Mattress monitoring system

• US 8,561,230 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medical Depot Incorporated (Drive Medical Design & Manufacturing)
• Original Assignee: Mark D. Shaw
• Inventors: Shaw, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Trettel, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/217,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20120078421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 561/6, 340/825.52
• US Class Current: 5/616
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• 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 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A system for monitoring a mattress controller including a portable monitor having a memory, an input/output node in selective communication with the mattress controller, a processor programmed to maintain in the memory a data structure including a control data associated with the mattress controller, and selectively link with the mattress controller to communicate with the mattress controller to confirm or update the control data.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium in a portable monitor for a mattress monitoring system that includes a mattress controller, the portable monitor having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

(a) maintaining a data structure for a bed identification and one or more control data associated with said bed identification;

(b) selectively linking with the mattress controller to retrieve a current control data from the mattress controller, and

(c) comparing the current control data from the mattress controller to the control data maintained in the portable monitor.

2. The computer readable medium in a portable monitor having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating the control data maintained in the portable monitor based on the current control data from the mattress controller.

7. The computer readable medium in a portable monitor having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1, the data structure further includes one or more user history logs associated with said bed identification.

8. The computer readable medium in a portable monitor having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1, further comprising altering at least one of the one or more control data based on a mattress pressure feedback.

3. A portable monitor for monitoring a mattress system that includes a mattress controller, the portable monitor, comprising:

a memory;

an input/output node adapted to communicate with the mattress controller;

a processor programmed to maintain in said memory a data structure including a bed identification and a control data associated with said bed identification, wherein the processor is utilized to;

selectively link with the mattress controller;

prompt the controller for a current control data;

receive computer readable information from the mattress controller to update the control data stored in the data structure; and

control a display to report the control data to the user.

4. The portable monitor of claim 3, wherein said input/output node includes a wireless transceiver.

5. The portable monitor of claim 3, wherein said input/output node communicates with the mattress controller via a cable connected to said input/output node.

6. The portable monitor of claim 3 further comprising a connector attachable to the mattress controller and the input/output node to establish communication therebetween.

9. A monitoring system for a mattress, comprising:

a controller that monitors and stores control data related to the mattress;

a portable monitor that receives the control data from the controller, the monitor includes, a transceiver that facilitates wireless communication of the control data between the portable monitor and the controller;

a display to present the control data; and

a selection device that is used to update one or more control data values presented on the display, the one or more updated control data values are transmitted to the controller via the transceiver.

10. The monitoring system of claim 9, wherein control data communication is initiated when the portable monitor is within a predefined distance from the controller.

11. The monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the control data presented on the display is the same as the control data on the controller upon initiation of data communication.

12. The monitoring system of claim 9, further including:

a control input that allows adjustment of control data related to one or more mattress functions.

13. The monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the display allows adjustment of the same control data as the controller interface.

14. The monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the control data is related to one or more operational settings of the mattress.

15. The monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the portable monitor receives one or more notifications when maintenance is required for the mattress.

16. The monitoring system of claim 15, wherein maintenance information includes one or more of a time increment for filter replacement, a maximum alternate cycle, an alternate cycle increment and a pressure setting.

17. The monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the control data is related to one or more of a bed identifier, a serial number, a set time, a set cycle, a time range, a set cycle time interval, and a pressure settings.

18. A method to monitor a mattress, comprising:

logging control data related to the mattress via a controller;

communicating the logged control data wirelessly to a portable monitor;

altering the control data on the portable monitor; and

communicating the altered control data to the controller.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein control data communication is initiated when the portable monitor is within a predefined distance from the controller.

20. The method of claim 18, further including:

altering data logged via the controller using a controller interface; and

altering data on the portable monitor using a display, wherein the controller interface and the display are substantially identical.