WO2021209106A1

WO2021209106A1 - Accessory device for a personal care system and related method

Info

Publication number: WO2021209106A1
Application number: PCT/DK2021/050106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Torben Holst Nielsen
Original assignee: Coloplast A/S
Priority date: 2020-04-14
Filing date: 2021-04-14
Publication date: 2021-10-21

Abstract

Accessory device for personal care system configured to establish a connection between a monitor device of the personal care system and the accessory device, to receive monitor data from the monitor device, and to determine an operating state of the personal care appliance based on the monitor data. Further, the accessory device is configured to, in accordance with the operating state being a primary operating state, select a primary wallpaper from a plurality of wallpapers, the primary wallpaper being indicative of the primary operating state, and to display the primary wallpaper in the display. Thereby is provided a way of communicating an operating state of a personal care appliance in a discreet manner.

Description

ACCESSORY DEVICE FOR A PERSONAL CARE SYSTEM AND RELATED METHOD

The present disclosure relates to a personal care system, devices thereof and related methods. The personal care system comprises a personal care appliance, such as an ostomy appliance or a wound dressing, a monitor device, and an accessory device. In particular, the present disclosure relates to communicating an operating state of the personal care appliance in a discreet manner.

Brief description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments and are incorporated into and a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and together with the description serve to explain principles of embodiments. Other embodiments and many of the intended advantages of embodiments will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts.

Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary personal care system according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a monitor device according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 illustrates a block diagram illustrating an accessory device according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4A illustrates an accessory device comprising a graphical user interface according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4B illustrates an accessory device comprising a graphical user interface according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of operating an accessory device for a personal care system according to an embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 6 illustrates an exemplary personal care system according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description

Various exemplary embodiments and details are described hereinafter, with reference to the figures when relevant. It should be noted that the figures may or may not be drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are represented by like reference numerals throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention or as a limitation on the scope of the invention. In addition, an illustrated embodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other embodiments even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitly described.

Throughout this disclosure, the words "stoma" and "ostomy" are used to denote a surgically created opening bypassing the intestines or urinary tract system of a person. The words are used interchangeably, and no differentiated meaning is intended. The same applies for any words or phrases derived from these, e.g. "stomal", "ostomies" etc. Also, the solid and liquid wastes emanating from the stoma may be referred to as both stomal "output," "waste(s)," and "fluids" interchangeably. A subject having undergone ostomy surgery may be referred to as "ostomist" or "ostomate" - moreover, also as "patient" or "user". However, in some cases "user" may also relate or refer to a health care professional (HCP), such as a surgeon or an ostomy care nurse or others.

In those cases, it will either be explicitly stated, or be implicit from the context that the "user" is not the "patient" him- or herself.

In the following, whenever referring to proximal side or surface of a layer, an element, a device or part of a device, the referral is to the skin-facing side or surface, when a user wears the ostomy appliance. Likewise, whenever referring to the distal side or surface of a layer, an element, a device or part of a device, the referral is to the side or surface facing away from the skin, when a user wears the ostomy appliance/wound dressing appliance. In other words, the proximal side or surface is the side or surface closest to the user, when the appliance is fitted on a user and the distal side is the opposite side or surface - the side or surface furthest away from the user in use.

The axial direction is defined as the direction of the stoma, when a user wears the appliance. Thus, the axial direction is generally perpendicular to the skin or abdominal surface of the user.

The radial direction is defined as perpendicular to the axial direction. In some sentences, the words "inner" and "outer" may be used. These qualifiers should generally be perceived with respect to the radial direction, such that a reference to an "outer" element means that the element is farther away from a centre portion of the ostomy appliance or wound dressing than an element referenced as "inner". In addition, "innermost" should be interpreted as the portion of a component forming a centre of the component and/or being adjacent to the centre of the component. In analogy, "outermost" should be interpreted as a portion of a component forming an outer edge or outer contour of a component and/or being adjacent to that outer edge or outer contour. The use of the word "generally" as a qualifier to certain features or effects in this disclosure is intended to simply mean - for a structural feature: that a majority or major portion of such feature exhibits the characteristic in question, and - for a functional feature or an effect: that a majority of outcomes involving the characteristic provide the effect, but that exceptionally outcomes do no provide the effect.

The present disclosure relates to a personal care system and devices thereof, such as a personal care appliance, an electrode assembly, a monitor device, and one or more accessory devices. Further, methods related to the personal care system and devices thereof are disclosed. An accessory device (also referred to as an external device), may be a mobile phone, such as a smartphone, or other handheld device, such as a tablet. An accessory device may be a personal electronic device, e.g. a wearable, such as a watch, such as a smartwatch, or other wrist-worn electronic device. An accessory device may be a docking station. The docking station may be configured to electrically and/or mechanically couple the monitor device to the docking station.

The docking station may be configured for charging the monitor device and/or configured for transferring data between the monitor device and the docking station. The personal care system may comprise a server device. The server device may be operated and/or controlled by the personal care appliance manufacturer and/or a service centre. The monitor device and/or the accessory device are configured to establish a connection therebetween. The connection may be a Bluetooth connection or other wireless connection.

The present disclosure provides a personal care system, especially for people with intimate healthcare needs, and devices thereof, such as a personal care appliance, e.g. an ostomy appliance or a wound dressing, a monitor device, and optionally one or more accessory devices which either alone or together facilitate reliable determination and monitoring of the nature, severity, and rapidness of moisture propagation in the personal appliance, such as in an adhesive material provided for attaching a base plate of an ostomy appliance to the skin surface of a user or in an absorbent core of the wound dressing.

The personal care system may be an ostomy system. Thus, the personal care appliance may be an ostomy appliance, such as a base plate or a sensor patch for attachment to an adhesive surface of a base plate.

The personal care system may be a wound dressing system. Thus, the personal care appliance may be a wound dressing appliance also denoted a wound dressing. A wound dressing system and devices thereof are provided, such as a wound dressing, a monitor device, and optionally one or more accessory devices which either alone or together facilitate reliable monitoring of the wound dressing and operating state thereof. Accordingly, the wound dressing system and devices thereof enable providing information to the user about the operating state of the wound dressing, and in turn optionally enable providing an indication to the user or a caretaker of the remaining time frame for replacing the wound dressing without experiencing leakage and/or to provide optimum wound healing conditions.

The personal care system may be a catheter system. Thus, the personal care appliance may be a catheter appliance.

The personal care system comprises one or more of a personal care appliance, a monitor device, and an accessory device as described herein.

Depending on the nature of the pattern of moisture propagation in the personal care appliance, the personal care system and devices thereof enable providing information to the user about the status and/or a type of failure, and in turn enable providing an indication to the user of the severity and thus the remaining time frame for replacing the personal care appliance without experiencing severe leakage and/or skin damage and/or to improve wound healing.

