunctional Tag

The Sonitor E-Tag is a small battery powered wireless device to be affixed to moveable
objects for tracking purposes as part of Sonitors Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS)
Functionality

When moving and/or at present intervals the Tag transmits its own identification code using
ultrasound. A Sonitor Receiver (microphone) hears and transfers the Tag ID-code to the
Sonitor Software Server which stores the Tags location and time-stamp information in its
database.
Architecture

The Tag circuitry is activated by its built in motion sensor, a timer, or by one of the optional
signal buttons or tamper sensors switches. Otherwise, the circuitry is in a battery saving
sleep mode. Before entering a sleep mode, the Tag will transmit a few special signals
indicating that the Tag no longer is in motion.
Battery Life Expectancy

Battery life expectancy is dependent on motion and transmission intervals. The Tag-E battery
will last for approximately 600,000 transmissions for typical hospital settings. The battery
power status is transmitted as part of each signal and enables low battery warnings.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

The Tag is designed to be cleaned and disinfected by procedures use for other electronic
patient care equipment using normal hospital cleaning detergents and disinfectant solvents.
The Tag can be sprayed or rinsed off followed by a wipe-down.
Attachment

All versions of Tag-E can be attached to equipment surfaces with double-sided tape.

S-Tag for Hospital Staf

The Sonitor Staff Tag is small and lightweight and integrates seamlessly with existing
personal identification badges through a variety of attachment accessories
The S-Tag is developed in close cooperation with leading healthcare information technology
providers and their hospital clients.
Design

The Staff Tag complements Sonitor Technologies existing tag solution offering for patient
(P-Tag) and equipment positioning (E-Tag). It has been designed with the healthcare worker
in mind, focusing on wearability, hygiene, long battery life and reliability.
The Staff Tag features two buttons and a multi-colour LED that enables the wearer to
communicate requests or status remotely, thus saving time and enhancing workflow.
Sub-room location benefits
As with all of Sonitors tags, the new S-Tag also takes advantage of the hallmark room and
sub-room location performance delivered by Sonitors ultrasound based Real Time Locating
Systems (RTLS).
High Definition locating of staff members enables automatic functions such as:

Nurse presence and nurse-call cancellation

Logon/logoff access to patient information

Access control

Workflow support

Interaction and association event monitoring and other advanced functions are contained in
the application software developed by Sonitors RTLS solutions partners.

Healthcare
Equipment Tracking

Improved workflow, patient flow and a lot of time saved are some of the benefits obtained
when hospital staff always knows where their moveable equipment is located.
By tagging high cost patient care items the utilization can be improved, allowing reduced
inventory and rentals.
To be able to easily locate equipment is important:

Safety reasons; preventative maintenance and equipment recalls

Regulatory reasons; required by regulatory agencies

Utilization reasons; ensuring equipment is available when needed and

right sizing the equipment pool

Financial reasons; asset management and accountability

Efficiency reasons; effective use of nursing and staff time

Taking it a step further, the location information can be used by applications which can
associate objects like patient and nurse, patient and room, patient and equipment, etc.
An ultrasound based RTLS solution supplies location aware hospital application software
with accurate and reliable location data.

Patient Tracking

Always knowing where patients are saves hospital staff a lot of time and improves workflow,
patient throughput, resource management and patient safety.
Benefits

Reduced time searching for patients, allowing more time for patient care
or other value added tasks

Significant improvement in work flow, patient flow, job satisfaction, patient

satisfaction

Better and easier JCAHO compliance

Automatic recording of associated location based and time-stamped

events as input for treatment and/or patient safety records, e.g. patient
with equipment and/or patient with clinician

Homecare
IPS in homecare feeling safe at home longer

In the next few decades the amount of elderly people will increase dramatically and for the
first time in history exceed the number of juniors. As a consequence the demand for
healthcare workers and retirement homes will explode. This challenge forces us to look at
new ways to take care of our elders. New technology and new uses of technology are
important parts of the solution, for example by making it safe for the ageing population to
live at their own familiar homes longer.
The number of seniors over 80 will increase by 50% from 2007 till 2030. The socioeconomic
challenges are significant. The future needs of manpower in welfare services are not possible
to meet with todays solutions. There is a great potential in using ICT to enable seniors to
live independently and healthy for a longer period of time.
Most of us wish to live in our own homes for as long as possible, and research shows that
seniors who live at home, with their own familiar things and surroundings, stay healthier
both physically and mentally than people of the same age living in retirement homes.
Need for Safety

So why doesnt every senior stay at home as long as they are physically and mentally fit to
do so? The answer is very often a sense of lack of security. Their own, or their relatives,
fear of something happening to them, without anyone being around to help. It simply feels
safer to be somewhere where there are people and nurses who can help you if anything
happens, even if the price to pay is loss of personal independence and freedom.
New Technology and new use of technology

A retirement home does not need to be the answer. Existing technology can offer the
necessary safety to offer peace of mind both to the elderly resident herself and her relatives,
without bringing the sense of being watched.
Sonitor Technologies USID technology is already used in hospitals to locate and track
patients. The same technology can be used to identify the movements or lack of
movements of the senior resident. As long as the movements and locations registered by
the ultrasound Receivers are within the frames of what is defined as normal, the system is
idle. If a situation not considered normal occurs, information or an alert can be
automatically sent through standard communication networks to relatives or a home care or
security call central.
Situations that would trigger an alarm would typically be:

Fall (resident by the floor for more than a certain amount of time)

Irregular movement pattern (leaving home at night, not getting out of the
bedroom at the usual time, etc)

Lack of movement

Active alert (resident has pushed the alert button)

Additional Features

It is possible to imagine that the movement information is combined with other security
solutions in the home. An example is warning the resident if leaving his or her home while
the stove is on, or leaving the bathroom with the faucet on.
With a robust and reliable home care solution offering a true feeling of safety, living home
longer will be an easier choice both for resident and relatives.