Abstract: A system for use with a hospital bed having circuitry and a standard AC power outlet spaced from the hospital bed is provided. The system includes a cable assembly couplable to the circuitry of the hospital bed. The cable assembly has power conductors and at least one data conductor. The cable assembly also has a plug including a first power coupler coupled to the power conductors and a first data coupler coupled to the at least one data conductor. The system also includes a second data coupler mountable adjacent the standard AC power outlet. The second data coupler is configured to couple to the first data coupler when the first power coupler is coupled to the standard AC power outlet.

Abstract: A mode-switching cam follower is disclosed, wherein the follower includes a body, a cam contact movably coupled to the body, and a latch member movably coupled to the body. A shape-memory alloy in communication with the latch member couples and decouples the latch member with the cam.

Abstract: Hydroelectric pumped-storage includes monitoring electrical demand on a system over time. If the monitored demand exceeds a predetermined first value, fluid is allowed to flow substantially under the influence of gravity from a first aquifer to a second aquifer. Kinetic energy from the flowing fluid is converted into electrical energy. If the monitored demand drops below a predetermined second value, fluid from the second aquifer is moved to the first aquifer.

Abstract: Systems, methods, beds, supports surfaces and machine readable medium for associating beds and support surface of a healthcare facility are disclosed. A surface association system for a healthcare facility may comprise a plurality of beds. The system may further comprise a computing device and a plurality of support surfaces to be placed upon beds of the plurality of beds. The computing device may associate a support surface of the plurality of support surfaces with a bed of the plurality of beds. The computing device may make the association based upon status data received from the plurality of beds and the plurality of support surfaces. The support surface and/or bed to be associated may initiate a surface association request. The computing device, in response to the surface association request, may request performance of one or more actions on the bed and/or support surface to be associated to identify the bed and/or support surface from the beds and support surfaces of the healthcare facility.

Abstract: Extracting energy from a naturally-occurring underground hot rock formation includes enabling fluid to flow, at least partially under the influence of gravity, through a fluid injection well to the hot rock formation, converting the kinetic energy of the flowing fluid into electricity, using at least a portion of the generated electricity to preheat the fluid before it reaches the hot rock formation, heating the fluid with the hot rock formation and, subsequently, extracting energy from the heated fluid for use in connection with an application.

Abstract: Systems, methods, beds, supports surfaces and machine readable medium for associating beds and support surface of a healthcare facility are disclosed. A surface association system for a healthcare facility may comprise a plurality of beds. The system may further comprise a computing device and a plurality of support surfaces to be placed upon beds of the plurality of beds. The computing device may associate a support surface of the plurality of support surfaces with a bed of the plurality of beds. The computing device may make the association based upon status data received from the plurality of beds and the plurality of support surfaces. The support surface and/or bed to be associated may initiate a surface association request. The computing device, in response to the surface association request, may request performance of one or more actions on the bed and/or support surface to be associated to identify the bed and/or support surface from the beds and support surfaces of the healthcare facility.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for initiating actions in a healthcare environment are disclosed. Illustrative embodiments receive identification data from tags assigned to healthcare resources via local positioning sensors. The illustrative embodiments also determine proximity of the healthcare resources based upon the identification data received via local positioning sensors. The embodiments also determine that an event has occurred in response to the proximity of the healthcare resources satisfying a relational condition of the event that relates the healthcare resources, and the healthcare resources satisfying a status condition of the event. The embodiments further initiate an action associated with the event in response to determining that the event has occurred.

Abstract: A method for assessing the status of a piezoelectric sensor of interest 26, comprises the steps of 1) establishing a complex impedance profile expected to be exhibited by an acceptable sensor subjected to a test signal, 2) exciting the sensor of interest with a periodic excitation signal correlatable to the test signal, 3) analyzing the complex impedance of the excited sensor relative to the complex impedance profile, and 4) reaching a conclusion about the status of the sensor of interest based on the analysis.

Abstract: A pill crusher device and method including a base and a lid movable between open and closed positions with respect to the base. The base includes a pill cup holder for holding a cup with one or more pills therein. The cup may include a flange that is keyed to the cup holder to prevent the cup from rotating with the cup holder. A head protrudes from the inside surface of the lid and is shaped to nest within the cup either directly against the pills, or against a second cup placed in the first cup with the pills located between the two cups.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein related to person support apparatuses and systems, and in particular, to such apparatuses and systems that incorporate or are used with vital signs monitoring devices.

Abstract: Hydroelectric pumped-storage includes monitoring electrical demand on a system over time. If the monitored demand exceeds a predetermined first value, fluid is allowed to flow substantially under the influence of gravity from a first aquifer to a second aquifer. Kinetic energy from the flowing fluid is converted into electrical energy. If the monitored demand drops below a predetermined second value, fluid from the second aquifer is moved to the first aquifer.

Abstract: A system includes a collection of water at a first elevation, an aquifer at a second elevation lower than the first elevation and one or more fluid communication channels that facilitate fluid communication between the collection of water and the aquifer. A turbine-generator is in one of the fluid communication channels to convert kinetic energy of fluid that has flown out of the collection of water into electrical energy. A fluid collection area is downstream of the turbine-generator that at least temporarily collects fluid that has passed through the turbine-generator. An injection pump is provided to pump fluid that has accumulated in the collection area into the aquifer.

Abstract: Hydroelectric pumped-storage includes monitoring electrical demand on a system over time. If the monitored demand exceeds a predetermined first value, fluid is allowed to flow substantially under the influence of gravity from a first aquifer to a second aquifer. Kinetic energy from the flowing fluid is converted into electrical energy. If the monitored demand drops below a predetermined second value, fluid from the second aquifer is moved to the first aquifer.

Abstract: A system and method that utilizes aquifer pressure to generate electrical energy. The system includes an aquifer, a well fluidly coupled to the aquifer, a pump and a turbine. The pump is arranged to cause water to flow out of the well. In response to the water flowing out of the well, replenishing water flows naturally from the aquifer into the well. A turbine-generator is arranged to convert kinetic energy of the replenishing water flow into electrical energy.

Abstract: A system and method that utilizes aquifer pressure to generate electrical energy. The system includes an aquifer, a well fluidly coupled to the aquifer, a pump and a turbine. The pump is arranged to cause water to flow out of the well. In response to the water flowing out of the well, replenishing water flows naturally from the aquifer into the well. A turbine-generator is arranged to convert kinetic energy of the replenishing water flow into electrical energy.

Abstract: Fluid is introduced to one or more underground fluid passages in thermal contact with a hot rock formation. Kinetic energy of the fluid being introduced is converted into electrical energy. The introduced fluid absorbs heat from the hot rock formation. That absorbed heat is extracted from the heated fluid for use in connection with a domestic or industrial application.

Abstract: An electronically actuated valve assembly for an internal combustion engine is disclosed, wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve stem, a shape memory alloy actuator in operative communication with the valve stem, a coolant passage through which at least a portion of the shape memory alloy actuator extends, and a cooling fluid source in communication with the coolant passage.

Abstract: Fluid is moved from an aquifer to a higher elevation, and is used at the higher elevation for a domestic or industrial application. Subsequently, the fluid is allowed to return from the higher elevation to the aquifer. Kinetic energy of the fluid returning to the aquifer is converted into electrical energy.

Abstract: A hospital bed obstacle detection device and related method for detecting an obstacle between first and second components of a hospital bed is provided.