Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130283529 | PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS - Patient support apparatuses, such as beds, cots, stretchers, recliners, operating tables, and the like include wireless mesh network transceivers that enable them to communicate with each other, and other devices, via mesh networks and/or ad hoc networks. One or more additional wireless transceivers are included, such as WiFi transceivers, that enable direct communication with a healthcare facility network, such as an Ethernet. The mesh network communication between patient support apparatuses and other devices is used for any one or more of: extending the communication range of the existing IT infrastructure, efficiently routing data to the healthcare facility network, determining location of the patient support apparatuses and devices, transporting patient data from one patient support to the next as the patient moves, and for other aspects. | 10-31-2013 |
20140080413 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS FOR PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES - A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, or the like, uses the ability to communicate with a device via near field communication to determine that the device is physically proximate the support apparatus. The support apparatus uses this determination to associate itself with the device. In some instances, the associated device is a mattress positioned on the support apparatus; a footboard on the support apparatus; a medical device used with a patient supported on the support device; a nearby piece of furniture; another patient support apparatus; or an ID tag worn by a caregiver or patient, or attached to a piece of equipment. After the support apparatus and device are associated, they communicate information between each other using far field communication, which supports higher data transfer rates. Flux concentrators are added in some embodiments to extend and/or shape the range of near the field communication. | 03-20-2014 |
20150082542 | PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS - A location detection system for person support apparatuses includes multiple network wireless access points that communicate with a plurality of mobile transceivers positioned on board the person support apparatuses. Based upon signal strength data (e.g. RSSI or RCPI) of messages from the access points to the transceivers, the locations of the person support apparatuses are determined. In some embodiments, the person support apparatuses include an additional location detection system that utilizes fixed locators having short range transceivers to generate a second location determination of the person support apparatuses. In still other embodiments, the person support apparatuses utilize the second location detection system to determine the location of the wireless access points. The person support apparatuses may also broadcast their location to other devices that then utilize the received signal strengths of those messages to determine their own location. | 03-26-2015 |
20150231006 | COMMUNICATION METHODS FOR PATIENT HANDLING DEVICES - Patient care devices, such as person support apparatuses and thermal control units, include one or more internal high speed networks, such as an Ethernet, for transmitting data between internal nodes or modules. A lower speed network may also be included with the Ethernet for redundantly transmitting some, but not all, types of data. Devices external to the patient care device can be granted limited access to the internal high speed network. Such devices may connect to the high speed network to utilize one or more user interfaces of the patient care device and/or to piggyback onto the patient care device's connection to an external local area network (e.g. a hospital LAN), or the patient care device's connection to yet another device. Some nodes may include web servers for serving up web pages of diagnostic information relevant to that node. The web servers are accessible via an external web browser. | 08-20-2015 |
20150290060 | PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS - Patient support apparatuses, such as beds, cots, stretchers, recliners, operating tables, and the like include wireless mesh network transceivers that enable them to communicate with each other, and other devices, via mesh networks and/or ad hoc networks. One or more additional wireless transceivers are included, such as WiFi transceivers, that enable direct communication with a healthcare facility network, such as an Ethernet. The mesh network communication between patient support apparatuses and other devices is used for any one or more of: extending the communication range of the existing IT infrastructure, efficiently routing data to the healthcare facility network, determining location of the patient support apparatuses and devices, transporting patient data from one patient support to the next as the patient moves, and for other aspects. | 10-15-2015 |
20150323388 | PERSON SUPPORT APPARATUS WITH POSITION MONITORING - A person support apparatus includes one or more thermal image sensors whose outputs are analyzed to perform one or more functions. Such functions include automatically turning on a brake, automatically turning on one or more lights, detecting when a patient associated with the person support apparatus has fallen, enabling a propulsion system of the patient support apparatus to be used, automatically controlling one or more environmental controls, and/or automatically arming an exit detection system after entry of a patient onto the person support apparatus. Multiple thermal images may be generated from multiple sensors to generate stereoscopic thermal images of portions of the person support apparatus and its surroundings. | 11-12-2015 |
20160106345 | PERSON SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH MOTION MONITORING - A person support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, or the like, includes an exit detection system that utilizes an occupant motion parameter to determine whether to issue an alert or not. The motion parameter may be based on the weight and motion of the occupant. Successive positions of the occupant are determined in order to calculate a velocity of the occupant. In some embodiments, the kinetic energy of the occupant is used to determine if an alert should be issued. Objects positioned on the person support apparatus may also be detected and tracked. Auto-zeroing of a built-in scale, as well as automatic recognition of the removal, movement, and/or addition of objects is also provided. | 04-21-2016 |
20160128610 | EXIT DETECTION SYSTEM WITH COMPENSATION - A person support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, cot, recliner, or the like, includes an exit detection system having a plurality of force sensors that support the weight of an occupant positioned on a support surface. The force sensors are part of an exit detection system that issues an alarm when the occupant exits, or is about to exit, the person support apparatus. The distribution of weight applied to the force sensors is used to determine if the occupant is about to exit the person support apparatus. Compensation is made to the exit detection system for changes in the weight distribution that are not caused by movement of the occupant. Such changes may be due to siderail movement, support surface pivoting, and/or movement of other components of the person support apparatus. | 05-12-2016 |