Abstract: A patient support apparatus including a barrier coupled to a frame. The barrier includes an interior region containing a fluid supply. A related method is provided for modifying a patient support apparatus to include a fluid filled patient support surface.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forwarding data on a digital data network are provided. The network includes optimized routers and a plurality of routers connected on the network. A route optimizer receives information from the optimized routers and plurality of routers with regard to traffic congestion. The information can include queue lengths of one or more queues within the optimized routers. The route optimizer uses the congestion information from the optimized routers and plurality of routers to define optimum paths for transfer of data. The defined paths can be MPLS paths, which are then transmitted to the optimized routers and any other routers in the network.

Abstract: An equipment support system has a first telescoping arm and a second telescoping arm. The arms are pivotable relative to a room wall about a generally vertical axis and are extendable and retractable along respective generally horizontal axes. A first equipment support is coupled to the first telescoping arm and is configured to support patient care equipment thereon. A second equipment support is coupled to the second telescoping arm and is configured to support patient care equipment thereon.

Abstract: A device for checking the internal temperature of food, which includes a piercing element for insertion into food and a temperature sensor integral with the piercing element. The piercing element is connected to a main handle, which is removably connected to a handle portion. The handle portion contains a display, electronically connected to the temperature sensor, whereby the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and, in some embodiments, the level of doneness is displayed by the display. In this embodiment, the piercing element and main handle are dishwasher safe and can be inserted safely into a dishwasher when the handle portion, containing a substantial portion of the electronics, is removed.

Abstract: A line management system for supporting patient care lines that extend between a patient and patient care equipment is provided. The system has an elongated support member that can be manipulated into a plurality of positions by a caregiver. A line holder is coupled to the support member and is configured to selectively retain lines (tubes).

Abstract: An equipment management system provides an equipment support for supporting patient care equipment. The equipment support may be mountable on an arm that extends from a wall, on a column depending from the arm, on a wall mount, on a stand, or on a patient support. Various methods may be used to vertically move the equipment support up and down to engage and disengage the equipment support from supporting devices.

Abstract: An approach to queuing data at a network switching node includes assigning a queue value such as a priority value or a weight to each of a plurality of queues which temporarily store data packets to be forwarded toward a link on the network. A bandwidth value related to a maximum amount of data to be transferred on the link is defined. A data limit value is assigned to each of the queues to limit the amount of data that can be forwarded from each queue. The data limit value is derived from the bandwidth value for the link. By placing bandwidth-related limits on the queues, low-priority queues are prevented from being dominated by high-priority queues, that is, low-priority queues are not prevented from forwarding their data by the priority structure. Also, the bandwidth-related limits allow for control of traffic flow to prevent overloading lower-capacity links on the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reallocating switching circuitry in a switching fabric are disclosed. The switching fabric is used to permit data transfer among a plurality of interface units each having a plurality of data ports. The switching fabric is partitionable into a plurality of switch planes such that each switch plane can be assigned to transfer data associated with like data ports of the interface units. Each switch plane includes multiple switching channels each assignable to transfer data associated with one data port of one of the interface units, in a full implementation. The number of interface units is less than the number of switching channels in a switch plane, then the reallocation is performed such that multiple channels of at least one switch plane can be assigned to transfer data of multiple ports of at least one of the interface units. This results in switch plane channels that would otherwise be unused being utilized to transfer data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reallocating switching circuitry in a switching fabric are disclosed. The switching fabric is used to permit data transfer among a plurality of interface units each having a plurality of data ports. The switching fabric is partitionable into a plurality of switch planes such that each switch plane can be assigned to transfer data associated with like data ports of the interface units. Each switch plane includes multiple switching channels each assignable to transfer data associated with one data port of one of the interface units, in a full implementation. The number of interface units is less than the number of switching channels in a switch plane, then the reallocation is performed such that multiple channels of at least one switch plane can be assigned to transfer data of multiple ports of at least one of the interface units. This results in switch plane channels that would otherwise be unused being utilized to transfer data.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus including a barrier coupled to a frame. The barrier includes an interior region containing a fluid supply. A related method is provided for converting a patient support apparatus to include a fluid filled patient support surface.

Abstract: A line management system for supporting patient care lines that extend between a patient and patient care equipment is provided. The system has an elongated support member that can be manipulated into a plurality of positions by a caregiver. A line holder is coupled to the support member and is configured to selectively retain lines (tubes).

Abstract: A switching node for transferring addressed packets in a network includes a plurality of input port modules, a plurality of output port modules and a switching fabric, including a packet meta-data processor and a packet switch. Each input port module, upon receiving a packet, buffers the packet and generates a meta-data packet identifying an output port module that is to transmit the packet and packet identifier information, and provides it to the packet meta-data processor. The packet meta-data processor processes the meta-data packets received from all of the input port modules in connection with operational status information to determine whether the packet should be passed or dropped. If to be dropped, the packet is dropped at the input, otherwise enqueued for the proper output port.

Abstract: A switching node for transferring packets, each including a destination address, in a network includes a plurality of input port modules, a plurality of output port modules and a switching fabric, including a packet meta-data processor and a packet switch. Each input port module is connected to a communication link for receiving packets thereover, and each output port module is connected to a communication link for transmitting packets thereover. Each input port module, upon receiving a packet, buffers the packet and generates a meta-data packet therefor identifying the output port module that is to transmit the packet and packet identifier information, and provides it to the packet meta-data processor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for queuing data such as data being transferred across or within a switching node on a network are described. The queuing apparatus includes a plurality of inputs for receiving data to be transferred to at least one output, each input being adapted to receive data at a data rate associated with the input. Each input transfers data to a relatively short queue which stores the data received at the input. Each output is associated with as many short queues as their inputs capable of transferring data to the output. A long queue associated with the output receives data from each of the short queues associated with the output and forwards the data to the output. A control circuit associated with the output transfers data stored in all of the short queues associated with the output into the long queue. This transfer takes place at a data rate that is higher than the data rate associated with the input such that the short queues are prevented from becoming full.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus including a barrier coupled to a frame. The barrier includes an interior region containing a fluid supply. A related method is provided for converting a patient support apparatus to include a fluid filled patient support surface.

Abstract: A switching node for transferring packets, each including a destination address, in a network includes a plurality of input port modules, a plurality of output port modules and a switching fabric, including a packet meta-data processor and a packet switch. Each input port module is connected to a communication link for receiving packets thereover, and each output port module is connected to a communication link for transmitting packets thereover. Each input port module, upon receiving a packet, buffers the packet and generates a meta-data packet therefor identifying the output port module that is to transmit the packet and packet identifier information, and provides it to the packet meta-data processor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forwarding data on a digital data network are provided. The network includes optimized routers and a plurality of routers connected on the network. A route optimizer receives information from the optimized routers and plurality of routers with regard to traffic congestion. The information can include queue lengths of one or more queues within the optimized routers. The route optimizer uses the congestion information from the optimized routers and plurality of routers to define optimum paths for transfer of data. The defined paths can be MPLS paths, which are then transmitted to the optimized routers and any other routers in the network.

Abstract: A switching node for transferring packets, each including a destination address, in a network includes a plurality of input port modules, a plurality of output port modules and a switching fabric, including a packet meta-data processor and a packet switch. Each input port module is connected to a communication link for receiving packets thereover, and each output port module is connected to a communication link for transmitting packets thereover. Each input port module, upon receiving a packet, buffers the packet and generates a meta-data packet therefor identifying the output port module that is to transmit the packet and packet identifier information, and provides it to the packet meta-data processor.