Kepler Vision Technologies – a developer of vision-based human activity recognition software – has seen its Kepler Night Nurse (KNN) software has officially been registered as a medical device.
Its intended use is the “monitoring the mobility of patients with a reduced ability to keep balanced.” Through the use of machine learning and computer vision, KNN is able to detect falls and beyond. Elderly patients are prevented from falling thanks to KNN, which detects when a fall is going to happen and alerts nearby carers.
This new technology, based on artificial intelligence, reports its false alarm rate based on the number of false alarms recorded per year.
The registration signifies that the software has been tested both internally and in the field to meet the highest specifications and that risk assessments and mitigating measures have been met. The software encodes seventeen patent applications of which two have been granted and 15 are pending.
To look after the well-being of patients, the KNN monitors live video streams for patients’ body language and activity levels. After testing, it has been deployed across several care homes in The Netherlands.
The KNN sends out an alarm when a patient has fallen or a notification when a patient is struggling, unable to get out of bed or has remained in the bathroom for longer than expected. This allows carers to intervene only when necessary, reducing the amount of time spent checking on patients and freeing up staff time and resources. In addition, the KNN reporting can automatically add accurate behavioural observations to a patient’s medical file which can help doctors with their diagnoses.
Dr. Harro Stokman, CEO of Kepler Vision Technologies, said: “This is a proud moment for us as a business and one that sets the stage for future growth and success. Given the current care home crisis which has come about as a result of the current pandemic, it is even more important that our technology is perceived as a force for good within the care industry and by the medical profession.”
