Bed having electrical communication network

• US 7,451,506 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kummer, Joseph A., Vodzak, John, Branson, Gregory W., Meyer, Eric R., Smith, Ken, Wilson, Brad, Stolpmann, Jim, Chambers, Ken, Dalton, Roger, Taber, Tanya, Heyser, Jeffrey A., Frondorf, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Trettel; Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/487,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20060253982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 561/3
• US Class Current: 5/616
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• 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 7/005 tiltable around transverse horizontal axis, e.g. for Trendelenburg position rocking beds for physical therapy A61H1/003; hanging patient inclined downwardly for drawing him out A61H2203/0493
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/008 tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• 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 7/0527 Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/053 Aids for getting into, or out of, bed, e.g. steps, chairs, cane-like supports
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1021 Inflatable cushions

Abstract

A bed, including a bedframe to support a mattress. The bed includes an electrical communication network.

Claims

1. A bed, including a bedframe to support a mattress, comprising:

a peer to peer network, coupled to the bedframe;

a master processor, configured to perform a function related to operation of the bed, the master processor being electrically coupled to the peer-to-peer network; and

a slave processor configured to perform a function related to operation of the bed, the slave processor being electrically coupled to the master processor;

a master module, including the master processor, a plurality of slave processors, each of the plurality of slave processors configured to perform a function related to operation of the bed, and a plurality of slave modules each including a slave processor, wherein the master module includes one of the plurality of slave processors.

2. The bed of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of slave processors is configured to perform a function related to the operation of the mattress.

3. The bed of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of slave processors is configured to perform a function related to a foot portion of the mattress.

6. The bed of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of slave processors is configured to perform a function related to pulmonary rotational therapy.

4. A bed, including a bedframe to support a mattress, comprising:

a peer to peer network, coupled to the bedframe;

a master module, including a master processor configured to perform a function related to operation of the bed, the master processor being electrically coupled to the peer-to-peer network; and

a plurality of slave modules each including a slave processor electrically coupled to the master processor, wherein each of the plurality of slave processors is configured to perform a function related to the operation of the mattress and one of the plurality of slave processors is configured to perform a function related to pulmonary rotational therapy.

5. The bed of claim 4, wherein one of the plurality of slave processors is configured to perform a function related to treatment therapy.

7. A bed, including a bedframe to support a mattress, comprising:

a peer to peer network, coupled to the bedframe;

a master module, including a master processor configured to perform a function related to operation of the bed, the master processor being configured to receive communications from the peer-to-peer network, the communications including commands relating to at least one pulmonary therapy function provided by the bed;

a plurality of slave modules, each of the plurality slave modules including a slave processor each electrically coupled to the master module, each of the plurality of slave processors configured to perform a function related to operation of the bed; and

a master/slave network, wherein each of the plurality of slave processors is electrically coupled to the master processor only through connection to the master/slave network.

8. The bed of claim 7, wherein the master module is permanently coupled to the bedframe.

9. The bed of claim 7, wherein the master module is removably coupled to the bedframe.

10. The bed of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of slave modules are removably coupled to the bedframe.

11. The bed of claim 10, wherein one of the plurality of slave processors is configured to perform a function related to a foot portion of the mattress.

12. A bed, including a bedframe to support a mattress, comprising:

a peer to peer network, coupled to the bedframe;

a master module, including a master processor configured to perform a function related to operation of the bed, the master processor being electrically coupled to the peer-to-peer network;

a plurality of slave modules, each of the plurality slave modules including a slave processor each electrically coupled to the master module, each of the plurality of slave processors configured to perform a function related to operation of the bed; and

a master/slave network, wherein each of the plurality of slave processors is electrically coupled to the master processor only through connection to the master/slave network, the master module is removably coupled to the bedframe, each of the plurality of slave modules are removably coupled to the bedframe, one of the plurality of slave processors is configured to perform a function related to a foot portion of the mattress and one of the plurality of slave processors is configured to perform a function related to pulmonary rotational therapy.