Equipment storage module

Abstract

An equipment storage module (24) is provided for use with a modular wall (20). The modular wall (20) includes a plurality of frame units (100) configured to form a grid of vertically and laterally spaced apart wall spaces having a predetermined height (132) and a predetermined width (130). The equipment storage module (24) is configured to be positioned in one of the wall spaces to form a portion of the modular wall (20). The equipment storage module (24) comprises an enclosure (50) having a cavity (62) in which a patient care equipment (44) having a first connector (98) is configured to be stored. The enclosure has a second connector (66) configured to be coupled to the first connector (98) when the patient care equipment (44) is stored in the cavity (62).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a modular system for constructing walls in a clinical environment, and more particularly to an equipment storage module for use in such modular wall system.

Space within a hospital or a healthcare facility is always at premium. Hospital corridors and basements are often cluttered with patient care equipment not in use. It is desirable to store patient care equipment where it is needed without creating a cluttered environment. It is also desirable to charge on-board batteries of the patient care equipment while the patient care equipment is stored. The terms “hospital” and “healthcare facility” are used broadly herein to include nursing homes, outpatient clinics, medical care facilities, and the like, and each is intended to broadly cover the meaning of both.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an apparatus that has one or more of the following features or combinations thereof, which alone or in any combination may comprise patentable subject matter.

An equipment storage module is provided for use with patient care equipment having a first connector. The equipment storage module may comprise an enclosure having an equipment-receiving cavity in which the patient care equipment is configured to be stored. The enclosure may have a second connector configured to be coupled to the first connector when the patient care equipment is stored in the cavity. The equipment storage module may form a portion of a modular wall in a hospital.

The first connector may be coupled to a rechargeable on-board battery of the patient care equipment, and the second connector may comprise an electrical outlet. The electrical outlet may supply power to charge the on-board battery of the patient care equipment while the patient care equipment is stored in the cavity.

The first connector may comprise a first data port and the second connector may comprise a second data port. Data may be uploaded to or downloaded from the patient care equipment through the data ports while the patient care equipment is stored in the cavity. The second connector may be coupled to a computer network of the hospital.

One of the walls of the enclosure may have a plurality of electrical outlets and/or data ports. At least some of the plurality of electrical outlets and data ports may be arranged along a track that extends substantially parallel to and/or perpendicular to a floor supporting the enclosure. One of the walls of the enclosure may have a plurality of accessory mounting rails. At least some of the accessory mounting rails may be arranged substantially parallel to and/or perpendicular to the floor.

The equipment-receiving cavity may be open to the floor so that equipment may be rolled into or out of the equipment-receiving cavity. In some embodiments, the equipment-receiving cavity may be open to a front side of the enclosure. In some other embodiments, the equipment-receiving cavity may be open to both the front and back sides of the enclosure so that the patient care equipment may be accessed from both a patient room and an adjoining corridor. The enclosure may have a door that is movable between a first position allowing access to the equipment-receiving cavity and a second position preventing access to the cavity. The door may be opaque or transparent. The door may include an LCD panel.

The equipment storage module may include a light coupled to one of the walls of the enclosure. The light may be coupled to a top wall of the enclosure. The patient care equipment may be supported on a bottom wall of the enclosure. The bottom wall may be spaced from the floor.

The modular wall may comprise a plurality of frame units configured to form a grid of vertically and laterally spaced apart wall spaces having a predetermined height and a predetermined width, and the equipment storage module may be positioned in one of the wall spaces. The equipment storage module may have a width substantially equal to a multiple, including one, of the predetermined width and a height substantially equal to a multiple, including one, of the predetermined height. Each frame unit may have a plurality of connection points spaced apart from each other by a predetermined height and a predetermined width to form a grid, and the equipment storage module may be coupled to at least one of the connection points.

Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), such as those listed above and in the appended claims, may comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the embodiments as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular wall showing a plurality of modules including a pass-through equipment storage module, an alcove equipment storage module without a door, an alcove equipment storage module with a door, and an open-shelf equipment storage module;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pass-through equipment storage module;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the alcove equipment storage module without a door;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a back wall of the alcove equipment storage module of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the open-shelf equipment storage module;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the modular wall of FIG. 1 showing the open-shelf equipment storage module of FIG. 5, a cabinet module and a plurality of drawer modules;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic top plan view showing a mobile care cart stored in an equipment-receiving cavity of the pass-through equipment storage module with an electrical outlet of the pass-through equipment storage module coupled to terminals of a rechargeable on-board battery carried by the mobile care cart and a data port of the pass-through equipment storage module coupled to a data port of an on-board computer carried by the mobile care cart; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modular wall showing a plurality of frame units, a plurality of hangers received in the associated hanger-receiving openings in the frame units and various modules removably supported by the hangers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As shown in FIG. 1, a modular wall 20 comprises a plurality of modules 22 including a pass-through equipment storage module 24, an alcove equipment storage module 26 without a door, an alcove equipment storage module 28 with a door 30, and a pair of open-shelf equipment storage modules 32. In addition, the modular wall 22 includes a cabinet module 34 and a plurality of drawer modules 36. The modular wall 20 is situated between two spaces in a hospital, such as a patient room 38 and a corridor 40 in the illustrated example. In the illustrated embodiment, the modular wall 20 is of the type shown in FIG. 8 and disclosed in PCT/US2005/______, entitled “MODULAR SYSTEM FOR CONSTRUCTING HOSPITAL WALLS” (attorney docket no. 7175-78000). The cabinet and drawer modules 34, 36 are of the type disclosed in PCT/US2005/______, entitled “FAMILY ZONE MODULES FOR HOSPITAL WALLS” (attorney docket no. 7175-78001). PCT/US2005/______ (attorney docket no. 7175-78000) and PCT/US2005/______ (attorney docket no. 7175-78001) are assigned to the same assignee as the subject application, and are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pass-through equipment storage module 24 includes a box-shaped enclosure 50 having a pair of spaced-apart side walls 52, 54, a top wall 56 extending between the side walls 52, 54, a front side 58 facing the patient room 38, a back side 60 facing the corridor 40, and a pass-through equipment-receiving cavity 62 that is open to both the patient room 38 and the corridor 40 at the front and back sides 58, 60, respectively. Patient care equipment 42, such as, for example, a mobile care cart 44 shown in FIG. 7, is stored in the pass-through cavity 62 when not in use. Other examples of the patient care equipment 42 that may be stored in the equipment-receiving cavity 62 are infusion pumps, ventilators, cardiac monitors, pulse oximeters, and the like. Such patient care equipment 42 may be stored on shelves (not shown) provided in the enclosure 50.

Some of the patient care equipment 42 includes an on-board rechargeable battery to provide uninterrupted power supply to the equipment 42 during use and/or transport. Some of the patient care equipment 42 includes a computer having a data port for communicating with other computer devices of a network of the hospital. The patient care equipment 42 can be moved into the pass-through cavity 62 from the corridor 40 and accessed from the patient room 38, and vice versa. The pass-through cavity 62 is also open to a floor 46 so that the patient care equipment 42 can be easily rolled or slid into and out of the pass-through cavity 62.

Either or both of side walls 52, 54 have a plurality of connectors 64 such as, for example, electric outlets 66 and data ports 68. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical outlets 66 and the data ports 68 are arranged along respective tracks or strips 70, 72 which extend substantially parallel to the floor 46. hi some embodiments, the tracks 70, 72 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the floor 46. In other embodiments, some tracks 70, 72 are arranged substantially parallel to the floor 46, and some tracks 70, 72 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the floor 46. In still other embodiments, the strips 70, 72 are omitted and the outlets 66 and the ports 68 are mounted to the walls directly or via structures such as electrical junction boxes and the like. Optionally, cover plates may be associated with one or more outlets 66 and ports 68.

The electric outlets 66 are coupled to a power source of the hospital. Electric lines are routed from the power source located remotely from the patient room 38 to the associated electric outlets 66. The electric lines may be routed through one or more of the ceiling, the floor or the walls of the patient room 38. The electric outlets 66 supply electric power to charge the on-board battery of the patient care equipment 42 stored in the cavity 62.

The data ports 68 are coupled to a network of the hospital. For example, electric lines may be routed from a central server of the network located remotely from the patient room 38 to the associated data ports 68. The electric lines may be routed through one or more of the ceiling, the floor or the walls of the patient room 38. Data, such as, for example, any one or more of audio data, video data, and informational data, is transmitted via the data ports from the central server to an on-board computer of the patient care equipment 42, and vice versa.

In addition, each side wall 52, 54 has a plurality of accessory mounting rails 80. The accessory mounting rails 80 are arranged substantially parallel to the floor 46 in the illustrated example. In some embodiments, the accessory mounting rails 80 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the floor 46. In other embodiments, some accessory mounting rails 80 are arranged substantially parallel to the floor 46, and some accessory mounting rails 80 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the floor 46. The accessory mounting rails 80 are configured to support one or more patient care accessories, such as an accessory basket 82 shown in FIG. 1, and an accessory bottle (not shown). A light 84 is coupled to the top wall 56.

