The present disclosure relates to patient support apparatuses, such as beds, cots, stretchers, recliners, or the like. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to patient support apparatuses that are adapted to communicate with an existing nurse call system and/or one or more room controls.
Existing hospital beds often include an exit detection system that detects when the patient leaves the bed and notifies a nurse call system that the patient has left the bed. Existing hospital beds also often include a nurse call button and a speaker that together allow the patient to communicate with a remote nurse using the nurse call system. Still other features and/or information regarding the bed may also be communicated to and/or through the nurse call system, or to a room interface board that controls various aspects of the room in which the patient support apparatus is positioned (e.g. volume, channel, and power of a television, room temperature, room lights, etc.)
In many nurse call systems, the audio communication channel between the bed and the nurse call system is a half duplex communication channel. In such situations, the bed often includes a speaker that functions as both a speaker and a microphone, and the nurse call system controls when the speaker is emitting sounds for the patient to hear and when the speaker is acting as a microphone to transmit sounds to the remotely positioned nurse. The nurse call system is thereby able to control which direction audio signals are communicated over the half duplex communication channel.
Further, in many nurse call systems, the audio connection between the bed and the nurse call system is often additionally used for transmitting sounds from a nearby television to the speaker onboard the bed. In such systems, the nurse call system controls a switch (positioned off-board the bed, such as on the room interface board) that switches between transmitting nurse audio signals over the audio communication channel to the bed and transmitting television audio signals over the audio communication channel to the bed. Control of both the directionality of the half-duplex nurse call audio channel, as well as the content of the audio (TV versus nurse call audio) therefore typically resides with the nurse call system, and such control complicates the design of products, such as beds, that interface with the nurse call system.
According to various embodiments, the present disclosure provides one or more improved features for interfacing a patient support apparatus to a conventional nurse call system. In at least one embodiment, the present disclosure enables a patient support apparatus to include both a separate microphone and a separate speaker and to control when the speaker is coupled to the half duplex nurse call audio channel of the nurse call system and when the microphone is coupled to the half duplex nurse call audio channel of the nurse call system. The system, in some embodiments, also facilitates and eases the design of a wireless interface between the patient support apparatus wherein the wireless interface may be coupled by wires to the nurse call interface and communicate with the patient support apparatus wirelessly. In still other embodiments, the nurse call interface may be incorporated into the patient support apparatus, or into an intermediate device that plugs into one end of a nurse call cable that extends between the patient support apparatus and the nurse call outlet.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a bed is provided that includes a litter frame, a support deck, a lift system, a speaker, a microphone, and a nurse call interface. The support deck is supported by the litter frame and is adapted to support a patient thereon. The lift system is adapted to change a height of the litter frame relative to a floor on which the bed is positioned. The nurse call interface is adapted to interface between the bed and a wall-mounted nurse call outlet having a plurality of pins. The nurse call interface is further adapted allow a patient supported on the support deck to communicate with a remotely positioned nurse. The nurse call interface includes the following: a nurse call audio channel communicatively coupled to first and second audio pins of the plurality of pins of the nurse call outlet; a bed microphone channel communicatively coupled to the microphone; a bed speaker channel communicatively coupled to the speaker; a switch adapted to switch between a first state in which the nurse call audio channel is communicatively coupled to the bed microphone channel and a second state in which the nurse call audio channel is communicatively coupled to the bed speaker channel; and a switch controller adapted to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state.
According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the switch controller may include a nurse call light input that is adapted to communicate with a nurse call light pin from the plurality of pins of the nurse call outlet. In such embodiments, the switch controller uses a signal from the nurse call light input to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state.
In some embodiments, the switch controller also, or alternatively, includes a nurse call answer light input that is adapted to communicate with a nurse call answer light pin from the plurality of pins of the nurse call outlet. In such embodiments, the switch controller uses a signal from the nurse call answer light input to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state.
The bed, in some embodiments, further includes a talk switch adapted to be activated by the patient when the patient wishes to talk to the remotely positioned nurse. In such embodiments, the talk switch communicates with the switch controller and the switch controller uses a signal from the talk switch to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state. The talk switch may be a button adapted to be pressed when the patient wishes to talk to the remotely positioned nurse, or it may take on other forms.
In some embodiments, the switch controller is adapted to analyze a signal on the bed microphone channel and to use the analysis of the signal to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state. The analysis may include echo cancellation to remove any component of the signal due to sounds emitted from the speaker and captured by the microphone. The analysis may also, or alternatively, include detecting an audio signal from the patient, in which case the switch controller is adapted to change the switch to the first state if the switch controller detects the audio signal from the patient on the bed microphone channel. The switch controller may also change the switch to the second state if the switch controller does not detect an audio signal from the patient on the bed microphone channel.
In some embodiments, the switch controller is adapted to analyze a signal on the nurse call audio channel and to use the analysis of the signal to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state. The switch controller may also, or alternatively, include a television audio detector in communication with the nurse call audio channel that is adapted to distinguish between television audio signals and nurse call audio signals that are present on the nurse call audio channel. The television audio signals come from a television and the nurse call audio signals come from a nurse call microphone positioned adjacent the remotely positioned nurse. In such embodiments, the audio detector may be adapted to distinguish between the television audio signals and the nurse call audio signals that are present on the nurse call audio channel by sending a mute signal to the television and monitoring any change in signals present on the nurse call audio channel.
