Hospital bed

• US 20070169268A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Morin, Marco, Lemire, Guy, Petitpas, Luc, Castonguay, Pascal, Dionne, Jean-Paul, Pare, Richard, Fong, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,962,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/617
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/16 Touchpads
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/32 for force
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/50 for radiography
• 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 7/012 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 7/0506 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 7/0514 mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0516 with height adjustability
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/052 characterised by safety means, e.g. to avoid injuries to patient or caregiver
• 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: A61G 7/08 : Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1046 : Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 : Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 : Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/085 : by electrical means, e.g. travel, force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

A patient bed includes a base, a patent support supported by the base, and a control system. The patient support includes a pivotal head-end section, with the control system including an actuator to pivot the head-end section and being adapted to control the speed of the actuator and, further, to selectively increase the speed of the actuator to pivot the head-end section at a greater speed.

Claims

1. A patient bed comprising:

a base;

a patent support supported by said base;

said patient support including a pivotal head-end section; and

a control system, said control system including an actuator to pivot said head-end section, and said control system adapted to control the speed of the actuator and, further, to selectively increase the speed of the actuator to pivot said head-end section at a greater speed.

2. The patient bed according to claim 1, wherein said control system includes a user actuatable device, said control system selectively increasing the speed of said actuator when the user actuatable device is actuated.

3. The patient bed according to claim 2, wherein said user actuatable device comprises a button, a touch pad, a touch screen, a handle or a pedal.

4. The patient bed according to claim 3, wherein said user actuatable device comprises a touch screen, said touch screen having an icon associated with said actuator, wherein when said icon on said touch screen is touched the speed of said actuator is varied.

5. The patient bed according to claim 1, wherein said control system increases the voltage to said actuator to thereby increase the speed of said actuator.

6. The patient bed according to claim 5, wherein said control system is adapted to couple to a first power supply, the first power supply having a voltage, and said control system converting the voltage supplied by the first power supply to deliver a first voltage to said actuator and converting the voltage of the first power supply to a second voltage to deliver a second voltage to said actuator wherein the second voltage is greater than the first voltage to increase the speed of the actuator and thereby increase the speed of the movement of the head-end section.

7. The patient bed according to claim 6, wherein the first power supply comprises a power supply external to the bed.

8. The patient bed according to claim 5, further comprising a battery having a voltage, said control system being adapted to couple to another power supply, the other power supply having a voltage, said control system being adapted to convert the voltage of the other power supply into a first voltage and to deliver the first voltage to the actuator, and said control system using the voltage of the battery to increase the first voltage to the actuator.

9. The patient bed according to claim 8, wherein the other voltage supply comprises a power supply external to the bed.

10. The patient bed according to claim 5, wherein said control system delivers about 12 volts to said actuator and selectively increases the voltage to said actuator from about 12 volts to about 24 volts to thereby increase the speed of the head-end section.

11. The patient bed according to claim 1, wherein said control system increases the speed of the actuator until said head-end section is moved to a substantially horizontal position.

12. The patient bed according to claim 11, wherein said control system further comprises a sensor, said sensor detecting when said head-end section is moved to a substantially horizontal position.

13. The patient bed according to claim 1, wherein said patient support includes a pivotal foot section and a pivotal seat section, said control system further including a second actuator to pivot said head-end section and a third actuator to pivot said seat section, wherein said control system is adapted to control the speeds of said second actuator and of said third actuator and, further, to selectively increase the speeds of said second actuator and of said third actuator to pivot said foot-end section and said seat section at greater speeds.

14. The patient bed according to claim 13, wherein said control includes a user actuatable device, said control selectively increasing the speed of the actuators to pivot said head-end section, said seat section, and said foot-end section at greater speeds when said user actuatable device is actuated.

