SENSORS IN A MATRESS COVER

• US 20140237722A1
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gibson, Luke, Receveur, Timothy J., Lachenbruch, Charles A., Kubicek, Keith R., Hoffmaster, James N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,333,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/600
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/30 characterised by sensor means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/057 Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor ventilation openings in mattresses A47C21/042; pneumatic or hydraulic mattresses A47C27/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers

Abstract

A patient support apparatus includes a cushion, a cover arranged over a top side of the cushion, and a sensor unit. The sensor unit is coupled to the cover and arranged to underlie a patient supported on the cover. The sensor unit includes a sensor configured to detect conditions near the interface of a patient'"'"'s skin with the cover.

Claims

1. A patient support apparatus comprising

a cushion,

a cover overlying the cushion and configured to support a patient, the cover formed to include a slit, and

a sensor unit including a sensor and a flexible mount coupled to the sensor and inserted through the slit formed in the cover to couple the sensor unit to the cover.

2. The patient support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible mount includes a stem portion and a retention portion, and the stem portion is inserted through the slit while the retention portion engages the cover along the slit to retain the sensor of the sensor unit in place relative to the cover.

3. The patient support apparatus of claim 2, wherein the retention portion is U-shaped.

4. The patient support apparatus of claim 2, wherein the retention portion is V-shaped.

5. The patient support apparatus of claim 2, wherein the retention portion is triangular.

6. The patient support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible mount includes a flexible film and a circuit coupled to the flexible film to provide an electrical path form the sensor.

7. The patient support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom layer, and the slit formed in the cover extends through the top layer of the cover.

8. The patient support apparatus of claim 7, wherein the middle layer includes a three-dimensional material configured to conduct air between the top layer and the bottom layer.

9. The patient support apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an air box coupled to the cover and configured to provide air to the middle layer of the cover.

10. The patient support apparatus of claim 9, wherein the air box includes a blower coupled to the middle layer of the cover and a controller, the controller coupled to the blower and the sensor unit, and the controller configured to adjust operation of the blower based on information from the sensor unit.

11. The patient support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cushion includes a plurality of inflatable bladders and the patient support apparatus further comprises an air box including a blower coupled to the plurality of inflatable bladders and a controller, the controller coupled to the sensor unit and the blower, and the controller configured to adjust the operation of the blower based on information from the sensor unit.

12. The patient support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is located in a central portion of the cover between a head end and a foot end of the cover so that the sensor unit is arranged to underlie the pelvic region of a patient.

13. A patient support apparatus comprising

a cushion,

a cover overlying a top side of the cushion and configured to support a patient, and

a wireless sensor unit configured to detect moisture and coupled to the cover between a head end and a foot end of the cover.

14. The patient support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the wireless sensor unit is located in a central region of the cover to underlie a patient'"'"'s pelvic region when a patient is lying on the cover.

15. The patient support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cover is a topper overlying the top side of the cushion, the topper configured to conduct air along the top side of the surface and the patient support apparatus further comprises an air box including a blower and a controller, the blower coupled to the topper and the controller, wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the wireless sensor unit and is configured to operate the blower to change the amount of air provided to the topper based on information received from the wireless sensor unit.

16. The patient support apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cushion includes a plurality of inflatable bladders and the blower is coupled to the plurality of inflatable bladders, wherein the controller is in communication with the wireless sensor unit and is configured to operate the blower to adjust the pressure in the plurality of inflatable bladders based on information received from the wireless sensor unit.

17. The patient support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the wireless sensor unit is passive and the patient support apparatus further comprises a reader spaced apart from the wireless sensor unit and configured to power the wireless sensor unit and to receive data from the wireless sensor unit.

18. The patient support apparatus of claim 17, wherein the reader is arranged to underlie the wireless sensor unit.

19. The patient support apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a frame including deck underlying the cushion and the cover and a base underlying the deck to support the deck above a floor, wherein the reader is coupled to the deck.