In some embodiments, the switch controller is adapted to set the switch to the first state when the switch controller detects a patient voice signal on the bed microphone channel to thereby add the patient voice signal on the bed microphone channel to the nurse call audio channel.
In some embodiments, the nurse call interface further includes a first audio detector adapted to detect a first audio signal on the nurse call audio channel and a second audio detector adapted to detect a second audio signal on the bed microphone channel. The switch controller uses a first signal from the first audio detector and a second signal from the second audio detector to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state. The switch controller may be further configured to set the switch to the first state when both the first audio detector detects the first audio signal on the nurse call audio channel and the second audio detector detects the second audio signal on the bed microphone channel.
Alternatively, the switch controller may be further configured to set the switch to the second state when both the first audio detector detects the first audio signal on the nurse call audio channel and the second audio detector detects the second audio signal on the bed microphone channel.
In some embodiments, the bed further comprises a second microphone coupled to the switch controller, wherein the switch controller is adapted to use signals from the second microphone to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state.
The switch, in some embodiments, is integrated into a microcontroller adapted to execute a set of instructions. The set of instructions cause the microcontroller, when executed, to analyze signals on the bed microphone channel and the nurse call audio channel and to use the analysis to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state.
The switch controller is further adapted to perform the following, in some embodiments: (a) monitor a state of a particular pin from the plurality of pins during an installation test in which the remotely positioned nurse transmits an audio signal to the nurse call audio channel, the particular pin being different from both the first and second audio pins; and (b) if the particular pin changes state during the installation test, to use the state of the particular pin subsequent to the installation test to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state; and (c) if the particular pin does not change state during the installation test, to not use the state of the particular pin subsequent to the installation test to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state. In some embodiments, the particular pin is a nurse call answer light pin.
The switch controller, in some embodiments, is further adapted to monitor a state of a second particular pin during the installation test and, if the state of the second particular pin changes state during the installation test, to use the state of the second particular pin to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state, and if the second particular pin does not change state during the installation test, to not use the state of the second particular pin to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state. The second particular pin may be an audio transfer pin.
In some embodiments, the switch controller is further adapted to perform the following: (a) analyze signals on the nurse call audio channel during an installation test, wherein the installation test comprises a first phase in which first audio signals from a television are supplied to the nurse call audio channel and a second phase in which second audio signals from a remotely positioned nurse are supplied to the nurse call audio channel; (b) attempt to identify a distinguishing characteristic between the first and second audio signals; and (c) if a distinguishing characteristic is identified, to use the distinguishing characteristic subsequent to the installation test to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a wireless nurse call interface is provided that is adapted to be mounted to a wall and to provide an interface between a bed and a wall-mounted nurse call outlet having a plurality of pins. The wireless nurse call interface thereby allows a patient supported on the bed to communicate with a remotely positioned nurse. The wireless nurse call interface comprises a nurse call audio channel, a bed microphone channel, a bed speaker channel, a switch, and a switch controller. The nurse call audio channel is communicatively coupled to first and second audio pins of the plurality of pins of the nurse call outlet. The bed microphone channel is communicatively coupled to a wireless receiver that is adapted to receive audio signals from the bed that are generated by an onboard microphone. The bed speaker channel is communicatively coupled to a wireless transmitter that is adapted to transmit audio signals to the bed to be communicated to an onboard speaker. The switch is adapted to switch between a first state in which the nurse call audio channel is communicatively coupled to the bed microphone channel and a second state in which the nurse call audio channel is communicatively coupled to the bed speaker channel. The switch controller is adapted to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state.
According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the switch controller includes a nurse call light input that is adapted to communicate with a nurse call light pin from the plurality of pins of the nurse call outlet. The switch controller uses a signal from the nurse call light input to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state.
The switch controller may alternatively, or additionally, include a nurse call answer light input that is adapted to communicate with a nurse call answer light pin from the plurality of pins of the nurse call outlet. The switch controller uses a signal from the nurse call answer light input to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state.
In some embodiments, the wireless nurse call interface is further adapted to receive a wireless signal from a talk switch coupled to the bed. The talk switch is adapted to be activated by the patient when the patient wishes to talk to the remotely positioned nurse, and the switch controller uses the wireless signal from the talk switch to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state. The talk switch may be a button adapted to be pressed by the patient when he or she wishes to talk to the remotely positioned nurse.
In some embodiments, the switch controller is adapted to analyze a signal on the bed microphone channel and to use the analysis of the signal to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state. The analysis may include echo cancellation to remove any component of the signal due to sounds emitted from the speaker and captured by the microphone. The analysis may also, or alternatively, include detecting an audio signal from the patient, in which case the switch controller is adapted to change the switch to the first state if the switch controller detects the audio signal from the patient on the bed microphone channel. The switch controller may also change the switch to the second state if the switch controller does not detect an audio signal from the patient on the bed microphone channel.
In some embodiments, the switch controller is adapted to analyze a signal on the nurse call audio channel and to use the analysis of the signal to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state. The switch controller may also, or alternatively, include a television audio detector in communication with the nurse call audio channel that is adapted to distinguish between television audio signals and nurse call audio signals that are present on the nurse call audio channel. The television audio signals come from a television and the nurse call audio signals come from a nurse call microphone positioned adjacent the remotely positioned nurse. In such embodiments, the audio detector may be adapted to distinguish between the television audio signals and the nurse call audio signals that are present on the nurse call audio channel by sending a mute signal to the television and monitoring any change in signals present on the nurse call audio channel.