In some embodiments, the enclosure 50 has one or more doors (not shown) on both the front and back sides 58, 60. The doors are movable between opened and closed positions. The doors may be transparent or opaque depending on design considerations. The width, height and depth of the enclosure 50 depends on customer specifications. The enclosure 50 forms a portion of the modular wall 20 in the illustrated example, and is about 2 feet (about 0.60 meter) wide, 6 feet (about 1.80 meters) high and 4 feet (about 1.20 meters) deep.

When a patient is in intensive or critical care, the patient is usually connected to a number of life support systems such as, for example, an infusion pump, a ventilator, an oxygen tank, a cardiac monitor, and the like. Such equipment 90 is typically supported on the mobile care cart 44. The mobile care cart 44 provides critical care to a patient while the patient is in the hospital room 38, while the patient is being transported to another area, and while the patient is shifted from one support, such as a stretcher, to another support, such as an x-ray table. During the transport, mobile care cart 44 provides uninterrupted DC power to the critical care equipment 90. As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 7, a rechargeable on-board battery 92 is mounted on the mobile care cart 44. The mobile care cart 44 may also include a computer 94 for controlling the operation of the critical care equipment 90. Examples of mobile care carts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,117,521; 5,335,651; 5,337,845, 5,966,760 and 6,725,483, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. The computer 94 may include a display panel for displaying patient vital signs data and for providing information regarding the status of the critical care equipment 90.

For storage, the mobile care cart 44 is rolled on wheels 96 into the equipment-receiving cavity 62. Terminals 98 of the-on-board battery 92 are coupled via electric cables 100 to an electrical outlet 66 of the storage module 24 to charge the on-board battery 92 while the mobile care cart 44 is stored in the cavity 62. Likewise, a data port 102 of the computer 94 is coupled via an electric line 104 to a data port 68 of the storage module 24 to transmit data to the network of the hospital from the computer 94, and to receive data from the network.

The illustrative pass-through storage module 24, the alcove storage modules 26, 28 and the open-shelf storage module 32 each include at least one of the following: an electric outlet 66, a data port 68, and an accessory mounting rail 80. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the alcove equipment storage module 26 includes a box-shaped enclosure 120 having a pair of spaced-apart side walls 122, 124, a top wall 126, a back wall 127, a front side 128 facing the patient room 38, a back side 130 facing the corridor 40, and an equipment-receiving cavity 132 that is open to the patient room 38. The patient care equipment 42 is stored in the cavity 132 when the patient care equipment 42 is not in use. The patient care equipment 42 can be moved into and out of the cavity 132 from the front side 128. The cavity 132 is open to the floor 46 so that the patient care equipment 42 can be easily rolled into and out of the cavity 132 from the patient room side 128.

Each side wall 122, 124 and the back wall 127 has a plurality of connectors 64 such as, for example, electric outlets 66 and data ports 68. In other embodiments, the outlets 66 and the ports 68 are omitted from one or more of the walls 122, 124, 127. The electrical outlets 66 and the data ports 68 are arranged along respective tracks or strips 70, 72 which extend substantially parallel to the floor 46 in the illustrated example. In addition, each side wall 122, 124 and the back wall 127 has a plurality of accessory mounting rails 80. In the illustrated example, some accessory mounting rails 80 are arranged substantially parallel to the floor 46 and some accessory mounting rails 80 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the floor 46. The accessory mounting rails 80 parallel to the floor 46 may support one or more shelves (not shown) for supporting smaller and lighter patient care equipment 42, such as ventilators, infusion pumps, cardiac monitors, and the like.

