Hospital bed having weigh scale system

• US 9,383,251 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Dixon, Steven A., Welling, Jeffrey R., Stolpmann, James R., Skinner, Andrew F.
• Primary Examiner(s): TOWA, RENE T
• Application Number:
  US14/475,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20150008049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/595, 177/1, 177/45, 177126-127, 177/144, 571/0, 5713-715, 591/4, 340/573.1, 340666-667
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/32 for force
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/74 for anti-shear when adjusting furniture
• 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 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0504 Harnesses or restraining devices in order to evacuate a patient with the mattress, e.g. in situations of emergency, disaster or fire restraining in general A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0506 Head or foot boards head or foot boards for comfort or ergonomics A47C19/022
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/051 pivoting sideward
• 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 7/05715 : with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 : with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0002 : assembling to the object, e.g. furniture
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0021 : in the form of a mounting pin
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0042 : Double or twin wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0049 : the rolling axle being horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0057 : the rolling axle being offset from swivel axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0068 : the swivel axis being vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0073 : the swivel axis being symmetrical to wheel or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/021 : combined with braking of castor wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/445 : in a horizontal position
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/52 : Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/36 : Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/006 : with pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 : using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources

Abstract

A hospital bed includes a force sensor or scale apparatus configured to detect the weight of a patient.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a base;

a frame to support the patient above the base;

a lift coupled to the base and the frame by pivotable connections, the lift being operable to elevate a first end of the frame relative to a second end of the frame;

a force sensor coupled to the frame, the force sensor being configured to generate a force signal in response to a detected force;

a first angle sensor coupled to the frame, the first angle sensor being configured to generate a first angle signal representative of an angle of the force sensor, wherein the first angle sensor is spaced from the pivotable connections between the lift and the frame;

a second angle sensor coupled to the base, the second angle sensor being configured to generate a second angle signal representative of an amount that the base is tilted;

a controller coupled to the first and second angle sensors to receive the respective first and second angle signals therefrom and coupled to the force sensor to receive the force signal therefrom, the controller being configured to calculate a weight of the patient based on the first and second angle signals and the force signal; and

an output device coupled to the controller and configured to indicate the weight of the patient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device provides a visual indication of the weight of the patient.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device provides a printout of the weight of the patient.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device provides an audible indication of the weight of the patient.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a patient support surface supported on the frame and a fluid supply configured to receive a control signal and supply a compressible medium to the patient support surface in response to the control signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the patient support surface to be exposed to the pressure therein, the pressure sensor being configured to generate a pressure signal in response to the pressure, wherein the controller is coupled to the pressure sensor to receive the pressure signal therefrom, and wherein the controller is configured to generate the control signal in response to the pressure signal and the weight of the patient.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the patient support surface includes a plurality of pressurizable zones, the fluid supply is further configured to distribute the compressible medium to the plurality of pressurizable zones in response to a plurality of control signals from the controller.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pressurizable zones of the patient support surface include a head zone, a seat zone, and a foot zone.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate the weight of the patient based on a cosine of the angle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first angle sensor or the second angle sensor or both includes a dual-axis accelerometer.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a patient support deck having a plurality of deck sections.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of deck sections includes at least one movable deck section that is movable relative to the frame.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one movable deck section includes a head deck section that supports the patient'"'"'s upper body.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a head elevation sensor to measure a head angle at which the head deck section forms relative to horizontal or relative to the frame.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller uses the head angle in connection with calculating the weight of the patient.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a patient support surface supported on the patient support deck and wherein the controller uses the head angle in connection with determining a target pressure for an inflatable zone of the patient support surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the force sensor comprises a plurality of load cells.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the force signal is based on an aggregate of load cell signals from the plurality of load cells.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a display carried by the frame.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first angle sensor or the second angle sensor or both comprises a plurality of angle sensors.

21. An apparatus for supporting a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a base;

a frame to support the patient above the base,

a plurality of articulating deck sections coupled to the frame;

a lift coupled to the base and the frame by pivotable connections, the lift being operable to elevate a first end of the frame relative to a second end of the frame;

a force sensor coupled to the frame, the force sensor being configured to generate a force signal in response to a detected force;

a first angle sensor coupled to the frame, the first angle sensor being configured to generate an angle signal representative of an angle of the force sensor, wherein the first angle sensor is spaced from the pivotable connections between the lift and frame;

a second angle sensor coupled to the base, the second angle sensor being configured to generate a second angle signal representative of an amount that the base is tilted;

a controller coupled to the first and second angle sensors to receive the respective first and second angle signals therefrom and coupled to the force sensor to receive the force signal therefrom, the controller being configured to calculate a weight of the patient based on the first and second angle signals and the force signal; and

an output device coupled to the controller and configured to indicate the weight of the patient.

22. An apparatus for supporting a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a base;

a frame to support the patient above the base;

a lift coupled to the base and the frame by pivotable connections, the lift being operable to elevate a first end of the frame relative to a second end of the frame;

a plurality of force sensors coupled to the frame, each force sensor being configured to generate a force signal in response to a detected force;

a first angle sensor coupled to the frame, the first angle sensor being configured to generate a first angle signal representative of an angle of the force sensors, wherein the first angle signal comprises data indicative of an angle of movement of the frame about a transverse axis and data indicative of an angle of movement of the frame about a longitudinal axis, wherein the first angle sensor is spaced from the pivotable connections between the lift and the frame;

a second angle sensor coupled to the base, the second angle sensor being configured to generate a second angle signal representative of an amount that the base is tilted,

a controller coupled to the first and second angle sensors to receive the first and second angle signals therefrom and coupled to the force sensor to receive the force signal therefrom, the controller being configured to calculate a weight of the patient based on the first and second angle signals and the force signal; and

an output device coupled to the controller and configured to indicate the weight of the patient.