Hospital bed

• US 20050172405A1
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Findlay, James K., Skinner, Andrew F., Osborne, Eugene E., Vanderpohl, Irvin J. III, Hornbach, David W., Menkedick, Douglas J., Figel, Gregory J., Suttman, Glenn C., Albersmeyer, David A., Lubbers, David P., Zerhusen, Robert M., Stolpmann, James R., Chambers, Kenith W., Weil, Paul R., Knue, Matthew R., Scheele, Cami S., Richter, Terry L., Meyer, Eric R., Schwartz, Steven J., Shenk, Joshua W., Kramer, Kenneth L., Batta, Nicholas C., Bhai, Aziz Ali, Riggs, Tom, Philbeck, Roger S., Murnyack, Roberta M., Dixon, Steve A., Hoffman, Brian J., Wilker, Jack Jr., Welling, Jeffrey R., Goodwin, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/726 for automatic deactivation, e.g. deactivation of actuators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/74 for anti-shear when adjusting furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/002 having adjustable mattress frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/005 tiltable around transverse horizontal axis, e.g. for Trendelenburg position rocking beds for physical therapy A61H1/003; hanging patient inclined downwardly for drawing him out A61H2203/0493
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/008 tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• 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 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/052 : characterised by safety means, e.g. to avoid injuries to patient or caregiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 : characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0527 : Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05715 : with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 : with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/445 : in a horizontal position

Abstract

A patient support including a frame and a mattress supported by the frame. The frame includes a deck support and a deck supporting the mattress.

Claims

1. A patient support comprising,

a mattress defining a patient rest surface,

a frame positioned to support the mattress, the frame including a base frame supported by a floor, an intermediate frame positioned over the base frame, a first pair of lift arms coupled together at a first end by a first cross member, and, a second pair of lift arms coupled together at a first end by a second cross member, the first ends of the first pair of lift arms being configured to slide along at least one of the base frame and the intermediate frame, the first ends of the second pair of lift arms being configured to slide along at least one of the base frame and the intermediate frame, and

at least one actuator configured to move the intermediate frame relative to the base frame between first and second positions, during movement of the intermediate between the first and second positions, a distance between the first and second cross members increases to provide clearance for at least one of the intermediate frame and the base frame.

2. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the lift arms slide along the base frame.

3. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the intermediate frame is positioned above the first and second cross members when the intermediate frame is positioned in the first position and the intermediate frame is positioned between the first and second cross members when the intermediate frame is in the second position.

4. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the first pair of lift arms further includes a pair of links extending between the base frame and intermediate frame and a pair of guide links coupled to midpoints of the links and at least one of the base frame and intermediate frame.

5. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the base frame and intermediate frame nests together.

6. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the lift arms are positioned between the intermediate frame and the base frame when the intermediate frame is in the second position.

7. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the first and second cross members extend transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

8. The patient support of claim 1, further comprising

means for providing pressurized air to the mattress,

means for blocking egress of a patient from the mattress,

foot control means for operating features of the patient support,

power and control means for providing power and control to the actuator,

rotational support means configured to permit movement of the frame on a floor,

control means for controlling features of the patient support, the control means being removably coupled to the blocking means,

mattress control means for controlling operation of the mattress,

power supply means for providing power to components of the patient support, and

network means for communicating between at least two of the power and control means, the control means, the block means, and mattress control means.

9. A patient support comprising,

a base frame,

an intermediate frame,

a mattress supported by the intermediate frame and defining a patient rest surface, and

a lift mechanism configured to move the intermediate frame between raised and lowered positions relative to the base frame, at least one of the base and intermediate frames defining an interior region in which the other of the at least one of the base and intermediate frames is positioned when the intermediate frame is in the lowered position, at least one of the base and intermediate frames including transverse step members extending from the interior region.

10. The patient support of claim 9, further comprising a weigh frame supported by the intermediate frame and a plurality of load cells supported by the transverse step members.

11. The patient support of claim 9, wherein the intermediate frame includes the transverse step members.

12. The patient support of claim 11, wherein the transverse step members are positioned directly over the base frame.

13. The patient support of claim 12, wherein the base frame includes a pair of longitudinally extending members and the transverse step members are positioned directly over the longitudinally extending members of the base frame.

14. The patient support of claim 9, further comprising a pair of lift arms configured to move the intermediate frame relative to the base frame between raised and lowered positions, the lift arms being positioned in a space defined between longitudinally extending members of the base and intermediate frames when the intermediate frame is in the lowered position.

15. The patient support of claim 9, wherein at least two of the transverse step members extend in opposite directions and at least two of the transverse step members extend in the same direction.

16. A patient support comprising,

a base frame,

an intermediate frame,

a mattress supported by the intermediate frame and defining a patient rest surface, and

a lift mechanism configured to move the intermediate frame between raised and lowered positions relative to the base frame, at least one of the base and intermediate frames defining an interior region in which the other of the at least one of the base and intermediate frames is positioned when the intermediate frame is in the lowered position, the lift mechanism being positioned between the intermediate frame and the base frame when the intermediate frame is in the lowered position.

17. The patient support of claim 16, wherein the base frame and intermediate frames include longitudinally extending members cooperating to define a space therebetween and the lift mechanism is positioned in the space.