The alcove equipment storage module 28 is substantially the same as the alcove equipment storage module 26 described above except that the alcove equipment storage module 28 has a door 30 as shown in FIG. 1. The door 30 is movable between opened and closed positions. The door 30 has a glass window 31. In some embodiments, the door 30 includes an LCD panel (not shown). The width, height and depth of the enclosure 120 depends on customer specifications. The enclosure 120 forms a portion of the modular wall 20 in the illustrated example, and is about 2 feet (about 0.60 meter) wide, 6 feet (about 1.80 meters) high and 4 feet (about 1.20 meters) deep in the illustrated example.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the open shelf equipment storage module 32 includes a box-shaped enclosure 140 having a pair of spaced-apart side walls 142, 144, a bottom wall 145, a top wall 146, a back wall 147, a front side 148 facing the patient room 38, a back side 150 facing the corridor 40, and an equipment-receiving cavity 152 that is open to the patient room 38. As shown in FIG. 6, the open-shelf equipment storage module 32 is supported above the drawer modules 36 so that the bottom wall 145 of the storage module 32 is spaced from the floor 46. The patient care equipment 42 is stored in the cavity 152 when the patient care equipment 42 is not in use. The patient care equipment 42 can be moved into and out of the cavity 152 from the patient room side 148. Equipment 42 placed in the modules 32 is typically smaller and lighter than the equipment placed in the modules 24, 26, 28. Examples of equipment 42 placed in the modules 32 include computers, IV pumps, patient physiological condition monitors, and the like.

The back wall 147 has a plurality of connectors 64 such as, for example, electric outlets 66 and data ports 68. The electrical outlets 66 and the data ports 68 are arranged along respective tracks or strips 70, 72 which extend substantially parallel to the floor 46 in the illustrated example. i n addition, the back wall 147 has a plurality of accessory mounting rails 80. In the illustrated example, some accessory mounting rails 80 are arranged substantially parallel to the floor 46 and some accessory mounting rails 80 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the floor 46. In some embodiments, the enclosure 140 has a door (not shown). The width, height and depth of the enclosure 140 depends on customer specifications. The enclosure 140 forms a portion of the modular wall 20 in the illustrated example, and is about 2 feet (about 0.60 meter) wide, 2 feet (about 0.60 meter) high and 4 feet (about 1.20 meters) deep in the illustrated example.

In the illustrated embodiment, the equipment storage modules 24, 26, 28, and 32 form the modular wall 20 in a hospital or a healthcare facility. Illustratively, the modular wall 20 is of the type disclosed in the aforesaid PCT/US2005/______, (attorney docket no. 7175-78000). As shown in FIG. 8, the wall 20 includes a plurality of infrastructure components 202. The infrastructure components 202 include a plurality of frame units 204 and a plurality of supporting members 206. In the illustrated embodiment, the supporting members 206 are hangers configured to be detachably coupled to the frame units 204.

Each frame unit 204 includes a pair of vertical members 208 and a pair of horizontal members 210 extending between the vertical members 208 near the top and the bottom of the frame units 204 to form a generally rectangular structure with an open space or cavity 214 in the middle that extends between the front and back sides of the frame unit 204. The center-to-center spacing between the vertical members 208 of a frame unit 204 is about 2 feet (about 0.60 meter). The center-to-center spacing between the horizontal members 210 is about 8 feet (about 2.40 meters). In those locations of the infrastructure components 202 where the pass-through modules 24 are present, the frame members 210 adjacent the floor 46 are omitted. Illustratively, the vertical and horizontal members 208, 210 are made from tubular members having generally rectangular cross section.

Illustratively, the vertical members 208 of each frame unit 204 have a first plurality of connection points 212 facing the front side of the frame unit 204 and a second plurality of connection points 212 facing the back side of the frame unit 204. In the illustrated embodiment, the first plurality of connection points 212 are a first plurality of hanger-receiving openings 212 extending along the depth dimension facing the front side of the frame unit 204 and the second plurality of connection points 212 are a second plurality of hanger-receiving openings 212 extending along the depth dimension facing the back side of the frame unit 204. The hanger-receiving openings 212 are sized and shaped to receive the hangers 206. When inserted, the hangers 206 fit into the hanger-receiving openings 212 in the frame units 204 so that they firmly lock in place. Illustratively, both the hangers 206 and the hanger-receiving openings 212 are generally rectangular in cross section. The hangers 206 extend generally horizontally away from the frame units 204 in a cantilevered fashion. As explained below, the lengths of the hangers 206 generally match the depth of the respective modules 22 supported by such hangers 206.

The center-to-center lateral spacing between the hanger-receiving openings 212 in the vertical members 208 of each frame unit 204 along the width dimension or the x-axis is fixed. Illustratively, the center-to-center lateral spacing between the hanger-receiving openings 212 is about 2 feet (about 0.60 meter). The center-to-center vertical spacing between the hanger-receiving openings 212 in the vertical members 208 of each frame unit 204 along the height dimension or the z-axis is also fixed. Illustratively, the center-to-center spacing between the hanger-receiving openings 212 along the height dimension is about 2 feet (about 0.60 meter). Thus, the hanger-receiving openings 212 form a 2 feet-by-2 feet (about 0.60 meter-by-about 0.60 meter) grid in the illustrated embodiment.

