Occupant Support Suite and Method for Responding to an Acoustic Signature of a Stand Alone Device

• US 20130049966A1
• Filed: 08/22/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Penninger, Jason A., Hornbach, David W., O'Keefe, Christopher R., Receveur, Timothy Joseph
• Application Number:
  US13/214,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20130049966A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/008 tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling
• 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 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0146 Mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0184 by raising an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5002 Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2209/00 Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

An occupant support suite comprises a bed (20) an acoustic sensor (110, 110A) associated with the bed for receiving an acoustic signature (160) corresponding to a stand alone device (150) and a processor (112, 112A) for comparing the signature to a library (116) of reference signatures, and, if the comparison is satisfactory, issuing a notification (208) to the bed, to an off-bed destination (210) or to both. A related method for responding to the acoustic signature comprises receiving (200) the signature, determining if the signature compares satisfactorily (204, 206) to a reference signature and, if so, issuing a notification (208) to an occupant support, to an off-support destination (210) or to both. Another related method for responding to the acoustic signature comprises receiving the signature and causing the occupant support to undergo a change of state from an initial state causally unrelated to the defined condition to a changed state.

Claims

1. A method for responding to an acoustic output issued by a stand alone device, the device being used in conjunction with an occupant support, the method comprising:

receiving an acoustic signature corresponding to the acoustic output of the stand-alone device, the output having been generated in response to a defined condition;

determining if the received acoustic signature compares satisfactorily to a reference signature belonging to a set of one or more reference signatures; and

if the acoustic signature compares satisfactorily to one of the reference signatures, issuing a notification to one or both of the occupant support and an off-support destination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the defined condition is selected from the group consisting of a physiological condition of an occupant and a condition of the device.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising causing the occupant support to undergo a change of state.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the change of state is a change from an initial state causally unrelated to the defined condition to a changed state.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the change of state comprises discontinuing an operation of the occupant support.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the off-support destination comprises a communication network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step includes comparing Fourier transforms of the received acoustic signature and the reference signatures to each other.

8. A method for responding to an acoustic output issued by a stand alone device, the device being used in conjunction with an occupant support, the method comprising:

receiving an acoustic signature corresponding to the acoustic output of the stand-alone device, the output having been generated in response to a defined condition; and

causing the occupant support to undergo a change of state from an existing state causally unrelated to the defined condition to a changed state.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the defined condition is selected from the group consisting of a physiological condition of the occupant and a condition of the device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the change of state comprises discontinuing an operation of the occupant support.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the off-support destination comprises a communication network.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the causing step is preceded by a step of determining if the received acoustic signature compares satisfactorily to a reference signature belonging to a set of one or more reference signatures.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the determining step includes comparing Fourier transforms of the received acoustic signature and the reference signature to each other.

14. An occupant support suite comprising:

a bed;

an acoustic sensor for receiving an acoustic signature emitted by a stand alone device; and

a processor for

a) comparing the received signature to a library of reference signatures, and

b) in the event the received signature compares satisfactorily to one of the reference signatures, issuing a notification to the bed or to an off-support destination or both.

15. The occupant support suite of claim 14 wherein the bed includes a framework having at least one operable component, an actuator connected to the operable component and operable to operate the component, and a controller coupled to the actuator to command operation of the actuator in response to the notification.

16. The occupant support suite of claim 15 wherein the received signature corresponds to a perceived physiological abnormality of an occupant of the bed and wherein the controller commands the actuator to place the bed in a state compatible with attending to a patient exhibiting the physiological abnormality.

17. The occupant support suite of claim 16 wherein the framework includes a frame and a segmented deck comprised of deck segments supported on the frame, and the compatible state is one in which the deck segments are at a substantially horizontal orientation.

18. The occupant support of claim 14 wherein the bed includes an air mattress and the compatible state is one in which the mattress is inflated to a prescribed pressure which exceeds a sustained use pressure.

19. The occupant support suite of claim 16 wherein the framework includes an orientation adjustable upper body deck segment supported on a frame member and wherein the compatible state is one in which the upper body deck segment is at a substantially zero degree orientation relative to the frame member.

20. The occupant support suite of claim 15 wherein the received signature corresponds to a perceived equipment abnormality and wherein the controller commands the actuator to discontinue an ongoing operation.

21. The occupant support suite of claim 20 wherein the ongoing operation is cyclic and the discontinuance is delayed pending one of

a) completion of a current cycle;

and

b) attainment of a state of the bed compatible with the well-being of a patient occupying the bed or with facilitating caregiver intervention.

22. The occupant support suite of claim 14 wherein the off support destination comprises a communication network.