Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a deck, a plurality of side rails, a control panel, and a plurality of subsystems, such as a bed exit system that detects when a patient may exit from the support apparatus, or a lifting mechanism to raise and lower the deck. A controller is in communication with the control panel and is adapted to monitor conditions regarding the side rails and/or the other subsystems. At least one lamp is also provided on the patient support apparatus that is adapted to be illuminated in a first manner when a plurality of monitored conditions remain in a desired state, and in a second manner when at least one of the plurality of monitored conditions changes to an undesired state.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame, with a barrier, and a patient support surface supported in the frame. The apparatus further includes a control system with a controller, which is incorporated into the surface or the frame, and which is in communication with at least one functional component associated with the surface or the frame for controlling or monitoring the functional component. The control system further includes a touch-screen display in communication with the controller for controlling the functional component, which is positioned in the barrier between the exterior and interior side of the barrier wherein the display is incorporated into the barrier and accessible at the exterior or interior side for access by a user.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus may include a base frame, lift arms, an intermediate frame, a deck support having three articulating sections, a brake system, various drive motors, actuators, and sensors, at least one power source, communication devices, and at least one controller, wherein the lift arms, articulating sections, drive motors, brake system, and actuators may be controlled from the at least one controller and in response to signals received by the various sensors, while storing data internally and/or sending data to a remote location.

Abstract: A method of actuating a manually operable brake on a caster wheel of a patient support apparatus to stop motion of the apparatus includes electrically coupling the control system of the patient support to an actuator at the patient support, generating actuating signals with the control system based on input at the patient support apparatus, transmitting the actuating signals to the actuator to thereby actuate the actuator to output a driving force, and mechanically coupling the driving force of the actuator with the manually operable brake to thereby actuate the manually operable brake and thereby brake the caster wheels.

Abstract: A patient bed includes a base, a patent support supported by the base, and a control system. The patient support includes a pivotal head-end section, with the control system including an actuator to pivot the head-end section and being adapted to control the speed of the actuator and, further, to selectively increase the speed of the actuator to pivot the head-end section at a greater speed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a movable siderail apparatus (5) for use with a patient support apparatus. The siderail apparatus (5) is configured to move the siderail body (14) associated therewith in a clock-type swing movement relative to the patient support apparatus. Two or more support arms (20) are disposed between the intermediate frame or the deck support of the patient support apparatus and the siderail body (14), each support arm (20) having two pivots (30, 40), a first (40) rotatably connecting it to the intermediate frame or deck support and a second (30) rotatably connecting it to the siderail body (14), thereby enabling the siderail body (14) to be raised or lowered vertically by a rotation substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the patient support apparatus. In a first preferred embodiment, the angles defined between each support arm (20) and a lower edge of the siderail (9) are substantially obtuse during rotational movement of the siderail (9).

Abstract: The present invention provides a control apparatus that can be ergonomically and movably connected to a patient support apparatus. The control apparatus comprises a control module which is operatively coupled to the patient support apparatus and can provide a means for controlling the plurality of patient support apparatus functions. The control module is adapted for connection to a housing and the housing is movably connected to the patient support apparatus by a coupling device. The coupling device enables the relative movement of the housing and as such the control module relative to the patient support apparatus. In this manner access to the control module, and therefore to the functionality of the patient support apparatus, can be provided independent of the configuration of the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic and control system for a patient support, wherein the patient support includes one or more of a plurality of electronic elements. Such elements may include load sensors, tilt sensors, actuators for adjusting patient support angles, in addition to other electronic elements. The diagnostic and control system can enable the specific control of each of these electronic element for desired operation thereof and further can enable monitoring of the operating conditions of these electronic elements and additional patient support conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for determining and monitoring various characteristics of a patient positioned on a patient support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, or cot, is disclosed. The system and method involve monitoring the forces exerted by the patient on one or more force sensors, which may be load cells on the support apparatus. These force sensors will detect vibrations that correspond to various conditions of the patient, including the patient's heart rate, breathing rate, and/or the seizure status of a patient. These vibrations may be analyzed, such as by Fast Fourier Transforms, in order to determine the various conditions of the patient.

Abstract: A location detection system for a facility including a patient handling device for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility, a locator fixed relative to the patient handling device for transmitting a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of the patient handling device, and a processing station remote from the patient handling device and the locator for receiving the unique location identifier such that the location of the patient handling device can be determined and monitored remotely from the patient handling device.

