Patents by Inventor Andrew F. Skinner

Andrew F. Skinner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120174322
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a patient, such as a hospital bed, is provided. The apparatus includes a patient support surface and at least one fluid containing bladder. A pressure control assembly is operably coupled with the bladder. When the fluid pressure within the bladder falls outside of an acceptable range of pressure values, the active adjustment of the pressure within the bladder is initiated by the pressure control assembly if the pressure does not return to the acceptable range of pressure values within a time period, e.g., a time delay, that has a variable length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew F. Skinner, Sandy M. Richards, David P. Lubbers, Steven A. Dixon, Richard B. Stacy, Aziz A. Bhai
  • Publication number: 20120174319
    Abstract: A patient support includes a frame and a mattress supported by the frame. The frame includes a deck support and a deck supporting the mattress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Douglas J. Menkedick, Eugene E. Osborne, Robert M. Zerhusen, David A. Albersmeyer, Roger S. Philbeck, Aziz Ali Bhai, Nicholas C. Batta, Terry L. Richter, Tom Riggs, Kenith W. Chambers, Steven J. Schwartz, Matthew R. Knue, Steve A. Dixon, Joshua W. Shenk, Brent Goodwin, Andrew F. Skinner, Gregory J. Figel, James R. Stolpmann, James K. Findlay, Glenn C. Suttman, Brian J. Hoffman, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, David W. Hornbach, Paul R. Weil, Kenneth L. Kramer, Jeffrey R. Welling, Eric R. Meyer, Jack Wilker, JR., David P. Lubbers, Roberta M. Murnyack, Cami S. Scheele, John W. Koenig, Matthew Visca, Gregory W. Branson, Bruce E. Dickman, JR., Dean M. Valvano, Robert A. Kinker, JR., William L. Jacques, II, Francis C. Ganance
  • Publication number: 20120105233
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a bed frame having a head end and a foot end and control circuitry carried by the bed frame. The control circuitry receives information about conditions of the patient support apparatus. A light is coupled to the bed frame adjacent the foot end and is coupled to the control circuitry. The light is in a first state when the patient support apparatus is operating normally and the light is in a second state when the control circuitry detects an alert condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: John A. Bobey, Stephen L. Douglas, Eric R. Meyer, Jonathan H. Mueller, Robert Petrosenko, Stephen R. Schulte, Andrew F. Skinner, Michael Z. Sleva, Richard B. Stacy, Daniel K. Stevens, Mayur Yermaneni
  • Patent number: 8146191
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a mattress having a plurality of vertically-oriented inflatable bladders and a pneumatic box located inside the mattress. In one embodiment, the patient support includes a plurality of pressure sensors positioned underneath the bladders. In still another embodiment, the patient support includes one or more filler portions that are selectable so that the patient support may conform to bed frames having different deck configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Bobey, Gregory W. Branson, Colin Clarke, Rachel Hopkins King, David Lokhorst, Eric R. Meyer, Jonathan H. Mueller, Todd P. O'Neal, Robert Petrosenko, Stephen R. Schulte, Andrew F. Skinner, Michael Z. Sleva, Sohrab Soltani, Richard B. Stacy, Daniel K. Stevens, Mayur Yermaneni
  • Patent number: 8117701
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a control unit for a patient support, such as a mattress. One embodiment of the control unit includes a base portion and a display portion pivotably coupled to the base portion. The control unit may also include one or more communication ports for sending or receiving data from one or more remote devices over a network. The control unit may also include a memory port into which memory may be removably inserted. The control unit may also include a visual indicator configured to be activated by a triggering event, such as a patient exiting the mattress. The display unit may include a touchscreen user interface. The display unit may also be configured to display audiovisual material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Bobey, Stephen L. Douglas, Eric R. Meyer, Jonathan H. Mueller, Robert Petrosenko, Stephen R. Schulte, Andrew F. Skinner, Michael Z. Sleva, Richard B. Stacy, Daniel K. Stevens, Mayur Yermaneni
  • Publication number: 20120038484
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hospital bed including a force sensor or scale apparatus configured to detect the weight of a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Steven A. Dixon, Jeffrey R. Welling, James R. Stolpmann, Andrew F. Skinner
  • Patent number: 8108957
