Integrated barrier and fluid supply for a hospital bed

• US 6,829,796 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Steven J., Caldwell, Steven, Grosse, Kevin H., OʼNeal, Todd, Hakamiun, Reza, Salvatini, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Teri Pham
• Application Number:
  US10/261,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20030061664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 571/0-7-3, 572/4, 570/6
• US Class Current: 5/713
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/72 for collision prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0513 covering particular sections of the bed, e.g. one or more partial side-rail sections along the bed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers

Abstract

A patient support apparatus including a barrier coupled to a frame. The barrier includes an interior region containing a fluid supply. A related method is provided for converting a patient support apparatus to include a fluid filled patient support surface.

Claims

1. A barrier apparatus configured to be coupled to a patient support including a mattress having a top surface configured to support a person thereon, the barrier apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to define an interior region;

a fluid supply located in the interior region of the housing, the fluid supply being coupled to a fluid filled device; and

a coupler configured to secure the housing to the patient support so that the housing is located adjacent the mattress with a portion of the housing extending above the top surface of the mattress to provide a barrier for the person on the top surface of the mattress.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed by one of a footboard, a headboard, and a siderail.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one valve located within the interior region of the housing, the valve being configured to direct fluid to the fluid filled device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the fluid supply, the controller being located within the interior region of the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a second controller coupled to patient support, the second controller being electrically coupled to the controller in the interior region of the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is removable from the patient support.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a first connector located on the housing and a second connector located on the patient support, the first connector being configured to mate with the second connector to provide an electrical connection to the housing when the housing is installed on the patient support.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid supply is one of a blower and a compressor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid supply is a water pump.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a receptacle formed in the interior region and configured to receive an accessory item therein.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a fluid intake aperture to supply fluid to the fluid supply through the housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a therapy control module coupled to the housing to provide a therapy to the person.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the therapy control module is located in the interior region of the housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid filled device is an air mattress.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid filled device is a therapy device.

16. A barrier apparatus configured to be coupled to a patient support including a mattress having a top surface configured to support a person thereon, the barrier apparatus comprising:

a housing including a front wall, a rear wall, and a cavity formed intermediate the front wall and the rear wall;

a bumper extending outwardly from the front wall, the bumper including a support located in the cavity and extending toward the front wall of the housing; and

a coupler configured to secure the housing to the patient support so that the housing is located adjacent the mattress with a portion of the housing extending above the top surface of the mattress to provide a barrier for the person on the top surface of the mattress.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the bumper further includes a resilient engagement member aligned with the support and extending outwardly from the front wall.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the support includes a body portion coupled to a pair of support posts.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the front wall concaves outwardly away from the rear wall.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a mounting bracket supported within the cavity intermediate the front wall and the rear wall of the housing.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the support of the bumper is coupled to the mounting bracket.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a fluid supply located in the cavity of the housing, the fluid supply being coupled to a fluid filled device.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising at least one valve located within the interior region of the housing, the valve being configured to direct fluid to the fluid filled device.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the housing is formed by one of a footboard, a headboard, and a siderail.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the housing is removable from the patient support.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a first connector located on the housing and a second connector located on the patient support, the first connector being configured to mate with the second connector to provide an electrical connection to the housing when the housing is installed on the patient support.

27. A footboard configured to be coupled to a patient support including a mattress having a top surface configured to support a person thereon, the footboard comprising:

a body including an outer surface;

a fluid outlet formed within the outer surface of the body; and

a coupler configured to secure the body to the patient support so that the body is located adjacent the mattress with a portion of the body extending above the top surface of the mattress to provide a barrier for the person on the top surface of the mattress.

28. The footboard of claim 27, further comprising a fluid inlet formed within the outer surface of the body, the fluid inlet being in fluid communication with the fluid outlet.

29. The footboard of claim 27, wherein the fluid outlet includes a tubular member extending outwardly from the outer surface of the body.

30. The footboard of claim 29, wherein the tubular member comprises a flexible hose including a plurality of fluid lines.

31. The footboard of claim 29, further comprising a relief member supported by the outer surface of the body, the tubular member passing through the relief member.

32. The footboard of claim 27, further comprising a fluid supply supported by the body, the fluid supply being coupled to a fluid filled device by the fluid outlet.

33. The footboard of claim 32, wherein the fluid outlet includes a first set of fluid connectors configured to couple with a second set of fluid connectors supported by the fluid filled device.

34. The footboard of claim 33, wherein the fluid outlet further comprises an alignment member so that the first and second sets of connectors can be coupled together in a single orientation.

35. The footboard of claim 32, further comprising at least one valve supported by the body, the valve being configured to direct fluid to the fluid filled device.

36. The footboard of claim 27, wherein the outer surface of the body includes a front surface and a rear surface, a bumper being supported by the front surface, and the fluid outlet being supported by the rear surface.

37. The footboard of claim 27, wherein the footboard is removable from the patient support.

38. The footboard of claim 27, further comprising a first electrical connector located on the body and a second electrical connector located on the patient support, the first electrical connector being configured to mate with the second electrical connector to provide an electrical connection to the body when the body is installed on the patient support.

39. A barrier apparatus configured to be coupled to a patient support including a mattress having a top surface configured to support a person thereon, the barrier apparatus comprising:

a body;

an instruction receptacle coupled to the body, the instruction receptacle including a pair of side walls defining an interior region, an open upper end in communication with the interior region, and an opposing lower end including a fluid passage in communication with the interior region; and

a coupler configured to secure the body to the patient support so that the body is located adjacent the mattress with a portion of the body extending above the top surface of the mattress to provide a barrier for the person on the top surface of the mattress.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a guide member, and a plurality of cards being coupled to the guide member for movement from within the interior region through the open upper end of the instruction receptacle.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the guide member includes a pin supported within the interior region of the instruction receptacle, each of the plurality of cards including a slot configured to slidably receive the pin.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the body is formed by one of a footboard, a headboard, and a siderail.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the pair of side walls each include an arcuate lower portion configured to direct fluid downwardly toward the fluid passage in the lower end of the instruction receptacle.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a fluid supply supported by the body, the fluid supply being coupled to a fluid filled device.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising at least one valve supported by the body, the valve being configured to direct fluid to the fluid filled device.

46. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the barrier is removable from the patient support.