In particular, the present disclosure provides a way of communicating an operating state of a personal care appliance in a discreet manner, i.e., without compromising the privacy of the user. In other words, the present disclosure provides a notification indicative of an operating state of the personal care appliance without explicitly disclosing the operating state to other than the user, whereby only the user is aware of the specifics of the operating state. Thereby, the user need not to worry about explicit notifications (e.g., interactive user interface objects or text notifications) appearing on a display of his/her accessory device, such as his/her smart device (e.g., smartphone or smartwatch). Rather, the present disclosure provides for notifying the user by means of change in a wallpaper of the associated accessory device. A change in wallpaper may then, by the user (only), be associated with a certain operating state, e.g. by mapping, in the mind of the user, a specific wallpaper to a specific operating state. For example, the change in wallpaper may be from a first image to a second image, or from a first colour saturation of a first image to a second colour saturation of the first image, both of which being unrelated to the specifics of the personal care appliance and the operating state thereof, but through the user deliberately having selected the specific wallpapers, said user may be able to associate/map the first image with/to a first operating state and the second image to a second operating state. Thus, the displayed wallpaper on the display of the smart device pertains to a specific operating state, and the user may be the only person/individual capable of associating/mapping the wallpaper with/to an operating state, let alone the personal care appliance as such.

It is further an advantage of the present disclosure that a user of a personal care appliance or a health care professional is able to be advised on the status of the personal care appliance and plan an action for the appliance. Further, the disclosed method allows for a more customized feedback on the dynamic internal state/condition of the personal care appliance. Communication of notifications/indications associated with the operating state of the personal care appliance is useful in helping to reduce the risk of a user experiencing leakage from a personal care appliance being an ostomy appliance (e.g. faecal material leakage from the ostomy appliance), which stays long on the skin and increases risks of skin damage to a user (due to e.g. malfunctions and misplacement of the ostomy appliance on the stoma). In particular, determination of operating states and communication of indications according to the present disclosure is performed based on monitor data indicative of a condition of the personal care appliance which may not be visible to the user (because it may be under a base plate of an ostomy appliance or be an exudate uptake in a wound dressing) when the personal care appliance is worn. This results in providing a clear improvement of the comfort provided by the personal care appliance in that possible complications related to the appliance is immediately communicated to the user via the accessory device, in particularly through the discreet change of wallpaper, thereby without compromising the privacy of the user, thereby reducing the stigmatisation the user may feel from using a personal care appliance such as an ostomy appliance or a wound dressing.

In embodiments, an operating state is indicative of a dynamic internal state/condition of the personal care appliance, such a level of moisture (moisture content) in the absorbent layer of a base plate of an ostomy appliance, a level of exudate uptake in an absorbent core of a wound dressing, or a presence and/or location of fluid, such as output from an ostomy or exudate from a wound, in the interface between a proximal surface of the personal care appliance and a skin surface of the user. In embodiments, the operating state is determined based on monitor data, such as monitor data based on appliance data, such as ostomy data or wound data. In embodiments, the appliance data comprises data pertaining to electrical properties of the appliance, such as resistance or capacitance of the appliance or the surroundings. By identifying presence of fluid and/or changing levels of moisture, and determining corresponding operating states as disclosed herein, the likelihood of ending in a situation where fluid, e.g. output from an ostomy or exudate from a wound, has reached beyond the proximal side (or proximal surface), e.g. out to the clothes of the user, is significantly reduced. Such situation is extremely difficult for the user of the appliance, due to hygiene and social acceptance/stigmatisation.

In embodiments, the personal care appliance is an ostomy appliance comprising a base plate and an ostomy pouch (also referred to as an ostomy bag). The ostomy appliance can be a colostomy appliance, an ileostomy appliance, or a urostomy appliance. In embodiments, the ostomy appliance is a two-part ostomy appliance, i.e. the base plate and the ostomy pouch are releasably coupled e.g. with a mechanical and/or an adhesive coupling, e.g. to allow that a plurality of ostomy pouches can be utilized (exchanged) with one base plate. Further, a two-part ostomy appliance can facilitate correct application of the base plate to skin, e.g. to an improved user sight of the stomal region. In embodiments, the ostomy appliance is a one-part ostomy appliance, i.e. the base plate and the ostomy pouch are fixedly attached to each other. The base plate is configured for coupling to a user's stoma and/or skin surrounding the stoma, such as a peristomal skin area. In embodiments, the ostomy appliance includes a base plate, such as a monolithic, one-piece base plate, e.g. integrated with a sensor assembly, or a separate sensor assembly part, such as a sensor assembly part to be subsequently applied to a base plate. In embodiments, the sensor assembly comprises at least the sensor assembly according to the present disclosure. In embodiments, the sensor assembly part is a sensor patch for application to the base plate, such as the proximal surface of the base plate. Thereby, an arbitrary base plate, such as a conventional base plate, can achieve the features as described herein. Features as described with respect to sensing/monitoring capabilities of the base plate herein can be provided by a sensor assembly of a sensor patch to be applied to a base plate, e.g. by the user, and vice versa. In embodiments, the sensor patch is adapted to adhere to a base plate.

In embodiments, the personal care appliance is a wound dressing appliance comprising a top layer; a first adhesive layer with a proximal surface configured for attachment of the wound dressing to the skin surface of a user; an absorbent core layer; and an electrode assembly comprising a plurality of electrodes optionally arranged on a distal side of the absorbent core layer, the plurality of electrodes forming a plurality of sensors (electrode pairs). The top layer is optionally on a distal side of the electrode assembly. The wound dressing may comprise a monitor interface for connecting electrodes of the electrode assembly to terminals of the first interface of the monitor device.

The present disclosure provides an accessory device for a personal care system, related methods, a computer readable storage medium, and a personal care system.

In a first aspect of the invention, an accessory device for a personal care system is disclosed. The personal care system comprises a personal care appliance, a monitor device, and the accessory device. The accessory device comprises a processor, a memory connected to the processor, a first interface configured to connect the accessory device to the monitor device of the personal care system, the first interface comprising a transceiver module connected to the processor, and a graphical user interface comprising a display configured to display a wallpaper. The accessory device is configured to establish a connection between the monitor device and the accessory device, to receive monitor data from the monitor device, and to determine an operating state of the personal care appliance based on the monitor data. Further, the accessory device is configured to, in accordance with the operating state being a primary operating state, select a primary wallpaper from a plurality of wallpapers, the primary wallpaper being indicative of the primary operating state, and to display the primary wallpaper in the display.

In embodiments, the graphical user interface (GUI) is a display/screen of the accessory device, such as a screen of a smart device, such as the screen of a smartphone, a smartwatch, or a tablet. In an embodiment, the accessory device is a smartphone. In an embodiment, the accessory device is a smartwatch. In an embodiment, the accessory device is a tablet. In embodiments, the display is a screen. A GUI refers herein to a graphical representation comprising a collection of user interface objects. A user interface may comprise one or more user interface objects. A user interface object may be either interactive, meaning a user may activate the object to cause an action on the display, or noninteractive, meaning a user cannot activate the object. An example of a noninteractive user interface object is a wallpaper of the display. A wallpaper may comprise an image, such as consist of/be an image. In embodiments, the primary wallpaper comprises a first image.