In some embodiments, the switch controller is adapted to set the switch to the first state when the switch controller detects a patient voice signal on the bed microphone channel to thereby add the patient voice signal on the bed microphone channel to the nurse call audio channel.
In some embodiments, the nurse call interface further includes a first audio detector adapted to detect a first audio signal on the nurse call audio channel and a second audio detector adapted to detect a second audio signal on the bed microphone channel. The switch controller uses a first signal from the first audio detector and a second signal from the second audio detector to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state. The switch controller may be further configured to set the switch to the first state when both the first audio detector detects the first audio signal on the nurse call audio channel and the second audio detector detects the second audio signal on the bed microphone channel.
Alternatively, the switch controller may be further configured to set the switch to the second state when both the first audio detector detects the first audio signal on the nurse call audio channel and the second audio detector detects the second audio signal on the bed microphone channel.
In some embodiments, the wireless nurse call interface is adapted to receive signals from a second microphone onboard the bed and the switch controller is adapted to use signals from the second microphone to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state.
The switch, in some embodiments, is integrated into a microcontroller adapted to execute a set of instructions. The set of instructions cause the microcontroller, when executed, to analyze signals on the bed microphone channel and the nurse call audio channel and to use the analysis to control when to put the switch in the first state or the second state.
The wireless nurse call interface, in some embodiments, is constructed such that the wireless receiver and the wireless transmitter are integrated together into a Bluetooth transceiver.
The switch controller is adapted to perform the following, in some embodiments: (a) monitor a state of a particular pin from the plurality of pins during an installation test in which the remotely positioned nurse transmits an audio signal to the nurse call audio channel, the particular pin being different from both the first and second audio pins; and (b) if the particular pin changes state during the installation test, to use the state of the particular pin subsequent to the installation test to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state; and (c) if the particular pin does not change state during the installation test, to not use the state of the particular pin subsequent to the installation test to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state. In some embodiments, the particular pin is a nurse call answer light pin.
The switch controller, in some embodiments, is adapted to monitor a state of a second particular pin during the installation test and, if the state of the second particular pin changes state during the installation test, to use the state of the second particular pin to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state, and if the second particular pin does not change state during the installation test, to not use the state of the second particular pin to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state. The second particular pin may be an audio transfer pin.
In some embodiments, the switch controller is adapted to perform the following: (a) analyze signals on the nurse call audio channel during an installation test, wherein the installation test comprises a first phase in which first audio signals from a television are supplied to the nurse call audio channel and a second phase in which second audio signals from a remotely positioned nurse are supplied to the nurse call audio channel; (b) attempt to identify a distinguishing characteristic between the first and second audio signals; and (c) if a distinguishing characteristic is identified, to use the distinguishing characteristic subsequent to the installation test to control when the switch is in the first state and when the switch is in the second state.
In some embodiments, the switch controller includes a nurse call answer light input that communicates with a nurse call answer light pin from the plurality of pins of the nurse call outlet, and the switch controller puts the switch in the second state when then nurse call answer light pin switches to an active state. Alternatively, or additionally, the switch controller puts the switch in the first state when the nurse call answer light pin switches to an inactive state.
In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the principles of the present disclosure may be alternatively applied to a stretcher, a chair, a cot, and/or a recliner.
Before the various embodiments disclosed herein are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the claims are not to be limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments described herein are capable of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the claims to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the claims any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.
An illustrative patient support apparatus 20 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in
In general, patient support apparatus 20 includes a base 22 having a plurality of wheels 24, a pair of lifts 26 supported on the base 22, a litter frame 28 supported on the lifts 26, and a support deck 30 supported on the litter frame 28. Patient support apparatus 20 further includes a footboard 32 and a plurality of siderails 34. Siderails 34 are all shown in a raised position in
Lifts 26 are adapted to raise and lower litter frame 28 with respect to base 22. Lifts 26 may be hydraulic actuators, pneumatic actuators, electric actuators, or any other suitable device for raising and lowering litter frame 28 with respect to base 22. In the illustrated embodiment, lifts 26 are operable independently so that the tilting of litter frame 28 with respect to base 22 can also be adjusted. That is, litter frame 28 includes a head end 36 and a foot end 38, each of whose height can be independently adjusted by the nearest lift 26. Patient support apparatus 20 is designed so that when an occupant lies thereon, his or her head will be positioned adjacent head end 36 and his or her feet will be positioned adjacent foot end 38.
