Communication systems for patient support apparatuses
First Claim
1. A patient support apparatus comprising:
- a patient support deck adapted to support a patient thereon;
a near field communication transceiver adapted to communicate with a footboard if said footboard is positioned within a near field vicinity of said near field communication transceiver, said footboard being attachable to, and detachable from, said patient support apparatus and said footboard having an identifier associated therewith;
a first far field communication transceiver adapted to communicate with the footboard;
a second far field communication transceiver incorporated into the footboard, the second far field communication transceiver adapted to communicate with said first far field communication transceiver; and
a controller in communication with said near field communication transceiver and said first far field communication transceiver, said controller adapted to use the identifier received from the footboard via the near field communication transceiver to associate said patient support apparatus and said footboard and to use the identifier when transmitting a message to the footboard via the first far field communication transceiver such that another device positioned within reception range of the first far field communication transceiver does not utilize the message.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, or the like, uses the ability to communicate with a device via near field communication to determine that the device is physically proximate the support apparatus. The support apparatus uses this determination to associate itself with the device. In some instances, the associated device is a mattress positioned on the support apparatus; a footboard on the support apparatus; a medical device used with a patient supported on the support device; a nearby piece of furniture; another patient support apparatus; or an ID tag worn by a caregiver or patient, or attached to a piece of equipment. After the support apparatus and device are associated, they communicate information between each other using far field communication, which supports higher data transfer rates. Flux concentrators are added in some embodiments to extend and/or shape the range of near the field communication.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a patient support deck adapted to support a patient thereon; a near field communication transceiver adapted to communicate with a footboard if said footboard is positioned within a near field vicinity of said near field communication transceiver, said footboard being attachable to, and detachable from, said patient support apparatus and said footboard having an identifier associated therewith; a first far field communication transceiver adapted to communicate with the footboard; a second far field communication transceiver incorporated into the footboard, the second far field communication transceiver adapted to communicate with said first far field communication transceiver; and a controller in communication with said near field communication transceiver and said first far field communication transceiver, said controller adapted to use the identifier received from the footboard via the near field communication transceiver to associate said patient support apparatus and said footboard and to use the identifier when transmitting a message to the footboard via the first far field communication transceiver such that another device positioned within reception range of the first far field communication transceiver does not utilize the message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a base; a frame supported on said base; a patient support deck adapted to support a patient thereon; a first transceiver adapted to establish initial communication with a device using a first communication protocol having a first data transfer rate, the initial communication including an initial message having an identifier identifying at least one of said patient support apparatus and said device; a controller adapted to associate the patient support apparatus with the device if the first transceiver is able to establish the initial communication with the device; and a second transceiver adapted to establish communication with the device after the controller has associated the patient support apparatus and the device, the second transceiver using a second communication protocol having a second data transfer rate that is higher than said first data transfer rate, the second transceiver using the identifier in order to communicate with the device rather than another device positioned within reception range of the second transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a patient support deck adapted to support a patient thereon; a controller adapted to control at least one aspect of said patient support apparatus; a near field communication transceiver adapted to communicate with a device; a flux concentrator spaced from said near field communication transceiver, said flux concentrator adapted to concentrate magnetic flux from said near field communication transceiver; and a far field communication transceiver adapted to communicate with said device;
wherein said patient support apparatus stops communicating with said device using the far field communication transceiver if the patient support apparatus is no longer able to communicate with the device using the near field communication transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification