HOSPITAL BED HAVING WIRELESS DATA AND LOCATING CAPABILITY

• US 20140248804A1
• Filed: 05/13/2014
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: McNeely, Craig A., Heimbrock, Richard H., Riley, Carl W., Huster, Keith A., Vanderpohl, Irvin J. III, McDaniel, Paul J. III, Collins, Williams F. Jr., Manguiat, Oscar A., Tincher, Terry L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,142,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/620.21
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/00 Details or accessories for chairs, beds, or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass, e.g. upholstery fasteners, mattress protectors, stretching devices for mattress nets
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/005 mounted on the wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• 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 7/0516 : with height adjustability
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 : characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 : with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 : on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 : with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 : Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 : Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1461 : Suppression of signals in the return path, i.e. bidirectional control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 : with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 : Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A system for use with a hospital bed having circuitry and a standard AC power outlet spaced from the hospital bed is provided. The system includes a cable assembly couplable to the circuitry of the hospital bed. The cable assembly has power conductors and at least one data conductor. The cable assembly also has a plug including a first power coupler coupled to the power conductors and a first data coupler coupled to the at least one data conductor. The system also includes a second data coupler mountable adjacent the standard AC power outlet. The second data coupler is configured to couple to the first data coupler when the first power coupler is coupled to the standard AC power outlet.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of associating a hospital bed to a location in a healthcare facility, the method comprising

storing a first unique identifier in memory of the hospital bed,

storing a second unique identifier in memory associated with the location,

establishing a wireless communication link between a first wireless transceiver of the hospital bed and a second wireless transceiver associated with the location,

after establishing the wireless communication link, transmitting to a network of the healthcare facility the first and second unique identifiers,

storing in memory of at least one computer device coupled to the network the first and second unique identifiers, and

sending bed data wirelessly from the hospital bed.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting to the network of the healthcare facility the first and second unique identifiers comprises transmitting the first and second unique identifiers only once in response to the wireless communication link being established.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting to the network of the healthcare facility the first and second unique identifiers comprises transmitting the first and second unique identifiers periodically after the wireless communication link is established.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting to the network of the healthcare facility the first and second unique identifiers comprises transmitting the first and second unique identifiers along with each packet of data sent by the first and second wireless transceivers.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the bed data is sent wirelessly over the wireless communication link.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the wireless communication link is a first wireless communication link and the bed data is sent wirelessly over a second wireless communication link.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the first and second communication links comprises an infrared (IR) link.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the first and second communication links comprises a radio frequency (RF) link.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the wireless communication link comprises a short-range wireless communication link.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising associating at least one of the first and second unique identifiers with a patient.

31. The method of claim 21, further comprising associating at least one of the first and second unique identifiers with a caregiver.

32. The method of claim 21, further comprising associating at least one of the first and second unique identifiers with a doctor.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising associating both of the first and second unique identifiers with a patient.

34. The method of claim 21, further comprising associating both of the first and second unique identifiers with a caregiver.

35. The method of claim 21, further comprising associating both of the first and second unique identifiers with a doctor.

36. The method of claim 21, further comprising storing in memory of the at least one computer device coupled to the network the bed data.

37. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting wireless audio signals from the hospital bed.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the wireless audio signals are transmitted over the wireless communication link.

39. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting wireless audio signals to the hospital bed.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the wireless audio signals are transmitted over the wireless communication link.