The present disclosure relates to patient support apparatuses, such as hospital beds. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to displays for hospital beds that are used to control various functions of the hospital bed.
Patient support apparatuses, such as hospital beds, have user inputs that are used to control various features and functions of the beds. Examples of some of the functions that a hospital bed may have include raising or lowering one or more sections of the bed; adjusting a configuration of a bed frame, support surface, or any portion thereof; and activating or deactivating alarms, communications, and other automated features of the patient support. Some patient support apparatuses include mattresses that are sometimes configured to provide therapeutic functions and/or features to the patient, including pressure redistribution, turning assistance, rotation, percussion and vibration, low air loss, and the like. Additionally, some patient support apparatuses provide various communications and control functions, such as calling the nurse, adjusting the room light or reading light, controlling video functions (television, streaming media, DVD, etc.) and audio functions, accessing the Internet, preparing email, or controlling the telephone. Patient support apparatuses that offer such functions may include a user interface device to provide the caregiver and/or other persons control over the operation of those functions.
The present invention comprises one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter:
According to one aspect, a patient support apparatus may include a frame, a siderail coupled to the frame and movable between raised and lowered positions relative to the frame, and a display screen pivotably coupled to the siderail. The display screen may be pivotable about a first axis. The display screen may display a first graphical user interface when the display screen is positioned at a first position about the first axis and a second graphical user interface when the display screen is positioned at a second position about the first axis.
In some embodiments, the display screen may be pivotable about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis. In some embodiments, the first graphical user interface may be a caregiver interface. In some embodiments, the second graphical user interface may be a patient interface.
In some embodiments, the display screen may be controlled based on a signal received from a position sensor operable to measure the position of the display screen relative to gravity. Additionally, in some embodiments, the position sensor may be an accelerometer. In some embodiments, the patient support apparatus may further include an electronic controller electrically coupled to the display screen and the position sensor. The controller may include a processor and a memory device electrically coupled to the processor. The memory device may have stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to communicate with the position sensor to determine a current position of the display screen, operate the display screen to generate the first graphical user interface when the current position is the first position, and operate the display screen to generate the second graphical user interface when the current position is the second position.
In some embodiments, the display screen may be a touchscreen operable to receive user input. In some embodiments, the display screen may be received in a slot formed in the siderail when the display screen is positioned in the first position. Additionally, in some embodiments, the first graphical user interface may face outwardly away from the patient support surface when the display screen is positioned in the first position.
In some embodiments, the first graphical user interface may have a first viewing orientation, and the second graphical user interface may have a second viewing orientation. The second viewing orientation may be upside down from the first viewing orientation.
According to another aspect, a siderail for a patient support apparatus may include a panel configured to be coupled to the patient support apparatus and a display screen pivotably coupled to the panel. The display screen may be pivotable about a first axis. The siderail also may have a position sensor operable to measure the position of the display screen about the first axis and an electronic controller electrically coupled to the display screen and the position sensor. The controller may include a processor and a memory device electrically coupled to the processor. The memory device may have stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to communicate with the position sensor to determine a current position of the display screen about the first axis and operate the display screen to generate a graphical user interface based on the current position.
In some embodiments, the graphical user interface may be a caregiver interface when the current position is a first position about the first axis. In some embodiments, the graphical user interface may be a patient interface when the current position is a second position about the first axis. In some embodiments of the siderail, the position sensor may be an accelerometer.
According to another aspect, a patient support apparatus may include a frame, a flexible mounting arm coupled to the frame at a first end, and a display screen secured to the second end of the flexible mounting arm. The display screen may display a caregiver interface when the display screen is placed in a first position relative to the patient support surface and a patient interface when the display screen is placed in a second position relative to the patient support surface.
In some embodiments, the patient support apparatus may include an electronic controller electrically coupled to the display screen and the position sensor. The controller may include a processor and a memory device electrically coupled to the processor. The memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to communicate with the position sensor to determine a current position of the display screen relative to the patient support surface, operate the display screen to generate the caregiver interface when the current position is the first position, and operate the display screen to generate the patient interface when the current position is the second position. In some embodiments, the flexible mounting arm may define an arc when the display screen is placed in the second position.
Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), such as those listed above and those listed in the 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.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present 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 invention as defined by the appended claims.
Referring now to
The patient support apparatus 10 has a head end 12 and a foot end 14 and includes a bed frame 16. The bed frame 16 has a base 18, an intermediate frame 20 positioned above the base 18, and a deck 22 positioned above the frame 20. A patient support surface 24 is supported by the deck 22. The support surface 24 includes a cover defining an interior region in which a variety of support components such as air bladders, foam, three-dimensional thermoplastic fibers, and/or other support elements may be arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, air bladders are configured to provide one or more therapeutic services to a person positioned on the support surface 24.
The bed frame 16 also includes a lift mechanism to raise and lower the frame 20 relative to the base 18, a head articulation mechanism to raise and lower a head and/or upper torso section 30 of the support surface 24, and foot articulation mechanism to raise and lower a lower body section 34 of the support surface 24. As such, the patient support apparatus 10 is configured to assume a variety of positions, including a horizontal position, a chair-like position, Trendelenburg, reverse Trendelenburg, and/or other positions.
Angle sensors 26, 28 enable automatic detection of a change in position of sections of the support surface 24. The head of bed angle sensor 26 generates an electrical output signal indicative of the movement of head section 30 while it is being raised or lowered and transmits that electrical output signal to a bed control system 32 (see
The patient support apparatus 10 also has a number of barriers 36 positioned adjacent to the perimeter of the support surface 24. The number of barriers 36 include a headboard 38 positioned at the head end 12, a footboard 40 positioned at the foot end 14, and siderails 42, 44, 46, 48 coupled to the frame 20 via couplers 50. The couplers 50 are configured to move the siderails 42, 44, 46, 48 from a raised position, as shown in
Referring now to
The interface device 64 includes a housing 66 and a mounting arm 68 extending away from the housing 66. The mounting arm 68 includes a pair of shafts 70, 72. The shaft 70 extends from an end 74 coupled to the housing 66 to an end 76 secured to the shaft 72. The shaft 72 extends orthogonally to the shaft 70 and is pivotably coupled to the upper end 56 of the panel 52 at a pivot joint 78. As indicated by arrows 80 in
A multifunctional display screen 90 is positioned in the housing 66, and the display screen 90 is operable to generate or display multiple graphical user interfaces 92, 94 that enable a person to electronically control one or more features of the patient support apparatus 10, including, for example, positioning of the sections of the deck 22 and support surface 24. When the interface device 64 is positioned in the recess 62, the display screen 90 faces away from the frame 16 and the support surface 24. The graphical user interface 92 has one viewing orientation (see
A position sensor 100 is positioned in the housing 66 to monitor the position of the interface device 64 about the axis 82. As embodied in
The control system 32 for the patient support apparatus 10 includes an electrical junction box 102 that is secured to the bed frame 16. U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,511, which is entitled “Communication Network for a Hospital Bed,” describes an exemplary control system 32 and is expressly incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,390, which is entitled “Patient Support Apparatus Having a Controller Area Network,” describes another exemplary embodiment of control system 32 and is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Referring now to
The electronic controller 110 also includes an analog interface circuit 116. The analog interface circuit 116 converts the output signal from the various electronic components, (e.g., position sensor 100) into a signal which is suitable for presentation to an input of the microprocessor 112. In particular, the analog interface circuit 116, by use of an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter (not shown) or the like, converts the analog signals generated by the sensors into digital signals for use by the microprocessor 112. It should be appreciated that the A/D converter may be embodied as a discrete device or number of devices, or may be integrated into the microprocessor 112. It should also be appreciated that if any of the components generate a digital output signal, the analog interface circuit 116 may be bypassed.
