Patient support apparatus having vital signs monitoring and alerting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12465295-B2
Application number	US-202418438969-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2024
Priority date	Jan 4, 2017
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A patient support apparatus includes a sensor capable of detecting vital signs, setting acceptable limits for the vital signs, and includes structures for monitoring the vital signs and providing local and/or remote indications to caregivers if the vital signs fall outside of acceptable limits.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A patient support apparatus comprising,
a controller, the controller coupled to memory which stores a first specific serial number for the patient support apparatus, a replaceable component, the replaceable component including the memory which stores a second specific serial number for the replaceable component, and a user interface, wherein the controller is operable to verify that the patient support apparatus is properly authorized to execute functionality of the replaceable component by detecting a presence of the replaceable component, evaluating the first serial number of the patient support apparatus, determining an authorization for use of the functionality of the replaceable component, and, if the functionality of the replaceable component is properly authorized, enabling operation of the replaceable component, wherein, if the controller determines that the functionality of the replaceable component is not properly authorized, the controller is operable to prompt a user to enter an authorization code before executing the functionality of the replaceable component at the user interface and only enables the operation of the replaceable component if an acceptable authorization code has been entered.

2 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the authorization code based, at least in part, on the second serial number of the replaceable component.

3 . The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the authorization code is based, at least in part, on the first serial number of the patient support apparatus.

4 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the authorization code is based, at least in part, on the first serial number of the patient support apparatus.

5 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller monitors for the presence of the replaceable component and regularly compares the second serial number of the replaceable component with a serial number of an authorized replaceable component to determine if a different replaceable component has been substituted and disables the functionality of the replaceable component if the different replaceable component has been connected to the controller.

6 . The patient support apparatus of claim 5 , wherein, if the controller determines that the different replaceable component has been substituted, the controller prompts the user to enter the authorization code for the substituted different replaceable component at the user interface.

7 . The patient support apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the patient support apparatus comprises a detection and notification system for monitoring at least one vital sign of a patient supported on the patient support apparatus and the replaceable component is a vital sign sensor.

8 . The patient support apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the detection and notification system comprises multiple sensors, each sensor of the multiple sensors being monitored by the controller to determine that the patient support apparatus has been authorized for each of the multiple sensors.

9 . The patient support apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller provides an indication of a status of the authorization for the use of the functionality of the replaceable component at the user interface.

10 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller monitors for the presence of the replaceable component and regularly compares the second serial number of the replaceable component with a serial number of an authorized replaceable component to determine if a different replaceable component has been substituted and disables the functionality of the replaceable component if the different replaceable component has been connected to the controller.

11 . The patient support apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, if the controller determines that the replaceable component has been substituted, the controller prompts the user to enter the authorization code for the substituted replaceable component at the user interface.

12 . The patient support apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the patient support apparatus comprises a detection and notification system for monitoring at least one vital sign of a patient supported on the patient support apparatus and the replaceable component is a vital sign sensor.

13 . The patient support apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the detection and notification system comprises multiple sensors, each sensor of the multiple sensors being monitored by the controller to determine that the patient support apparatus has been authorized for each of the multiple sensors.

14 . The patient support apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the controller provides an indication of a status of the authorization for the use of the functionality of the replaceable component at the user interface.

15 . The patient support apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the detection and notification system is operable to process vital signals from the vital sign sensor which provide an indication of the at least one vital sign, compare the at least one vital sign to a predefined acceptable limit, and, if the at least one vital sign deviates from the predefined acceptable limit, provide a visual indication of the deviation from the predefined acceptable limit by illuminating a first iconic representation of the vital signs in a first manner, if the at least one vital sign does not deviate from the predefined acceptable limit for the replaceable component, illuminating the first iconic representation in a second manner.

16 . The patient support apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the detection and notification system is operable to project the first iconic representation to a surface spaced apart from the patient support apparatus.

17 . The patient support apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first iconic representation is simultaneously illuminated on the surface of the patient support apparatus and projected onto the surface spaced apart from the patient support apparatus.

18 . The patient support apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first iconic representation is projected to the surface spaced apart from the patient support apparatus by a projector located on the patient support apparatus.

19 . The patient support apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said illuminating the first iconic representation in the first manner comprises illuminating the first iconic representation of the vital signs in a first color and illuminating the first iconic representation in the second manner comprises illuminating the first iconic representation in a second color.

Assignees

• Hill Rom Services Inc

Inventors

• Zerhusen Robert M
• Tallent Dan R
• Fisk Brandon P
• Bhai Aziz A
• Benz Eric D
• Weitz Robert D
• Goewert John
• Sauser Frank
• Batta Nicholas C
• Koors Edward J
• Turner Jonathan D
• Heimbrock Richard H
• Byers John G
• Mann Nicholas A
• Mccoy Daniel

Classifications

• A61G2203/70

  with special adaptations, e.g. for safety or comfort · CPC title

• A61G7/018

  Control or drive mechanisms · CPC title

• A61B5/1115

  Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair · CPC title

• A61B5/742

  using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339) · CPC title

• A61G7/05

  Parts, details or accessories of beds (devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 {; mattresses A47C27/00}) · CPC title