HEAD OF BED ANGLE MOUNTING, CALIBRATION, AND MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20110083271A1
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhai, Aziz A.
• Application Number:
  US12/895,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20110083271A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/610
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• 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 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms

Abstract

A bed includes a frame, a head section coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame between first and second angular positions, and a sensor operable to determine an angular position of the head section. The sensor is mounted to the head section of the bed at a specified angle. A bed control unit receives signals from the sensor, calibrates the sensor, and monitors the angular position of the head section of the bed relative to gravity.

Claims

13. A head of bed angle sensor comprising

a non-flexible housing having a first side and a second side spaced from the first side,

a substrate fixed to the first side of the housing,

an accelerometer mounted to the substrate, the accelerometer having a measurement axis usable to determine an angular position of a pivotable deck section of a bed, the accelerometer being mounted to the substrate to orient the measurement axis at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the force of gravity, and

electronics to transmit output signals from the accelerometer to a control unit of the bed.

17-1. The method of claim 17, wherein the first calibration constant is indicative of a mounting offset of the head of bed angle sensor, the second calibration constant is indicative of a zero-g offset of the head of bed angle sensor, and the third calibration constant is indicative of a sensitivity of the head of bed angle sensor.