Modular patient room

• US 20020104271A1
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallant, Dennis J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/36.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/00 Treatment rooms or enclosures for medical purposes baby incubators, couveuses A61G11/00; devices for gas baths with ozone, hydrogen or the like A61H33/14 ; for isolating individuals from external stimuli A61M21/0094 ; containers or portable cabins for affording breathing protection in general A62B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/00 Accommodation for nursing, e.g. in hospitals, not covered by groups A61G1/00 - A61G11/00, e.g. trolleys for transport of medicaments or food service or tea-tables, trolleys or wagons A47B31/00; Prescription lists
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/002 Supply appliances, e.g. columns for gas, fluid, electricity supply vertical ducts or channels for receiving utility lines E04F17/08; installations of electric cables or lines, wall trunking H02G3/0431; structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles F21V33/0068; stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles F16M11/00; buildings for public purposes E04H3/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/107 Supply appliances supply appliances for dental machines A61C1/0007
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/108 Means providing sterile air at a surgical operation table or area treatment rooms A61G10/00; instruments or implements for sterile operation A61B90/00; sterilisation of air A61L9/00; purification of air in air-conditioning systems F24F3/16, F24F8/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2205/00 General identification or selection means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/00 Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons stretchers with facilities for picking up patients or disabled persons A61G1/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0005 Means for bathing bedridden persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0015 having means for attaching a cabinet in order to transport bed and cabinet together
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/02 with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0503 Holders, support devices for receptacles, e.g. for drainage or urine bags hanging-up devices for infusion A61M5/1414
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0513 covering particular sections of the bed, e.g. one or more partial side-rail sections along the bed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/053 Aids for getting into, or out of, bed, e.g. steps, chairs, cane-like supports
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 9/02 Cleaning devices washing and rinsing machines for crockery and tableware A47L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/61 Two- or three-bottle systems for underwater drainage, e.g. for chest cavity drainage
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 : Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 : Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/74 : Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge framed panels E04C2/38
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7448 : with separate framed panels without intermediary posts, extending from floor to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/745 : Glazing details
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7483 : Details of furniture, e.g. tables or shelves, associated with the partitions
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2002/7488 : Details of wiring
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/08 : Hospitals, infirmaries, or the like; Schools; Prisons
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/005 : Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 : allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 : for medicine and surgery

Abstract

A modular patient room includes a plurality of modular wall panels or units having various configurations. In some embodiments, the modular wall units have water dispensers. Headwall units having water dispensers are also disclosed. The water dispensers are configured to filter water or to sterilize water.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a healthcare facility to dispense water to a point of care in the healthcare facility, the apparatus comprising

a headwall unit mounted to a wall of the healthcare facility, the headwall unit having a gas outlet through which gas is delivered, and

a water dispenser coupled to the headwall unit, the water dispenser being coupled to a water line of the healthcare facility, and the water dispenser being operable to dispense water to the point of care.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water dispenser has a filter through which water from the water line passes prior to being dispensed to the point of care.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water dispenser has a sterilizer through which water from the water line passes prior to being dispensed to the point of care.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water dispenser has an electronic flow control that is configured to control the dispensing of water.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electronic flow control has an electric circuit and a sensor coupled to the electric circuit, the sensor sends a signal to the electric circuit regarding the flow of water out of the water dispenser, and the electric circuit is configured to calculate how much water is dispensed from the water dispenser.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electronic flow control includes a display that indicates how much water is dispensed from the water dispenser.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electric circuit reports how much water is dispensed to a computer network of the healthcare facility.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electronic flow control has an electrically operated valve and a user input coupled to the electrically operate valve, the electrically operated valve normally preventing water from being dispensed from the water dispenser, and actuation of the user input results in a signal being sent to the electrically operated valve to permit water to flow from the water dispenser to the point of care.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user input comprises a push button.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user input comprises a movable lever.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user input comprises a movable knob.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water dispenser has a housing, the water dispenser has a spigot extending from the housing, and the spigot is configured to couple to an IV bag.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the headwall unit is formed to include a cavity and the water dispenser is received in the cavity of the headwall unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the headwall unit has a front panel and the water dispenser has a housing with a front wall that is substantially coplanar with the front panel of the headwall unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the headwall unit has a top panel and the water dispenser has a housing with a top wall that is substantially coplanar with the top panel of the headwall unit.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water dispenser has an electronic flow control that is configured to control the dispensing of water.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the electronic flow control has an electric circuit and a sensor coupled to the electric circuit, the sensor sends a signal to the electric circuit regarding the flow of water out of the water dispenser, and the electric circuit is configured to calculate how much water is dispensed from the water dispenser.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the electronic flow control includes a display that indicates how much water is dispensed from the water dispenser.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the electric circuit reports how much water is dispensed to a computer network of the healthcare facility.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the electronic flow control has an electrically operated valve and a user input coupled to the electrically operate valve, the electrically operated valve normally preventing water from being dispensed from the water dispenser, and actuation of the user input results in a signal being sent to the electrically operated valve to permit water to flow from the water dispenser to the point of care.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the user input comprises a push button.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the user input comprises a movable lever.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the user input comprises a movable knob.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the water dispenser has a housing, the water dispenser has a spigot extending from the housing, and the spigot is configured to couple to an IV bag.

27. The modular wall unit of claim 26, wherein at least one of the sides has an opening through which a service-delivery line is routed to the service-delivery component.

28. The modular wall unit of claim 26, wherein the service-delivery component is a gas outlet.

29. The modular wall unit of claim 28, further comprising a gas flow meter coupled to the gas outlet and situated between the pair of spaced apart sides.

30. The modular wall unit of claim 26, further comprising a data monitor situated between the pair of spaced apart sides.

31. The modular wall unit of claim 30, wherein the panel blocks access to the data monitor when the panel is in the first position and the data monitor is accessible when the panel is in the second position.

32. The modular wall unit of claim 26, further comprising an environmental control panel situated between the pair of spaced apart sides.

33. The modular wall unit of claim 32, wherein the panel blocks access to the environmental control panel when the panel is in the first position and the environmental control panel is accessible when the panel is in the second position.

34. The modular wall unit of claim 26, further comprising a water dispenser situated between the pair of spaced apart sides.

35. The modular wall unit of claim 34, wherein the panel blocks access to the water dispenser when the panel is in the first position and the water dispenser is accessible when the panel is in the second position.

16. An apparatus for use in a healthcare facility to dispense water to a point of care in the healthcare facility, the apparatus comprising

a modular wall unit configured to be installed in the healthcare facility and configured to extend between a floor and a ceiling of the healthcare facility, and

a water dispenser coupled to the modular wall unit, the water dispenser being coupled to a water line of the healthcare facility, and the water dispenser being operable to dispense water to the point of care, the water dispenser having a sterilizer.

26. A modular wall unit for use in constructing a room in a healthcare facility, the modular wall unit comprising

a pair of spaced apart sides,

a service-delivery component supported between the pair of spaced apart sides, and

a panel movable vertically relative to the pair of spaced apart sides between a first position blocking access to the service-delivery component and a second position allowing access to the service-delivery component.