Litter frame 28 provides a structure for supporting support deck 30, footboard 32, and siderails 34. Support deck 30 provides a support surface for a mattress (not shown in
Patient support apparatus 20 further includes a plurality of user interfaces 48 that enable a user of patient support apparatus 20, such as a patient and/or an associated caregiver, to control one or more aspects of patient support apparatus 20. In the embodiment shown in
Among other functions, the controls of user interfaces 48 allow a user to control one or more of the following: change a height of support deck 30, raise or lower head section 40, activate and deactivate a brake for wheels 24, arm and disarm an exit detection system and, as will be explained in greater detail below, communicate with the particular IT infrastructure installed in the healthcare facility in which patient support apparatus 20 is positioned. One or both of the inner siderail user interfaces 48c also include at least one control that enables a patient to call a remotely located nurse (or other caregiver). In addition to the nurse call control, one or both of the inner siderail user interfaces 48c also include a speaker 52 (
Footboard user interface 48a is implemented in the embodiment shown in
The mechanical construction of patient support apparatus 20, as shown in
Load cells 58 are part of an exit detection system that, when armed, issues an alert when patient exits from patient support apparatus 20. The exit detection system is adapted to be armed via user interface 48. After being armed, the exit detection system determines when an occupant of patient support apparatus 20 has left, or is likely to leave, patient support apparatus 20, and issues an alert and/or notification to appropriate personnel so that proper steps can be taken in response to the occupant's departure (or imminent departure) in a timely fashion. In at least one embodiment, the exit detection system monitors the center of gravity of the patient using the system and method disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,432 issued to Travis and entitled PATIENT EXIT DETECTION MECHANISM FOR HOSPITAL BED, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, the exit detection system determines if the occupant is about to exit, or already has exited, from patient support apparatus 20 by determining a distribution of the weights detected by each load cell 58 and comparing the detected weight distribution to one or more thresholds. In such embodiments, the center of gravity may or may not be explicitly calculated.
Other manners for functioning as an exit detection system are also possible. These include, but are not limited to, any of the manners disclosed in the following commonly assigned patent applications: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/873,734 filed Oct. 2, 2015, by inventors Marko Kostic et al. and entitled PERSON SUPPORT APPARATUS WITH MOTION MONITORING; U.S. patent publication 2016/0022218 filed Mar. 13, 2014, by inventors Michael Hayes et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS WITH PATIENT INFORMATION SENSORS; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/266,575 filed Sep. 15, 2016, by inventors Anuj Sidhu et al. and entitled PERSON SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH EXIT DETECTION SYSTEMS , the complete disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Further, in some embodiments, load cells 58 may be part of both an exit detection system and a scale system that measures the weight of a patient supported on support deck 30. The outputs from the load cells 58 are processed, in some embodiments, in any of the manners disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/428,834 filed Dec. 1, 2016, by inventors Marko Kostic et al. and entitled PERSON SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH LOAD CELLS, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Regardless of how implemented, patient support apparatus 20 is adapted to communicate an alert when the exit detection system is armed and detects that a patient is about to, or has, exited. The alert is communicated to a conventional nurse call system via a nurse call interface onboard the bed. The alert may also be communicated elsewhere using other communication techniques (e.g. WiFi). The manner in which the alert is communicated to the nurse call system, as well as the manner in which the bed generally interacts with the existing IT infrastructure of a typical healthcare facility will now be described in more detail.
Patient support apparatus 20 is coupled to a nurse call outlet 88 on headwall 66 by way of a cable 90. Nurse call outlet 88, in turn, is coupled to one or conductors 92 that electrically couple the nurse call outlet 88 to nurse call system 68 and to one or more other devices, such as a television 86. Conductors 92 are typically located behind headwall 66 and not visible. In some healthcare facilities, conductors 92 may first couple to a room interface board 128 (
Cable 90 (
In order for patient support apparatus 20 to properly communicate with nurse call system 68, patient support apparatus 20 needs to be configured in a manner that physically matches the particular nurse call outlet 88 and that functionally matches how the nurse call system 68 utilizes the pins of nurse call outlet 88. In other words, different healthcare facilities 64 may utilize different brands and/or models of nurse call systems 68, and such different systems may utilize different types of nurse call outlets 88. One manner of ensuring patient support apparatus 20 is able to communicate with the particular nurse call system 68 within a given healthcare facility 64 is to utilize a customized cable 90 that correctly routes the pins of the cable 90 that are coupled to nurse call outlet 88 to the pins of cable 90 that are coupled to patient support apparatus 20. Other manners of ensuring the patient support apparatus 20 is properly configured to talk to nurse call system 68 via cable 90 are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/945,437 filed Apr. 4, 2018, by inventors Krishna Bhimavarapu et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH RECONFIGURABLE COMMUNICATION, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Still other manners of configuring patient support apparatus 20 to match the existing nurse call system 68 may be utilized.
Cable 90 includes a first end having a first connector 94 and a second end having a second connector 96 (
Further details regarding the manner in which patient support apparatus 20 communicates audio signals to and from nurse call system 68 are provided below and illustrated in
Nurse call audio channel 120 is adapted to communicatively couple to a pair of pins 130a and 130b of cable port 100 that match a pair of pins 130a and 130b of nurse call outlet 88. Pins 130a and 103b of nurse call outlet 88 are designed to transfer audio signals between the nurse call system and patient support apparatus 20. In a common conventional pin layout of a nurse call outlet 88, such as the one shown in
In virtually all current conventional nurse call systems 68, the two pins used to transmit audio between a remotely positioned nurse and the patient support apparatus 20 (pins 130a, 130b) form a half duplex communication channel that is only able to communicate such audio signals in one direction. Further, as noted previously, it is typically, if not exclusively, the case that the nurse call system 68 controls which direction information is flowing over this audio communication channel at any given time. As will be explained in greater detail below, nurse call interface 98 of patient support apparatus 20 is adapted to work in conjunction with the half duplex communication channel and determine when signals are being communicated to patient support apparatus 20 and when signals are able to be sent to the remotely positioned nurse. This determination is used by nurse call interface 98 to decide, among other things, whether the nurse call audio channel 120 should be coupled to bed speaker channel 122 (and thus speaker 52) or to bed microphone channel 124 (and thus microphone 54). When coupled to bed speaker channel 122, nurse call interface 98 is able to emit sound waves via speaker 52 that reproduce the audio signals received from the nurse call system 68 so that the patient is able to hear the remote nurse's voice. When coupled to bed microphone channel 122, nurse call interface 98 is able to transmit the patient's voice, as detected by microphone 54, to the remotely positioned nurse.