In embodiments, the display comprises a touch sensitive surface. In embodiments, the display may be configured to detect touch (e.g. the display is a touch-sensitive display). A touch-sensitive display provides an input interface and an output interface between the accessory device and a user. A processor of the accessory device may be configured to receive and/or send electrical signals from/to the touch-sensitive display. A touch-sensitive display is configured to display visual output to the user. The visual output may be interactive and/or noninteractive user interface objects, and may include images, graphics, text, icons (e.g., app launch icons), video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed "graphics"). An interactive user interface object may be a (selectable/interactive) image, icon (e.g., app launch icon), a button, and text (e.g., hyperlink). An interactive user interface object may form part of a widget. A widget may be seen as a mini application that may be used by the user and created by the user. An interactive user interface object may comprise a prompt, application launch icon, and/or an action menu. A noninteractive user interface object is a user interface object not responding to a user input and may include a wallpaper of the display. An input, such as first input and/or second input, may comprise a touch (e.g. a tap, a force touch, a long press), and/or movement of contact (e.g. a swipe gesture, e.g. for toggling). The movement on contact may be detected by the touch sensitive surface.

By displaying an object, such as to display the primary wallpaper, is meant to make said object visible to the user, optionally in response to a user input indicative of activating the screen/display, such as to turn on the display from a lock/sleep mode.

The display is configured to display a wallpaper. In an embodiment, the wallpaper is an image configured to be displayed in a background of a primary display screen of the GUI. In embodiments, the primary display screen is a lock screen or a home screen comprising one or more interactive user interface objects. In an embodiment, the (primary and/or secondary) wallpaper is noninteractive, such as a noninteractive object displayed in the background of interactive objects of the primary display screen. Thereby, a user cannot interact with the wallpaper as such, but may merely see and interpret (map to an operating state) its visual appearance.

In embodiments, by displaying a wallpaper is meant to communicate an indication, via the display, representative of the associated operating state.

In embodiments, the accessory device, such as the processor, is configured to change the wallpaper dynamically, such as based on, or in accordance with, an operating state of the personal care appliance. In embodiments, a (third-party) application installed in a memory of the accessory device is configured to change the wallpaper, or to control the displayed wallpaper, where by control is meant to select a wallpaper and change the current wallpaper to the selected wallpaper according to an operating state of the personal care appliance. Thus, the processor may be configured to instruct the interface to display a wallpaper, such as the primary wallpaper.

In embodiments, the (third-party) application is configured to communicate the wallpaper via the GUI. The application may be a dedicated personal care application that assists the user in monitoring the dynamic internal state of the personal care appliance, and thereby reduce the likelihood of complications related to the personal care appliance, such as severe leakage of an ostomy appliance reaching out to clothing of the user or prolonged wound healing of a wound.

Monitor data may comprise appliance data (also denoted a first part of monitor data) optionally indicative of a physical condition of the personal care appliance. Monitor data may further comprise sensor data derived or obtained from a sensor contained in the monitor device and/or the accessory device. The appliance data may be ostomy data indicative of a physical condition (e.g., electrical properties) of an ostomy appliance, such as a physical condition of a base plate of the ostomy appliance and/or of an electrode assembly thereof. The appliance data may be wound data indicative of a physical condition of the wound dressing, such as a physical condition of an absorbent core and/or electrode assembly thereof. The appliance data may comprise first appliance sensor data obtained from or derived from a first sensor (e.g., a first electrode pair) of the personal care appliance. The first sensor may be an outer or outermost sensor of an ostomy appliance/electrode assembly. The first sensor may be a sensor arranged at or near a periphery of an absorbent core of a wound dressing appliance. The appliance data may comprise second appliance sensor data obtained from or derived from a second sensor (e.g., a second electrode pair) of the personal care appliance. The second sensor may be an inner or innermost sensor of an ostomy appliance/electrode assembly. The second sensor may be a sensor centrally located on an absorbent core of a wound dressing appliance. The appliance data may comprise third appliance sensor data obtained from or derived from a third sensor (e.g., a third electrode pair) of the personal care appliance. The third sensor may be an inner or innermost sensor of an ostomy appliance/electrode assembly. The appliance data may comprise fourth appliance sensor data obtained from or derived from a fourth sensor (e.g., a fourth electrode pair) of the personal care appliance. The fourth sensor may be an inner or innermost sensor of an ostomy appliance/electrode assembly. The appliance data may comprise fifth appliance sensor data obtained from or derived from a fifth sensor (e.g., a fifth electrode pair) of the personal care appliance. The fifth sensor may be a sensor of an ostomy appliance/electrode assembly arranged between an inner sensor and an outermost sensor.

The accessory device, such as the processor thereof, is configured to determine an operating state of the personal care appliance based on the monitor data. In embodiments, the operating state is selected from a plurality of operating states, such as at least three operating states, each representing a certain condition pertaining to the personal care appliance.

In embodiments, determining an operating state comprises determining whether the operating state satisfies a primary criterion, and in accordance with a determination that the primary criterion is satisfied, setting the operating state to the primary operating state. The primary criterion may comprise one or more criteria, such as first criteria, second criteria, and third criteria. In embodiments, the primary criterion may be satisfied if the resistance between electrodes of an electrode pair of the electrode assembly is below a threshold.

In embodiments, determining an operating state based on the monitor data comprises determining the operating state based on the one or more moisture pattern types of the personal care appliance, such as determining that the operating state is the primary operating state in accordance with the moisture pattern type being a primary moisture pattern type. Several different moisture pattern types may be mapped to the same operating state. In other words, determining the operating state of the personal care appliance may comprise determining a moisture pattern type based on the monitor data and mapping the moisture pattern type to an operating state.

In accordance with the operating state being a primary operating state, the accessory device, such as the processor thereof, is configured to select a primary wallpaper from a plurality of wallpapers, the primary wallpaper being indicative of the primary operating state. Further, the accessory device, such as the processor thereof, is configured to display the primary wallpaper in the display of the GUI.

In embodiments, the plurality of wallpapers is stored in the memory of the accessory device, or the plurality of wallpapers is downloaded from a server in communication with the accessory device. In embodiments, the plurality of wallpapers comprises at least the primary wallpaper and one or more additional wallpapers. In embodiments, an additional wallpaper is a secondary wallpaper. In embodiments, an additional wallpaper is a default wallpaper. In embodiments, the default wallpaper is a wallpaper not being indicative of an operating state of the personal care appliance, such as a wallpaper being displayed when the personal care appliance is not being worn.

In embodiments, the primary operating state is an operating state not requiring certain actions, whereas a secondary operating state, as will be introduced below, may be an operating state requiring an action, such as an immediate action to avoid complications, such as leakage. In embodiments, further operating states, such as a tertiary operating state being indicative of a tertiary situation/action, may be determined. Accordingly, whereas the present disclosure relates primarily to a primary wallpaper being indicative of a primary operating state and a secondary wallpaper being indicative of a secondary operating state, further wallpapers and operating states may exist: for example, a tertiary wallpaper may be indicative of a tertiary operating state, and a quaternary wallpaper may be indicative of a quaternary operating state, and so forth.

In embodiments, the plurality of wallpapers comprises at least two wallpapers, such as at least three wallpapers, including the primary wallpaper, and two or more additional wallpapers, including a secondary wallpaper. In embodiments, the plurality of wallpapers comprises the same number of wallpapers as the number of different operating states of the personal care appliance.

