Medical equipment controller

• US 20030195644A1
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wildman, Timothy D., Borders, Richard L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,010,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/401 using air flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0094 using a remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• 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 12/002 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 13/0009 Obstetrical tables or delivery beds chairs for gynaecological purposes A61G15/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/02 Adjustable operating tables; Controls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/08 the table being divided into different adjustable sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/10 Parts, details or accessories surgical drape sheets A61B46/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/107 Supply appliances supply appliances for dental machines A61C1/0007
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/12 Rests specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of patient-supporting surfaces rests for the surgeon A61B90/60; restraining devices A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/121 Head or neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/122 Upper body, e.g. chest
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/1225 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/123 Lower body, e.g. pelvis, hip, buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/1245 Knees, upper or lower legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/1265 having inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/1275 having air-evacuated chambers in order to adapt to the form of the patient for preventing bed-sores A61G7/05753
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/322 lateral
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/325 : prone
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 : Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/70 : for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/90 : for heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 : Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05753 : air-evacuated, e.g. in order to adapt to the form of the patient air-evacuated splints A61F5/05833
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 : with inflatable chambers

Abstract

A portable medical equipment controller apparatus including a user input device. A processor is configured to determine if a predetermined distance from a base unit is exceeded, and to signal an alert if the predetermined distance from the base unit is exceeded.

Claims

1. A medical device controller apparatus comprising:

a portable housing;

a user input device coupled to the housing; and

a processor coupled to the housing, the processor being configured to command a controllable medical device, to determine if a predetermined distance from a base unit is exceeded, and to signal an alert if the predetermined distance from the base unit is exceeded.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert is at least one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a vibratory alarm.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert is at least one of a personal computer and a pager.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controllable medical device is a patient support apparatus comprising a base, and a frame coupled to the base, the frame including a plurality of frame sections movable relative to each other to position the frame in a plurality of different frame configurations for a plurality of different medical procedures.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a display coupled to the processor, wherein the patient support apparatus further comprises a mattress located on the frame to support a patient, the mattress being adjustable to a plurality of different mattress configurations for the plurality of different medical procedures, and wherein the processor is configured to provide a menu on the display of a plurality of predefined configurations of the frame and mattress, the processor being configured to command the frame and mattress to move to a selected one of the plurality of predefined configurations based on a user input.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to command a temperature control system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to command a lighting system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controllable medical device has a plurality of controllable sections, and wherein the user input device includes a first switch configured to select one of the controllable sections, and a second switch configured to adjust the controllable section selected by the first switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controllable medical device is an operating room table system comprising an articulated frame having a plurality of segments, a frame controller coupled to the frame to move at least one of the segments, a mattress having at least one chamber, a mattress controller coupled to the mattress to control an amount of fluid in the at least one chamber;

and a user interface controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controllable medical device is an operating room table system comprising an articulated table having a plurality of segments, a table controller coupled to the table to move at least one of the segments, a lighting system having at least one light head, a lighting controller coupled to the lighting system to control an intensity of light from the at least one light head, and a user interface controller configured to send control signals to the table controller and to the lighting controller.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controllable medical device is an operating room table system comprising an articulated table having a plurality of segments, a table controller coupled to the table to move at least one of the segments, a patient thermal regulation system, a thermal regulation controller coupled to the patient thermal regulation system, and a user interface controller configured to send control signals to the table controller and to the thermal regulation controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first transmitter and a first receiver both coupled to one of the base unit and the housing, a second transmitter and a second receiver both coupled to the other of the housing and the base unit, the first transmitter being configured to transmit a first signal to the second receiver and the second transmitter being configured to transmit a second signal to the first receiver in response to the second receiver receiving the first signal, and a processor in communication with the first transmitter and the first receiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to signal the alert when the time between the first transmitter transmitting the first signal and the first receiver receiving the second signal is greater than a predetermined value.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first tag coupled to the base unit, a second tag coupled to the housing, and a monitor configured to receive first and second signals transmitted by the first and second tags.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first tag and the second tag comprise RFID tags, and the monitor comprises an RFID detector.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a processor which electronically links the first tag to the second tag and signals the alert when the monitor indicates that the first tag and the second tag are separated by a distance greater than a predetermined value.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of monitors defining a plurality of different detection zones, and a processor in communication with the plurality of monitors and configured to signal the alert when the first tag is detected within a first detection zone and the second tag is detected within a second detection zone.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one of a receiver and a transmitter coupled to the housing, the other of the transmitter and the receiver located in a restricted zone, the transmitter being configured to transmit a signal which is configured to be received by the receiver, and a processor in communication with the receiver and configured to signal the alert when the signal from the transmitter is received by the receiver.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the other of the transmitter and the receiver establishes a perimeter defining the restricted zone.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter coupled to one of the housing and the base unit, a receiver coupled to the other of the base unit and the housing, the transmitter being configured to transmit a signal to the receiver, and a processor configured to determine a strength of the signal received by the receiver and to signal the alert when the strength is below a predetermined value.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter coupled to one of the housing and the base unit, a receiver coupled to the other of the base unit and the housing, the transmitter being configured to transmit a signal to the receiver, a counter configured to count successive time intervals between transmission of the signal from the transmitter and receipt of the signal by the receiver, and a processor configured to signal the alert when the count from the counter exceeds a predetermined value.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to track the location of the base unit and provide an indication on the display of the location of the base unit.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base unit includes a controller call button configured to signal the alert on the housing.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller release button in communication with the processor wherein activation of the controller release button causes the processor not to signal the alert when the predetermined distance from the base unit is exceeded.

26. A control system configured to control the operation of a device in a healthcare facility, the control system comprising:

a controllable device;

a controller in communication with the controllable device and including a portable housing;

a user input device coupled to the housing;

a tag coupled to the housing;

a monitor located in a restricted zone, the monitor being configured to transmit an excitation signal for receipt by the tag; and

a processor in communication with the monitor and configured to signal an alert when the excitation signal is received by the tag.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the other of the transmitter and the receiver establishes a perimeter defining the restricted zone.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the other of the transmitter and the receiver is positioned at a room exit.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the tag is configured to transmit a response signal in response to receiving the excitation signal, the monitor is configured to receive the response signal, and the monitor is configured to transmit a signal to the processor in response to receiving the response signal thereby instructing the processor to signal the alert.

30. A medical device control system comprising:

a controllable medical device;

a controller in communication with the controllable medical device and including a portable housing;

a transmitter coupled to one of the housing and the base unit;

a receiver coupled to the other of the base unit and the housing, the transmitter being configured to transmit a signal to the receiver; and

a processor configured to determine a strength of the signal and to signal an alert when the strength is below a predetermined value.

31. A medical device control system comprising:

a controllable medical device;

a first transmitter associated with the controllable medical device and configured to transmit a first signal;

a first receiver associated with the controllable medical device;

a processor in communication with the first transmitter and the first receiver;

a controller including a portable housing;

a second transmitter coupled to the housing and configured to transmit a second signal for receipt by the first receiver;

a second receiver coupled to the housing and configured to receive the first signal from the first transmitter, the second transmitter configured to transmit the second signal in response to the second receiver receiving the first signal; and

a user input device supported by the housing and in communication with the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to command the controllable medical device, to determine if a predetermined time between the first transmitter transmitting the first signal and the first receiver receiving the second signal is exceeded, and to signal an alert if the processor determines the predetermined time is exceeded.