In the illustrated embodiment (
Switch controller 104 (
It will also be understood that, at least in some embodiments, switch controller 104 may be configured to change switch 102 to a third and neutral state. In such embodiments, switch controller 104 puts switch 102 in the third and neutral state when no audio communications are taking place between the patient and a remotely positioned nurse, and no television audio signals are being transmitted to the patient support apparatus 20 via nurse call audio channel 120. This neutral state may be used to reduce or eliminate noise that otherwise might be generated via speaker 52 and/or to eliminate power consumption of speaker 52 and/or microphone 54.
In addition to controlling the state of switch 102, switch controller 104 may be adapted to control other aspects of nurse call interface 98. For example, in some embodiments, nurse call interface 98 includes one or more bidirectional amplifiers (not shown) that are coupled to one or more of the nurse call audio channel 120, speaker channel 122, and/or microphone channel 124. In such embodiments, in addition to controlling the state of switch 102, switch controller 104 may be configured to control the directionality of the bidirectional amplifier. Thus, for example, if a remote nurse is speaking to the patient, the incoming signals on nurse call audio channel 120 may be amplified before being delivered to speaker 52. However, if the patient is speaking, the audio signals received from microphone 54 may be amplified before being sent along nurse call audio channel 120 back to the remotely positioned nurse (via pins 130a, 130b, and conductor 92).
The decision as to when to change switch 102 between the first and second states is carried out by the control logic 118 based upon one or more inputs. Such inputs come from one or more of the following components of switch controller 104: nurse call audio analyzer 106, patient audio analyzer 108, nurse call light input 110, nurse call answer light input 112, auxiliary microphone input 114, and/or talk switch input 116. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that switch controller 104 may be modified substantially such that control logic 118 uses fewer inputs to determine how to control switch 102, or such that control logic 118 uses additional inputs to determine how to control switch 102. Thus, for example, in some embodiments, one or both of audio analyzers 106 and/or 108 are omitted; in some embodiments nurse call light input 110 and/or nurse call answer light input 112 are omitted; and/or in some embodiments either or both of auxiliary microphone input 114 and/or talk switch input 116 are omitted. Still other modifications to switch controller 104 may be implemented.
When included, nurse call light input 110 (
In the embodiment of patient support apparatus 20 shown in
When included, nurse call answer light input 112 (
It will be understood that, although the embodiment of patient support apparatus 20 shown in
Nurse call audio analyzer 106 (
In at least one embodiment, nurse call audio analyzer 106 is configured to distinguish between the television audio signals and the nurse audio signals by first detecting signals on channel 120 and then sending a mute command (or other volume reduction command) to the television 86. After sending this command, nurse call audio analyzer 106 monitors the audio signals on channel 120 and looks for a corresponding reduction in their amplitude (or disappearance, if the volume of television 86 is completely muted). If nurse call audio analyzer 106 detects the corresponding decrease in volume, it concludes that the audio signals on channel 120 are currently coming from television 86. If the nurse call audio analyzer 106 does not detect the corresponding decrease in volume, it concludes that the audio signals on channel 120 are coming from the remotely positioned nurse call microphone 136. As will be explained in greater detail below, nurse call audio analyzer 106 forwards this conclusion to control logic 118 which uses it to control the state of switch 102. Control logic 118 is therefore apprised of whether a remotely positioned nurse is currently sending audio signals to patient support apparatus 20, television 86 is currently sending audio signals to patient support apparatus 20, or no device is currently sending audio signals to patient support apparatus 20.
After sending the mute or volume reduction command to television 86 and monitoring the resultant change, or lack of change, in the signals on nurse call audio channel 120, nurse call audio analyzer 106 subsequently sends one or more commands to rescind the prior mute or volume reduction command. That is, if analyzer 106 sends a mute command, it sends an unmute command after checking to see if the signals on audio channel 120 have responded to the mute command or not. Similarly, if analyzer 106 sends a volume reduction command, it sends a commensurate volume increase command after checking to see if the signals on audio channel 120 have responded to the volume reduction command or not. The time between the sending of the first command and the subsequent counteracting command may be less than a second such that, to the extent audio signals are present on channel 120 that are originating from TV 86, the disturbance to the patient of those signals being muted or reduced in volume, is minimized.