In embodiments, each of the wallpapers of the plurality of wallpapers are (visually) different, such as to provide a clear distinction, to the user, between the wallpapers. Thereby, it is possible for the accessory device to select a (unique) wallpaper for each given/determined operating state. In embodiments, each of the plurality of wallpapers is assigned, such as by a user, a certain operating state. In embodiments, the accessory device is configured to receive a user input indicative of the user assigning/mapping a certain wallpaper to a certain operating state. In other words, the accessory device is configured to receive a user input indicative of a wallpaper being assigned a certain operating state, such as a primary user input indicative of an assignment of a first wallpaper to the primary operating state, such that said first wallpaper becomes the primary wallpaper, i.e., linked to the primary operating state. Thus, the user may assign a wallpaper to each of the possible operating states of the personal care appliance. Thereby, the user is capable of deciding (in an initial setup of the personal care system) what wallpaper to be displayed for each respective operating state during use of the personal care system/appliance. Thereby, the user is capable of reading/recognising the operating state of the personal care appliance merely by looking at the wallpaper of the accessory device (by mapping, in his/her mind, the wallpaper to the corresponding operating state), and to take appropriate actions based thereupon. Thereby, a discreet notification indicative of the user's personal care appliance is provided. In particular, it is prevented that a text message, or similar, compromising the discreet nature of using a personal care appliance, such as an ostomy appliance or a wound dressing, is generated. In other words, by using wallpapers mapped to certain operating states by the user himself/herself, the user is notified of changing conditions pertaining to his/her personal care appliance in the display of his/her accessory device, while, at the same time, he/she can rest assure that no one else having access to, or looking at, his/her accessory device gets notified of such changing conditions. Thereby is provided a notification protecting the user's privacy.

In an embodiment, the accessory device is configured to, in accordance with the operating state being a secondary operating state, select a secondary wallpaper from the plurality of wallpapers, the secondary wallpaper being indicative of the secondary operating state; and to display the secondary wallpaper.

In embodiments, the secondary operating state is an operating state requiring a certain action from the user, such as replacing the personal care appliance due to an imminent risk of leakage, such as leakage of output from a base plate or of exudate from a wound dressing. In embodiments, the secondary operating state is an operating state indicative of a progression of an internal condition, such as deterioration of adhesive properties, of the personal care appliance or indicative of fluid, such as output or exudate, progressing in the interface between a proximal surface of the personal care appliance and the skin surface of a user.

Thereby, the user is capable of identifying the present operating state from a plurality of operating states by merely looking at the wallpaper of the display of his/her accessory device. In embodiments, the secondary operating state, and thus the secondary wallpaper, is different from the primary operating state, and thus the primary wallpaper. In embodiments, the secondary operating state is a more severe operating state than the primary operating state and thus may require particular attention and/or immediate action. Thereby, the user can, by merely looking at the wallpaper of the display of his/her accessory device, quickly identify if he/she needs to take action immediately, or if he/she can wait - namely because the user has assigned/knows what wallpaper is indicative of the primary operating state (i.e., the primary wallpaper) and which wallpaper is indicative of the secondary operating state (i.e., the secondary wallpaper).

In embodiments, the primary operating state need not be determined before determining the secondary operating state, in which case, within the scope of the invention, the primary operating state may be considered the secondary operating state: namely a (severe) operating state requiring action.

In an embodiment, the primary wallpaper comprises a first image having a first colour saturation, and the secondary wallpaper comprises the first image having a second colour saturation. Thus, the primary wallpaper comprises a first image, such as is a first image, having a first colour saturation, and the secondary wallpaper comprises (the same) first image, but said first image having a second colour saturation. In embodiments, the second colour saturation is greater than the first colour saturation.

Thereby, the secondary wallpaper differs from the primary wallpaper only by the colour saturation of the displayed image. Thus, the first colour saturation of the first image (thus, the primary wallpaper) is indicative of the primary operating state, and the second colour saturation of the first image (thus, the secondary wallpaper) is indicative of the secondary operating state. Thereby is provided means for indicating an operating state by means of changing the colour saturation of the same image - for example, a low saturation provides a washed-out/grey appearance of an image (the displayed wallpaper), whereas a high saturation provides a pure/vivid appearance of an image (the displayed wallpaper). By indicating the operating state of the personal care appliance by means of adjusting the colour saturation of the (same) wallpaper, an even more discreet way of communicating the operating state is provided: rather than changing from a first image being the primary wallpaper to a second image being the secondary wallpaper, which may in some circumstances be noticed by others, the mere change in colour saturation of the same (first) image (thus, wallpaper) may require trained eyes (such as by the user only) to differentiate.

The colour saturation may be defined according to the HSV model (hue, saturation, value), where saturation may be a value between 0.00 and 1.00 (between 0 % and 100 %). In embodiments, the first colour saturation and the second colour saturation differ by at least 0.20 (20 percentage points). In embodiments, the first colour saturation is less than 0.50, such as between 0.00 and 0.40, and the second colour saturation is more than 0.50, such as between 0.60 and 1.00. In embodiments, by colour saturation is meant the colour intensity of a given image. In embodiments, the saturation is adjusted in post-editing, e.g. by the accessory device, such as by the processor.

In embodiments, at least four, such as at least eight, different operating states exist, thereby providing for indicating a gradual progression of liquid in the interface between the skin surface and the personal care appliance and/or a gradual deterioration of adhesive properties of the appliance. In such an embodiment, the change of colour saturation from the first colour saturation (e.g., grey appearance) to the second (or eight, to correspond the number of operating states) colour saturation (e.g., pure/vivid colours) may be gradual/continuous (such as in steps of maximally 0.25/25 %, or such as in steps of maximally X %/N, where N is the number of possible operating states), such as in response to the gradual progression as indicated by the determined operating state. Thereby, the user may read from the colour saturation of the wallpaper the need to take immediate action (e.g., vivid/pure colours may indicate the need for immediate action). Thus, the colour saturation of the wallpaper may provide a colour scale indicative of the different operating states of the personal care appliance.

In embodiments, the primary wallpaper comprises a first image having a first brightness, and the secondary wallpaper comprises the first image having a second brightness. In embodiments, the second brightness is greater than the first brightness, such as to provide a lighter/whiter image. In embodiments, the brightness is adjusted in post-editing, e.g. by the accessory device, such as by the processor. The benefits as for using colour saturation are considered applicable.

In embodiments, the primary wallpaper comprises a first image having a first contrast value, and the secondary wallpaper comprises the first image having a second contrast value. In embodiments, the second contrast value is greater than the first contrast value. In embodiments, the contrast is adjusted in post-editing, e.g. by the accessory device, such as by the processor. The benefits as for using colour saturation are considered applicable.

In embodiments, the primary wallpaper comprises a first image having a first sharpness value, and the secondary wallpaper comprises the first image having a second sharpness value. In embodiments, the second sharpness value is greater than the first sharpness value. In embodiments, the sharpness is adjusted in post-editing, e.g. by the accessory device, such as by the processor. The benefits as for using colour saturation are considered applicable.

