Hospital bed communication and control device

• US 6,481,688 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Welling, Jeffrey R., Poehner, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, ANITA M
• Application Number:
  US09/650,526
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 248/276.1, 248/278.1, 248/281.11, 248/282.1, 248/283.1, 248/284.1, 248/694, 550/31, 550/71, 560/0, 542/5, 561/8, 561/7, 562/4, 542/4, 340/825.19, 704/275
• US Class Current: 248/694
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• 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: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A communication and control device for attachment to the head end of a hospital bed for positioning a voice activated communication and control module adjacent a patient'"'"'s head. The device comprises an arm having first, second and third arm segments, with first and second articulating joints connecting the first and second and second and third arm segments respectively. A securing mechanism releasably secures the first arm segment to the bed, and a third articulating joint connects the first arm segment to the securing mechanism. The first articulating joint accommodates electrical transmission wire substantially within the joint.

Claims

1. A communication and control device for a bed including a head portion and a support, the communication and control device comprising

an arm having a first end and a second end,

a securing mechanism configured to couple the first end of the arm to the support, and

a voice recognition communication and control module coupled to the second end of the arm, the module including a microphone and a display.

2. The communication and control device of claim 1, wherein the arm is configured to position the module adjacent to a head portion of the bed.

3. The communication and control device of claim 2, wherein the head portion is movable between a down position and an up position and the support is configured to move with the head portion so that the voice recognition communication and control module moves with the head portion.

4. The communication and control device of claim 2, wherein the head portion is movable between a down position and an up position and the arm is configured to articulate so that the voice recognition communication and control module is movable between a first position when the head portion is in the down position and a second position when the head portion is in the up position.

5. The communication and control device of claim 1, wherein the arm is configured to move between a stored position compactly folded adjacent a head end of the bed and a use position.

6. The communication and control device of claim 1, wherein the arm is configured to move between a stored position adjacent a head end edge of the bed and a use position.

7. The communication and control device of claim 1, further comprising an interface interposed in electrical communication between the module and a device.

8. The communication and control device of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of devices, the interface being interposed in electrical communication between the module and each device.

9. The communication and control device of claim 7, wherein the interface is enclosed in an interface box fixed to the bed.

10. The communication and control device of claim 1, further comprising a housing coupled to the second end of the arm, the housing carrying the module.

11. The communication and control device of claim 10, wherein the module includes pressure sensitive switches.

12. The communication and control device of claim 10, wherein the module includes conductive switches.

13. The communication and control device of claim 10, wherein the module includes sip and puff switches.

14. The communication and control device of claim 10, wherein the module includes pillow switches.

15. The communication and control device of claim 10, wherein the module includes tongue actuated switches.

16. The communication and control device of claim 10, wherein the module includes eyebrow actuated switches.

17. The communication and control device of claim 1, wherein the arm is configured to move the module relative to the bed.

18. The communication and control device of claim 1, wherein the display is an alpha numeric display.

19. The communication and control device of claim 1, wherein the display includes LED indicator lights.

20. The communication and control device of claim 1, wherein the support comprises a lower supporting structure, and a head portion of the bed is movable relative to the lower supporting structure between a down position and an up position.

21. A communication and control device for a bed including a head portion and a support, the communication and control device comprising

an arm having a first end and a second end,

a securing mechanism configured to couple the first end of the arm to the support,

a voice recognition communication and control module coupled to the second end of the arm, the module including a microphone and a display,

an interface interposed in electrical communication between the module and a device, and

wherein the device is movable between an actuated position and a non-actuated position in response to a signal from the module.

22. The communication and control device of claim 21, wherein the device calls a nurse when the device is actuated.

23. The communication and control device of claim 21, wherein the device at least one of turns on and off a light when the device is actuated.

24. The communication and control device of claim 21, wherein the device turns a television at least one of on and off when the device is actuated.

25. The communication and control device of claim 21, wherein the device at least one of places and receives telephone calls when the device is actuated.

26. The communication and control device of claim 21, wherein the device adjusts the height of the bed when the device is actuated.

27. The communication and control device of claim 21, wherein the device adjusts the configuration of the bed when the device is actuated.

28. The communication and control device of claim 21, wherein the device adjusts the position of a mattress when the device is actuated.

29. A communication and control device for a bed including a support, the communication and control device comprising

an arm having a first end and a second end,

a securing mechanism configured to couple the first end of the arm to the support, and

a housing coupled to the second end of the arm, the housing carrying a voice recognition communication and control module.

