Patient care system

• US 6,438,776 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Roe, Steven N., Alvord, Lincoln J., Loh, William, Ferrand, Robert J., Smith, Stephen D., Grass, Wesley E., Gilmartin, William A., Salsado, Jonathan, Neder, Charles W., Silva, William, Fish, William R., Thomas, Marc M., OʼConnor, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/862,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20010029628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 560/0, 177/144
• US Class Current: 5/600
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/74 for anti-shear when adjusting furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/00 Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons stretchers with facilities for picking up patients or disabled persons A61G1/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/002 having adjustable mattress frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/02 with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets
• 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: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0516 with height adjustability
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/052 characterised by safety means, e.g. to avoid injuries to patient or caregiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0527 Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers

Abstract

A bed configured to support a patient having a weight comprises a frame, a patient support, and a plurality of sensors coupled between the frame and the patient support. Each of the plurality of sensors is configured to generate an analog signal in response to a portion of the weight of the patient on the patient support. The bed also comprises a circuit coupled to the plurality of sensors to receive the analog signals therefrom. The circuit includes a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, each analog-to-digital converter being coupled to one of the sensors to generate a separate digital signal for each of the plurality of sensors, and a processor coupled to the plurality of analog-to-digital converters to determine the weight of the patient on the patient support.

Claims

1. A bed configured to support a patient having a weight, the bed comprising:

a frame;

a patient support;

a plurality of sensors coupled between the frame and the patient support, each of the plurality of sensors being configured to generate an analog signal in response to a portion of the weight of the patient on the patient support; and

a circuit coupled to the plurality of sensors to receive the analog signals therefrom, the circuit including a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, each analog-to-digital converter being coupled to one of the sensors to generate a separate digital signal for each of the plurality of sensors, and a processor coupled to the plurality of analog-to-digital converters to determine the weight of the patient on the patient support.

2. The bed of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to detect a position of the patient on the patient support.

3. The bed of claim 2, wherein the patient support includes an outer perimeter, and the circuit is further configured to detect when the patient has migrated toward the outer perimeter of the mattress.

4. The bed of claim 3, wherein the patient support includes a head end, a foot end, a first side, and a second side, and the circuit is further configured to detect that the patient has migrated toward the at least one of the head end, the foot end, the first side, and the second side.

5. The bed of claim 2, wherein the circuit is further configured to detect that the patient has exited the mattress.

6. The bed of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a plurality of support units supported by the frame, each of the support units including a load cell configured to generate one of the analog signals, the circuit being coupled to the load cells.

7. The bed of claim 6, wherein the circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers, each of the amplifiers being electrically connected in series between one of th load cells and one of the analog-to-digital converters.

8. The bed of claim 7, wherein the support units are coupled between the frame and the patient support.

9. The bed of claim 1, wherein the patient support further includes a second frame supported by the plurality of sensors, a platform coupled to the second frame, and a mattress supported by the platform.

10. The bed of claim 9, wherein the platform includes a plurality of panels, at least one of the panels being moveable relative to the second frame.

11. The bed of claim 9, wherein the mattress includes at least one inflatable air cell.

12. The bed of claim 1, wherein the circuit includes an exit alarm and a pre-exit alarm, the processor being configured to activate the exit alarm when the signals from the sensors correspond to a first condition and to activate the pre-exit alarm when the signals from the plurality of sensors correspond to a second condition.

13. The bed of claim 1, wherein first, second and third sensors are coupled between the frame and the patient support, the circuit being coupled to the first, second, and third sensors to receive the analog signals therefrom.

14. A bed configured to support a patient having a weight, the bed comprising:

a frame;

a patient support;

a plurality of sensors coupled between the frame and the patient support, each of the plurality of sensors being configured to generate an analog signal in response to a portion of the weight of the patient support; and

means coupled to the plurality of sensors for determining the weight of the patient on the patient support, the determining means including a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, each analog-to-digital converter being coupled to one of the sensors to generate a separate digital signal for each of the plurality of sensors.

15. The bed of claim 14, wherein the determining means is configured to detect a position of the patient on the patient support.

16. The bed of claim 15, wherein the patient support includes an outer perimeter, and the determining means is further configured to detect when the patient has migrated toward the outer perimeter of the mattress.

17. The bed of claim 16, wherein the patient support includes a head end, a foot end, a first side, and a second side, and the determining means is further configured to detect that the patient has migrated toward the at least one of the head end, the foot end, the first side, and the second side.

18. The bed of claim 15, wherein the determining means is further configured to detect that the patient has exited the mattress.

19. The bed of claim 14, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a plurality of support units supported by the frame, each of the support units including a load cell configured to generate one of the analog signals, the determining means being coupled to the load cells.

20. The bed of claim 19, wherein the determining means includes a plurality of amplifiers, each of the amplifiers being electrically connected in series between one of the load cells and one of the analog-to-digital converters.

21. The bed of claim 14, wherein the patient support further includes a second frame supported by the plurality of sensors, a platform coupled to the second frame, and a mattress supported by the platform.

22. The bed of claim 21, wherein the platform includes a plurality of panels, at least one of the panels being moveable relative to the second frame.

23. The bed of claim 21, wherein the mattress includes at least one inflatable air cell.

24. The bed of claim 14, wherein the determining means includes a processor, an exit alarm and a pre-exit alarm, the processing being configured to activate the exit alarm when the signals from the sensors correspond to a first condition and to activate the pre-exit alarm when the signals from the plurality of sensors correspond to a second condition.

25. The bed of claim 14, wherein first, second and third sensors are coupled between the frame and the patient support, the determining means being coupled to the first, second, and third sensors to receive the analog signals therefrom.