    Abstract: A patient support surface including a cover defining an interior region, a layer of three dimensional material, located at the interior region, and an air circulation device disposed adjacent the layer of three dimensional material. The patient support surface includes at least one of a percussion device and a vibration device, located at the interior region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandy M. Richards, Christopher R. O'Keefe, Bradley T. Wilson, Kenith W. Chambers, Mayur Yermaneni, Gregory W. Branson, Michael Z. Sleva, Karen M. Gove, Andrew F. Skinner, Stephen R. Schulte, Todd P. O'Neal, Rachel Hopkins King, Teresa M. Mirabella, Paula M. Cooper, Eric R. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20120016281
    Abstract: A patient support surface including a cover defining an interior region, a layer of three dimensional material, located at the interior region, and an air circulation device disposed adjacent the layer of three dimensional material. The patient support surface includes at least one of a percussion device and a vibration device, located at the interior region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Sandy M. Richards, Christopher R. O'Keefe, Bradley T. Wilson, Kenith W. Chambers, Mayur Yermaneni, Gregory W. Branson, Michael Z. Sleva, Karen M. Gove, Andrew F. Skinner, Stephen R. Schulte, Todd P. O'Neal, Rachel Hopkins King, Teresa M. Mirabella, Paula M. Cooper, Eric R. Meyer
  • Patent number: 8090478
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a patient, such as a hospital bed, is provided. The apparatus includes a patient support surface and at least one fluid containing bladder. A pressure control assembly is operably coupled with the bladder. When the fluid pressure within the bladder falls outside of an acceptable range of pressure values, the active adjustment of the pressure within the bladder is initiated by the pressure control assembly if the pressure does not return to the acceptable range of pressure values within a time period, e.g., a time delay, that has a variable length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Skinner, Sandy M. Richards, David P. Lubbers, Steven A. Dixon, Richard B. Stacy, Aziz A. Bhai
  • Patent number: 8048005
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hospital bed including a force sensor or scale apparatus configured to detect the weight of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Dixon, Jeffrey R. Welling, James R. Stolpmann, Andrew F. Skinner
  • Patent number: 7973666
    Abstract: A lack of patient movement monitor and method. The monitor and method patient support includes a plurality of sensors located beneath a patient support to determine movement of a patient. An alarm is activated when patient movement over time is determined to be lacking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Petrosenko, David Lokhorst, Mayur Yermaneni, Michael Z. Sleva, William L. Jacques, II, Karen Janoff, John A. Bobey, Jonathan H. Mueller, Richard B. Stacy, Andrew F. Skinner
  • Patent number: 7926131
    Abstract: A hospital bed is disclosed. The bed includes at least one tiltable deck section, and a linkage assembly configured to facilitate tilting of the at least one deck section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Menkedick, Eugene E. Osborne, Robert M. Zerhusen, David A. Albersmeyer, Roger S. Philbeck, Aziz Ali Bhai, Nicholas C. Batta, Terry L. Richter, Tom Riggs, Kenith W. Chambers, Steven J. Schwartz, Matthew R. Knue, Steve A. Dixon, Joshua W. Shenk, Brent E. Goodwin, Andrew F. Skinner, Gregory J. Figel, James R. Stolpmann, James K. Findlay, Glenn C. Suttman, Brian J. Hoffman, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, David W. Hornbach, Paul R. Weil, Kenneth L. Kramer, Jeffrey R. Welling, Eric R. Meyer, Jack Wilker, Jr., David P. Lubbers, Roberta M. Murnyack, Cami S. Scheele
  • Patent number: 7883478
    Abstract: A patient support having real time pressure control. The patient support includes a plurality of sensors located beneath a bladder including a plurality of upright cylindrical elements. The pressure within the bladder is controlled based on the pressure or force sensed by the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Skinner, Colin Clarke, Michael Z. Sleva, Richard B. Stacy, Robert Petrosenko, John A. Bobey, Jonathan H. Mueller, Sohrab Soltani, David Lokhorst, Mayur Yermaneni, Daniel Stevens, Gregory W. Branson
  • Patent number: 7714238
    Abstract: A weighing system and method associated with a mattress is operable to determine a patient weight value while the patient is positioned on the mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Skinner, James R. Stolpmann, Terry L. Richter
  • Publication number: 20100095462