Abstract: Location detection systems are provided for determining the location of patient handling devices in a healthcare facility. In one embodiment, the location detection system comprises a locator fixed in each zone of each room in the facility. The locator includes at least one infrared transmitter for transmitting a unique location identifier to a receiver mounted on the patient handling device. A communication module transmits the unique location identifier from the patient handling device to a network utilized by the healthcare facility for the management of patient, personnel, and equipment information. A processing station located on the network processes the unique location identifier to ultimately determine the room and zone location of the patient handling device. The processing station may include a graphical user interface on a touch-screen display for reviewing and manipulating the location information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a movable siderail apparatus (5) for use with a patient support apparatus. The siderail apparatus (5) is configured to move the siderail body (14) associated therewith in a clock-type swing movement relative to the patient support apparatus. Two or more support arms (20) are disposed between the intermediate frame or the deck support of the patient support apparatus and the siderail body (14), each support arm (20) having two pivots (30, 40), a first (40) rotatably connecting it to the intermediate frame or deck support and a second (30) rotatably connecting it to the siderail body (14), thereby enabling the siderail body (14) to be raised or lowered vertically by a rotation substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the patient support apparatus. In a first preferred embodiment, the angles defined between each support arm (20) and a lower edge of the siderail (9) are substantially obtuse during rotational movement of the siderail (9).

Abstract: The patient support with a head end and a foot end comprises a lying surface supported by a frame system. It also comprises a pair of head end siderails, a pair of foot end siderails, a headboard, a footboard, a power system and a communication system.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a support surface, which includes at least one fluid bladder and a recess, and a fluid delivery system configured to deliver fluid to the bladder, with at least a portion of the fluid delivery system being located in the recess. The fluid delivery system includes a pump having a fluid output and a fluid input. The apparatus further includes a chamber wall that defines a chamber in fluid communication with the fluid input or output of the pump, with the chamber wall absorbing vibration from the pump when the pump is operated to output fluid at its fluid output.

Abstract: A system and method for determining and monitoring various characteristics of a patient positioned on a patient support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, or cot, is disclosed. The system and method involve monitoring the forces exerted by the patient on one or more force sensors, which may be load cells on the support apparatus. These force sensors will detect vibrations that correspond to various conditions of the patient, including the patient's heart rate, breathing rate, and/or the seizure status of a patient. These vibrations may be analyzed, such as by Fast Fourier Transforms, in order to determine the various conditions of the patient.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus may include a base frame, lift arms, an intermediate frame, a deck support having three articulating sections, a brake system, various drive motors, actuators, and sensors, at least one power source, communication devices, and at least one controller, wherein the lift arms, articulating sections, drive motors, brake system, and actuators may be controlled from the at least one controller and in response to signals received by the various sensors, while storing data internally and/or sending data to a remote location.

Abstract: A patient bed includes a base, a patent support supported by the base, and a control system. The patient support includes a pivotal head-end section, with the control system including an actuator to pivot the head-end section and being adapted to control the speed of the actuator and, further, to selectively increase the speed of the actuator to pivot the head-end section at a greater speed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic and control system for a patient support, wherein the patient support comprises one or more of a plurality of electronic elements including for example, load sensors, tilt sensors, actuators for adjusting patient support angles and the like, in addition to other electronic elements for example. The diagnostic and control system according to the present invention can enable the specific control of each of these electronic element for desired operation thereof and further can enable the monitoring of the operating conditions of these electronic elements and additional patient support conditions. The diagnostic and control system further enables the evaluation and determination of the existence of one or more faults relating to the operation of the patient support and the respective one or more electronic elements, for example the existence of a fault can be conveyed to an operator in a form of an error message.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control apparatus that can be ergonomically and movably connected to a patient support apparatus. The control apparatus comprises a control module which is operatively coupled to the patient support apparatus and can provide a means for controlling the plurality of patient support apparatus functions. The control module is adapted for connection to a housing and the housing is movably connected to the patient support apparatus by a coupling device. The coupling device enables the relative movement of the housing and as such the control module relative to the patient support apparatus. In this manner access to the control module, and therefore to the functionality of the patient support apparatus, can be provided independent of the configuration of the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: Location detection systems are provided for determining the location of patient handling devices in a healthcare facility. In one embodiment, the location detection system comprises a locator fixed in each zone of each room in the facility. The locator includes at least one infrared transmitter for transmitting a unique location identifier to a receiver mounted on the patient handling device. A communication module transmits the unique location identifier from the patient handling device to a network utilized by the healthcare facility for the management of patient, personnel, and equipment information. A processing station located on the network processes the unique location identifier to ultimately determine the room and zone location of the patient handling device. The processing station may include a graphical user interface on a touch-screen display for reviewing and manipulating the location information.