PROXIMITY ACTIVATION OF VOICE OPERATION OF HOSPITAL BED

• US 20090049610A1
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Heimbrock, Richard H., Riley, Carl W., Dixon, Steven A., O'Neal, Todd P.
• Application Number:
  US12/193,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20090049610A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/600
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/02 Adjustable operating tables; Controls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/40 for distance
• 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 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A patient-support apparatus comprises a control system, a receiver configured to detect a signal from the badge when the emitter is proximate the patient-support apparatus, and a voice recognition module configured to provide inputs to the control system to control at least one function of the patient-support apparatus.

Claims

1. A patient-support apparatus comprising

a control system,

a receiver configured to detect a signal from a badge when the badge is proximate the patient-support apparatus, and

a voice recognition module configured to provide inputs to the control system to control at least one function of the patient-support apparatus.

2. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to change the functionality of the patient-support apparatus when the receiver detects a signal from the badge.

3. The patient-support apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control system is configured to activate the voice recognition module when the receiver detects the signal from the badge.

4. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to activate the voice recognition module when the receiver detects the signal from the badge.

5. The patient-support apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control system activates a patient data acquisition function.

6. The patient-support apparatus of claim 5, wherein the voice recognition module includes a voice-to-text function configured to convert voice information to data that is input to the control system.

7. The patient-support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the patient-support apparatus further includes a display and wherein the control system is configured to alter the display to show data being acquired.

9. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient-support apparatus includes a lift system and the voice recognition module is configured to provide an input to the control system to operate the lift system.

16. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system includes a user input and the control system is configured to check for a signal from the badge upon activation of the user input.

17. The patient-support apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user input is a foot pedal.

18. The patient-support apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user input is a discrete switch.

19. The patient-support apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user input is a portion of a touchscreen display.

20. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voice recognition module is configured to activate a patient data acquisition function, and wherein the voice recognition module includes a voice-to-text function which is operable to process voice information from a user to convert the voice information to data and the control system is operable to log the data.

21. The patient-support apparatus of claim 20, wherein the control system is configured to transfer logged patient data to a hospital information system external to the patient-support apparatus.

8. (canceled)

10-15. -15. (canceled)

22. A method of operating a multi-function patient-support apparatus including a control system, a voice recognition module, and a wireless receiver, the method comprising

monitoring the wireless receiver to determine if a wireless signal has been received,

upon receipt of a wireless signal, determining the status of a user of the patient-support apparatus based on information in the signal,

changing the state of one of the functions of the multi-function patient-support apparatus from an inactive state to an active state.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the monitoring of the wireless receiver is commenced upon activation of a user input on the patient-support apparatus.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the function activated is a patient data logging function.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising transferring logged patient data to a hospital information system.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising monitoring voice information to determine an input to the control system.

33. The method of claim 32, converting voice information to text data to be logged in the patient logging function.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the monitoring of the wireless receiver is commenced upon activation of a user input on the patient-support apparatus.

35. The method of claim 22, further comprising monitoring voice information to determine an input to the control system.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the monitoring of the wireless receiver is commenced upon activation of a user input on the patient-support apparatus.

23-27. -27. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

37-44. -44. (canceled)