Hospital bed obstacle detection apparatus

• US 9,655,796 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Figel, Gregory J., Vanderpohl, III, Irvin J., Riley, Carl William, Huster, Keith Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US14/921,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20160038357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 340540
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 19/045 with entire frame height or inclination adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/72 for collision prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/726 for automatic deactivation, e.g. deactivation of actuators or motors
• 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 7/005 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 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0513 covering particular sections of the bed, e.g. one or more partial side-rail sections along the bed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0527 Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/057 Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor ventilation openings in mattresses A47C21/042; pneumatic or hydraulic mattresses A47C27/08
• 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 33/0005 characterised by mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0039 : Single 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: H01H 3/142 : of the elongated strip type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/16 : adapted for actuation at a limit or other predetermined position in the path of a body, the relative movement of switch and body being primarily for a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. for a door switch, a limit switch, a floor-levelling switch of a lift

Abstract

A hospital bed obstacle detection device and related method for detecting an obstacle between first and second components of a hospital bed is provided.

Claims

1. A patient support apparatus comprising

a first component,

a second component that is movable relative to the first component in a first direction and in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction,

a force sensing switch supported by one of the first component and the second component, the force sensing switch configured to provide an indication if it detects the application of a predetermined force thereto during movement of the second component in the first direction, and

a control unit configured to prevent further movement of the second component relative to the first component in the first direction when the force sensing switch detects the application of the predetermined force, the control unit configured to permit movement of the second component relative to the first component in the second direction when the force sensing switch detects the application of the predetermined force.

2. The patient support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the second component to move in the second direction for a predetermined time period in response to detection of the application of the predetermined force to the force sensing switch.

3. The patient support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the force sensing switch is configured to provide a logic high value to the control unit when an obstacle is not detected and a logic low value when an obstacle is detected.

4. The patient support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first component is one of a base frame and an elevating frame supported with respect to said base frame, and said second component is the other of said base frame and said elevating frame.

5. The patient support apparatus of claim 4, wherein the force sensing switch comprises a first force sensing switch and further comprising a second force sensing switch, wherein the first and second force sensing switches are coupled to the base frame.

6. The patient support apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second force sensing switches includes a force sensing tape switch including upper and lower contacts which extend in substantially parallel relation in a longitudinal direction of the patient support apparatus.

7. The patient support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the upper contact is resilient so that the predetermined force causes it to deflect into electrical contact with the lower contact, and upon removal of the force the upper contact returns to its original position in spaced relation to the lower contact.

8. The patient support apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the first and second contacts is formed from a sheet or layer of stainless steel.

9. The patient support apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an isolation spacer positioned intermediate the upper and lower contacts.

10. The patient support apparatus of claim 9, wherein the isolation spacer is formed from Mylar®

film or an adhesive.

11. The patient support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lower contact is secured to the first or second component using an adhesive.

12. The patient support apparatus of claim 4, wherein the force sensing switch comprises a first force sensing switch and further comprising a second force sensing switch, wherein the first and second and force sensing switches are positioned on a lower surface of the elevating frame.

13. The patient support apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second force sensing switches includes a force sensing tape switch including upper and lower contacts which extend in substantially parallel relation in a longitudinal direction of the patient support apparatus.

14. The patient support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the lower contact is resilient so that the predetermined force causes it to deflect into electrical contact with the upper contact, and upon removal of the force the lower contact returns to its original position in spaced relation to the upper contact.

15. The patient support apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second contacts is formed from a sheet or layer of stainless steel.

16. The patient support apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an isolation spacer positioned intermediate the upper and lower contacts.

17. The patient support apparatus of claim 16, wherein the isolation spacer is formed from Mylar®

film or an adhesive.

18. The patient support apparatus of claim 13, wherein the lower contact is secured to the first or second component using an adhesive.

19. The patient support apparatus of claim 1, wherein a potting compound encapsulates the force sensing switch.