Communication and bed function control apparatus

• US 6,781,517 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Hornbach, David W., Zerhusen, Robert M., Hamilton, Michael W., Corbin, Scott M., Moster, Jeffrey A., Rivallant, Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US10/303,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20030076238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.19, 340/286.07, 542/5, 543/0, 550/31, 297/411.2
• US Class Current: 340/4.11
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• 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 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights

Abstract

A communication and control apparatus includes a control unit having a surface accessible to a person on a bed, the control unit being coupled to a portion of the bed.

Claims

1. A communication and control apparatus for use by a person located on a bed to control at least one function, the bed including a frame, a patient support surface supported by the frame, and a siderail coupled to the frame and configured to extend above the patient support surface, the apparatus comprising:

a control unit including a receiving portion and configured to control the at least one function;

an extendable arm having a first end pivotally coupled to the siderail and a second end pivotally coupled to the control unit, the arm being configured to support the control unit above the patient support surface; and

wherein the arm is configured to be received within the receiving portion of the control unit when in a storage position, and the arm is configured to extend away from the receiving portion of the control unit when in an extended position.

2. The communication and control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to removably couple to the siderail when in the storage position.

3. The communication and control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the siderail includes a first rail vertically spaced apart from a second rail, and the control unit includes receiving portions configured to removably receive portions of the first rail and the second rail when the control unit is in the storage position.

4. The communication and control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the siderail includes a rail, and the control unit includes a first receiving portion configured to receive the arm and a second receiving portion configured to receive a portion of the rail when the control unit is in the storage position.

5. The communication and control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the siderail includes an opening and the control unit includes control buttons which are accessible through the opening such that a health care provider positioned adjacent the bed is provided access to the control buttons when the control unit is in the storage position.

6. The communication and control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control unit includes a first side, an opposing second side, and first and second control buttons configured to actuate the at least one function, the first and second control buttons positioned on the first and second opposing sides of the control unit, respectively, the first side facing towards the patient located on the bed, and the second side facing towards the opening in the siderail.

7. A communication and control apparatus for use by a person located on a bed to control at least one function, the bed including a frame, and a patient support surface supported by the frame, the apparatus comprising:

a siderail coupled to the frame and configured to extend above the patient support surface, the siderail defining a recessed portion;

a control unit configured to control the at least one function, the control unit being removably received in the recessed portion;

an arm having a first end and a second end, the arm being configured to support the control unit above the patient support surface;

a first connection configured to operably connect the first end of the arm to the siderail; and

a second connection configured to operably connect the second end of the arm to the control unit, the first connection and the second connection cooperating to permit movement of the control unit and the arm from a storage position within the recessed portion in the siderail to an extended position extending away from the siderail.

8. The communication and control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the recessed portion is defined between a top rail and a bottom rail of the siderail.

9. The communication and control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control unit is accessible to the patient in both the storage position and the extended position.

10. The communication and control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control unit includes a first side and an opposing second side, the first side including a first control button positioned to face a patient located on the patient support surface and configured to actuate the at least one function, the second side including a second control button configured to control the at least one function.

11. The communication and control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second control button is accessible through an opening in the siderail to a health care provider positioned adjacent the bed when the control unit is in the storage position.

12. A communication and control apparatus for use by a person located on a bed to control at least one function, the bed including a frame, a patient support surface supported by the frame, and a siderail coupled to the frame and configured to extend above the patient support surface, the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to control the at least one function; and

a housing surrounding the controller, the housing being formed to include a recess configured to removably receive a portion of the siderail.

13. The communication and control apparatus of claim 12, wherein the recess is substantially U-shaped.

14. The communication and control apparatus of claim 12, wherein the siderail includes a first rail vertically spaced apart from a second rail, and the housing includes receiving portions configured to removably receive portions of the first and second rails.

15. The communication and control apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an arm having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the siderail and the second end coupled to the housing, the arm being configured to support the housing above the patient support surface.

16. The communication and control apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a first pivot connection configured to operably connect the first end of the arm to the siderail for pivoting movement.

17. The communication and control apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a second pivot connection configured to operably connect the second end of the arm to the control unit for pivoting movement.

18. The communication and control apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first pivot connection and the second pivot connection cooperate to facilitate movement of the housing and the arm from a storage position where the housing receives a portion of the siderail to an extended position where the housing and the arm extend away from the siderail.

