PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS AND CONTROLS THEREFOR

• US 20130205501A1
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Robertson, Donna-Marie, Subramanian, Rohit, Newport, Thomas Joseph II, Deluca, Richard Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,984,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/611
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/10 characterised by specific control means, e.g. for adjustment or steering
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/30 characterised by sensor means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/32 for force
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• 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 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights

Abstract

A patient support apparatus system includes sensors adapted to sense a gesture of a person, or forces exerted by the person on the patient support apparatus, and to control the movement of a component of the patient support apparatus based on the gesture or forces. The movement of the patient support apparatus matches the direction of the person'"'"'s gesture or applied forces. The speed of the gesture and magnitude of the applied force also influence the movement of the patient support apparatus component. The controlled movement may be the upward and downward motion of a patient support deck on the patient support apparatus, or it may be the pivoting of a section of the patient support deck, or it may be other movement. Control of the patient support apparatus is carried out based on the intent of the user, as evidenced by the user'"'"'s gesture or applied forces.

Claims

1. A patient support apparatus comprising:

a base;

a frame positioned above said base;

a patient support surface supported on the frame, said patient support surface adapted to support a patient;

a plurality of force sensors adapted to detect forces exerted on the patient support surface;

an actuator adapted to physically move a component of the patient support apparatus when actuated; and

a controller in communication with the plurality of force sensors and the actuator, said controller adapted to actuate said actuator in response to the forces detected by the plurality of force sensors.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said patient support surface includes a pivotable head section that is pivotable by said actuator and said controller is adapted to pivot the head section based upon forces detected by the plurality of force sensors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator is adapted to raise or lower a height of the frame relative to the base, and said controller is adapted to change the height of the frame relative to the base based upon forces detected by the plurality of force sensors.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller is adapted to determine a patient'"'"'s weight while positioned on the patient support surface based on forces detected by said force sensors.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller analyzes the forces detected by the plurality of force sensors and distinguishes between forces applied by a patient and forces applied by a caregiver, said controller not actuating said actuator based upon forces applied by the patient.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller analyzes the forces detected by the plurality of force sensors to determine if a first total sum of forces sensed on a first side of the patient support exceeds a second total sum of forces sensed on a second side of the patient support by more than a first threshold, said controller actuating said actuator if said first total sum of forces exceeds said second total sum of forces.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said controller actuates said actuator if the first total sum or forces exceeds said second sum of forces for more than a threshold amount of time.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller analyzes the forces detected by the plurality of force sensors to determine if a first total sum of forces sensed on a first end of the patient support exceeds a second total sum of forces sensed on a second end of the patient support, said controller actuating said actuator if said first total sum of forces exceeds said second total sum of forces.

9. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said actuator is adapted to raise and lower a height of the frame relative to the base, and said controller causes the actuator to lower the height of the frame if the controller determines that a patient positioned on the patient support surface may be about to exit the bed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an additional force sensor adapted to detect a force exerted by a caregiver on the patient support apparatus and positioned at a location such that the additional force sensor does not detect any forces due to a weight of a patient positioned on said patient support apparatus, said controller adapted to change—

when sufficient force is applied to the additional force sensor—

at least one of a height of said frame relative to said base and an orientation of a section of said patient support surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support apparatus is one of a bed, a stretcher, a cot, a recliner, a chair, an operating table, and an examination table;

and said plurality of force sensors are load cells.

12. A patient support apparatus comprising:

a base;

a frame positioned above said base;

a patient support surface supported on the frame, said patient support surface being moveable with respect to said base, and said patient support surface adapted to support a patient;

a control adapted to generate a first signal based upon a first force applied to the control in a first direction, and to generate a second signal based upon a second force applied to the control in a second direction opposite said first direction; and

a controller in communication with the control, said controller adapted to cause movement of said patient support surface in said first direction in response to said first signal and movement of said patient support surface in said second direction in response to said second signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said control includes a load cell.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said load cell is positioned on one of a siderail and the head section of the patient support surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said control is positioned on a head section of said patient support surface and pressing upward on said control causes said head section to pivot upward, and pressing downward on said control causes said head section to pivot downward.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said control is positioned on said frame and pressing said control upward causes said frame to move upward and pressing said control downward causes said frame to move downward.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said controller may be set to a first state in which said controller controls the movement of the patient support surface in response to said first or second signals, and a second state in which said controller does not control movement of said patient support surface in response to said first or second signals.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said controller is switched between the first and second states based at least partially upon a detected proximity of a person to the patient support apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said proximity of the person to the patient support apparatus is detected by near field communication between said patient support apparatus and a device worn by the person.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said patient support apparatus is one of a bed, a stretcher, a cot, a recliner, a chair, an operating table, and an examination table.

21. A patient support apparatus comprising:

a base;

a frame positioned above said base;

a patient support surface supported on the frame, said patient support surface adapted to support a patient;

an actuator adapted to physically move a component of the patient support apparatus when actuated;

a scale system including a plurality of force sensors, said scale system adapted to discriminate between first force components exerted on said plurality of force sensors that are indicative of a patient'"'"'s weight and second force components exerted on said plurality of force sensors that are indicative of a desired movement of said component; and

a controller in communication with the scale system and adapted to actuate said actuator in response to the second force components detected by the plurality of force sensors.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said plurality of force sensors are load cells.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said component is a head section of said patient support surface and said actuator is adapted to pivot said head section about a generally horizontal pivot axis.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said component is said frame, and said actuator is adapted to change a height of said frame with respect to said base.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said controller is able to be switched between a first state in which said controller actuates said actuator in response to the second force components and a second state in which said controller does not actuate said actuator in response to said second force components.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said patient support apparatus is one of a bed, stretcher, or cot.