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a mattress having a plurality of vertically-oriented inflatable bladders and a pneumatic box located inside the mattress. In one embodiment, the patient support includes a plurality of pressure sensors positioned underneath the bladders. In still another embodiment, the patient support includes one or more filler portions that are selectable so that the patient support may conform to bed frames having different deck configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: JOHN A. BOBEY, GREGORY W. BRANSON, COLIN CLARKE, RACHEL HOPKINS KING, DAVID LOKHORST, ERIC R. MEYER, JONATHAN H. MUELLER, TODD P. O'NEAL, ROBERT PETROSENKO, STEPHEN R. SCHULTE, ANDREW F. SKINNER, MICHAEL Z. SLEVA, SOHRAB SOLTANI, RICHARD B. STACY, DANIEL K. STEVENS, MAYUR YERMANENI
  • Patent number: 7698765
    Abstract: This disclosure describes certain exemplary embodiments of a patient support having a plurality of vertically-oriented or substantially can-shaped inflatable bladders. In one embodiment, the patient support includes a plurality of pressure sensors positioned underneath the bladders. In another embodiment, the patient support includes a support layer positioned above the vertical bladders. In still another embodiment, the patient support includes one or more filler portions that are selectable so that the patient support may conform to bed frames having different deck configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Bobey, Gregory W. Branson, Colin Clarke, Rachel Hopkins King, David Lokhorst, Eric R. Meyer, Jonathan H. Mueller, Todd P. O'Neal, Robert Petrosenko, Stephen R. Schulte, Andrew F. Skinner, Michael Z. Sleva, Sohrab Soltani, Richard B. Stacy, Daniel K. Stevens, Mayur Yermaneni
  • Publication number: 20100063638
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a patient, such as a hospital bed, is provided. The apparatus includes a patient support surface and at least one fluid containing bladder. A pressure control assembly is operably coupled with the bladder. When the fluid pressure within the bladder falls outside of an acceptable range of pressure values, the active adjustment of the pressure within the bladder is initiated by the pressure control assembly if the pressure does not return to the acceptable range of pressure values within a time period, e.g., a time delay, that has a variable length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: HILL-ROM, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew F. SKINNER
  • Patent number: 7669263
    Abstract: A patient support including a frame and a mattress supported by the frame. The frame includes a deck support and a deck supporting the mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Menkedick, Eugene E. Osborne, Robert M. Zerhusen, David A. Albersmeyer, Roger S. Philbeck, Aziz Ali Bhai, Nicholas C. Batta, Terry L. Richter, Tom Riggs, Kenith W. Chambers, Steven J. Schwartz, Matthew R. Knue, Steve A. Dixon, Joshua W. Shenk, Brent Goodwin, Andrew F. Skinner, Gregory J. Figel, James R. Stolpmann, James K. Findlay, Glenn C. Suttman, Brian J. Hoffman, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, David W. Hornbach, Paul R. Weil, Kenneth L. Kramer, Jeffrey R. Welling, Eric R. Meyer, Jack Wilker, Jr., David P. Lubbers, Roberta M. Murnyack, Cami S. Scheele
  • Publication number: 20090313758
    Abstract: A hospital bed is disclosed. The bed includes at least one tiltable deck section, and a linkage assembly configured to facilitate tilting of the at least one deck section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Douglas J. Menkedick, Eugene E. Osborne, Robert M. Zerhusen, David A. Albersmeyer, Roger S. Philbeck, Aziz Ali Bhai, Nicholas C. Batta, Terry L. Richter, Tom Riggs, Kenith W. Chambers, Steven J. Schwartz, Matthew R. Knue, Steve A. Dixon, Joshua W. Shenk, Brent Goodwin, Andrew F. Skinner, Gregory J. Figel, James R. Stolpmann, James K. Findlay, Glenn C. Suttman, Brian J. Hoffman, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, David W. Hornbach, Paul R. Weil, Kenneth L. Kramer, Jeffrey R. Welling, Eric R. Meyer, Jack Wilker, JR., David P. Lubbers, Roberta M. Murnyack, Cami S. Scheele
  • Patent number: 7610637
    Abstract: A lift system for a hospital bed is disclosed. The lift system includes lift arms that support a frame over a base frame. The lift arms are moved to raise and lower the frame relative to the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Menkedick, Eugene E. Osborne, Robert M. Zerhusen, David A. Albersmeyer, Roger S. Philbeck, Aziz Ali Bhai, Nicholas C. Batta, Terry L. Richter, Tom Riggs, Kenith W. Chambers, Steven J. Schwartz, Matthew R. Knue, Steve A. Dixon, Joshua W. Shenk, Brent Goodwin, Andrew F. Skinner, Gregory J. Figel, James R. Stolpmann, James K. Findlay, Glenn C. Suttman, Brian J. Hoffman, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, David W. Hornbach, Paul R. Weil, Kenneth L. Kramer, Jeffrey R. Welling, Eric R. Meyer, Jack Wilker, Jr., David P. Lubbers, Roberta M. Murnyack, Cami S. Scheele