The mute command or volume reduction command sent by nurse call audio analyzer 106 (
Nurse call audio analyzer 106 may also, or alternatively, be configured to determine whether audio signals on channel 120 originated from television 86 or remote nurse call microphone 136 by analyzing one or more characteristics of those audio signals. Such characteristics include the spectral content of the audio signals, the average amplitude, whether any DC components are present or not, etc. In some embodiments, nurse call interface 98 is adapted to undergo an installation test during which cable 90 is plugged into patient support apparatus 20 and nurse call outlet 88 while a television 86 sends TV audio signals over conductor 92 to pins 130a and 130b of nurse call interface 98. Nurse call audio analyzer 106 is informed during this testing phase that the audio signals on channel 120 are originating from television 86, and it measures and records various characteristics of those audio signals during this time period. After a sufficiently long time period of monitoring the TV audio signals on channel 120 (sufficient to measure and identify one or more spectral characteristics of the TV audio signals), the installation test switches to a second phase in which nurse call signals from remote nurse call microphone 136 are routed to pins 130a and 130b of nurse call interface 98. During this second phase, nurse audio analyzer 106 is informed that the audio signals on channel 120 are from the nurse call microphone 136. Once again, nurse audio analyzer 106 monitors these nurse call audio signals, takes various spectral and/or amplitude measurements, and records those measurements. Thereafter, nurse call audio analyzer 106 compares the measurements taken during the first phase with those taken during the second phase and determines if any are different enough to be useful markers for distinguishing future nurse call audio signals from future television audio signals. Regardless of the outcome of this determination, nurse call audio analyzer 106 is configured to send a message to a display onboard patient support apparatus 20 (not shown) indicating to the user that a sufficient number of useful markers were or were not detected for enabling nurse call audio analyzer 106 to distinguish between television and nurse audio signals in the future.
In some embodiments, the first and second phases of the testing may be repeated one or more times with the outcomes from each testing phase fed into one or more artificial intelligence learning algorithms such that the analyzer 106 is taught by a combination of the algorithms and the repeated testing to distinguish between TV and nurse audio signals. Such artificial intelligence algorithms may comprise one or more machine learning algorithms and/or predictive modeling algorithms. In still other embodiments, nurse call audio analyzer 106 may be configured to distinguish between nurse audio signals and television audio signals in still other manners.
Patient audio analyzer 108 (
In some embodiments, patient support apparatus 20 includes an auxiliary microphone 132 (
In some embodiments, patient support apparatus 20 includes a talk switch 134 (
In at least one embodiment of nurse call interface 98, control logic 118 uses the output from talk switch 134 to control the state of switch 102 without utilizing the output from (or even including) analyzers 106, 108, auxiliary microphone 132, nurse call light input 110, and/or nurse call answer light input 112. In this particular embodiment, switch controller 104 controls the state of switch 102 according to the following truth table.
It will be understood that control logic 118 implements this truth table when after a nurse call has been placed by the patient, or after a nurse has placed a call to the patient. After the conversation between the nurse and patient has finished, switch controller 104 may change switch 102 to a third state to reduce noise. Alternatively, or additionally, switch controller 104 may shut off its amplifier and/or cut power to speaker 52 and/or microphone 54.
It will also be understood that, in those embodiments of nurse call interface 98 that include talk switch 102, talk switch 102 often replaces the function of auxiliary microphone 132. Thus, most, but not necessarily all, embodiments of nurse call interface 98 will include either auxiliary microphone 132 or talk switch 134, but not both. In those embodiments that include auxiliary microphone 132 but not talk switch 134, control logic 118 may implement a truth table like that shown above wherein the first column is replaced by the two states of auxiliary microphone 132 (detecting patient audio or not detecting patient audio).
Still further, in at least some embodiments of nurse call interface 98 that utilize talk switch 134, nurse call interface 98 is modified from what is shown in
In another embodiment of nurse call interface 98, control logic 118 follows the logic set forth in the following alternative truth table.
When following this particular truth table, switch controller 104 controls the state of switch 102 based purely on inputs 110 and 112, as well as the detection of whether a call is currently taking place or has ended. Switch controller 104 couples nurse call audio channel 120 to bed speaker channel 122 (and speaker 52) when the nurse is talking, as detected by a signal from nurse call answer light input 112, and couples nurse call audio channel 120 to bed microphone channel 124 (and microphone 54) when the patient is talking. In some embodiments, nurse call audio analyzer 106 is configured to detect the end of a nurse call by detecting a change in the characteristics of the signals on nurse call audio channel 120. It will be understood that other manners of detecting the end of a nurse call may be employed, either additionally or alternatively to nurse call audio analyzer 106.
In still another embodiment, switch controller 104 is implemented without inputs 110 and 112, as well as without one or more both of auxiliary microphone input 114 and talk switch input 116. In such embodiments, switch controller 104 is configured to control the state of the switch 102 based upon whichever audio channel 120 or 124 is detecting speech (as detected by analyzers 106 and 108, respectively). In this embodiment, if a nurse's audio signals (as opposed to audio signals from TV 86) are detected on nurse call audio channel 120, switch controller 104 changes switch 102 to the second state in which the nurse's audio signals are delivered to speaker 52. If a patient's audio signals are detected on bed microphone channel 124, switch controller 104 changes switch 102 to the first state in which the microphone 54 is coupled to pins 130a and 130b such that the patient's voice signals are transmitted to the remote nurse's station 72 and its speaker 126. If both the nurse's audio signals are detected on channel 120 and the patient's audio signals are detected on channel 124, switch controller 104 may be configured in different manners according to different embodiments in order to determine the state of switch 102.
In one embodiment, if switch controller 104 simultaneously detects nurse audio signals on channel 120 at the same time it detects patient audio signals on channel 122, it maintains the current state of the switch 102 for a predetermined time (assuming audio continues to be detected on both channels 120 and 124), and then switches to the other state. In another embodiment, switch controller 104 always prioritizes the nurse's audio over the patient's audio and maintains switch 102 in the state that couples audio channel 120 to speaker 52 until the nurse stops talking. In another alternative embodiment, switch controller 104 always prioritizes the patient's audio over the nurse's audio and maintains switch 102 in the state that couples microphone 54 to channel 120 until the patient stops talking. Still other manners are possible of dealing with simultaneous nurse and patient talking, including, but not limited to, recording with delayed playback of one of the participant's audio signals after the other has stopped talking.
