SYSTEM FOR MONITORING CAREGIVERS AND EQUIPMENT AT A PATIENT LOCATION

• US 20090096615A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl W. Riley, Kenneth L. Kramer, Richard J. Schuman, Ryan Anthony Reeder, William L. Jacques II
• Original Assignee: Carl W. Riley, Kenneth L. Kramer, Richard J. Schuman, Ryan Anthony Reeder, William L. Jacques II
• Inventors: Schuman, Richard J., Riley, Carl W., Kramer, Kenneth L., Jacques, William L. II, Reeder, Ryan Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,026,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• 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 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/70 with special adaptations, e.g. for safety or comfort
• 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 7/0506 Head or foot boards head or foot boards for comfort or ergonomics A47C19/022
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/222 Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems selective calling systems and call receivers H04W84/00, H04W68/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 : for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 : Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 : Telephone telemetry

Abstract

A hospital monitoring system for monitoring hospital personnel, a plurality of patient locations for patients, and associated devices is configured to control the associated devices based on the presence of hospital personnel or alarms.

Claims

1-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A system for monitoring a patient location, comprising:

a coupler configured to communicate signals issued by at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device,

a computer operably coupled to the coupler and configured to process signals issued by the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device, and

a nurse call system operably coupled to the computer to place a call to a caregiver in response to an alarm associated with the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the computer is configured to process signals from the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device in real time.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the coupler is an electrical connector.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the coupler is a network connection device.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device comprises at least one of a heart rate monitor, temperature sensor, blood pressure monitor, EKG monitor, blood oxygen sensor, capnograph, ventilator, IV pump, scale, chest drainage monitor, and hospital bed.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the alarm is automatically generated by the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device.

49. The system of claim 48, comprising a locating and tracking system operably coupled to the nurse call system to route the call to the caregiver at the caregiver'"'"'s location.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the computer is configured to monitor the status of the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device.

51. A method of monitoring a patient location, comprising:

associating at least one triggering condition with at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device;

monitoring a patient location for occurrence of at least one triggering condition;

associating the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device with the monitored location; and

altering the state of at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device based on a triggering condition.

52. The method of claim 51, comprising associating a priority with the at least one triggering condition.

53. The method of claim 52, comprising altering the state of at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device based on the priority.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device comprises at least one of a heart rate monitor, temperature sensor, blood pressure monitor, EKG monitor, blood oxygen sensor, capnograph, ventilator, IV pump, scale, chest drainage monitor, bed frame devices, and resting surface devices.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the bed frame and resting surface devices comprise at least one of a bed position adjusting device, a resting surface shape adjusting device, a resting surface vibration control, a resting surface temperature control, a resting surface firmness control, a head position control, a back position control, a seat/thigh position control, and a footboard control.

56. The method of claim 55, comprising monitoring the location of the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device within a facility.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the at least one triggering event is associated with an alarm.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the alarm is indicative of at least one of a device malfunction, a change in patient position, and a change in patient status.

59. A patient support apparatus, comprising:

a bed,

at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device adjacent the bed,

a locating and tracking system configured to monitor locations of persons and equipment,

a nurse call system operably coupled to the locating and tracking system, and

a computer configured to process alarm signals from the bed, the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device, the locating and tracking system, and the nurse call system, on a real time basis, and selectively alter a state of at least one of the bed, the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device, the locating and tracking system, and the nurse call system in response to an alarm signal.

60. The patient support apparatus of claim 59, comprising a receiver operably coupled to the computer and configured to receive wireless signals from the locating and tracking system, wherein the computer processes the wireless signal and alters a state of at least one of the bed, the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device, the locating and tracking system, and the nurse call system in response to the wireless signal.

61. The patient support apparatus of claim 60, wherein the receiver is configured to receive pulse-coded signals including at least one of infrared and radio frequency signals.

62. The patient support apparatus of claim 61, comprising a priority associated with the alarm signal, wherein the computer selectively alters a state of at least one of the bed, the at least one monitoring, treatment or therapy device, the locating and tracking system, and the nurse call system in response to the priority associated with the alarm signal.