Patient support apparatus and methods for supplying feedback to a user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10449101-B2
Application number	US-201715854997-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2017
Priority date	Dec 29, 2016
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

A patient support apparatus comprising a support structure, an input device, an actuator, and a controller. The support surface comprises a patient support surface. The input device generates an input signal. The actuator is coupled to the support structure and is configured to perform an operational function and a feedback function, separate from the operational function, to provide feedback to a user. The controller is in communication with the actuator and the input device and is configured to control the actuator to perform the operational function in response to receiving the input signal from the input device, and to control the actuator to perform the feedback function separate from performing the operational function.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient support apparatus comprising:
a support structure comprising a patient support surface;
an input device to generate an input signal;
an actuator coupled to said support structure and configured to perform:
an operational function to move at least a portion of said support structure, and
a feedback function, separate from said operational function, to provide one or more of audible and haptic feedback to a user; and

a controller in communication with said actuator and said input device, said controller configured to control said actuator to perform said operational function in response to receiving said input signal from said input device, and said controller configured to control said actuator to perform said feedback function separate from performing said operational function.

2. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a powered device coupled to said support structure and comprising said actuator, and wherein said powered device comprises one or more of a patient centering device, a patient turning device, a patient ingress/egress device, a lift device, a bed length extension device, a bed width extension device, a deck adjustment device, and a drive device.

3. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 1 , wherein said actuator comprises a motor having a rotor and a stator, said controller being coupled to said motor to apply an output signal to said motor to vibrate said rotor so that said feedback comprises haptic feedback.

4. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 3 , wherein said support structure comprises a patient support deck, a base, and an intermediate frame interposed between said patient support deck and said base.

5. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 1 , wherein said actuator is configured to generate vibrations to be transmitted from said actuator through said support structure towards said input device to the user.

6. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 3 , wherein said controller is configured to generate a plurality of different haptic waveforms by applying different output signals having different parameters to said actuator.

7. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 3 , wherein said input device is further configured to generate a second input signal associated with a second operational function, and wherein said controller is configured to control said actuator to generate said haptic feedback to the user in response to actuation of said input device by the user to perform said second operational function.

8. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 1 , wherein said input device comprises a non-tactile user interface and said controller controls said actuator to generate said haptic feedback on said non-tactile user interface.

9. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 3 , wherein said operational function comprises a first movement function to move said patient support surface of said support structure.

10. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 9 , further comprising:
a second input device to generate a second input signal; and
a second actuator coupled to said support structure and configured to perform a second movement function, different than said first movement function, to move at least another portion of said support structure;
wherein said controller is in communication with said second actuator and said second input device, said controller being configured to control said second actuator to perform said second movement function in response to receiving said second input signal from said second input device, and said controller being configured to generate said haptic feedback in response to receiving said second input signal.

11. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 3 , wherein said haptic feedback is configured to indicate a status condition to the user.

12. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 11 , further comprising a second actuator coupled to said support structure, wherein said haptic feedback is configured to differentiate status conditions of said actuators.

13. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 1 , wherein said actuator comprises a motor having a rotor and a stator, said controller being coupled to said motor to apply an output signal to said motor to vibrate said rotor so that said feedback comprises audible feedback.

14. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 13 , wherein said controller is configured to control said actuator to generate said audible feedback in response to one or more alarm conditions.

15. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 13 , wherein said controller is configured to control said actuator to generate said audible feedback in a plurality of different tones.

16. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 15 , wherein said plurality of different tones provide different notifications to the user.

17. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 16 , wherein said plurality of different tones comprise a first tone, a second tone, and a third tone, to indicate to the user different alarm priorities including a low priority alarm, a medium priority alarm, and a high priority alarm.

18. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 13 , wherein said audible feedback is configured to indicate a status condition to the user.

19. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 18 , further comprising a second actuator coupled to said support structure, wherein said audible feedback is configured to differentiate status conditions of said actuators.

20. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 1 , wherein said actuator comprises a motor configured to generate said feedback.

21. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 20 , wherein said motor comprises a brushless motor.

22. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 20 , wherein said controller comprises a drive circuit configured to generate a signal to drive said motor and provide said feedback.

23. The patient support apparatus as set forth in claim 22 , wherein said signal is a pulse width modulation signal.

24. The patient support apparatus at set forth in claim 20 , wherein said motor is configured to generate vibrations to provide said feedback.

25. A method for providing feedback to a user of a patient support apparatus comprising a support structure having a patient support surface, an actuator coupled to the support structure, an input device, and a controller, said method comprising the steps of:
controlling the actuator, with the controller, to perform an operational function in response to receiving an input signal from the input device; and
controlling the actuator, with the controller, to perform a feedback function, separate from the operational function, to provide feedback to the user.

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Brosnan Daniel V
• Furman Aaron Douglas
• Gopalkrishnan Janani

Classifications

• A61G7/001

  with means for turning-over the patient · CPC title

• A61G2203/36

  for motion · CPC title

• A61G7/018 Primary

  Control or drive mechanisms · CPC title

• A61G7/0514

  mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections · CPC title

• H02K41/031

  of the permanent magnet type · CPC title