Haptic Systems And Methods For A User Interface Of A Patient Support Apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018153752-A1
Application number	US-201715833427-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 6, 2017
Priority date	Dec 7, 2016
Publication date	Jun 7, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A patient support apparatus comprises a patient support surface for patients. The patient support apparatus comprises a user input device, a controller, and an ultrasonic generator system. The controller is configured to control the ultrasonic generator system to provide haptic sensations to the user. The haptic sensations, in some cases, provides tactile stimuli to a user associated with a virtual button.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A patient support apparatus comprising:
a base; a patient support surface supported by said base; a barrier wall supported by said base and comprising a first region, said barrier wall comprising an exposed exterior surface accessible to a user; a user input device disposed with respect to said barrier wall such that said first region of said barrier wall separates said user input device from the exposed exterior surface; an ultrasonic generator system disposed with respect to said barrier wall such that said first region of said barrier wall separates said ultrasonic generator system from the exposed exterior surface; and a controller in communication with said ultrasonic generator system, wherein said first region of said barrier wall is free of any electronic visual displays.

2 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , comprising non-electronic indicia on said first region of said barrier wall, said non-electronic indicia being visible to the user.

3 . The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said non-electronic indicia is fixed to said exterior surface.

4 . The patient support apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said non-electronic indicia comprises printed material on said exterior surface.

5 . The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said barrier wall comprises a second region free of indicia adjacent to said first region and said exterior surface is continuous between said first region and said second region.

6 . The patient support apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said exterior surface is free of seams between said first region and said second region.

7 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said barrier wall is formed of an electrically non-conductive material.

8 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said user input device comprises a sensor mounted to said barrier wall to detect user input through said first region of said barrier wall, said controller configured to control said ultrasonic generator system to produce ultrasound waves through said first region of said barrier wall to provide haptic sensations to the user to define a virtual button.

9 . The patient support apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor.

10 . The patient support apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said sensor is embedded in said barrier wall.

11 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said barrier wall forms part of a side rail, a headboard, or a footboard.

12 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said ultrasonic generator system comprises an array of ultrasonic elements.

13 . The patient support apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said array of ultrasonic elements comprises ultrasonic transducers controlled by said controller to produce phased ultrasound waves to provide haptic sensations.

14 . The patient support apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said ultrasonic transducers are embedded in said barrier wall.

15 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to control said ultrasonic generator system to vary said haptic sensations to the user.

16 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to control said ultrasonic generator system to provide informational haptic feedback to the user.

17 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a patient support deck supported by said base and comprising a fowler section; an actuator operatively coupled to said fowler section to articulate said fowler section between articulation angles; and a sensor in communication with said controller and arranged to determine a current angle of said fowler section, said controller configured to control said ultrasonic generator system to generate haptic feedback in response to actuation of said user input device by the user to indicate to the user a relationship between said current angle of said fowler section and a target angle.

18 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said barrier wall defines an interior generally isolated from the user with said user input device and said ultrasonic generator system disposed in said interior.

19 . A method of providing haptic sensations to a user of a patient support apparatus having a base, a patient support surface supported by the base, a barrier wall comprising an exposed exterior surface accessible to the user, a user input device, and an ultrasonic generator system, said method comprising:
generating, with the ultrasonic generator system, ultrasound waves through a first region of the barrier wall to provide haptic sensations to the user associated with the user input device, wherein the first region of the barrier wall is free of any electronic visual displays, and wherein the user input device and the ultrasonic generator system are disposed with respect to the barrier wall such that the first region of the barrier wall separates the user input device and the ultrasonic generator system from the exterior surface.

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Kostic Marko N
• Furman Aaron D
• Desaulniers Annie
• Derenne Richard A
• Constant Marco
• Brosnan Daniel Vincent
• Bhimavarapu Krishna Sandeep

Classifications

• G06F2203/04809

  Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard · CPC title

• A61G7/0524 Primary

  characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights · CPC title

• A61G7/012

  raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame (A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• A61G7/018

  Control or drive mechanisms · CPC title