Apparatus for supporting and monitoring a person

• US 9,552,460 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Riley, Carl W., Receveur, Timothy J., Ribble, David L., Tallent, Dan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sosnowski, David E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hare, David R
• Application Number:
  US14/325,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20150005675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 571/0, 5713-715, 542/4, 177/144
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/057 Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor ventilation openings in mattresses A47C21/042; pneumatic or hydraulic mattresses A47C27/08
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system includes a person-support structure, a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of a person supported on the person-support structure, and a control configured to calculate a condition score as a function of the characteristic of the person. The control is operable to change a characteristic of the person-support structure as a function of the condition score.

Claims

1. A method comprising

sensing a characteristic of a person supported on a person-support apparatus, the characteristic being a physiological parameter of the person,

calculating a condition score as a function of the characteristic,

configuring the person-support apparatus as a function of the condition score, and

displaying the condition score on a graphical display of the person-support apparatus, wherein configuring the person-support apparatus as a function of the condition score includes controlling a movement mechanism of the person-support apparatus as a function of the condition score to change a characteristic of a bed frame of the person-support apparatus,

wherein the bed frame of the person-support apparatus includes an upper frame portion with a deck movably couple thereto having a head section, and wherein controlling the movement mechanism results in the head section rotating between a relatively horizontal position and an inclined position based on the condition score.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the person-support apparatus includes a person-support surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition score includes a fall risk assessment score or a pressure ulcer risk assessment score.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the person-support apparatus includes a fluid supply and the configuring comprises causing the fluid supply to initiate a therapy.

5. A system comprising:

a person-support structure,

a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of a person supported on the person-support structure, the characteristic being a physiological parameter of the person, and

a control configured to calculate a condition score as a function of the characteristic of the person, the control being operable to change a characteristic of the person-support structure as a function of the condition score and to display the condition score on a graphical display of the person-support structure, wherein the person-support structure includes a bed frame with a movement mechanism, the control controlling the movement mechanism as a function of the condition score to change a characteristic of the bed frame,

wherein the frame includes an upper frame portion with a deck movably coupled thereto having a head section, the control causing the movement mechanism to move the head section to rotate between a relatively horizontal position and an inclined position based on the condition score.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a fluid supply, the person-support structure including a fluid chamber configured to receive fluid from the fluid supply, and the control controlling the fluid supply as a function of the condition score.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the control causes the fluid supply to initiate a therapy.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the fluid chamber comprises at least one of a temperature and humidity topper, a mattress, and a gas bladder.

9. The system of claim 5, further comprising a communication device configured to receive an input signal corresponding to information in an electronic medical record, the control calculating the condition score as a function of the characteristic of the person and the input signal.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the input signal includes a fall risk assessment score or a pressure ulcer risk assessment score.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the control calculates the condition score as a function of a status of the person-support structure and the characteristic of the person.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the control calculates the condition score as a function of a status of the person-support structure, an input signal corresponding to information in an electronic medical record, and the characteristic of the person.