30. The communication and control device of claim 29, wherein the control module includes pressure sensitive switches.

31. The communication and control device of claim 29, wherein the control module includes conductive switches.

32. The communication and control device of claim 29, wherein the control module includes sip and puff switches.

33. The communication and control device of claim 29, wherein the control module includes pillow switches.

34. The communication and control device of claim 29, wherein the control module includes tongue actuated switches.

35. The communication and control device of claim 29, wherein the control module includes eyebrow actuated switches.

36. The control assembly of claim 29, wherein the arm is configured to move the housing relative to the bed.

37. The communication and control device of claim 29, wherein the bed further comprises a head portion including the support, and the head portion is movable between a down position and an up position.

38. The communication and control device of claim 29, wherein the support comprises a lower supporting structure, and a head portion of the bed is movable relative to the lower supporting structure between a down position and an up position.

39. A communication and control device for a bed including a head portion and a foot portion, communication and control device comprising

an arm having a first end and a second end,

a securing mechanism configured to couple the first end of the arm to the head portion, and

a voice recognition communication and control module coupled to the second end of the arm, the module including a microphone and a display.

40. The communication and control device of claim 39, wherein the head portion includes a support configured to move between a down position and an up position, and the arm is coupled to the support.

41. The communication and control device of claim 39, wherein the head portion is movable between a down position and an up position and the arm is configured to articulate so that the voice recognition communication and control module is movable between a first position when the head portion is in the down position and a second position when the head portion is in the up position.

42. The communication and control device of claim 39, wherein the arm is configured to move between a stored position compactly folded adjacent a head end of the bed and a use position.

43. The communication and control device of claim 39, wherein the arm is configured to move between a stored position adjacent a head end edge of the bed and a use position.

44. The communication and control device of claim 39, further comprising an interface interposed in electrical communication between the module and a device.

45. The communication and control device of claim 44, further comprising a plurality of devices, the interface being interposed in electrical communication between the module and each device.

46. The communication and control device of claim 44, wherein the interface is enclosed in an interface box fixed to the bed.

47. The communication and control device of claim 39, wherein the arm is configured to move the module relative to the bed.

48. The communication and control device of claim 39, further comprising a housing coupled to the second end of the arm, the housing carrying the module.

49. The communication and control device of claim 48, wherein the module includes pressure sensitive switches.

50. The communication and control device of claim 48, wherein the module includes conductive switches.

51. The communication and control device of claim 48, wherein the module includes sip and puff switches.

52. The communication and control device of claim 48, wherein the module includes pillow switches.

53. The communication and control device of claim 48, wherein the module includes tongue actuated switches.

54. The communication and control device of claim 48, wherein the module includes eyebrow actuated switches.

55. A communication and control device for a bed including a head portion and a foot portion, communication and control device comprising

an arm having a first end and a second end,

a securing mechanism configured to couple the first end of the arm to the head portion,

a voice recognition communication and control module coupled to the second end of the arm, the module including a microphone and a display,

an interface interposed in electrical communication between the module and a device, and

wherein the device is movable between an actuated position and a non-actuated position in response to a signal from the module.

56. A communication and control device for a bed including a head portion and a support, the communication and control device comprising

an arm having a first end and a second end,

a securing mechanism configured to couple the first end of the arm to the head portion,

a voice recognition communication and control module coupled to the second end of the arm,

a communication link interposed intermediate the voice recognition communication and control module and a device, and

wherein the device is movable between an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition in response to a signal from the voice recognition communication and control module.

57. A communication and control device for a bed including a head portion and a support, the communication and control device comprising

an arm having a first end and a second end,

a securing mechanism configured to couple the first end of the arm to the support,

a housing coupled to the second end of the arm, the housing carrying a voice recognition communication and control module,

a communication link interposed intermediate the voice recognition communication and control module and a device, and

wherein the device is movable between an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition in response to a signal from the housing.

58. A communication and control device for a bed including a head portion and a support, the communication and control device comprising

an arm having a first end and a second end,

a securing mechanism configured to couple the first end of the arm to the support, the second end of the arm cantilevered from the securing mechanism,

a voice recognition communication and control module coupled to the second end of the arm, and

wherein the arm extends between the voice recognition communication and control module and the securing mechanism and above the head portion for variably positioning the voice recognition communication and control module, in a cantilevered position from the support, to be located above a patient resting on the bed and in close proximity to a head of the patient.

59. A communication and control device for use in combination with a bed including a head portion and a support, the communication and control device comprising

an arm having a first end and a second end,

a securing mechanism configured to couple the first end of the arm to the support,

a first articulating joint coupling the first end of the arm to the securing mechanism,

a voice recognition communication and control module coupled to the second end of the arm, and

a second articulating joint coupling the second end of the arm to the voice recognition communication and control module.