15. The patient bed according to claim 14, wherein said user actuatable device comprises a button or a touch screen.

16. A patient bed comprising:

a base;

a patient support;

an elevation mechanism for raising or lowering said patient support relative to said base; and

a control system, said control system including one or more actuators for activating said elevation mechanism to raise or lower said patient support relative to said base, said control system being powered by (1) an external power supply or (2) at least one battery, when powered by the external power supply said control system operating said one or more actuators independent of the battery, and when powered by the battery said control system operating said one or more actuators independent of the external power supply.

17. The patient bed according to claim 16, wherein said patient support includes a foot-end section, said foot-end section housing said battery.

18. The patient bed according to claim 17, wherein said foot-end section houses at least a portion of said control system.

19. The patient bed according to claim 17, wherein said foot-end section includes a frame and a cover, said at least a portion of said control system and said battery being housed by said frame and said cover, said cover forming a support for a lying surface.

20. A patient bed comprising:

a base;

a patient support movable supported relative to said base; and

an angle sensor mounted to a component of said base or said patient support, said angle sensor measuring an angle of said component based on gravity wherein said angle sensor may detect the angular orientation of said component independent of any frame of reference other than gravity.

21. The patient bed according to claim 20, wherein said angle sensor comprises a gravitation accelerometer.

22. The patient bed according to claim 21, wherein said patient support includes a deck frame, said deck frame including a head-end section and a foot-end section, said sensor being located at said head-end section or said foot-end section.

23. The patient bed according to claim 22, further comprising a microcontroller, said microcontroller in communication with said sensor.

24. The patient bed according to claim 23, wherein said microcontroller collects angle data from said sensor for evaluating a patient'"'"'s position over time.

25. A patient bed comprising:

a base;

a patient support mounted relative to said base;

a bed communication network; and

a control system, said control system including a control module located at said bed, said control module being in communication with said bed communication network, said control module being in communication with one or more devices at said bed through said bed network for monitoring or controlling the device.

26. The patient bed according to claim 25, wherein said device comprises a sensor, said control module monitoring the status of the bed through said sensor.

27. The patient bed according to claim 25, wherein said device comprises a patient monitoring device, said control module monitors the status of the patient through said device.

28. The patient bed according to claim 25, wherein said bed network comprises a CAN-based network.

29. The patient bed according to claim 25, wherein said bed network comprises an Echelon™

-based network.

30. The patient bed according to claim 25, wherein said bed network comprises a wireless based network.

31. The patient bed according to claim 30, wherein said bed network comprises a RF communications network, a Bluetooth®

communications network, an infra-red communications network or an ultrasound communications network.

32. The patient bed according to claim 25, wherein said control module comprises a digital recognition system that positively identifies only pre-authorized individuals to operate said control module.

33. The patient bed according to claim 32, wherein said control module comprises a digital recognition system that positively identifies only pre-authorized individuals to operate the control module based on an image or a signal or a field.

34. The patient bed according to claim 33, wherein said signal is generated by an RFID tag.

35. The patient bed according to claim 33, wherein said image is based on a fingerprint, iris, or vein pattern.

36. The patient bed according to claim 33, wherein said field is generated by a magnetic device.

37. The patient bed according to claim 25, wherein said control module is configured to communicate with a remote communication system.

38. The patient bed according to claim 25, wherein said control system comprises a camera, said camera providing visual communication between a patient and a third party, such as a health care provider.

39. The patient bed according to claim 25, further comprising a display, said control system being adapted to detect when another component is coupled to said bed communication network and generating an icon or display associated with said component at said display.

40. A patient bed comprising:

a patient support,

a sensor detecting the status of a component at said bed;

a control system, said control system including a display; and

said sensor in communication with said control system, and said control system displaying the status detected by said sensor at said display.

41. The patient bed according to claim 40, wherein said control system includes a data logger for logging said status, said display displaying a scrolling text of the status data logged by said data logger.

42. The patient bed according to claim 40, wherein said display comprises a touch screen.

43. The patient bed according to claim 42, wherein said touch screen includes a menu, said menu including a plurality of icons.

