Patents by Inventor Stephen L. Douglas

Stephen L. Douglas 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: 20140228719
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support structure, such as a bed frame or mattress or both, that is configured to support a patient in a recumbent position. The patient support structure is configured to provide at least one therapy to a patient. A therapy enabler token is coupleable to the patient support structure. The at least one therapy is disabled when the therapy enabler token is decoupled from the patient support structure and the at least one therapy is enabled in response to the therapy enabler token being coupled to the patient support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandy M. Richards, Stephen L. Douglas, Ruchik A. Amin, Timothy J. Receveur, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III
  • Patent number: 8707483
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support structure, such as a bed frame or mattress or both, that is configured to support a patient in a recumbent position. The patient support structure is configured to provide at least one therapy to a patient. A therapy enabler token is coupleable to the patient support structure. The at least one therapy is disabled when the therapy enabler token is decoupled from the patient support structure and the at least one therapy is enabled in response to the therapy enabler token being coupled to the patient support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandy M. Richards, Stephen L. Douglas, Ruchik A. Amin, Timothy J. Receveur, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III
  • Patent number: 8677536
    Abstract: A patient support surface, such as a mattress, includes one or more sensors to sense movement of at least a portion of the mattress caused by extension or retraction of an associated mattress support section of a bed frame. A pneumatic control system adjusts inflation and/or deflation of at least one inflatable bladder of the mattress in response to a signal received from the one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Douglas
  • Publication number: 20130276237
    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: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    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: 8464380
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    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: 20130104906
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support structure, such as a bed frame or mattress or both, that is configured to support a patient in a recumbent position. The patient support structure is configured to provide at least one therapy to a patient. A therapy enabler token is coupleable to the patient support structure. The at least one therapy is disabled when the therapy enabler token is decoupled from the patient support structure and the at least one therapy is enabled in response to the therapy enabler token being coupled to the patient support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Sandy M. Richards, Stephen L. Douglas, Ruchik A. Amin, Timothy J. Receveur, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III
  • 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: 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: 20120022414
    Abstract: A gas supply system comprises a person-support surface, a garment, and a gas supply. The person-support surface includes a chamber configured to contain a gas therein. The garment includes a chamber configured to contain a gas therein. The gas supply is configured to supply a gas to both the garment and the person-support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Timothy J. Receveur, David Ribble, Sandy M. Richards, Stephen L. Douglas, Eric R. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20110113561
    Abstract: A patient support surface, such as a mattress, includes one or more sensors to sense movement of at least a portion of the mattress caused by extension or retraction of an associated mattress support section of a bed frame. A pneumatic control system adjusts inflation and/or deflation of at least one inflatable bladder of the mattress in response to a signal received from the one or more sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: Stephen L. Douglas
  • Publication number: 20110024076
    Abstract: A microclimate management system (10) comprises a mattress (16), a topper (18), and a control system (14). The topper (18) is coupled to the mattress (16) and is supported thereon. The topper (18) defines an interior region (42) and a person contacting surface (52).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: HILL-ROM SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Charles A. Lachenbruch, Stephen L. Douglas, Stephen C. Flint, Rachel Williamson
  • Publication number: 20100132116
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a patient support having an air permeable layer, a plurality of inflatable bladders, a pressure-sensing assembly and a controller. In one embodiment, a combination of transverse bladders and vertically oriented can-shaped bladders is provided. In one embodiment, one or more angle sensors are provided in articulatable sections of the patient support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Richard B. Stacy, Daniel Stevens, Karen Janoff, Thomas Uzzle, Jonathan H. Mueller, John Alan Bobey, Dennis Flessate, Reza Hakamiun, Charles A Lachenbruch, Sohrab Soltani, Gregory Branson, Kenith W. Chambers, Rebecca Anne Ginther, Stephen L. Douglas, Eric R. Meyer, Christopher R. O'Keefe, Bradley T. Wilson, Darrell Borgman, Rachel King
  • Patent number: 7657956
    Abstract: This disclosure described a patient support having an air permeable layer, a plurality of inflatable bladders, a pressure-sensing assembly and a controller. In one embodiment, a combination of transverse bladders and vertically oriented can-shaped bladders is provided. In one embodiment, one or more angle sensors are provided in articulatable sections of the patient support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Stacy, Daniel Stevens, Karen Janoff, Thomas Uzzie, Jonathan H. Mueller, John Alan Bobay, Dennis Flessate, Reza Hakamiun, Charles A. Lachenbruch, Sohrab Soltani, Gregory Branson, Kenith W. Chambers, Rebecca Anne Ginther, Stephen L. Douglas, Eric R. Meyer, Christopher R. O'Keefe, Bradley T. Wilson, Darrell Borgman, Rachel Hopkins King
  • Publication number: 20090237264
    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: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: 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: 20090217460
    Abstract: This disclosure describes certain exemplary embodiments of a patient support having a plurality of vertically-oriented on substantially can-shaped inflatable bladders. In one embodiment, the patient support includes a support layer positioned above the vertical bladders. In another embodiment, the patient support includes a high air loss device. In still another embodiment, the patient support includes a pneumatic device located within the patient support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: John A. Bobey, Gregory W. Branson, Rebecca A. Ginther, Reza Hakamiun, Charles Lachenbruch, Jonathan H. Mueller, Sohrab Soltani, Bradley T. Wilson, Stephen L. Douglas, Kenith W. Chambers, Rachel H. King, Eric R. Meyer, Christopher R. O'Keefe, Richard B. Stacy, Thomas Uzzle
  • Patent number: 7464605
    Abstract: A patient sensor configured to detect the presence of a patient on a patient support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Douglas, James R. Stolpmann, Terry L. Richter, Glenn C. Suttman, Kenith W. Chambers, Andrew F. Skinner