In an alternative embodiment, the accessory device comprises a GUI comprising a display configured to display a default wallpaper having a default colour saturation, and the accessory device is configured to, in accordance with the operating state being a primary operating state, change the colour saturation of the default wallpaper from being the default colour saturation to be a first colour saturation, the first colour saturation of the default wallpaper being indicative of the primary operating state. Thereby, there need not to be a change of wallpaper in response to a determined operating state as such, but the accessory device may be configured to merely change the colour saturation of the default wallpaper. Thereby, the default wallpaper, such as the default wallpaper displayed when the accessory device is not connected to a personal care appliance (monitor device), may be used to communicate an operating state of such a personal care appliance by means of changing the colour saturation of such a default wallpaper. Thereby, only the colour saturation of the wallpaper changes. For example, the default wallpaper not being indicative of an operating state (e.g., when a personal care appliance (monitor device) is not connected) may have a colour saturation of 0.25, whereas the default wallpaper having a first colour saturation indicative of the primary operating state may have a colour saturation of 0.50, and, optionally, the default wallpaper having a second colour saturation indicative of a secondary operating state may have a colour saturation of 0.75. In an embodiment, to display the primary wallpaper or secondary wallpaper comprises to replace a current wallpaper with the primary wallpaper or secondary wallpaper, respectively. Thus, in embodiments, to display the primary wallpaper comprises to replace a current wallpaper with the primary wallpaper. Likewise, in embodiments, to display the secondary wallpaper comprises to replace a current wallpaper with the secondary wallpaper.

In embodiments, the current wallpaper is a wallpaper (visually) different from the primary and/or secondary wallpaper to be displayed, such as the default wallpaper as introduced above or the secondary and/or primary wallpaper. In embodiments, to replace comprises to remove the current wallpaper and insert the selected primary or secondary wallpaper.

In an embodiment, the accessory device is configured to receive a primary user input indicative of an assignment of a first wallpaper to the primary operating state and/or to receive a secondary user input indicative of an assignment of a second wallpaper to the secondary operating state.

Thereby, upon receiving the primary user input indicative of an assignment of a first wallpaper to the primary operating state, said first wallpaper becomes the primary wallpaper. Likewise, upon receiving the secondary user input indicative of an assignment of a second wallpaper to the secondary operating state, said second wallpaper becomes the secondary wallpaper. In embodiments, the first and second wallpapers are different. In embodiments, the first and second wallpapers are images, such as images suitable for being a wallpaper, such as images having suitable dimensions for the display.

Thus, each of the wallpapers of the plurality of wallpapers may be considered assignable by a user. By assignable is meant that each of the wallpapers of the plurality of wallpapers may assigned/mapped/predefined to certain operating states of the personal care appliance. Thus, in embodiments, the accessory device is configured to, such as in an initial step of setting up the personal care system, receive, via the GUI, a primary user input indicative of assigning a primary wallpaper to a primary operating state and a secondary user input indicative of assigning a secondary wallpaper, different from the primary wallpaper, to a secondary operating state. In embodiments, the accessory device is configured to, such as in an initial step of setting up the personal care system, receive, via the GUI, a default user input indicative of assigning a default wallpaper to a default operating state.

For example, the first and second wallpapers may be personal images/pictures, such as to personalize the wallpapers and such as to further disguise the wallpaper being a wallpaper (notification) indicative of an operating state of the user's personal care appliance. Further, by using personal images, the user may more easily associate a certain wallpaper with a certain operating state. In an embodiment, the monitor data is indicative of appliance data from a plurality of appliance sensors, including a first sensor and a second sensor, of the personal care appliance.

As previously disclosed, the first sensor may be formed from a first electrode pair of an electrode assembly embedded in the personal care appliance and the second sensor may be formed from a second electrode of such electrode assembly. Thereby, the monitor data comprises information pertaining to different sensors included/embedded in the personal care appliance. Thereby, the operating state, based on the monitor data, may be indicative of certain conditions (electrical properties) in the vicinity of the specific sensors. In other words, the determined operating state, such as the primary or secondary operating state, may depend on the appliance data from a first and/or second sensor of the personal care appliance.

In an embodiment, the operating state is the primary operating state if the monitor data is indicative of appliance data from the first sensor being above a first threshold.

For example, where the personal care appliance is an ostomy appliance, the first sensor may be an innermost sensor surrounding the ostomy, such as to provide an early notification of output propagating in the interface between the proximal surface of the appliance and the skin surface of the user. Likewise, where the personal care appliance is a wound dressing, the first sensor may be arranged in a centre portion of the wound dressing, such as to monitor initial wetting of the absorbent core. Thus, the reading from the first sensor of the personal care appliance may be associated with a less severe condition of said appliance. In embodiments, by appliance data from the first sensor being above a first threshold is meant that the first sensor has registered (significant) changes (e.g., significant changes in an electrical characteristic/quantity being monitored by the monitor device), prompting the determination that the operating state is the primary operating state. Accordingly, the displayed wallpaper is the primary wallpaper indicative of the operating state being the primary operating state, which in turn indicates that, according to the embodiment, the first sensor has registered (significant) changes. Thereby, through looking at the wallpaper of the display of his/her accessory device, the user is informed about such changes at the first sensor by mapping the primary wallpaper to the primary operating state. Further, since the first sensor, according to the embodiment, may be associated with a less severe condition of the personal care appliance, the user is notified, through mapping the primary wallpaper to the primary operating state, that immediate action may not be required, but that changes may occur, such as if the wallpaper changes to the secondary wallpaper, which may be associated with a more severe secondary operating state.

In an embodiment, the operating state is the secondary operating state if the monitor data is indicative of appliance data from the second sensor being above a second threshold. For example, where the personal care appliance is an ostomy appliance, the second sensor may be an outermost sensor surrounding the ostomy, such as to provide a last/final notification of output propagating in the interface between the proximal surface of the appliance and the skin surface of the user, which may soon cause leakage onto the user's clothes. Likewise, where the personal care appliance is a wound dressing, the second sensor may be arranged in an outermost portion of the wound dressing, such as to monitor propagating wetting of the absorbent core. Thus, the reading from the second sensor of the personal care appliance may be associated with a more severe condition of said appliance, as compared to readings from the first sensor. In embodiments, by appliance data from the second sensor being above a second threshold is meant that the second sensor has registered (significant) changes (e.g., significant changes in an electrical characteristic/quantity being monitored by the monitor device), prompting the determination that the operating state is the secondary operating state. Accordingly, the displayed wallpaper is the secondary wallpaper indicative of the operating state being the secondary operating state, which in turn indicates that, according to the embodiment, the second sensor has registered (significant) changes. Thereby, through looking at the wallpaper of the display of his/her accessory device, the user is informed about such changes at the second sensor by mapping the secondary wallpaper to the secondary operating state. Further, since liquid by the second sensor, according to the embodiment, may be associated with a more severe condition of the personal care appliance, the user is notified, through mapping the secondary wallpaper to the secondary operating state, that immediate action is required.

In a second aspect of the invention, a method, performed in an accessory device, of communicating an operating state of a personal care appliance of a persona care system is disclosed. The personal care system comprises the personal care appliance, a monitor device, and the accessory device. The method comprises establishing a connection between the monitor device and the accessory device; receiving monitor data from the monitor device; determining an operating state of the personal care appliance based on the monitor data; selecting, in accordance with the operating state being a primary operating state, a primary wallpaper from a plurality of wallpapers, the primary wallpaper being indicative of the primary operating state; and displaying the primary wallpaper in a graphical user interface comprising a display configured to display a wallpaper.