It will be understood that, in those embodiments of nurse call interface 98 that are adapted to detect whether audio signals on channel 120 are coming from TV 86 or from a nurse call microphone 136 positioned at nurse's station 72, switch controller 104 may be configured to always ignore the presence of TV audio signals on channel 120 when determining the state of switch 102. In other words, switch controller 104 may be configured to couple microphone 54 to channel 120 at the appropriate times, regardless of whether the TV audio is arriving at patient support apparatus 20 on channel 120 or not.
The detection of TV audio signals on nurse call audio channel 120 may also be used by switch controller 104 in order to determine when to change switch 102 from its second state to its first state. For example, if the patient places a call while he or she is watching TV 86, switch controller 104 may leave switch 102 in the second state (channel 120 coupled to speaker 52) so that the patient continues to hear the TV audio on speaker 52 until the nurse answers the call, which may not happen immediately. Once the nurse initially answers, the switch controller 104 may subsequently changes switch 102 to the first state to thereby allow the patient to speak into microphone 54 and have his or her voice signals transmitted to nurse's station 72.
It will be understood that a number of different modifications beyond those previously discussed can be made to switch controller 104 and/or nurse call interface 98. For example, in one embodiment, one or more isolation transformers are added to switch controller 104 in order to galvanically isolate the electrical components of patient support apparatus 20 from the electrical signals coming from nurse call outlet 88. In such embodiments, the isolation transformer(s) may specifically provide galvanic isolation to speaker 52 and microphone 54 from pins 130a and 130b. In addition, the audio signals on channels 120, 122, and/or 124 may be digitized at various points, and suitable digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters may be included in order to process this digitization.
Another modification is the use of a single microcontroller to implement the functions of both switch controller 104 and switch 102. Such a single microcontroller may digitally couple to channel 120 along a first set of I/O pins and digitally couple to channels 122 and 124 along a second (and, in some cases, a third) set of I/O pins. In such embodiments, the microcontroller determines whether channel 120 is to be communicatively coupled to channel 122 or channel 124, and then repeats the digitized inputs received at one set of I/O pins at the corresponding other set of I/O pins according to the desired directionality of the audio signals.
Another modification that may be made to nurse call interface 98 is the addition of one or more reverse polarity protection circuits, particularly for, but not limited to, pins 130a and 130b. Such reverse polarity protection circuits can be implemented in a number of different manners, including, but not limited to, circuits that utilize one or more bridge rectifiers. Such reverse polarity protection allows nurse call interface 98 to couple to different nurse call outlets 88 in which the nurse call system 68 switches the polarity of one or more pins. Still other modifications to switch controller 104, switch 102, and/or other aspects of nurse call interface 98 may be implemented.
It will be understood that nurse call outlet 88, cable 90, and cable port 100 are all illustrated in
Headwall module 140 includes a connector 144 integrated therein that is adapted to directly couple to nurse call outlet 88. Connector 144 is thus shaped and dimensioned to be frictionally maintained in an electrically coupled state to outlet 88, and to support the entire headwall module 140. One or more alignment posts 146 may be included with connector 144 in order to more securely retain headwall module 140 to nurse call outlet 88, if desired.
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The embodiment of headwall module 140 shown in
Headwall module 140 (
In addition to sending signals received from patient support apparatus 20 to nurse call outlet 88, headwall module 140 is also adapted to forward signals received from nurse call outlet 88 to patient support apparatus 20. Headwall module 140 is therefore adapted to provide bidirectional communication between patient support apparatus 20 and nurse call outlet 88. Such bidirectional communication includes, but is not limited to, communicating audio signals between a person supported on patient support apparatus 20 and a nurse positioned remotely from patient support apparatus 20 (e.g. nurses' station 72). The audio signals received by headwall module 140 from patient support apparatus 20 are forwarded to nurse call outlet 88, and the audio signals received from nurse call outlet 88 are forwarded to patient support apparatus 20 in a manner controller by a switch controller 104a positioned inside of headwall module 140.
Headwall module 140 communicates the data and signals it receives from patient support apparatus 20 to the appropriate pins of nurse call outlet 88. Likewise, it communicates the data signals it receives and/or detects on the pins of nurse call outlet 88 to patient support apparatus 20 via wireless messages. The wireless messages include sufficient information for patient support apparatus 20 to discern what pins the messages originated from, or sufficient information for patient support apparatus 20 to decipher the information included in the message. In at least one embodiment, headwall module 140 includes any and/or all of the same functionality as the headwall unit 76 disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/215,911 filed Dec. 11, 2018, by inventors Alexander Bodurka et al. and entitled HOSPITAL HEADWALL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, or additionally, headwall module 140 may include any and/or all of the same functionality as the headwall interface 38 disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent publication 2016/0038361 published Feb. 11, 2016, entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH WIRELESS HEADWALL COMMUNICATION, and filed by inventors Krishna Bhimavarapu et al., the complete disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.
Switch controller 104a controls whether a bed speaker channel 122a or a bed microphone channel 124a is communicatively coupled to a nurse call audio channel 120a. Bed speaker channel 122a is the same as bed speaker channel 122 of
Bed microphone channel 124a of headwall module 140 is the same as bed microphone channel 124 of
After wireless receipt of the audio signals detected by microphone 54, receiver 160 then inputs them into switch 102a and to switch controller 104a. Switch controller 104a either then places switch 102a in a first state in which it couples bed microphone channel 124a to nurse call audio channel 120a, or it places switch 102a in a second state in which bed speaker channel 122a is coupled to nurse call audio channel 120a. Although not shown in
Non-audio signals that are received by headwall module 140 are routed through main controller 166, rather than switch controller 104a. Such non-audio signals include the signals on pins 130c, 130d, and the other pins of the nurse call outlet 88 (other than pins 130a and 130b). Signals on pins 130c and 130d are, in some embodiments, fed to switch controller 104a by main controller 166. That is, just as with switch controller 104, switch controller 104a may include a nurse call light input 110 and a nurse call answer light input 112. The signals for both of these inputs, when included, are provided by main controller 166, which reads the voltage values on these pins (130c, 130d) and provides them to switch controller 104a. Alternatively, the outputs from pins 130c and/or 130d may be provided directly to switch controller 104a without passing through main controller 166.
Switch controller 104a may further include an auxiliary microphone input 114 and/or a talk switch input 116. The signals for these inputs are delivered wirelessly from transmitter 172 of patient support apparatus 20 to receiver 160 of headwall module 140. From receiver 160, the signals are either fed directly to switch controller 104a, or are first processed by main controller 166 before being forwarded to switch controller 104a.
From the foregoing description, it can therefore be seen that switch controller 104a may operate in any of the same ways that were previously described above with respect to switch controller 104. The only differences are that switch controller 104a is positioned offboard patient support apparatus 20, and consequently the signals delivered on inputs 110, 112, 114, and/or 116 (as well as bed microphone channel 124a) arrive at headwall module 140 wirelessly, rather than by a wireless connection. Still further, the signals supplied to bed speaker channel 122a are also delivered wirelessly to patient support apparatus wirelessly. The remaining aspects of switch controller 104a of headwall module 140 are the same as switch controller 104 of
As shown in
It will be understood that headwall module 140 may include any one or more of the additional circuits and/or modifications of nurse call interface 98 that were discussed above with respect to
It will also be understood that patient support apparatus 20a of
Those components of
As can be seen from a comparison of
In one embodiment, standalone nurse call interface 98a uses the outputs from pins 130c and 130d, which correspond to the nurse call light and nurse call answer light pins, respectively, to instruct switch controller 104b (via pin 130e) as to what state to put switch 102 in. Thus, for example, when the nurse answers the patient call, the nurse call answer light pin (pin 130d) will change its state, and control logic 118a uses this change in state to output a signal on pin 130e that switch controller 104b uses to put switch 102 in the second state (i.e. nurse call audio channel 120 is coupled to speaker 52). When the nurse call answer light pin 130d changes back to a state indicating that the nurse is not speaking, control logic 118a sends a signal on pin 130e instructing switch controller 104b to change back to the first state. Control logic 118a may utilize the outputs from an audio analyzer 106a that operates in any of the same manners described above with respect to audio analyzer 106 when deciding how to instruct switch controller 104b. Standalone nurse call interface 98a therefore allows a patient support apparatus, such as patient support apparatus 20b, to include both a separate speaker 52 and separate microphone 54 and communicate with a half duplex nurse call system, yet not require all of the built-in circuitry of the nurse call interface 98 of
Any of the nurse call interfaces 98, 98 and/or headwall modules 140, 140a discussed herein may be modified in a number of additional manners. As but one example, any of these structures may be modified to undergo an initial installation test in which the signal on pin 130d is monitored to see if it changes when the nurse answers the patient's phone call. In some nurse call system, pin 130d does not change in response to a nurse answering the patient's call. By monitoring the signal on pin 130d during an initial test in which a remotely positioned nurse answers a call, the corresponding switch controller (104, 104a etc.) is able to determine if the signal on pin 130d is a reliable factor or not for controlling its corresponding switch 102, 102a, 102b, etc. If it determines it is not a reliable factor for controlling the switch, then it modifies its control logic 118, 118a, etc. accordingly and uses other information to control the state of switch 102 (e.g. information from inputs 110, 114, 116, and/or audio analyzers 106, 108). If it determines it is a reliable factor, it defines the control logic 118, 118a, etc. so that it utilizes the signals from pin 130d. Thus, switch controllers 104, 104a, etc. may be modified such that their corresponding control logic 118, 118a, etc. automatically adapts to the configuration of an existing nurse call system based on the results of an initial testing of that nurse call system. Similar testing may be performed for other pins of the nurse call outlet 88, such as, but not limited to, an audio transfer pin (e.g. pins 8 and/or 9 in
Various additional alterations and changes beyond those already mentioned herein can be made to the above-described embodiments. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described embodiments may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/847,753 filed Apr. 14, 2020, by inventors Alexander Bodurka et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH NURSE CALL AUDIO MANAGEMENT, which in turn claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/833,943 filed Apr. 15, 2019, by inventors Alexander Bodurka et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH NURSE CALL AUDIO MANAGEMENT, the complete disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210398404 A1 | Dec 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62833943 | Apr 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16847753 | Apr 2020 | US |
Child | 17462564 | US |