Wireless bed locating system

• US 8,421,606 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Collins, Williams F. Jr., Allen, James M., Huster, Keith A., Riley, Carl W., Glidewell, Patricia A., Vanderpohl, Irvin J. III, Schuman, Richard J., Mathura, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/336,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/506, 340/517, 340/521, 340/524, 340/525, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.12, 340/286.02, 340/286.07
• US Class Current: 340/286.07
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• 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 7/0516 with height adjustability
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0527 Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1021 Inflatable cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0092 Cuffs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 : Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 : Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 : Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/04 : responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons G08B21/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0438 : Sensor means for detecting
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 : Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 : Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 : Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 : ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• 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

Abstract

A system includes a unit having associated therewith first identification (ID) data. The unit is mountable to a room wall and has a first transmitter that transmits the first ID data wirelessly. The system also includes a hospital bed having associated therewith second ID data. The hospital bed is spaced from the unit and has a wireless receiver that receives the first ID data transmitted by the unit. The hospital bed has a second transmitter that transmits the first ID data and the second ID data wirelessly.

Claims

1. A system comprising

a unit having associated therewith first identification (ID) data, the unit being mountable to a fixed location in a room and having a first transmitter that transmits the first ID data wirelessly, and

a hospital bed having associated therewith second ID data, the hospital bed being spaced from the unit and having a wireless receiver that receives the first ID data transmitted by the unit, the hospital bed having a second transmitter that transmits the first ID data and the second ID data wirelessly for receipt by a device other than the unit, wherein each of the unit and the device other than the unit are neither a wireless communication device carried by a caregiver nor a badge worn by a caregiver, wherein the unit and the device other than the unit do not communicate directly with each other but rely on the hospital bed as a communication intermediary.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote computer device that receives the first ID data and the second ID data, the first ID data corresponding to a room location, and the remote computer device associating the hospital bed with the room location based on the first ID data and the second ID data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote computer device associates a patient with at least one of the hospital bed and the room location.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second transmitter also transmits bed status data wirelessly.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the bed status data includes data regarding a position of at least one siderail of the hospital bed.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the bed status data includes data regarding whether casters of the hospital bed are braked or unbraked.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the bed status data includes data regarding an angle at which a head section of a patient support deck of the hospital bed is elevated.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the bed status data includes data regarding a patient position monitoring system of the hospital bed.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the bed status data includes data regarding a mattress of the hospital bed.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second transmitter also transmits patient weight data wirelessly.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the second transmitter also transmits bed maintenance data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the second transmitter also transmits a nurse call signal wirelessly.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver and the second transmitter are included as part of a transceiver of the hospital bed.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the hospital bed is configured to communicate with a wireless access point which comprises the device other than the unit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the hospital bed is configured to communicate with the wireless access point according to an Ethernet protocol.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the second transmitter also transmits data regarding whether a power cord of the hospital bed is plugged into an outlet.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the hospital bed and the unit are also configured to permit a wired connection therebetween.

17. A system comprising

a unit having associated therewith first identification (ID) data, the unit being mountable to a fixed location in a room and having a first transmitter that transmits the first ID data wirelessly, and

a hospital bed having associated therewith second ID data, the hospital bed being spaced from the unit and having a wireless receiver that receives the first ID data transmitted by the unit, the hospital bed having a second transmitter that transmits the first ID data and the second ID data wirelessly, wherein the second transmitter also transmits data regarding whether a power cord of the hospital bed is plugged into an outlet, wherein the hospital bed is configured to transmit data wirelessly while the bed is in transit with the power cord unplugged.

18. A system comprising

a unit having associated therewith first identification (ID) data, the unit being mountable to a fixed location in a room and having a first transmitter that transmits the first ID data wirelessly, and

a hospital bed having associated therewith second ID data, the hospital bed being spaced from the unit and having a wireless receiver that receives the first ID data transmitted by the unit, the hospital bed having a second transmitter that transmits the first ID data and the second ID data wirelessly, wherein the second transmitter also transmits data regarding whether a power cord of the hospital bed is plugged into an outlet, wherein the data regarding the power cord becoming unplugged from the outlet is transmitted by the second transmitter after a delay period has expired.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein if the power cord is plugged back into the outlet during the delay period, the second transmitter does not transmit data indicating the power cord has been unplugged.