18. The patient support of claim 17, wherein the longitudinally extending member of the intermediate frame is spaced apart from a center axis by a first horizontal distance, the longitudinally extending member of the base frame is spaced apart from the center axis by a second horizontal distance, and the lift mechanism is spaced apart from the center axis by a third horizontal distance, the third distance is greater than one of the first and second distances and less than the other of the first and second distances.

19. The patient support of claim 16, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to slide along at least one of the base and intermediate frames during movement of the intermediate frame between the raised and lowered positions.

20. The patient support of claim 16, wherein the intermediate and base frames nest together when the intermediate frame is in the lowered position.

21. The patient support of claim 20, wherein a lower-most portion of the intermediate frame extends below an upper-most portion of the base frame when the intermediate frame is in the lowered position.

22. The patient support of claim 16, wherein portions of the lift mechanism are positioned above the intermediate frame when the intermediate frame is in the lowered position.

23. A patient support comprising,

a base frame,

an intermediate frame,

a mattress defining a patent rest surface, and

a mattress support deck positioned to support the mattress, the mattress support deck including a back section, a seat section, and an extendable foot section, the foot section and seat section cooperating to define a junction, the foot section being coupled to the seat section adjacent a top of the junction to permit movement of the foot section between first and second positions relative to the seat section.

24. The patient support of claim 23, wherein the foot section is pivotably coupled to the seat section to permit movement of the foot section between first and second positions, lower portions of the foot and seat sections are spaced apart by a first distance when the foot section is in the first position and a second distance when the foot section is in the second position, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

25. The patient support of claim 24, wherein the foot and seat sections are substantially coplanar when the foot section is in the second position.

26. The patient support of claim 23, wherein the foot and seat sections have an upper lip, a bottom pan, and a sidewall extending between the upper lip and bottom pan.

27. The patient support of claim 26, wherein the sidewall defines a non-perpendicular angle with the bottom pan.

28. The patient support of claim 26, wherein the upper lips of the foot and seat sections are positioned adjacent the top of the junction.

29. The patient support of claim 24, wherein the foot section includes a first portion pivotably coupled to the seat section and a second portion that slides over the first portion during extension of the foot section.

30. A patient support comprising,

a base frame,

an intermediate frame,

a mattress defining a patent rest surface,

a mattress support deck positioned to support the mattress, the mattress support deck including a back section, a seat section, and a foot section, the foot section and seat section cooperating to define a junction, the foot section being coupled to the seat section adjacent a top of the junction, and

an actuator coupled to one of the seat and foot sections to move the foot section relative to the seat section between first and second positions.

31. The patient support of claim 30, wherein the actuator is coupled to the foot section.

32. The patient support of claim 31, wherein the actuator is coupled to the foot section by a connector including a slot and a pin configured to slide in the slot.

33. The patient support of claim 30, wherein the actuator is pivotably coupled to at least one of the seat and foot sections.

34. The patient support of claim 30, wherein a gap defined between lower sides of the foot and seat sections decreases during extension of the actuator.

35. The patient support of claim 30, wherein the actuator is coupled to the seat section.

36. The patient support of claim 35, further comprising another actuator coupled to the foot section.

37. A patient support comprising,

a base frame,

an intermediate frame,

a mattress defining a patent rest surface, and

a mattress support deck positioned to support the mattress, the mattress support deck including a back section, a seat section, and a foot section, the back section and seat section cooperating to define a junction, the back section being positioned to pivot about a first pivot adjacent a top of the junction to permit movement of the back section between first and second positions, the seat section being positioned to pivot about a second pivot adjacent the top of the junction to permit movement of the seat section between first and second positions, the first pivot being spaced apart from the second pivot.

38. The patient support of claim 37, further comprising a vertically extending post cooperating with the seat and back sections to define the first and second pivots.

39. The patient support of claim 37, wherein lower portions of the seat and back sections are spaced apart by a first distance when the back section is in the first position and spaced apart by a second distance when the back section is in the second position, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

40. The patient support of claim 39, wherein the seat and back sections are substantially coplanar when each are in the first position.

41. The patient support of claim 37, wherein the seat section includes an upper lip, a bottom pan, and a sidewall extending between the upper lip and bottom pan.

42. The patient support of claim 41, wherein the back section includes an upper lip, a bottom pan, and a sidewall extending between the upper lip and bottom pan.

43. The patient support of claim 42, wherein the upper lip of the back section is positioned adjacent the first pivot and the upper lip of the seat section is positioned adjacent the second pivot.

44. A patient support comprising,

a mattress defining a patient rest surface, and

a frame supporting the mattress, the frame including a head end and a foot end spaced apart from the head end, and a rotatable element positioned on the foot end to engage an obstacle.

45. The patient support of claim 44, wherein the frame includes a base frame and a patient support deck supporting the mattress, the patent support deck includes a back section, a seat section, and a foot section, the rotatable element is supported by the foot section.

46. The patient support of claim 45, wherein the rotatable element is positioned on an underside of the foot section.

47. The patient support of claim 44, wherein the rotatable element is a roller.

48. The patient support of claim 44, wherein the rotatable element is positioned at the lateral center of the frame.

49. The patient support of claim 44, wherein the frame includes a base frame and an intermediate frame supported by the base frame, the base frame is supported on a floor by a plurality of caster wheels, and the rotatable element is positioned below the base frame when a foot end of the intermediate frame is lowered.

50. The patient support of claim 49, wherein the rotatable element contacts the floor when the foot end of the intermediate frame is lowered.

51-254. -254. (canceled)