Patient point-of-care computer system

• US 7,679,520 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wildman, Timothy D., Vogel, John D., Riley, Carl W., Zerhusen, Robert Mark, Cerimele, Michael E., Reeder, Ryan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/611,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20070120689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/286.07, 340/286.02, 340/506, 340/525
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/046 C-shaped bed tables, e.g. foldable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/004 mounted on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/005 mounted on the wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/16 Touchpads
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/80 for connecting a trolley to a device, e.g. bed or column table
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• 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 7/0513 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 7/05769 : with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 : Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 : Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 : stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 : relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 : delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 : for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/917 : Video display screen support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 : Privileged access

Abstract

A point-of-care computer system is provided, including a display positioned in a point-of-care location.

Claims

1. A point-of-care interface, including:

a display configured to be coupled to a computer and configured to display at least one caregiver icon in a first location on the display, the at least one caregiver icon only operable by a caregiver, and at least one patient icon in a second location spaced apart from the first location on the display;

an arm assembly including a first arm configured to be pivotably coupled to a bed, and a second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm, the arm assembly being configured to permit positioning of the display in a plurality of different positions relative to the bed for viewing including a stored position wherein the display lies in substantially parallel relation to the second arm, a patient-use position wherein the display faces toward the bed, and a caregiver-use position wherein the display faces away from the bed.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein the display includes a touch screen configured to permit entry of information into the computer via the display.

3. The interface of claim 1, further comprising a third arm pivotably coupled to the second arm.

4. The interface of claim 3, further comprising a coupler connected between the third arm and the display.

5. The interface of claim 4, further including a locking mechanism for maintaining the coupler in position relative to the third arm, the locking mechanism including a ball positioned in a detent formed in the coupler and a spring disposed in an end of the third arm to urge the ball into the detent, thereby inhibiting rotation of the third arm relative to the coupler.

6. The interface of claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism includes a plurality of balls and a corresponding plurality of springs.

7. The interface of claim 1, wherein the first arm includes a pair of flanges configured to be received by a pair of notches formed in a track member connected to a head end of the bed, thereby permitting movement of the arm assembly along the head end of the bed.

8. The interface of claim 7, wherein the track member includes an elongated head portion, and an elongated foot portion, the notches being formed between the head portion and the foot portion.

15. The interface of claim 1, wherein the arm assembly is an overhead arm assembly.

16. The interface of claim 15, including a first drive assembly connected to a first end of the first arm, and a second drive assembly connected to a first end of the second arm.

17. The interface of claim 1, wherein the arm assembly is configured for mounting to a frame portion of a bed, and the display is movable between a storage position wherein the display is substantially parallel to the arm assembly, and a use position wherein the display is substantially perpendicular to the arm assembly.

18. The interface of claim 17, wherein the arm assembly is configured for being movably mounted to the frame portion to permit adjustment of the position of the display along a length of the frame portion.

9. A point-of-care interface, including:

a display configured to be coupled to a computer and movable between a patient-use position and a caregiver-use position; and

a display carrier for supporting the display, the display carrier being installable on a frame portion of a bed, the display carrier including a first body portion oriented to face toward the bed and a second body portion positioned to lie in spaced relation to the first body portion and the second body portion being oriented to face away from the bed, the first body portion being formed to include a first pair of tracks configured to receive the display to establish the patient-use position of the display and the second body portion being formed to include a second pair of tracks configured to receive the display to establish the caregiver-use position of the display.

10. The interface of claim 9, wherein the body portion includes a recessed area sized to receive the display.

11. The interface of claim 9, wherein the body portion includes at least one slot, the display being engageable with the slot, the carrier supporting the display at an angle relative to the carrier when the display is engaged with the slot.

12. The interface of claim 9, including a fastener coupled to the carrier and attachable to the frame portion.

13. The interface of claim 9, wherein the display is wirelessly coupled to the computer.

14. The interface of claim 10, wherein the body portion includes at least one tab positionable to hold the display in place with respect to the display carrier.

19. A point-of-care interface comprising

a display configured to be coupled to a computer and configured to display a caregiver control only when an authorized caregiver is present and to display at least one patient control,

an arm-assembly mount adapted to mount to a bed, and

an arm assembly including a first arm coupled to the arm-assembly mount for pivotable movement about a first pivot axis and a second arm coupled to the first arm for pivotable movement about a second pivot axis arranged to intersect the first pivot axis at about a right angle, the display being moveable between a stored position wherein the display is substantially aligned with the first arm, a patient-use position wherein the display faces the bed and the at least one patient control is displayed, and a caregiver-use position wherein the display faces away from the bed and the caregiver control is displayed.

20. The point-of-care interface of claim 19, wherein the arm-assembly mount is movable relative to the bed along a track between a first position and a second position spaced from the first position.

21. The point-of-care interface of claim 19, wherein the arm assembly further includes a coupler configured to pivotably couple the display to the second arm to allow the display to rotate about a third axis parallel to the second axis and to allow the display to pivot about a fourth axis intersecting the third axis at about a right angle.

22. The point-of-care interface of claim 19 further comprising at least one drive assembly coupled to the arm assembly and configured to move the display between the stored position, the patient-use position, and the caregiver-use position in response to commands input into the display.

23. The point-of-care interface of claim 19, wherein in the patient-use position the display lies at a first angle relative to the second arm and in the caregiver-use position the display lies at a second angle relative to the second arm.