PATIENT SUPPORT SURFACE WITH PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSORS

• US 20080060138A1
• Filed: 11/19/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geoffrey Taylor, James Price, James Stolpmann, James Thomas, Karl Caldwell, Kerry Mensching, Marla Repik, Nick Bries
• Original Assignee: Geoffrey Taylor, James Price, James Stolpmann, James Thomas, Karl Caldwell, Kerry Mensching, Marla Repik, Nick Bries
• Inventors: Thomas, James, Price, James, Taylor, Geoffrey, Bries, Nick, Stolpmann, James, Mensching, Kerry, Repik, Marla, Caldwell, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 7,515,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/713
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/447 specially adapted for aiding the prevention of ulcer or pressure sore development, i.e. before the ulcer or sore has developed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/32 for force
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/74 for anti-shear when adjusting furniture
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 : with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/006 : with pneumatic means

Abstract

A patient support surface comprises a cover defining an interior region, a modifiable support layer situated in the interior region and having at least one air bladder, and a sensor layer situated in the interior region and having at least one sensor configured to detect a physiological parameter of a patient atop the patient support surface.

Claims

1. A patient support surface comprising:

a cover defining an interior region,

a modifiable support layer situated in the interior region and having at least one air bladder, and

a sensor layer situated in the interior region and having at least one sensor configured to detect a physiological parameter of a patient atop the patient support surface.

2. The patient support surface of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a top cover and a bottom cover joined together along a seam.

3. The patient support surface of claim 2, wherein the sensor layer is located between the modifiable support layer and the top cover.

4. The patient support surface of claim 1, wherein the physiological parameter is one of a heart rate, a respiration rate, a body temperature, and blood oxygenation.

5. The patient support surface of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors configured to detect a plurality of physiological parameters of a patient atop the patient support surface.

6. The patient support surface of claim 5, wherein the plurality of physiological parameters comprise one or more of a heart rate, a respiration rate, a body temperature, and blood oxygenation.

7. The patient support surface of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to generate an alert if a physiological parameter derived from the at least one sensor goes outside a predefined range.

8. The patient support surface of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to generate an alert at a nurse station and/or over an automated paging system if a physiological parameter derived from the at least one sensor goes outside a predefined range.

9. The patient support surface of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to activate an alarm if the physiological parameter derived from the at least one sensor goes outside the predefined range.

10. The patient support surface of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to monitor an apnea condition of a patient atop the patient support surface based on information from the at least one sensor.

11. The patient support surface of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to vibrate the patient support surface upon detection of an apnea condition.

12. The patient support surface of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to activate an alarm if the apnea condition persists beyond a predetermined amount of time.

13. The patient support surface of claim 1, wherein the sensor layer comprises a weight sensor.

14. The patient support surface of claim 13, wherein the weight sensor comprises a pressure sensing material.

15. The patient support surface of claim 13, further comprising a controller configured to monitor a patient'"'"'s weight or changes in a patient'"'"'s weight based on information received from the weight sensor.

16. The patient support surface of claim 1, wherein the modifiable support layer comprises a plurality of independently controllable pressure sections, the sensor layer comprises a plurality of sensing zones, and each sensing zone has at least one force sensor.

17. The patient support surface of claim 16, further comprising a controller configured to adjust pressure in the independently controllable pressure sections based on an interface force for each section sensed by the associated at least one force sensor.

18. The patient support surface of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to adjust pressure in the independently controllable pressure sections to minimize the interface force for each section.

19. The patient support surface of claim 1, further comprising a fire barrier configured to enclose the modifiable support layer and the sensor layer.

20. The patient support surface of claim 1, further comprising an anti-sheer layer located between the cover and the sensor layer.

21. The patient support surface of claim 1, wherein the modifiable support layer includes a lower foam/air support layer and an upper controllable air mattress layer.

22. A support surface apparatus comprising:

a cover defining an interior region,

a modifiable support layer situated in the interior region and having at least one air bladder,

a sensor layer situated in the interior region and having at least one sensor, and

a controller coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to adjust pressure in the at least one air bladder based on information received from the at least one sensor.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a force sensor, and the controller is configured to adjust pressure in the at least one air bladder based on an interface force sensed by the force sensor.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a force sensor, and the controller is configured to determine a physiological parameter based on variation in the interface force sensed by the force sensor.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the controller includes a software filter to determine the physiological parameter based on variation in the interface force sensed by the force sensor.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the physiological parameter is one of pulse rate and respiration rate.