It is appreciated that the functionalities of the accessory device as disclosed in relation to the first aspect of the invention are applicable to the method as disclosed herein. Further, definitions relating to, and embodiments of the accessory device, are considered applicable to the method as disclosed herein. Thus, it is to be noted that descriptions of the accessory device being configured to perform acts also apply to the corresponding acts in the method of operating an accessory device and vice versa. The method as disclosed herein provides for communicating an operating state of a personal care appliance according to previous definitions. In particular, the method provides for communicating the operating state in a discreet manner, such that only the user himself/herself may be aware of the operating state through mapping/associating, in his/her mind, the displayed wallpaper to a specific operating state of his/her personal care appliance.

In embodiments, the step of displaying the primary wallpaper comprises removing a current wallpaper and inserting the primary wallpaper. A current wallpaper may be a default wallpaper or a wallpaper indicative of another operating state, such as a secondary wallpaper being indicative of a secondary operating state. Thus, the method provides for changing the wallpaper dynamically, such as based on, or in accordance with, an operating state of the personal care appliance.

In an embodiment, the method comprises the step of selecting, in accordance with the operating state being a secondary operating state, a secondary wallpaper from a plurality of wallpapers, the secondary wallpaper being indicative of the secondary operating state; and displaying the secondary wallpaper in the display.

In embodiments, the step related to the secondary operating state and associated secondary wallpaper is carried out in accordance with the operating state changing (e.g., over time) from the primary operating state to the secondary operating state. In embodiments, the secondary operating state may be indicative of a more severe condition (compared to the primary operating state) requiring immediate action, such as to avoid leakage. In embodiments, the operating state may be determined to be the secondary operating state without first being the primary operating state, in which situation the primary operating state may be interpreted as being such secondary operating state without departing from the scope of the invention.

In an embodiment, the method comprises the step of receiving a primary user input indicative of an assignment of a first wallpaper to a primary operating state and/or receiving a secondary user input indicative of an assignment of a second wallpaper to a secondary operating state.

In embodiments, the step is an initial step, such as a step carried out as part of setting up the personal care system, i.e. a step of the method performed at least prior to determining an operating state of the personal care appliance based on the monitor data. In embodiments, the primary user input is indicative of (a user) assigning a first wallpaper to a primary operating state and/or the secondary user input is indicative of (a user) assigning a second wallpaper to a secondary operating state.

In a third aspect of the invention, a computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs is disclosed, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an accessory device with an interface, a memory, and a processor cause the accessory device to perform any of the methods as disclosed above.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, a personal care system is disclosed, the personal care system comprising a personal care appliance, a monitor device, and an accessory device according to any of the embodiments according to the first aspect of the invention. The personal care appliance is an ostomy appliance or a wound dressing.

Detailed description of the drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary personal care system 1 embodied as an ostomy system 1A. The personal care system 1 (ostomy system 1A) comprises a personal care appliance 2 embodied as an ostomy appliance 2A including a base plate 4 and an ostomy pouch (not shown). Further, the personal care system 1 comprises a monitor device 6 and an accessory device 8 (mobile telephone, smartphone). The monitor device 6 is connectable to the personal care appliance 2, such as to base plate 4 and/or to an electrode assembly of or mounted to the personal care appliance, via respective first connectors of the monitor device 6 and base plate 4/electrode assembly. The monitor device 6 is configured for wireless communication via connection 9 with the accessory device 8. Optionally, the accessory device 8 is configured to communicate with a server device 10 of the personal care system 1, e.g. via network 12. The server device 10 may be operated and/or controlled by the ostomy appliance manufacturer and/or a service centre. Appliance data (ostomy data in the shown ostomy system) or parameter data based on the appliance data (ostomy data in the shown ostomy system) are obtained from electrodes/sensors of electrode assembly embedded in or mounted to the personal care appliance 2 with the monitor device 6. The monitor device 6 processes the appliance data and/or parameter data based on the appliance data to determine monitor data that are transmitted to the accessory device 8 via connection 9. In the illustrated personal care system, the accessory device 8 is a mobile phone, however the accessory device 8 may be embodied as another handheld device, such as a tablet device, or a wearable, such as a smartwatch or other wrist-worn electronic device. Accordingly, the monitor device 6 is configured to determine monitor data and transmit the monitor data to the accessory device 8. The base plate 4 comprises a coupling member 14 in the form of a coupling ring 16 for coupling an ostomy pouch (not shown) to the base plate (two-part ostomy appliance). The base plate 4 has a stomal opening 18 with a centre point 19. The size and/or shape of the stomal opening 18 is typically adjusted by the user or nurse before application of the ostomy appliance to accommodate the user's stoma.

The personal care system 1 optionally comprises a docking station 20 forming an accessory device of the personal care system 1. The docking station 20 comprises a docking monitor interface including a first connector 22 configured for electrically and/or mechanically connecting the monitor device 6 to the docking station 20. The docking monitor interface may be configured for wirelessly connecting the monitor device 6 to the docking station 20. The docking station 20 comprises a user interface 24 for receiving user input and/or providing feedback to the user on the operational state of the docking station 20. The user interface 24 may comprise a touch-screen. The user interface 24 may comprise one or more physical buttons and/or one or more visual indicators, such as light emitting diodes.

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary monitor device. The monitor device 6 comprises a monitor device housing 100, a processor 101, and one or more interfaces, the one or more interfaces including a first interface 102 (appliance interface) and a second interface 104 (accessory interface). The monitor device 6 comprises a memory 106/106A for storing monitor data based on appliance data and/or parameter data based on the monitor data. The memory 106/106A is optionally connected to the processor 101. The memory 106 is embedded optionally as flash memory in the second interface 104

The first interface 102 is configured as an appliance interface for electrically and/or mechanically connecting the monitor device 6 to the personal care appliance, e.g. ostomy appliance 2A or a wound dressing appliance. The first interface 102 comprises a plurality of terminals for forming electrical connections with respective terminals of the personal care appliance 2 (electrode assembly). The first interface 102 optionally comprises between four and 20 terminals, such as between six and twelve terminals, including a ground terminal 108, a first terminal 110, a second terminal 112 and a third terminal 114. The first interface 102 optionally comprises a fourth terminal 116 and a fifth terminal 118. In one or more exemplary monitor devices, the first interface 102 optionally comprises a sixth terminal and/or a seventh terminal. The first interface 102 of the monitor device 6 comprises a coupling part 120 for forming a mechanical connection, such as a releasable coupling between the monitor device and the personal care appliance, e.g. with a base plate of an ostomy appliance and/or an electrode assembly of ostomy system/wound dressing system. The coupling part 120 and the terminals 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 of the first interface 102 form (at least part of) a first connector of the monitor device 6.

The monitor device 6 comprises a power unit 121 for powering the monitor device and active components thereof, i.e. the power unit 121 is connected to the processor 101, the first interface 102, and the second interface 104. The power unit comprises a battery and charging circuitry. The charging circuitry is connected to the battery and optionally to terminals of the first interface 102 for charging the battery via terminals of the first interface, e.g. terminals of the first connector. The charging circuitry may be configured for wireless charging of the battery.

