Discriminating patient care communications system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10360787-B2
Application number	US-201715498426-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2017
Priority date	May 5, 2016
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

According to the present disclosure, devices, systems, and methods for locating, tracking, and conducting communications between care devices and networks of care facilities through local communications hubs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A patient care communications system of a care facility comprising:
a patient bed having a bed ID associated therewith,
a bed communications device attached to the patient bed and configured to send and receive bed communications signals, and
a local communications device that is associated with a room of the care facility, the local communications device being configured to communicate first signals having a first wavelength and being configured to communicate second signals having a second wavelength different than the first wavelength,
wherein the local communications device is configured to receive at least one of the bed communications signals indicating the bed ID of the patient bed, and to send a confirmation signal indicating the bed ID and having an infrared signal, wherein the bed communications device is configured to receive the confirmation signal indicating the bed ID from the local communications device and to establish an ad-hoc personal area network with the local communications device in response to a determination that the bed ID indicated by the confirmation signal corresponds to the patient bed.

2. The patient care communications system of claim 1 , wherein the confirmation signal comprises the first signals.

3. The patient care communications system of claim 1 , wherein the second signals comprise one of a bluetooth signal and a wifi signal.

4. The patient care communications system of claim 1 , wherein the ad-hoc personal area network is a piconet.

5. The patient care communications system of claim 1 , wherein the local communication device is configured to communicate with a network of the care facility.

6. The patient care communications system of claim 5 , wherein the ad-hoc network provides a communications link for communication between the bed communications device and the network of the care facility.

7. The patient care communications system of claim 1 , wherein the bed communication device prevents formation of the ad-hoc personal area network with the local communications device if no confirmation signal is received.

8. The patient care communications system of claim 1 , wherein the local communications device is configured for communication with at least one patient entertainment device.

9. The patient care communications system of claim 8 , wherein the local communications device is configured to transmit audio signals from the at least one patient entertainment device wirelessly to the bed communications device for playing through a speaker of the patient bed.

10. The patient care communications system of claim 1 , wherein the local communications device is configured for communication with at least one patient care device that is spaced from the patient bed.

11. The patient care communications system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one patient care device comprises one or more of the following: a patient lift, a fluid pump, a vital signs monitor, or a passive motion machine.

12. A patient care communications system of a care facility comprising:
a patient bed,
a bed communications device attached to the patient bed, and
a local communications device associated with a room of the care facility and configured for communication with the bed communications device,
wherein one of the local communications device and the bed communications device transmits at least one ID signal indicating an ID code of the identity of the one of the devices, and forms an ad-hoc network with the other of the local communications device and the bed communications device responsive to receiving a confirmation signal and determining that the confirmation signal correctly indicates the ID code of the identity of the one of the devices, wherein one of the ID signal and the confirmation signal include an infrared signal.

13. The patient care communications system of claim 12 , wherein the other of the ID signal and the confirmation signal includes a wavelength that is sufficient to communicate through walls of the care facility.

14. The patient care communications system of claim 12 , wherein the other of the ID signal and the confirmation signal is at least one of a Bluetooth signal and a Wi-Fi signal.

15. The patient care communications system of claim 12 , wherein the local communications device is also configured for communication with at least one patient entertainment device.

16. The patient care communications system of claim 15 , wherein the local communications device is configured to transmit audio signals from the at least one patient entertainment device wirelessly to the bed communications device for playing through a speaker of the patient bed.

17. The patient care communications system of claim 12 , wherein the local communications device is also configured for communication with at least one patient care device that is spaced from the patient bed.

18. The patient care communications system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one patient care device comprises one or more of the following: a patient lift, a fluid pump, a vital signs monitor, or a passive motion machine.

19. The patient care communications system of claim 12 , wherein the local communications device includes a power connection for providing power to, or receiving power from, one or more additional local communications devices.

20. The patient care communications system of claim 12 , wherein the local communications device further includes at least four different types of input ports.

21. The patient care communications system of claim 20 , wherein the four different types of input ports include a 37-pin bed connector, a 20-pin pillow speaker connector, a USB port, and a micro USB port.

22. The patient care communications system of claim 20 , wherein the local communications device further includes an HDMI output port.

Assignees

• Hill Rom Services Inc

Inventors

• Embree Stephen R
• Davidson Frederick C
• Lerebours Theophile R
• Maloney Phillip
• Filliat Bruno J
• Girardeau David M
• Saucier Christian
• Walton Kelly F
• Lingenfelser Joshua P
• Howell Benjamin E
• Smith Bradley T
• Hassey Laura A
• Moore Stephen N
• Pipher Britten J

Classifications

• H04L69/18

  Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols · CPC title

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title

• G16H40/63

  for local operation · CPC title

• G08B25/12 Primary

  Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements {emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure} · CPC title

• G06F19/30

  Physics · mapped topic