The modules 22, including, for example, the equipment storage modules 24, 26, 28, and 32, have a width substantially equal to a discrete multiple, including one, of the predetermined lateral spacing between the hanger-receiving openings 212 (2 feet or about 0.60 meter in the illustrated example). Also, the modules 22, have a height substantially equal to a discrete multiple, including one, of the predetermined vertical spacing between the hanger-receiving openings 212 (2 feet or about 0.60 meter in the illustrated example). A first plurality of modules 22 may be supported by the hangers 206 on the front side of the frame units 204. A second plurality of modules 22 may be supported by hangers 206 on the back side of the frame units 204. Each module 22 includes a pair of oppositely-disposed guide tracks (not shown) near the upper and lower ends of the module 22. The guide tracks slidably receive the hangers 206 secured to the frame units 204. Latches (not shown) may secure the modules 22 to the hangers 206.

The lower horizontal member 210 of each frame unit 204 has a pair of vertically-extending through openings 220 for securing the frame unit 204 to a floor 222 of the healthcare facility. Likewise, the upper horizontal member 210 of each frame unit 204 has a pair of vertically-extending through openings 220 for securing the frame unit 204 to a ceiling 224 of the healthcare facility where the frame unit 204 extends from the floor 222 to the ceiling 224. Any suitable fasteners 226, such as studs, pins, screws or nuts and bolts, may be used for securing the frame units 204 to the floor 222 and to the ceiling 224. In the FIG. 8 embodiment, the frame units 204 are secured to a base board 228, instead of the floor 222, so that the modules 22 can be protected, for example, from mops, floor cleaning equipment etc. The base board 228 is, in turn, secured to the floor 222. In those locations of the infrastructure components 202 where the pass-through modules 24 are present, the lower horizontal frame members 210 and the base board 228 adjacent the floor 222 are omitted.

In the illustrative embodiment, each frame unit 204 is coupled to the adjoining frame units 204 on either side thereof. In addition, the frame unit 204 closest to an existing conventional wall of the healthcare facility is secured thereto. To this end, the vertical members 208 of each frame unit 204 have a plurality of laterally-extending through openings 232. Any suitable fasteners 234, such as studs, pins, screws or nuts and bolts, may be used for securing each frame unit 204 to the adjoining frame units 204 on the opposite sides thereof and to the adjoining existing conventional wall.

Utility lines 242 may be routed from the mechanical room of the healthcare facility into the patient room 38. These utility lines 242 may typically be routed through one of the floor 222, the ceiling 224 or the wall 20 of the patient room 38. The horizontal members 210 have vertically-extending through slots or cutouts 240 through which utility lines 242 enter the open space or the cavity 214 defined by the frame members 208, 210. The utility lines 242 are then routed from the open space 214 to the associated modules 22. Illustratively, the utility lines 242 include data lines, gas lines, vacuum lines, AC/DC power lines, hot and cold water lines and plumbing lines.

In addition, laterally-extending through openings (not shown) may be formed in the vertical members 208 of the frame units 204 for passing the utility lines 242 from an open space 214 in one frame unit 204 to an open space 214 in the next adjacent frame unit 204 on either side thereof. From the open spaces 214 in the next adjacent frame units 204, the utility lines 242 are then routed to the associated modules 22. The open space 214 in the frame units 204 may be filled with sound and/or thermal insulation material. Thus, the modular wall 20 comprises a plurality of frame units 204 configured to form a grid of vertically and laterally spaced apart wall spaces having a predetermined height and a predetermined width, and a plurality of modules 22, such as the equipment storage modules 24, 26, 28, and 32, are positioned in the associated wall spaces.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have herein been described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

There is a plurality of advantages of the present invention arising from the various features of the embodiments described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the present invention may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of a device that incorporates one or more of the features of the present invention and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An equipment storage module for use with patient care equipment having a first connector, the equipment storage module comprising an enclosure having a cavity in which the patient care equipment is configured to be stored, the enclosure having a second connector configured to be coupled to the first connector when the patient care equipment is stored in the cavity.

2. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the equipment storage module forms a portion of a wall in a hospital.

3. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the first connector is coupled to a rechargeable on-board battery of the patient care equipment, and the second connector comprises an electrical outlet.

4. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the first connector is coupled to a first data port of a user interface device of the patient care equipment, and the second connector comprises a second data port.

5. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the user interface device includes a microprocessor.

6. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the enclosure has a wall defining a portion of the cavity, and the second connector is coupled to the wall.

7. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein one of the walls of the enclosure has a plurality of electrical outlets.

8. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the plurality of electrical outlets are arranged along a track that extends substantially parallel to a floor supporting the enclosure.

9. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the enclosure has a back wall, and the plurality of electrical outlets are coupled to the back wall.

10. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the enclosure has a side wall, and the plurality of electrical outlets are coupled to the side wall.

11. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein one of the walls of the enclosure has a plurality of data ports.

12. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the plurality of data ports are arranged along a strip that extends substantially parallel to a floor supporting the enclosure.

13. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the enclosure has a back wall, and the plurality of data ports are coupled to the back wall.

14. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the enclosure has a side wall, and the plurality of data ports are coupled to the side wall.

15. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein one of the walls of the enclosure has an accessory mounting rail.

16. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein one of the walls of the enclosure has a plurality of accessory mounting rails.

17. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the accessory mounting rails are arranged substantially parallel to a floor supporting the enclosure.

18. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the accessory mounting rails are arranged substantially perpendicular to a floor supporting the enclosure.

19. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the enclosure has a back wall, and at least some of the accessory mounting rails are coupled to the back wall.

20. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the enclosure has a side wall, and at least some of the accessory mounting rails are coupled to the side wall.

21. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the cavity is open to a floor supporting the enclosure.

22. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the cavity is open to a front of the enclosure.

23. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the enclosure has a door that is movable between a first position allowing access to the cavity and a second position preventing access to the cavity.

24. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the door is opaque.

25. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the door is transparent.

26. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the door includes an LCD panel.

27. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the door is lockable.

28. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the electrical outlet supplies power to charge the on-board battery of the patient care equipment while the patient care equipment is stored in the cavity.

29. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein data is uploaded to or download from the user interface device through the data port while the patient care equipment is stored in the cavity.

30. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the patient care equipment storage module is a pass-through module.

31. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the equipment storage module has a front side facing a first space and a back side facing a second space, and the cavity is accessible from both the first and second spaces.

32. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the first space is a patient room and the second space is an adjoining corridor.

33. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the first space is a patient room and the second space is an adjoining room.

34. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the equipment storage module has one or more doors on both the front and back sides thereof, and each door is movable between a first position allowing access to the cavity and a second position preventing access to the cavity.

35. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein at least one door is opaque.

36. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein at least one door is transparent.

37. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein at least one door includes an LCD panel.

38. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein at least one door is lockable.

39. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, further comprising a light coupled to one of the walls of the enclosure.

40. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the light is coupled to a top wall of the enclosure.

41. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the patient care equipment is supported on a bottom wall of the enclosure.

42. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the bottom wall is spaced from a floor supporting the enclosure.

43. The equipment storage module of any preceding claim, wherein the equipment storage module forms a portion of a modular wall in a hospital, the modular wall comprises a plurality of frame units configured to form a grid of vertically and laterally spaced apart wall spaces having predetermined heights and predetermined widths, and the equipment storage module is positioned in one of the wall spaces.

44. An equipment storage module for use with a modular wall including a plurality of frame units configured to form a grid of vertically and laterally spaced apart wall spaces having predetermined heights and predetermined widths, the equipment storage module comprising an enclosure having a cavity in which patient care equipment is configured to be stored, the patient care equipment having a first connector, the enclosure having a second connector configured to be coupled to the first connector when the patient care equipment is stored in the cavity, the equipment storage module being positioned in one of the wall spaces to form a portion of the modular wall.

45. A modular wall in a hospital comprising: a plurality of frame units configured to form a grid of vertically and laterally spaced apart wall spaces having predetermined heights and predetermined widths, and an equipment storage module positioned in one of the wall spaces to form a portion of the modular wall, the equipment storage module comprising an enclosure having a cavity in which patient care equipment is configured to be stored, the patient care equipment having a first connector, the enclosure having a second connector configured to be coupled to the first connector when the patient care equipment is stored in the cavity.

46. The modular wall of claim any preceding claim, wherein each frame unit has a plurality of connection points spaced apart from each other by a predetermined height and a predetermined width to form a grid, and the equipment storage module is coupled to at least one of the connection points.

47. The modular wall of claim any preceding claim, wherein the equipment storage module has a width substantially equal to a multiple, including one, of the predetermined width of the connection points and having a height substantially equal to a multiple, including one, of the predetermined height of the connection points.