The second interface 104 of monitor device is configured as an accessory interface for connecting the monitor device 6 to one or more accessory devices such as accessory device 8. The second interface 104 comprises an antenna 122 and a wireless transceiver 124 also denoted transceiver module, the wireless transceiver 124 connected to the processor 101 and configured for wireless communication with accessory device(s), such as configured for connecting the monitor device to the one or more accessory devices of the personal care system. Optionally, the second interface 104 comprises a loudspeaker 126 and/or a haptic feedback element 128 for provision of respective audio signal and/or haptic feedback to the user. The memory 106 may be an internal memory, such as flash memory of the wireless transceiver 124. Thereby, a separate memory module can be omitted which provides a simpler and lighter/smaller monitor device.

The monitor device 6 optionally comprises a sensor unit 140 connected to the processor 101. The sensor unit 140 may comprise a temperature sensor for feeding temperature data to the processor 101 and/or a G-sensor or accelerometer for feeding acceleration data to the processor 101.

The monitor device/processor 101/transceiver module 124 is configured to establish a connection between the monitor device and at least one of the one or more accessory devices, such as connection 9 to accessory device 8, and to transmit monitor data to the accessory device.

Fig 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary accessory device 300 (e.g., accessory device 8 of Fig. 1) according to the present disclosure. The accessory device 300 forms part of a personal care system, such as an ostomy system or a wound dressing system and is capable of supporting the monitoring of the operating state of an ostomy appliance or a wound dressing appliance to be placed on a user's skin. The accessory device 300 comprises a memory 301; a processor 302 coupled to the memory 301; a graphical user interface 303 comprising a display 303A, coupled to the processor 302; and a first interface 304, coupled to the processor and/or memory, configured to connect the accessory device 300 to a monitor device of the personal care system. The first interface 304 comprises a transceiver module 304A connected to the processor 302.

Peripheral devices, such as memory 301 and/or user interface 303 can be operatively and communicably coupled to the processor 302 via a bus for communicating data. The processor 302 can be a central processing unit (CPU), but other suitable microprocessors are also contemplated.

The first interface 304 may be configured to communicate with one or more devices of the personal care system, the one or more devices comprising a monitor device, and/or a personal care appliance configured to be placed on a skin surface of a user or on any additional seals.

The first interface 304 is configured to receive monitor data from the monitor device, such as to receive or retrieve the monitor data from the one or more devices. The monitor data may be indicative of a condition of the personal care appliance, such as a condition of a proximal side of a layer of the personal care appliance that is directed towards the skin surface or a condition of an absorbent core layer of the personal care appliance. In one or more exemplary accessory devices, the monitor data comprises appliance data, e.g. ostomy data or wound dressing data, obtained via the first interface 304 from an ostomy appliance being the personal care appliance or from a wound dressing being the personal care appliance, respectively.

The processor 302 is configured to determine an operating state of the personal care appliance based on the monitor data.

The accessory device 300 is configured to display a wallpaper in the display 303A of the user interface 303. The accessory device 300 is configured to, in accordance with the operating state being a primary operating state, select a primary wallpaper from a plurality of wallpapers, the primary wallpaper being indicative of the primary operating state. Further, according to embodiments, the accessory device is configured to, in accordance with the operating state being a secondary operating state, select a secondary wallpaper from the plurality of wallpapers, the secondary wallpaper being indicative of the secondary operating state. The plurality of wallpapers may be stored in the memory 301.

The display 303A may comprise a touch sensitive surface. The display 303A may be configured to detect touch (e.g. the display 303A is a touch-sensitive display). A touch-sensitive display provides an input interface and an output interface between the accessory device 300 and a user. The processor 302 of the accessory device 300 may be configured to receive and/or send electrical signals from/to the touch-sensitive display. A touch-sensitive display is configured to display visual output to the user. The visual output may be interactive and/or noninteractive user interface objects, and may include images, graphics, text, icons (e.g., app launch icons), video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed "graphics"). An interactive user interface object may be a (selectable/interactive) image, icon (e.g., app launch icon), a button, and text (e.g., hyperlink). An interactive user interface object may form part of a widget. A widget may be seen as a mini application that may be used by the user and created by the user. An interactive user interface object may comprise a prompt, application launch icon, and/or an action menu. A noninteractive user interface object is a user interface object not responding to a user input and may include a wallpaper of the display. An input, such as first input and/or second input, may comprise a touch (e.g. a tap, a force touch, a long press), and/or movement of contact (e.g. a swipe gesture, e.g. for toggling). The movement on contact may be detected by the touch sensitive surface.

The memory 301 may be configured to store the plurality of wallpapers, monitor data, and/or the operating state. The processor 302 is optionally configured to perform any of the operations disclosed in relation to Fig. 5. The operations of the accessory device 300 may be embodied in the form of executable logic routines (such as, lines of code, software programs, etc.) that are stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium (such as, the memory 301) and are executed by the processor 302. Furthermore, the operations of the accessory device 300 may be considered a method that the accessory device 300 is configured to carry out. Also, while the described functions and operations may be implemented in software, such functionality may as well be carried out via dedicated hardware or firmware, or some combination of hardware, firmware and/or software.

The memory 301 may be one or more of a buffer, a flash memory, a hard drive, a removable media, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a random access memory (RAM), or other suitable device. In a typical arrangement, the memory 301 may include a non-volatile memory for long term data storage and a volatile memory that functions as system memory for the processor 302. The memory 301 may exchange data with the processor 302 over a data bus. Control lines and an address bus between the memory 301 and the processor 302 also may be present (not shown in Fig. 3). The memory 301 is considered a non-transitory computer readable medium.

Figs. 4A-4B illustrate an accessory device 400 comprising a graphical user interface 403 with a display 403A according to embodiments of the invention. The display 403A is configured to display a wallpaper 410, such as through being in communication with a processor of the accessory device, the processor instructing the graphical user interface 403, and thus the display 403A, to display the wallpaper 410.

The wallpaper 410 may be an image (for illustrative purposes, the exemplary outline of a plane is illustrated). The wallpaper 410 is displayed in a background of a primary display screen 408 (here, the primary display screen 408 comprises a plurality of interactive user interface objects, such as icons, such as app launch icons). The wallpaper 410 is noninteractive, meaning it does not respond to a user input, in particular touch input.

In Fig. 4A, the wallpaper 410 may be a primary wallpaper 410A indicative of a primary operating state of the personal care appliance, such as determined by the accessory device 400. Thus, the primary wallpaper 410A is displayed because an operating state of a personal care appliance in communication, through a monitor device, with the accessory device 400 is a primary operating state. Thereby, merely through looking at the display 403A of his/her accessory device 400 and identifying the wallpaper (e.g., the outline of the plane), the user of the personal care appliance is advised/notified of the present operating state of the personal care appliance. In embodiments, the user has initially assigned the wallpaper 410 to be the primary wallpaper 410A, such that the user may map/associated the specific primary wallpaper 410A to the primary operating state. In particular, to preserve the privacy of using a personal care appliance, the user may decide to be the only individual knowing that the wallpaper 410 is indicative of an operating state, let alone the primary operating state, of his/her personal care appliance. For example, the primary wallpaper 410A may be indicative of a progressing condition (operating state) of his/her personal care appliance, thereby advising him/her to stay alert.