Similarly, the analog interface circuit 116 converts signals from the microprocessor 112 into output signals which are suitable for the display screen 90 and the bed control system 32. In particular, the analog interface circuit 116, by use of a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter (not shown) or the like, converts the digital signals generated by the microprocessor 112 into analog signals for use by the various electronic components (e.g., control system 32). It should be appreciated that, similar to the A/D converter described above, the D/A converter may be embodied as a discrete device or number of devices, or may be integrated into the microprocessor 112. It should also be appreciated that if any of the components operate on a digital input signal, the analog interface circuit 116 may be bypassed.
Thus, the electronic controller 110 may control the operation of the display screen 90 in accordance with the signals received from the position sensor 100 and the bed control system 32. In particular, the electronic controller 110 executes a routine including, amongst other things, a control scheme in which the electronic controller 110 monitors output of the position sensor 100 to control the graphical user interface generated by the display screen 90, as described below.
Referring now to
In step 204, the controller 110 compares the current location of the interface device 64 to a plurality of caregiver display positions stored in the memory device 114. The plurality of caregiver display positions may be stored as a range of positions about the axis 82 or as a number of discrete positions. As shown in
In step 206, the controller 110 operates the display screen 90 to generate a caregiver interface on the display screen 90. The term “caregiver interface” is defined herein as a graphical user interface including graphics and controls that enable the caregiver to control all features and functions of the patient support apparatus. In some embodiments, those features include positioning of the support surface 24, activating or deactivating therapeutic functions, operating patient lock-out functions, and controlling any other function of the patient support apparatus 10. The caregiver interface may also provide the caregiver with access to the patient's physiological data, such as, for example, the patient's current heart rate and brain activity, as well as historical data. Additionally, the caregiver interface may provide the caregiver with access to the patient's electronic medical records. As shown in
Returning to step 204, when the current location of the interface device 64 is not one of the caregiver display positions, the routine 200 advances to step 208. In step 208, the controller 110 operates the display screen 90 to generate a patient interface on the display screen 90. The term “patient interface” is defined herein as a graphical user interface that includes graphics and controls that enable the patient to control a subset of the features and functions of the patient support apparatus. For example, the patient interface may enable the patient to use various communication and control functions, such as, for example, calling the nurse, adjusting the room light or reading light, controlling video functions (television, streaming media, DVD, etc.) and audio functions, accessing the Internet, preparing email, or controlling the telephone. Additionally, the patient interface may enable the patient to change the positioning of the support surface 24. The number of features and functions that may be accessed using the patient interface may be set by the caregiver using the caregiver interface or may be limited by the bed manufacturer. As shown in
It will be appreciated that in other embodiments the caregiver may wish to share information available only on the caregiver interface. In such embodiments, the caregiver interface may include a lock control that the caregiver may activate to maintain the caregiver interface. When the lock control is activated, the display screen 90 generates only the caregiver interface, regardless of the position of the interface device 64 about the axis 82.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The patient support apparatus 300 has an interface device 310 coupled to the frame 20 via a flexible mounting arm 312 (see
The flexible mounting arm 312 is operable to place the interface device 310 in a number of positions relative to the support surface 24. As shown in
The interface device 310 includes a housing 324 that is coupled to the flexible mounting arm 312. A multifunctional display screen 322 is positioned in the housing 324, and the display screen 322 is operable to generate multiple graphical user interfaces that enable a person to electronically control one or more features of the patient support apparatus 300, including, for example, positioning of the sections of the support surface 24. The display screen 322 is embodied as a touchscreen that generates or displays graphics 326 and controls 328 as part of the graphical user interfaces. Similar to the display screen 90 discussed above in connection with
A position sensor 330 is also positioned in the housing 324 to monitor the position of the interface device 310 relative to the support surface 24. As embodied in
The interface device 310 also includes an electronic controller 340. The electronic controller 340, like the electronic controller 110 discussed above in connection with
To do so, the electronic controller 340 executes a control scheme similar to that shown in
When the current location of the interface device 310 is not one of the caregiver display positions, the controller 340 operates the display screen 322 to generate a patient interface on the display screen 322. When located in the position shown in
Although certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detail above, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of this disclosure as described and as defined in the following claims.
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