44. The patient bed according to claim 43, wherein said control system includes a graphical user interface for displaying icons at said touch screen.

45. The patient bed according to claim 42, wherein said touch screen is reconfigurable to display a selected function.

46. The patient bed according to claim 45, wherein said touch screen is removably mounted to the patient support.

47. The patient bed according to claim 42, wherein said touch screen includes a user actuatable icon or display for actuating a device at said bed.

50. The patient bed according to claim 42, wherein said touch screen displays a summary of the patient'"'"'s status supported upon said patient bed.

51. The patient bed according to claim 50, wherein said touch screen is located at said footboard.

52. The patient bed according to claim 51, wherein said touch screen is mounted in a console, said console being mounted at said footboard.

53. The patient bed according to claim 52, wherein said console is pivotally mounted at said footboard.

54. The patient bed according to claim 40, further comprising:

a base, said patient supported mounted relative to said base;

a driver selectively moving said base across a support surface;

an actuating input device at said bed; and

said control system adjusting the speed of the driver in response to a user actuating said actuating input device.

55. The patient bed according to claim 54, wherein said control system adjusts the speed based on actuating input from a switch at said bed.

56. The patient bed according to claim 55, wherein said control system adjusts the speed of the driver based on actuating input from a heat sensor at said bed.

57. The patient bed according to claim 55, wherein said control system adjusts the speed of the driver based on a load cell at said bed.

48. The patient bed according to claim 48, wherein said touch screen displays a function selected from a group consisting of apparatus motion, mattress air pressure, patient motion, patient biometrics, patient information, patient weight, bed security, alerts, exit and event log/history, help screens, diagnostics, run lights, and open doors or windows, and motion sensing.

49. The patient bed according to claim 48, wherein said sensor is adapted to detect when another component is coupled to said bed, said sensor generating an icon or display associated with said component at said display.

58. A patient bed comprising:

a base;

a support frame system;

a driver system for moving at least a portion of said support frame system;

a control system, said control system including one or more limit switches for detecting a maximum range of motion of at least one portion of said support frame system to thereby limit movement of said portion.

59. A patient bed comprising:

a base;

a patient support configured to be moveably supported by said base, said patient support having a first end and a second end, each of said ends having an elevation;

first and second drive mechanisms capable of operating at variable speeds for selectively adjusting said patient support relative to said base, said first drive mechanism controlling said elevation of said first end of said patient support and said second drive mechanism controlling said elevation of said second end of said patient support, said first drive mechanism configured to initially operate at a first maximum operating speed and said second drive mechanism configured to initially operate at a second maximum operating speed that is substantially equal to said first maximum operating speed;

at least one angle sensor located on said patient support for determining an angle of inclination of said patient support; and

a control unit for selectively controlling the elevation of said patient support, wherein during a change in elevation of said patient support, said control unit repeatedly compares a starting angle of inclination of said patient support to a pre-set angle of inclination of said patient support, and if not substantially equal, adjusts the operating speed of one of said drive mechanisms to compensate.

60. A method of changing an elevation of a patient support subject to an uneven distribution of load while maintaining an angle of inclination of said patient support, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a first angle of inclination of said patient support by means of at least one angle sensor located on said patient support;

activating first and second drive mechanisms configured to change an elevation of first and second ends of said patient support, respectively, said first and second drive mechanisms configured to initially operate at substantially equivalent maximum speeds;

determining a present angle of inclination of said patient support by means of said at least one angle sensor;

comparing said first angle of inclination to said present angle of inclination, and if not equal, adjusting the speed of one of said drive mechanisms to compensate;

determining whether said patient support has obtained a desired elevation;

repeating said determination of present angle of inclination step and comparing step until said desired elevation is obtained; and

stopping said drive mechanisms upon obtaining said desired elevation.

61. The method according to claim 60, wherein said determining a first angle includes determining a preset angle.