19. A communication and control apparatus for use by a person located on a bed to control at least one function, the bed including a frame, a patient support surface supported by the frame, a siderail coupled to the frame and configured to extend above the patient support surface, the apparatus comprising:

a housing including a first side facing a first direction and a second side facing a second direction generally opposite the first direction, the housing being moveable between a first position removably coupled to the siderail and a second position detached from the siderail;

a switch supported by the first side and configured to control the at least one function;

a communication device supported by the second side, the communication device being inactive in the first position and active in the second position; and

a communication link between the control unit and the siderail.

20. The communication and control apparatus of claim 19, wherein the communication link comprise a cord attached on a first end to the communication device and attached on a second end to the siderail, the cord being configured to carry a signal from the communication device to a signal receiving unit on the bed.

21. The communication and control apparatus of claim 19, wherein the housing is configured to nest within the siderail.

22. The communication and control apparatus of claim 19, wherein the communication device is a telephone.

23. The communication and control apparatus of claim 19, wherein a nurse call button is included on the first side of the housing.

24. A communication and control apparatus for use by a person located on a patient support surface of a bed, the apparatus comprising:

a control unit including a switch configured to control one of the bed and another piece of equipment;

a device coupled to the control unit and configured to permit voice communication with another person; and

a cord coupled to the control unit and to a location on the bed, the cord having sufficient length to allow the control unit to be moved between a plurality of positions on the patient support surface.

25. The communication and control apparatus of claim 24, wherein the device configured to facilitate voice communication with another person is a telephone.

26. The communication and control apparatus of claim 24, wherein the device configured to facilitate voice communication with another person is an intercom.

27. The communication and control apparatus of claim 24, wherein the switch is positioned on a first side of the control unit and the device configured to facilitate voice communication with another person is positioned on a second side of the control unit.

28. The communication and control apparatus of claim 24, wherein the cord remains coupled to the location on the bed as the control unit is moved between the plurality of positions on the patient support surface.

29. The communication and control apparatus of claim 24, wherein the control unit is configured to removably couple to a siderail.

30. The communication and control apparatus of claim 24, wherein the cord is configured to carry a signal from the control unit to a signal receiving unit on the bed.

31. A communication and control apparatus for use by a person located on a bed to control at least one function, the bed including a frame, a patient support surface supported by the frame, the apparatus comprising:

a siderail coupled to the frame and configured to extend above the patient support surface, the siderail including substantially vertical first and second members defining a gap;

a control unit configured to control the at least one function, the control unit configured to be removably received within the gap and provide a portion of the siderail;

an arm having a first end and a second end, the arm being configured to support the control unit above the patient support surface; and

wherein the first end and the second end of the arm cooperate to permit movement of the control unit and the arm from a first position where the control unit is received within the gap in the siderail to a second position where the control unit and the arm extend away from the siderail.

32. The communication and control apparatus of claim 31, wherein the control unit includes a first side and an opposing second side, the first side including a first control button positioned to face a patient positioned on the patient support surface and configured to actuate the at least one function, the second opposing side including a second control button configured to control the at least one function.

33. The communication and control apparatus of claim 31, wherein the first and second members of the siderail each include a channel configured to removably receive the control unit.

34. The communication and control apparatus of claim 31, wherein the arm includes a first pivot connection configured to operably connect the first end of the arm to the siderail for pivoting movement.

35. The communication and control apparatus of claim 34, wherein the arm includes a second pivot connection configured to operably connect the second end of the arm to the control unit for pivoting movement.

36. A control apparatus for use by a person located on a bed to control at least one function, the bed including a frame, and a patient support surface supported by the frame, the apparatus comprising:

a control unit configured to control the at least one function;

a selection switch configured to select the at least one function, the switch supported by the control unit; and

a handle portion including a longitudinal axis, the handle portion supported by the control unit for rotation about the longitudinal axis and configured to control the function selected using the selection switch.

37. The control apparatus of claim 36, wherein the rotatable handle portion is configured to change the intensity of the at least one function.

38. The control apparatus of claim 36, wherein the control unit is supported by an arm supported by the bed.

39. The control apparatus of claim of claim 38, wherein the arm is pivotally coupled on a first end to the control unit and pivotally coupled on a second end to the bed.

40. The control apparatus of claim 39, wherein the control unit is configured to nest within a siderail supported by the frame.

41. The control apparatus of claim 36, wherein handle is spaced apart from the control unit.