Patient position detection apparatus for a bed

• US 20020080037A1
• Filed: 01/08/2002
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Findlay, James K., Menkedick, Douglas J., Jacques, William L., Dixon, Stephen A., Jones, James W., Riley, Carl W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,791,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/32 for force
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/72 for collision prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/723 Impact absorbing means, e.g. bumpers or airbags
• 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 7/0506 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 7/0513 covering particular sections of the bed, e.g. one or more partial side-rail sections along the bed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0527 Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0528 Steering or braking devices for castor wheels
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/94 with alarm means

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting a patient comprises a frame, a mattress supported by the frame, and a patient position detection system including an alarm and at least one sensor configured to detect a position of the patient relative to the mattress. The patient position detection system has at least three different modes of operation.

Claims

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

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame, and

a patient position detection system including an alarm and at least one sensor configured to detect a position of the patient relative to the mattress, the patient position detection system having at least three different modes of operation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient position detection system has a first mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves toward exiting the mattress by a first amount, a second mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves toward exiting the mattress by a second amount greater than the first amount, and a third mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient exits the mattress.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient position detection system includes at least one first sensor coupled to the frame, the at least one first sensor having an output signal which is variable in response to changes in a weight applied to the mattress, at least one second sensor located adjacent the mattress, the at least one second sensor having an output signal which is variable in response to changes in the position of the patient on the mattress, and a controller having inputs configured to receive the output signals from the first and second first sensors, the controller being configured to monitor the output signals, to provide an indication of changes in the position of the patient relative to the mattress, and to activate the alarm.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one first sensor is a load cell and the at least one second sensor is one of a resistive pressure sensor, a capacitance sensor, and a piezoelectric sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a deck coupled to the frame, the mattress being located on the deck, the deck including a head deck section, a seat deck section, a thigh deck section, and a leg deck section, and wherein at least one head sensor is coupled to the head deck section, at least one seat sensor is coupled to the seat deck section, and at least one thigh sensor is coupled to the thigh deck section.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient position detection system includes controller coupled to the at least one sensor and first, second, and third mode indicator lights which correspond to first, second, and third modes of operation of the patient position detection system, respectively, the controller being coupled to the first, second, and third mode indicator lights.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient position detection system includes controller coupled to the at least one sensor and further comprising a control panel coupled to the controller to permit a caregiver to select between first, second and third modes of operation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control panel includes an actuator to permit the caregiver to adjust a volume of the alarm.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control panel includes a key button and a separate mode button, the controller permitting the caregiver to change the mode of operation by pressing the mode button only when the key button is also pressed.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control panel includes a key button and a separate a volume control button to permit the caregiver to adjust a volume of the alarm, the controller being configured to permit the caregiver to adjust the volume of the alarm using the volume control button only when the key button is also pressed.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient position detection system is coupled to a communication port to provide a nurse call alarm to a remote location when the alarm is activated.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient position detection system has a first mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves away from a central region of the mattress by a first amount, a second mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves away from the central region of the mattress by a second amount greater than the first amount, and a third mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient exits the mattress.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detecting means has a first mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves toward exiting the mattress by a first amount, a second mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves toward exiting the mattress by a second amount greater than the first amount, and a third mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient exits the mattress.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detecting means includes means for generating a first output signal which is variable in response to changes in a weight applied to the mattress, means for generating a second output signal which is variable in response to changes in the position of the patient on the mattress, and a controller having inputs configured to receive the first and second output signals from the first and second generating means, the controller being configured to monitor the output signals, to provide an indication of changes in the position of the patient relative to the mattress, and to activate the alarm.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detecting means has a first mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves away from a central region of the mattress by a first amount, a second mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves away from the central region of the mattress by a second amount greater than the first amount, and a third mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient exits the mattress.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a deck coupled to the frame, the mattress being located on the deck, the deck including a head deck section, a seat deck section, a thigh deck section, and a leg deck section, and wherein the detecting means includes at least one head sensor coupled to the head deck section, at least one seat sensor coupled to the seat deck section, and at least one thigh sensor coupled to the thigh deck section.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising first, second, and third mode indicator lights which correspond to first, second, and third modes of operation of the detecting means, respectively, the detecting means being coupled to the first, second, and third mode indicator lights.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a control panel coupled to the detecting means to permit a caregiver to select between first, second and third modes of operation.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the control panel includes a key button and a separate mode button, the detecting means permitting the caregiver to change the mode of operation by pressing the mode button only when the key button is also pressed.

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

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame, and

a patient position detection system including an alarm and means for detecting a position of the patient relative to the mattress, the detecting means having at least three different modes of operation.