Noise and light monitor apparatus

• US 5,971,913 A
• Filed: 09/09/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Draeger Medical Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kody, John J., Newkirk, David C., Donnelly, Michael M., Prows, D. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/926,381
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 600/21-22
• US Class Current: 600/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/401 using air flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/006 of gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0088 Radiating heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/00 Baby-incubators; Couveuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/002 height-adjustable patient support
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/005 with movable walls, e.g. for accessing the inside, removable walls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/009 with hand insertion windows, e.g. in the walls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/723 Impact absorbing means, e.g. bumpers or airbags
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 9/00 Use of air currents for screening, e.g. air curtains
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 : characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A patient-support apparatus includes a base and a patient-support surface carried above the base. The patient-support apparatus further includes an indicator and a unit having at least one of a noise sensor and a light sensor which generates a sensor data signal. The patient-support apparatus further includes a control system coupled to the indicator and the at least one sensor. The control system is configured to process the sensor data signal and activate the indicator only when the sensor data signal exceeds a preset threshold level. The patient-support apparatus further includes a mechanism coupled to the control system to permit adjustment of the preset threshold level.

Claims

1. A patient-support apparatus comprising

a base,

a patient-support surface carried above the base,

an indicator,

a unit comprising at least one of a noise sensor and a light sensor which generates a sensor data signal,

a control system coupled to the indicator and the at least one sensor, the control system being configured to process the sensor data signal and activate the indicator only when the sensor data signal exceeds a preset threshold level, and

a mechanism coupled to the control system to permit adjustment of the preset threshold level.

2. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the unit includes both a noise sensor and a light sensor and the control system provides an operative connection between the indicator and both the noise sensor and the light sensor.

3. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a noise sensor for sensing a range of noise and the control system includes means for adjusting a threshold noise level above which the indicator is activated.

4. The patient-support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the range of noise sensed by the noise sensor is about 30 dBA to about 120 dBA.

5. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a light sensor for sensing a range of light intensity, and the control system includes means for adjusting a threshold light intensity level at and above which the indicator is activated.

6. The patient-support apparatus of claim 5, wherein the range of light intensity sensed by the light sensor is about 20 ft. candles to about 250 ft. candles.

7. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator is a light that turns on when activated by the control system.

8. The patient-support apparatus of claim 7, wherein the light flashes when activated by the control system.

9. The patient-support apparatus of claim 8, wherein the light is a white light.

10. The patient-support apparatus of claim 7, wherein the light is a white light.

11. The patient-support apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an overhead structure supported above the patient-support surface and the light is mounted to the overhead structure.

12. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an overhead structure supported above the patient-support surface and the indicator is mounted to the overhead structure.

13. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tower extending upwardly from the patient-support surface, the unit being configured to mount to the tower.

14. The patient-support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control system includes a cable having a portion that extends from the unit to the tower.

15. The patient-support apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cable is sufficiently long to allow the unit to be placed at any position on the top surface of the patient support.

16. The patient-support apparatus of claim 14, wherein the unit includes a box for housing the at least one sensor and a cord wrap member coupled to the box for movement between a stored position received in a cord recess of the box and a flipped-out position outside the cord recess, and the cord is configured to wrap around the cord wrap member.

17. The patient-support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the unit includes a box having a pair of lugs, the tower is formed to include a pair of notches, and the lugs are received in the notches to mount the box to the tower.

18. The patient-support apparatus of claim 17, wherein the tower includes a pair of rails that are spaced apart to define a unit-receiving space therebetween, the notches are formed in the rails, and at least a portion of the box is received in the unit-receiving space when the unit is mounted to the tower.

19. The patient-support apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an air curtain generator for generating at least one air curtain above the patient support and the tower being formed to include a vent aperture through which at least a portion of the air curtain is drawn.

20. The patient-support apparatus of claim 19, wherein the unit includes a box for housing the at least one sensor and the box is mounted to the tower beneath the vent aperture.

21. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system includes a receiver, the unit includes a transmitter coupled to the at least one sensor, and the transmitter transmits the sensor data signal to the receiver.

22. The patient-support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanism is a user interface panel having a rotatable knob.

23. The patient-support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the noise level above which the indicator is activated corresponds to a peak noise level.

24. The patient-support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the noise level above which the indicator is activated corresponds to an average noise level.

25. The patient-support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the noise level above which the indicator is activated corresponds to a discomfort level that prevents a developing infant from being disturbed.

26. A patient-support apparatus comprising

a base,

a patient-support surface carried above the base for supporting a patient,

a controller,

an indicator coupled to the controller,

a noise detector coupled to the controller, the controller being configured to provide an output signal to the indicator only upon detection by the noise detector of noise which exceeds a preset threshold level, and

a mechanism coupled to the controller to permit adjustment of the preset threshold level.

27. The patient-support apparatus of claim 26, further comprising an electrical cord that couples the noise detector to the controller.

28. The patient-support apparatus of claim 26, wherein the controller includes a receiver, the noise detector includes a transmitter, and the transmitter transmits the output signal to the receiver.

29. The patient-support apparatus of claim 26, wherein the preset threshold level corresponds to a peak noise level.

30. The patient-support apparatus of claim 26, wherein the preset threshold level corresponds to an average noise level.

31. The patient-support apparatus of claim 26, wherein the preset threshold level corresponds to a discomfort level that prevents a developing infant from being disturbed.

32. The patient-support apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for adjusting the preset threshold level is a user interface panel having a rotatable knob.

33. A patient-support apparatus comprising

a base,

a patient-support surface carried above the base for supporting a patient,

a controller,

an indicator coupled to the controller,

a light detector coupled to the controller, the controller including a threshold device being configured to provide an output signal to the indicator only upon detection by the light detector of light which exceeds a preset threshold level, and

a mechanism coupled to the controller to permit adjustment of the preset threshold level.

34. The patient-support apparatus of claim 33, further comprising an electrical cord that couples the light detector to the controller.

35. The patient-support apparatus of claim 33, wherein the controller includes a receiver, the light detector includes a transmitter, and the transmitter transmits the output signal to the receiver.

36. A patient-support apparatus comprising:

a base;

a patient support surface coupled to the base;

a tower extending upwardly adjacent the patient support surface, the tower being formed to include an accessory mounting portion;

an indicator;

a detector including at least one of a noise sensor and a light sensor, the detector being configured to generate an output signal, the detector being configured to be removably coupled to the mounting portion of the tower so that the detector is positionable in a first position coupled to the tower and a second position spaced apart from the tower; and

a controller coupled to the indicator and the detector, the controller being configured to process the output signal and activate the indicator.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a cable coupled between the detector and the controller, the cable having a portion that extends from the detector to the tower.

38. The patient-support apparatus of claim 37, wherein the cable is sufficiently long to allow the detector to be placed at any position on the patient support surface.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the detector includes a housing for the at least one sensor and a cord wrap member coupled to the housing for movement between a stored position received in a cord recess of the housing and a flipped-out position outside the cord recess, and the cable is configured to wrap around the cord wrap member.

40. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the detector includes a housing having a pair of lugs, the tower is formed to include a pair of notches, and the lugs are received in the notches to mount the housing to the tower.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the tower includes a pair of rails that are spaced apart to define a receiving space therebetween, the notches are formed in the rails, and at least a portion of the housing is received in the receiving space when the detector is coupled to the tower.

42. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising an air curtain generator configured to generate at least one air curtain above the patient support surface, and the tower is formed to include a vent aperture through which at least a portion of the air curtain is drawn.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the detector includes a housing for the at least one sensor, and the housing is mounted to the tower beneath the vent aperture.

44. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the controller includes a receiver, the detector includes a transmitter coupled to the at least one sensor, and the transmitter transmits the output signal to the receiver.