In Fig. 4B, the wallpaper 410 may be a secondary wallpaper 410B indicative of a secondary operating state of the personal care appliance, such as determined by the accessory device 400. Thus, the secondary wallpaper 410B is displayed because an operating state of a personal care appliance in communication, through a monitor device, with the accessory device 400 is a secondary operating state. The secondary wallpaper 410B is different from the primary wallpaper 410A of Fig. 4A (for illustrative purposes, here illustrated as an exemplary outline of a tree). Thereby, by seeing the secondary wallpaper 410B, e.g. the outline of the tree, the user is advised of the operating state of his/her personal care appliance being the secondary operating state. For example, the secondary operating state may be indicative of a severe condition requiring immediate action, e.g. to avoid leakage from an ostomy appliance being the personal care appliance.

Whereas the accessory device 400 according to Figs. 4A-4B may resemble the outline of a smartphone, it should not be considered limiting to the scope of the invention where the accessory device may be any device having the capabilities as disclosed herein, including, but not limited to, smartwatches, tablets, computers, etc.

Fig. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method 500 of operating an accessory device for a personal care system. The personal care system comprises a personal care appliance, a monitor device, and the accessory device. The method 500 comprises establishing S502 a connection between the monitor device and the accessory device. The method 500 comprises receiving S504 monitor data from the monitor device. The method 500 comprises determining S506 an operating state of the personal care appliance based on the monitor data.

The method 500 comprises determining S508 whether the operating state is a primary operating state P, and, in accordance with the operating state being the primary operating state P, selecting and displaying S510 a primary wallpaper indicative of the primary operating state P. Optionally, the method 500 further comprises determining S508 whether the operating state is a secondary operating state S, and, in accordance with the operating state being the secondary operating state S, selecting and displaying S512 a secondary wallpaper indicative of secondary operating state S. The method 500 may revert to receiving S504 monitor data from the monitor device and thereby continuously and dynamically select and display a wallpaper indicative of the determined operating state according to S506 and S508. The primary and secondary wallpapers are selected from a plurality of wallpapers at least comprising said primary and secondary wallpapers. In embodiments, a default wallpaper is displayed prior to performing the method 500, i.e., before a personal care appliance according to embodiments of the invention is brought into use. Thereby, the step of selecting and displaying S510,S512 a primary or secondary wallpaper may, e.g. in a first iteration, comprise replacing the default wallpaper with either the primary or secondary wallpaper (in accordance with the determined operating state).

Fig. 6 illustrates an exemplary personal care system 1 embodied as a wound dressing system IB (see Fig. 1 for the embodiment being an ostomy system 1A). The personal care system 1 (wound dressing system IB) comprises a personal care appliance 2 embodied as a wound dressing 2B. Further, the personal care system 1 comprises a monitor device 6 and an accessory device 8 (mobile telephone, smartphone). The monitor device 6 is connectable to the personal care appliance 2, such as to wound dressing 2B and/or to an electrode assembly of or mounted to the wound dressing, via respective first connectors of the monitor device 6 and wound dressing 2B/electrode assembly.

It is to be noted that the word "comprising" does not necessarily exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed.

It is to be noted that the words "a" or "an" preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims, that the exemplary embodiments may be implemented at least in part by means of both hardware and software, and that several "means", "units" or "devices" may be represented by the same item of hardware.

The various exemplary methods, devices, and systems described herein are described in the general context of method steps processes, which may be implemented in one aspect by a computer program product, embodied in a computer-readable medium, including computer- executable instructions, such as program code, executed by computers in networked environments. A computer-readable medium may include removable and non-removable storage devices including, but not limited to, Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVD), etc. Generally, program modules may include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform specified tasks or implement specific abstract data types. Computer-executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of program code for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps or processes. Although particular features have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the claimed invention, and it will be made obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The claimed invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

Claims

1. An accessory device for a personal care system, the personal care system comprising a personal care appliance, a monitor device, and the accessory device, the accessory device comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor; a first interface configured to connect the accessory device to the monitor device of the personal care system, the first interface comprising a transceiver module connected to the processor; and a graphical user interface comprising a display configured to display a wallpaper; wherein the accessory device is configured to: establish a connection between the monitor device and the accessory device; receive monitor data from the monitor device; determine an operating state of the personal care appliance based on the monitor data; in accordance with the operating state being a primary operating state, select a primary wallpaper from a plurality of wallpapers, the primary wallpaper being indicative of the primary operating state; and display the primary wallpaper in the display.

2. The accessory device according to claim 1, wherein the accessory device is configured to, in accordance with the operating state being a secondary operating state, select a secondary wallpaper from the plurality of wallpapers, the secondary wallpaper being indicative of the secondary operating state; and to display the secondary wallpaper.

3. The accessory device according to claim 2, wherein the primary wallpaper comprises a first image having a first colour saturation, and wherein the secondary wallpaper comprises the first image having a second colour saturation.

4. The accessory device according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein to display the primary wallpaper or the secondary wallpaper comprises to replace a current wallpaper with the primary wallpaper or the secondary wallpaper, respectively.

5. The accessory device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the accessory device is configured to receive a primary user input indicative of an assignment of a first wallpaper to the primary operating state and/or to receive a secondary user input indicative of an assignment of a second wallpaper to the secondary operating state.

6. The accessory device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the monitor data is indicative of appliance data from a plurality of appliance sensors, including a first sensor and a second sensor, of the personal care appliance.

7. The accessory device according to claim 6, wherein the operating state is the primary operating state if the monitor data is indicative of appliance data from the first sensor being above a first threshold.

8. The accessory device according to claim 6, wherein the operating state is the secondary operating state if the monitor data is indicative of appliance data from the second sensor being above a second threshold.

9. The accessory device according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the primary and/or secondary wallpaper is an image configured to be displayed in a background of a primary display screen of the graphical user interface.

10. The accessory device according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the primary and/or secondary wallpaper is noninteractive.

11. The accessory device according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the accessory device is a smartphone, a smartwatch, or a tablet.

12. A method, performed in an accessory device, of communicating an operating state of a personal care appliance of a personal care system comprising the personal care appliance, a monitor device, and the accessory device, the method comprising: establishing a connection between the monitor device and the accessory device; receiving monitor data from the monitor device; determining an operating state of the personal care appliance based on the monitor data; selecting, in accordance with the operating state being a primary operating state, a primary wallpaper from a plurality of wallpapers, the primary wallpaper being indicative of the primary operating state; and displaying the primary wallpaper in a graphical user interface comprising a display configured to display a wallpaper.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of selecting, in accordance with the operating state being a secondary operating state, a secondary wallpaper from a plurality of wallpapers, the secondary wallpaper being indicative of the secondary operating state; and displaying the secondary wallpaper in the display.

14. The method according to any one of claims 12-13 further comprising the step of receiving a primary user input indicative of an assignment of a first wallpaper to a primary operating state and/or receiving a secondary user input indicative of an assignment of a second wallpaper to a secondary operating state.

15. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an accessory device with an interface, a memory, and a processor cause the accessory device to perform any of the methods in accordance with any one of claims 12-14.

16. A personal care system comprising a personal care appliance, a monitor device, and an accessory device according to any one of claims 1-11, the personal care appliance being an ostomy appliance or a wound dressing.