Hospital bed and network system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A patient/nurse call system comprising:
- a plurality of transmitters adapted to be carried by hospital personnel, each transmitter being configured to periodically transmit an identification signal unique to that transmitter;
a plurality of patient locations, each of the plurality of patient locations being associated with a patient and including a receiver configured to receive the identification signals from the plurality of transmitters;
a master station remote from the patient locations, the master station being configured to receive signals from the receivers to indicate locations of the hospital personnel;
a packet based communication network;
a plurality of first audio stations coupled to the packet based communication network, a first audio station being located at each patient location and being identified by a unique address, each first audio station including a first processor, a first microphone, a first speaker, and a first converter configured to receive audio signals from the first microphone, to generate voice data in a packet based data stream corresponding thereto, and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network, the first converter also being configured to receive a packet based data stream from the communication network, to generate audio signals corresponding thereto, and to transmit the audio signals to the first speaker; and
a second audio station located at the master station and coupled to the packet based communication network, the second audio station being identified by a unique address and including a second processor, a second microphone, a second speaker, and a second converter configured to receive audio signals from the second microphone, to generate voice data in a packet based data stream corresponding thereto, and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network, the second converter also being configured to receive a packet based data stream from the communication network, to generate audio signals corresponding thereto, and to transmit the audio signals to the second speaker, thereby permitting audio communication between personnel located at the first and second audio stations.
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Abstract
A hospital bed, patient/nurse call system, and a hospital network are provided. Communication is provided over a packet based communication network.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A patient/nurse call system comprising:
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a plurality of transmitters adapted to be carried by hospital personnel, each transmitter being configured to periodically transmit an identification signal unique to that transmitter;
a plurality of patient locations, each of the plurality of patient locations being associated with a patient and including a receiver configured to receive the identification signals from the plurality of transmitters;
a master station remote from the patient locations, the master station being configured to receive signals from the receivers to indicate locations of the hospital personnel;
a packet based communication network;
a plurality of first audio stations coupled to the packet based communication network, a first audio station being located at each patient location and being identified by a unique address, each first audio station including a first processor, a first microphone, a first speaker, and a first converter configured to receive audio signals from the first microphone, to generate voice data in a packet based data stream corresponding thereto, and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network, the first converter also being configured to receive a packet based data stream from the communication network, to generate audio signals corresponding thereto, and to transmit the audio signals to the first speaker; and
a second audio station located at the master station and coupled to the packet based communication network, the second audio station being identified by a unique address and including a second processor, a second microphone, a second speaker, and a second converter configured to receive audio signals from the second microphone, to generate voice data in a packet based data stream corresponding thereto, and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network, the second converter also being configured to receive a packet based data stream from the communication network, to generate audio signals corresponding thereto, and to transmit the audio signals to the second speaker, thereby permitting audio communication between personnel located at the first and second audio stations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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18. A patient/nurse call system comprising:
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a packet based communication network;
a plurality of transmitters, each of the transmitters being configured to be carried by a hospital caregiver and to periodically transmit an identification signal that identifies the transmitter;
a plurality of receivers configured to receive the identification signals and generate identification data corresponding thereto, the receivers being configured to convert the identification data into a packet based data stream and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network;
a first audio station coupled to the packet based communication network and being identified by a unique address, the first audio station including a first processor, a first microphone, a first speaker, and a first converter configured to receive audio signals from the first microphone, to generate voice data in a packet based data stream corresponding thereto, and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network, the first converter also being configured to receive a packet based data stream from the communication network, to generate audio signals corresponding thereto, and to transmit the audio signals to the first speaker;
a second audio station coupled to the packet based communication network and being identified by a unique address, the second audio station including a second processor, a second microphone, a second speaker, and a second converter configured to receive audio signals from the second microphone, to generate voice data in a packet based data stream corresponding thereto, and to transmit the packet based data stream over the communication network, the second converter also being configured to receive a packet based data stream from the communication network, to generate audio signals corresponding thereto, and to transmit the audio signals to the second speaker; and
a server coupled to the receivers, the first audio station, and the second audio station via the packet based communication network, the server being configured to instruct the first audio station and the second audio station regarding at least one of establishing an audio connection and terminating an audio connection based at least in part on the identification data, thereby permitting audio communication between personnel located at the first and second audio stations.
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20. A method for patient and nurse communication over a hospital network, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least one of an identification signal from a transmitter carried by a hospital caregiver, a bed status signal, a chair call signal, a shower status signal, and a remote code signal;
generating non-voice data corresponding to the received signal;
generating voice data;
sending a first notification packet from a first address into a packet network;
sending a first request packet from a second address into the packet network in response to the first notification packet;
transporting the non-voice data in packets between the first address and the second address in response to the first notification packet and the first request packet; and
transporting the voice data in packets between the first address and the second address in response to the first notification packet and the first request packet. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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25. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a patient support;
a computer coupled to the patient support, the computer providing an audio station on the patient support configured to communicate with a packet based communication network;
a display coupled to the computer; and
a data device coupled to the computer, the data device including at least one of a psychological monitor, a treatment device, and a therapy device, the computer being configured to receive data from the data device, convert the data received from the data device to a packet based data stream, and transmit the packet based data stream to the packet based communication network.
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Specification