PATHOGEN DETECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20130309713A1
• Filed: 10/18/2012
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Ribble, David, Penninger, Jason, McCleerey, Michelle, Agdeppa, Eric, Lawrence, Brian
• Application Number:
  US13/654,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20130309713A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4261 Evaluating exocrine secretion production A61B3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6894 Wheel chairs

Abstract

Pathogen and chemical detection systems for use with a patient support apparatus and related methods are disclosed. A fluid or biologic sample from the vicinity of a person supported by a person support apparatus is acquired and transmitted to a pathogen detection sensor. A graphical caregiver interface is supplied output from the pathogen detection sensor and detects the presence of a chemical. The graphical caregiver interface communicates with an electronic medical records database, and alarm and a nurse call system.

Claims

1. A system for detecting pathogens for use with a person support apparatus, comprising:

a fluid transport system configured to transport fluid away from skin of a person supported by a person support apparatus;

at least one pathogen detection sensor, said at least one pathogen sensor configured to detect a pathogen in fluid transported in said fluid transport system;

a caregiver interface, said pathogen detection sensor configured to communicate with said caregiver interface which is configured to determine presence of a pathogen in a quantity exceeding a predetermined threshold, said caregiver interface configured to control at least one function of a person support apparatus.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said fluid transport system comprises a pump to displace fluid.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said pump is an electro-osmosis type pump.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said pump uses positive pressure to transport fluid away from a person'"'"'s skin.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one pathogen detection sensor is a metal oxide semi-conductor type sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one pathogen detection sensor is an organic semi-conducting polymer type sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one pathogen detection sensor is a surface acoustic wave type sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one pathogen detection sensor is a protein based sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of said fluid transport is integrated into a mattress topper.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said caregiver interface is configured to communicate with an electronic medical record database.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said caregiver interface is configured to communicate with a nurse call system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said caregiver interface is configured to communicate with an alarm.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said caregiver interface is configured to communicate with an air filtration system.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said caregiver interface comprises a controller.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said caregiver interface comprises a display.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said caregiver interface comprises a caregiver input device.

17. A system for detecting an odor in the vicinity of a hospital bed, comprising:

at least one odor sensor;

a fluid transport system configured to transport fluid away from skin of a person supported by a hospital bed to said at least one odor sensor;

a caregiver interface, said at least one odor sensor configured to communicate with said caregiver interface.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said fluid transport system comprises a pump to displace fluid.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said pump is an electro-osmosis type pump.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said pump uses positive pressure to transport fluid away from a person'"'"'s skin.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one odor sensor is a metal oxide semi-conductor type sensor.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one odor sensor is an organic semi-conducting polymer type sensor.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one odor sensor is a surface acoustic wave type sensor.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one odor sensor is a protein based sensor.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein a portion of said fluid transport system is integrated into a mattress topper.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein said caregiver interface is configured to communicate with an electronic medical record database.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein said caregiver interface is configured to communicate with a nurse call system.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein said caregiver interface is configured to communicate with an alarm.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein said caregiver interface comprises a controller.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein said caregiver interface comprises a display.

31. The system of claim 17, wherein said caregiver interface comprises a caregiver input device.

32. A system for purification of air in the vicinity of a person supported by a person support apparatus, comprising:

a person support apparatus;

a fluid transport system configured to transport fluid away from a person supported by the person support apparatus;

at least one chemical sensor configured to sense at least one chemical in fluid transported away from a person supported by the person support apparatus;

a caregiver interface, said at least one chemical sensor configured to communicate with said caregiver interface;

an air filtration system, said caregiver interface configured to communicate with said air filtration system.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said a portion of said fluid transport system is integrated into a mattress topper.

34. A system for monitoring wound development, comprising:

a person support apparatus;

a fluid transport system configured to transport fluid away from a person supported by said person support apparatus;

at least one chemical sensor configured to sense at least one chemical in fluid transported away from a person supported by said person support apparatus;

a caregiver interface, said at least one chemical sensor configured to communicate with said caregiver interface, said caregiver interface comprising a memory configured to store signals supplied by the at least one chemical sensor for a predetermined time.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said caregiver interface is configured to compare a signal supplied by the at least one sensor with an earlier signal supplied by said at least one chemical sensor and alert a caregiver if said comparison indicates a change greater than a predetermined threshold.

36. A method for detecting a chemical in the vicinity of a person support apparatus comprising:

transporting fluid away from a person supported by a person support apparatus;

testing said fluid transported from a person supported by said person support apparatus;

reporting result of said testing to a caregiver interface,

determining whether said result indicates presence of at least one chemical based on whether quantity of said at least one chemical detected is greater than a predetermined threshold;

activating an alarm to alert a caregiver when quantity of said at least one chemical detected is greater than a predetermined threshold.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising the operation of determining if said at least one chemical is an indicator of presence of a pathogen.