Location detection system for a patient handling device

• US 7,598,853 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Canadian Management Inc.
• Inventors: Becker, David Terrance, Mayoras, Richard C. Jr., Hayes, Michael Joseph, Stryker, Martin W., Dionne, Jean-Paul, MacDonald, Bruce L., Mroz, Joseph E., Hopper, Christopher John, Shankar, Vivek
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Assistant Examiner(s): McNally; Kerri L
• Application Number:
  US11/277,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20060279427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6889 Rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

Location detection systems are provided for determining the location of patient handling devices in a healthcare facility. In one embodiment, the location detection system comprises a locator fixed in each zone of each room in the facility. The locator includes at least one infrared transmitter for transmitting a unique location identifier to a receiver mounted on the patient handling device. A communication module transmits the unique location identifier from the patient handling device to a network utilized by the healthcare facility for the management of patient, personnel, and equipment information. A processing station located on the network processes the unique location identifier to ultimately determine the room and zone location of the patient handling device. The processing station may include a graphical user interface on a touch-screen display for reviewing and manipulating the location information.

Claims

1. A location detection system for a facility, comprising:

a patient handling device having a support surface for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility,

a locator fixed relative to said patient handling device for transmitting a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of said patient handling device, said locator including an AC plug for powering said patient handling device, and said locator including a transmitter mounted in said AC plug for transmitting said unique location identifier to a receiver,

a processing station remote from said patient handling device and said locator for receiving said unique location identifier such that the location of said patient handling device can be determined and monitored remotely from said patient handling device,

said receiver mounted to said patient handling device for receiving said unique location identifier from said locator, and

a communication module mounted to said patient handling device and in communication with said receiver, said communication module having a unique ID for said patient handling device and transmitting said unique ID and said unique location identifier received by said receiver from said patient handling device to said processing station such that said patient handling device acts as a communication link between said locator and said processing station, and said processing station receiving said unique location identifier and said unique ID and correlating said unique location identifier with said unique ID and further correlating said unique ID of said patient handling device with a patient supported by said patient handling device wherein said processing station can track said patient handling device and the patient supported thereby.

2. The location detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter for transmitting said unique location identifier to said receiver and said receiver includes at least one infrared sensor for receiving said unique location identifier from said infrared transmitter.

3. The location detection system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said locator includes a plurality of said infrared transmitters for transmitting said unique location identifier to said receiver and said receiver includes a plurality of infrared sensors for receiving said unique location identifier from said infrared transmitters thereby improving transmission of said unique location identifier.

4. The location detection system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said locator includes at least one infrared sensor for receiving a request signal from said receiver and said receiver includes at least one infrared transmitter for transmitting said request signal from said receiver to said locator.

5. The location detection system as set forth in claim 4 including a battery for powering said locator wherein said locator normally operates in a sleep mode until said request signal is received by said at least one infrared sensor of said locator thereby conserving said battery.

6. The location detection system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said locator includes a plurality of infrared sensors for receiving said request signal from said receiver and said receiver includes a plurality of infrared transmitters for transmitting said request signal from said receiver to said locator thereby improving transmission of said request signal.

7. The location detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises at least one radio frequency identification tag for transmitting said unique location identifier to said receiver using radio frequency.

8. The location detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises a plurality of radio frequency identification tags for transmitting said unique location identifier to said receiver.

9. The location detection system as set forth in claim 7 including a nurse call interface port and a cable interconnecting said nurse call interface port and said patient handling device with said at least one radio frequency identification tag mounted to one end of said cable.

10. The location detection system as set forth in claim 7 including a tether connected to said locator for fixing said at least one radio frequency identification tag at the location.

11. The location detection system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said at least one radio frequency identification tag is further defined as a magnetic radio frequency identification tag having a magnet for coupling said magnetic radio frequency identification tag to said receiver to transmit said unique location identifier to said receiver.

12. The location detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises an ultrasonic transmitter and said receiver includes an ultrasonic sensor.

13. The location detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises a magnetic inductive coupled transmitter and said receiver includes a magnetic inductive coupled sensor.

14. The location detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises a modulated light transmitter and said receiver includes a modulated light sensor.

15. The location detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locator is further defined as a plurality of WiFi access points and said receiver comprises a WiFi receiver.

16. The location detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises an Ethernet port for transmitting said unique location identifier to said receiver over an Ethernet compliant cable.

17. The location detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said communication module transmits bed data from said patient handling device to said processing station.

18. A location detection system for a facility, comprising;

a patient handling device having a support surface for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility,

a processing station remote from said patient handling device for determining the location of said patient handling device,

a first locating device associated with said patient handling device for transmitting a first unique location identifier to said processing station, and

a second locating device associated with said patient handling device for transmitting a second unique location identifier from said patient handling device to said processing station wherein said first unique location identifier corresponds to a first area of the location and said second unique location identifier corresponds to a second sub-area of said first area.

19. The location detection system as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first area is further defined as a room in the facility and said second area is further defined as a zone in the room.

20. The location detection system as set forth in claim 18 wherein said second locating device is further defined as at least one sonic distance sensor for sensing boundaries at the location to determine said second area.

21. The location detection system as set forth in claim 18 wherein said second locating device is further defined as a laser distance finder for determining distances from boundaries at the location to determine said second area.

22. The location detection system as set forth in claim 18 including a communication module in electronic communication with said second locating device and said processing station, said communication module transmitting a unique ID of said patient handling device and said second unique location identifier from said second locating device to said processing station, and said processing station based on said unique ID correlating said first unique location identifier and said second unique location identifier to said patient handling device to determine said first and second areas of said patient handling device.

23. A location detection system for a facility, comprising;

a patient handling device having a support surface for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility,

a processing station remote from said patient handling device for determining the location of said patient handling device,

a first locating device associated with said patient handling device for transmitting a first unique location identifier to said processing station, and

a second locating device associated with said patient handling device for transmitting a second unique location identifier from said patient handling device to said processing station wherein said first unique location identifier corresponds to a first area of the location and said second unique location identifier corresponds to a second area of the location different than said first area, including a magnet fixed relative to said patient handling device at the location wherein said second locating device is further defined as a hall effect sensor for detecting said magnet to determine said second area.

24. A location detection system for a facility, comprising;

a patient handling device having a support surface for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility,

a processing station remote from said patient handling device for determining the location of said patient handling device,

a first locating device associated with said patient handling device for transmitting a first unique location identifier to said processing station, and

a second locating device associated with said patient handling device for transmitting a second unique location identifier from said patient handling device to said processing station wherein said first unique location identifier corresponds to a first area of the location and said second unique location identifier corresponds to a second area of the location different than said first area,

a communication module in electronic communication with said second locating device and said processing station for transmitting said second unique location identifier from said second locating device to said processing station, wherein said patient handling device has a unique ID and said first locating device communicates both said unique ID and said first location identifier to said processing station and said communication module communicates both said unique ID and said second location identifier to said processing station such that said processing station can correlate said first unique location identifier and said second unique location identifier to said patient handling device to determine said first and second areas of said patient handling device.

25. A method of detecting a location of a patient handling device having a support surface for supporting a patient and adapted to be transported throughout a facility, comprising;

transporting the patient handling device to a location in the facility,

transmitting a first unique location identifier to a processing station,

determining a first area location of the patient handling device from the first unique location identifier, and

transmitting a second unique location identifier from the patient handling device to the processing station wherein the first unique location identifier corresponds to a first area of the location and the second unique location identifier corresponds to a second sub-area of the first area.