Patient support with air bladder control sensitive to an orientation angle sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10098798-B2
Application number	US-201414302740-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2014
Priority date	Aug 4, 2006
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A patient support includes a cover defining an interior region, an air permeable first layer located in the interior region within the cover, a first air supply coupled to the first layer to provide air flow through the first layer, air bladders including a head zone and a seat zone located beneath the first layer, a first sensing assembly located beneath the head zone, a second air supply coupled to the air bladders to selectively inflate and deflate the air bladders, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the first and second air supplies to control inflation and deflation of the air bladders and to control air flow through the permeable layer. The controller also receives a signal from the first sensing assembly, determines whether the patient support is occupied, and adjusts air flow through the first layer based on the signal from the first sensing assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A patient support comprising:
a cover defining an interior region,
an air permeable first layer located in the interior region within the cover,
a first air supply coupled to the first layer to provide air flow through the first layer,
a plurality of air bladders located beneath the air permeable first layer, the plurality of air bladders including a head zone and a seat zone,
a first sensing assembly located beneath the head zone,
a second air supply coupled to the air bladders to selectively inflate and deflate the air bladders, and
a controller coupled to the first and second air supplies to control inflation and deflation of the air bladders and to control air flow through the air permeable layer,
wherein the controller receives a signal from the first sensing assembly and determines whether the patient support is occupied by a patient and adjusts air flow through the air permeable first layer based on the signal from the first sensing assembly.

2. The patient support of claim 1 wherein the plurality of air bladders includes one or more transverse bladders and one or more upright can-shaped bladders.

3. The patient support of claim 1 wherein the articulable portion is a first articulable portion which is a head section, and the patient support also comprises a second articulable portion which is a foot section.

4. The patient support of claim 1 including:
an angle sensor coupled to the controller and located in the interior region in an articulable portion of the patient support;
wherein the controller controls the inflation and deflation of the air bladders in response to the angle signal, and controls the airflow through the air permeable first layer based on the angle signal and the signal from the first sensing assembly.

5. The patient support of claim 4 wherein the angle sensor is a first angle sensor and the patient support also includes a second angle sensor and wherein the controller determines that the patient support is in a chair position based on the signals received from the first and second angle sensors.

6. The patient support of claim 5 comprising a receptacle located in the foot section, wherein the second angle sensor is located in the receptacle.

7. The patient support of claim 4 , wherein the angle sensor is a head angle sensor and the plurality of air bladders comprises a head zone, a seat zone and a foot zone, and wherein following establishment of an initial pressure of the bladders in the head zone, an initial pressure of the bladders in seat zone, and an initial pressure of the bladders in and foot zone, pressure in the head zone is adjusted again if a head angle as determined by the head angle sensor has changed.

8. The patient support of claim 4 , wherein the angle sensor is a first angle sensor and the patient support also includes a second angle sensor, and if the first angle sensor detects that the head section of the patient support is oriented at more than about H degrees above the horizontal and the second angle sensor detects that the foot section of the patient support is oriented more than about F degrees below the horizontal, the patient support is determined to be in a chair position.

9. The patient support of claim 8 wherein H is 60 degrees and F is 45 degrees.

10. The patient support of claim 8 wherein the determination of chair position is carried out without the patient support receiving any data from an associated bed frame.

11. The patient support of claim 1 , wherein the controller signals the first air supply to increase air flow through the first layer if the controller determines that the patient support is occupied.

12. The patient support of claim 1 , wherein the controller signals the first air supply to decrease air flow through the first layer if the controller determines that the patient support is not occupied.

13. The patient support of claim 1 , wherein the average pressure and the average flow rate of air through the first layer automatically increase when the patient support is occupied.

14. The patient support of claim 1 including a pneumatic valve box assembly configured for use in connection with the first sensing assembly.

15. The patient support of claim 14 wherein the pneumatic valve box assembly includes a sensor hub board and an air control board coupled to the sensor hub.

16. The patient support of claim 15 wherein the sensor hub is coupled to the sensing assembly and the air control board is coupled to a first valve module.

17. A patient support comprising:
a cover defining an interior region, an air permeable first layer located in the interior region,
a first air supply coupled to the first layer to provide air flow through the first layer a plurality of air bladders located beneath the air permeable first layer,
a second air supply coupled to the air bladders to selectively inflate and deflate the air bladders,
an angle sensor located in the interior region in an articulable portion of the patient support,
a pressure sensing assembly, and
a controller coupled to the first and second air supplies to control air flow through the air permeable layer in response to a signal from the pressure sensing assembly and to control inflation and deflation of the air bladders in response to an angle signal from the angle sensor.

Assignees

• Hill Rom Services Inc

Inventors

• Stacy Richard B
• Stevens Daniel K
• Janoff Karen
• Mueller Jonathan H
• Bobey John Alan
• Flessate Dennis
• Hakamiun Reza
• Lachenbruch Charles A
• Soltani Sohrab
• Branson Gregory W
• Chambers Kenith W
• Ginther Rebecca Anne
• Douglas Stephen L
• Meyer Eric R
• O'Keefe Christopher R
• Wilson Bradley T
• Borgman Darrell
• King Rachel Hopkins

Classifications

• A61G7/05769

  with inflatable chambers · CPC title

• A61G2203/42

  for inclination · CPC title

• A61G7/05776 Primary

  with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers · CPC title

• A61G2007/0527

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61G7/015 Primary

  divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position · CPC title