LOCATION DETECTION SYSTEM FOR A PATIENT HANDLING DEVICE
First Claim
1. A location detection system for a facility, comprising;
- a patient handling device having a support surface for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility, a locator fixed relative to said patient handling device for transmitting a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of said patient handling device, a processing station remote from said patient handling device and said locator for receiving said unique location identifier such that the location of said patient handling device can be determined and monitored remotely from said patient handling device, a receiver mounted to said patient handling device for receiving said unique location identifier from said locator, and a communication module mounted to said patient handling device and electronically coupled to said receiver for transmitting said unique location identifier from said patient handling device to said processing station such that said patient handling device acts as a communication link between said locator and said processing station.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Location detection systems are provided for determining the location of patient handling devices in a healthcare facility. In one embodiment, the location detection system comprises a locator fixed in each zone of each room in the facility. The locator includes at least one infrared transmitter for transmitting a unique location identifier to a receiver mounted on the patient handling device. A communication module transmits the unique location identifier from the patient handling device to a network utilized by the healthcare facility for the management of patient, personnel, and equipment information. A processing station located on the network processes the unique location identifier to ultimately determine the room and zone location of the patient handling device. The processing station may include a graphical user interface on a touch-screen display for reviewing and manipulating the location information.
125 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A location detection system for a facility, comprising;
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a patient handling device having a support surface for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility, a locator fixed relative to said patient handling device for transmitting a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of said patient handling device, a processing station remote from said patient handling device and said locator for receiving said unique location identifier such that the location of said patient handling device can be determined and monitored remotely from said patient handling device, a receiver mounted to said patient handling device for receiving said unique location identifier from said locator, and a communication module mounted to said patient handling device and electronically coupled to said receiver for transmitting said unique location identifier from said patient handling device to said processing station such that said patient handling device acts as a communication link between said locator and said processing station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of detecting a location of a patient handling device having a support surface for supporting a patient and adapted to be transported throughout a facility, comprising;
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transporting the patient handling device to the location in the facility, transmitting a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of the patient handling device from a locator fixed at the location to a receiver mounted to the patient handling device, and transmitting the unique location identifier from the patient handling device to a processing station remote from the patient handling device such that the location of the patient handling device can be determined and monitored remotely from the patient handling device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A location detection system for a facility, comprising;
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a patient handling device having a support surface for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility, a processing station remote from said patient handling device for determining the location of said patient handling device, a first locating device associated with said patient handling device for transmitting a first unique location identifier to said processing station, and a second locating device associated with said patient handling device for transmitting a second unique location identifier from said patient handling device to said processing station wherein said first unique location identifier corresponds to a first area of the location and said second unique location identifier corresponds to a second area of the location different than said first area. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of detecting a location of a patient handling device having a support surface for supporting a patient and adapted to be transported throughout a facility, comprising;
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transporting the patient handling device to a location in the facility, transmitting a first unique location identifier to a processing station, determining a first area location of the patient handling device from the first unique location identifier, and transmitting a second unique location identifier from the patient handling device to the processing station wherein the first unique location identifier corresponds to a first area of the location and the second unique location identifier corresponds to a second area of the location different than the first area.
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Specification