Wireless power distribution in patient support surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12285375-B2
Application number	US-202217708100-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2022
Priority date	Mar 31, 2021
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

A patient support apparatus includes a frame having a supporting surface. A transmitting element is coupled to the frame. A surface assembly is selectively positioned on the supporting surface. The surface assembly includes a surface selectively enclosing an interior. A controller is communicatively coupled to the transmitting element. A sensor assembly is coupled to the surface assembly. The sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to sense information about at least one of the surface assembly and a person positioned on the surface assembly. A receiving assembly is operably coupled to the surface assembly and the sensor assembly. The receiving assembly is configured to selectively interact with the transmitting element via a charging interface to power the sensor assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient support apparatus, comprising:
a frame having a supporting surface;
a transmitting element coupled to the frame;
a surface assembly selectively positioned on the supporting surface, wherein the surface assembly includes a surface selectively enclosing an interior;
a controller communicatively coupled to the transmitting element;
a sensor assembly coupled to the surface assembly, wherein the sensor assembly includes a patient sensor configured to sense information about a person positioned on the surface assembly and an identification sensor configured to sense identification data about the surface assembly; and
a receiving assembly operably coupled to the surface assembly and the sensor assembly, wherein the receiving assembly is configured to selectively interact with the transmitting element via a charging interface to power the sensor assembly, and wherein an amount of power transferred via the charging interface is higher when the surface assembly is a powered surface configuration than when the surface assembly is a non-powered surface configuration based on sensed identification data.

2. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiving assembly includes a storage feature configured as a supercapacitor operably coupled to a receiving element of the receiving assembly to store energy to power the sensor assembly.

3. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is coupled to the surface of the surface assembly and configured to sense patient information, and wherein the patient information includes at least one of heart rate, respiration rate, skin conductivity, blood surface, saturation O 2 , and thoracic sounds.

4. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the controller and a control unit of the receiving assembly is configured to determine a coupling coefficient between the transmitting element and a receiving element of the receiving assembly.

5. The patient support apparatus of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the controller and the control unit is configured to modulate a magnitude of electromagnetic fields generated between the transmitting element and the receiving element based on the coupling coefficient.

6. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense surface information including at least one of airflow, temperature, humidity, blower speed, bladder pressure, patient immersion, and a type of surface assembly.

7. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a microclimate management system operably coupled with the sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly is configured to sense at least one of airflow, temperature, and humidity within the microclimate management system.

8. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surface assembly includes a pneumatic system disposed within the interior and having a pump configured to adjust bladders between a deployed state and a non-deployed state, and wherein the pump includes a receiving element of the receiving assembly configured to selectively interact with the transmitting element to power the pump, and wherein the sensor assembly is configured to sense pressure within the bladders.

9. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a siderail, and wherein the transmitting element is coupled to the siderail, and wherein the receiving assembly includes a first receiving element proximate to a top surface of the surface assembly and a second receiving element proximate to a bottom surface of the surface assembly, and further wherein the transmitting element forms the charging interface with the first receiving element when the siderail is raised and the second receiving element when the siderail is lowered.

10. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is operable between a first lower energy state and a second higher energy state, and wherein the sensor assembly is configured to communicate sensed data in the second higher energy state.

11. The patient support apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the sensor assembly is configured to sense information about at least one of the person and the surface assembly when in the first lower energy state.

12. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiving assembly includes a control unit, and wherein at least one of the controller and the control unit is configured to modulate a magnitude of electromagnetic fields generated between the transmitting element and the receiving assembly until at least one of a minimum exposure level for the person supported on the surface assembly and a minimum energy storage level in a storage feature of the receiving assembly is reached.

13. A patient support apparatus, comprising:
a frame having a supporting surface;
a transmitting element coupled to the frame;
a surface assembly selectively positioned on the supporting surface, wherein the surface assembly includes a surface selectively enclosing an interior;
a controller communicatively coupled to the transmitting element;
a sensor assembly coupled to the surface assembly, wherein the sensor assembly includes a patient sensor configured to sense information about a person positioned on the surface assembly and an identification sensor configured to sense identification data about the surface assembly; and
a receiving assembly operably coupled to the surface assembly and the sensor assembly, wherein the receiving assembly is configured to selectively interact with the transmitting element via a charging interface to power the sensor assembly, and wherein movement of the frame changes based on sensed identification data including whether the surface assembly is a powered surface configuration or the surface assembly is a non-powered surface configuration.

14. The patient support apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the powered surface configuration of the surface assembly includes a pneumatic system disposed within the interior, and wherein the pneumatic system includes a pump configured to adjust bladders between a deployed state and a non-deployed state, and wherein the pump includes a receiving element of the receiving assembly configured to selectively interact with the transmitting element to power the pump.

15. The patient support apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the sensor assembly is configured to sense pressure within the bladders.

16. A patient support apparatus, comprising:
a frame having a supporting surface;
a transmitting element coupled to the frame;
a surface assembly selectively positioned on the supporting surface, wherein the surface assembly includes a surface selectively enclosing an interior;
a controller communicatively coupled to the transmitting element;
a sensor assembly coupled to the surface assembly, wherein the sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to sense information about at least one of the surface assembly and a person positioned on the surface assembly; and
a receiving assembly operably coupled to the surface assembly and the sensor assembly, wherein the receiving assembly is configured to selectively interact with the transmitting element via a charging interface to power the sensor assembly, and wherein a magnitude of electromagnetic fields generated between the transmitting element and the receiving assembly is adjusted until a minimum exposure level for a patient is reached.

17. The patient support apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the receiving assembly includes a control unit, and wherein one of the controller and the contr

Assignees

• Hill Rom Services Inc

Inventors

• Monson Gavin M
• Sauser Frank
• Seim Douglas A

Classifications

• A61B5/6892 Primary

  Mats · CPC title

• A61G2210/70

  for cooling · CPC title

• A61G2203/46

  for temperature · CPC title

• A61G2203/10

  characterised by specific control means, e.g. for adjustment or steering · CPC title

• A61G2203/32

  for force · CPC title