27. A patient support surface apparatus comprising:

a patient support surface comprising a cover defining an interior region, a modifiable support layer situated in the interior region and having at least one air bladder, and a sensor layer situated in the interior region, the sensor layer having at least one force sensor and at least one physiological parameter sensor, and

a controller configured to adjust pressure in the at least one air bladder based on an interface force sensed by the at least one force sensor and configured to determine a physiological parameter of a patient atop the patient support surface sensed by the at least one physiological parameter sensor.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at least one air bladder comprises a plurality of independently controllable air bladders, and the force sensor further comprises a plurality of force sensors.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the controller is configured to adjust pressure in the independently controllable air bladders based on an interface force for each of the plurality of independently controllable air bladders sensed by an associated force sensor.

30. A patient support surface comprising:

a cover defining an interior region,

a modifiable support layer situated in the interior region and having at least one air bladder, and

a sensor layer situated in the interior region and having at least one temperature sensor.

31. The patient support surface of claim 30, further comprising a controller configured to monitor a patient'"'"'s temperature or changes in a patient'"'"'s temperature based on information received from the at least one temperature sensor.

32. The patient support surface of claim 30 wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a temperature sensing fabric.

33. The patient support surface of claim 30, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises at least one thermistor.

34. A patient support surface comprising:

a cover defining an interior region,

a modifiable support layer situated in the interior region and having at least one air bladder, and

a sensor layer situated in the interior region and having at least one heart rate sensor.

35. The patient support surface of claim 34, further comprising a controller configured to monitor a patient'"'"'s heart rate or changes in a patient'"'"'s heart rate based on information received from the at least one heart rate sensor.

36. A patient support surface comprising:

a cover defining an interior region,

a modifiable support layer situated in the interior region and having at least one air bladder, and

a sensor layer situated in the interior region and having at least one respiration rate sensor.

37. The patient support surface of claim 36, further comprising a controller configured to monitor a patient'"'"'s respiration rate or changes in a patient'"'"'s respiration rate based on information received from the at least one respiration rate sensor.

38. A patient support surface comprising:

a cover defining an interior region,

a modifiable support layer situated in the interior region and having at least one air bladder, and

a sensor layer situated in the interior region and having a plurality of weight sensors.

39. The patient support surface of claim 38, further comprising a controller configured to monitor a patient'"'"'s weight or changes in a patient'"'"'s weight based on information received from the weight sensors.

40. The patient support surface of claim 38, wherein the controller is configured to detect a bed exit by a patient based on information received from the weight sensors.

41. A method for monitoring a physiological parameter of a patient supported on a patient support surface, the method comprising:

providing a cover defining an interior region,

providing a modifiable support layer having at least one air bladder,

providing a sensor layer having at least one physiological parameter sensor, and

enclosing the modifiable support layer and the sensor layer within the interior region of the cover to define the patient support surface.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein enclosing the modifiable support layer and the sensor layer within the interior region of the cover comprises enclosing the modifiable support layer and the sensor layer within the interior region of the cover such that the sensor layer is located above the modifiable support layer.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the physiological parameter sensor is one of a heart rate sensor, a respiration rate sensor, a body temperature sensor, and blood oxygenation sensor.

44. The method of claim 41, further comprising providing a controller configured to detect a physiological parameter of a patient atop the patient support surface based on information received from the at least one sensor.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the controller is further configured to generate an alert if a physiological parameter derived from the at least one physiological sensor goes outside a predefined range.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the controller is further configured to generate an alert at a nurse station and/or over an automated paging system if a physiological parameter derived from the at least one physiological sensor goes outside a predefined range.

47. The method of claim 41, further comprising providing a controller configured to monitor an apnea condition of a patient atop the patient support surface based on information received from the at least one physiological sensor.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising vibrating the patient support surface upon detection of an apnea condition.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising generating an alarm if the apnea condition persists beyond a predetermined amount of time.

50. The method of claim 41, further comprising a controller configured to determine a patient'"'"'s weight or changes in a patient'"'"'s weight based on information received from the at least one physiological sensor.