Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use of a sensor for monitoring a subject generate a sensor signal in response to the monitoring. Also disclosed is a computer processor to analyze the signal, and in response thereto, identify a correspondence between positions of the subject and occurrences of health events of the subject, and generate an output on the output device, in response to the identified correspondence. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A support surface assembly includes a covering defining an interior. Bladders are disposed within the interior. The bladders are operable between a deployed state and a non-deployed state. A manifold assembly is disposed within the interior of the covering. The manifold assembly includes a manifold core defining an inlet and multiple outlets. An engagement surface of the manifold core defines an inlet-connecting aperture in fluid communication with the inlet and multiple outlet-connecting apertures each in fluid communication with one of the multiple outlets. A connector includes an inner side that abuts the engagement surface of the manifold core. The inner side defines a recessed region. The connector is configured to be rotated by a motor to fluidly couple the inlet-connecting aperture with at least one of the outlet-connecting apertures to adjust the respective bladders between the deployed state and the non-deployed state.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame having a supporting surface. A transmitting element is coupled to the frame. A surface assembly is selectively positioned on the supporting surface. The surface assembly includes a surface selectively enclosing an interior. A controller is communicatively coupled to the transmitting element. A sensor assembly is coupled to the surface assembly. The sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to sense information about at least one of the surface assembly and a person positioned on the surface assembly. A receiving assembly is operably coupled to the surface assembly and the sensor assembly. The receiving assembly is configured to selectively interact with the transmitting element via a charging interface to power the sensor assembly.

Abstract: Monitoring patient vital signs is performed by analyzing videos recorded of a patient. An algorithm is used to compute the real-time patient vital signs based on video images of the patient. These images can be captured by a video monitoring device positioned over a patient's bed. The video monitoring device can include a thermal camera and a near infrared camera that continuously send video images to a processing unit. The thermal image is used to locate the patient's face and chest. The images are analyzed with an algorithm employed to determine a patient's heart rate, respiration rate, temperature, and body position.

Abstract: A time-based wireless pairing operation between a medical device, such as a patient bed, and a wall module in a patient room is initiated in response to a power plug of the medical device being plugged into a power receptacle carried by the wall module. Times determined by timers of the medical device and the wall module are compared by the wall module or by the medical device so that wireless pairing occurs only with the medical device that was plugged into the wall module. Different types of plug detectors used in the wall module to detect connection of the power plug include optical detectors, mechanical switches, and current sensors.

Abstract: A person support apparatus including a person support surface having a head section and a foot section opposite the head section, a bladder positionable between a non-inflated state and an inflated state, the bladder positioned at the head section of the person support surface, a fluid supply device in fluid communication with the bladder, the fluid supply device storing a fluid, and a controller communicatively coupled to the fluid supply device and configured to operate the fluid supply device to deliver the fluid to the bladder and position the bladder between the non-inflated state and the inflated state.

Abstract: An adaptive healthcare system includes at least one medical device having a plurality of settings. A monitoring system includes a device location identifier and a plurality of caregiver location identifiers that include at least one of a first classification and a second classification. The adaptive healthcare system further includes processor and memory containing instructions that when carried out by the processor, cause the processor to perform various functions. More particularly, the processor is caused to detect that a proximity between the device location identifier and one of the plurality of caregiver location identifiers is within a predetermined range and determine if the detected caregiver location identifier includes the first classification or the second classification. The processor is further caused to enable at least one of the plurality of settings of the medical device based on a combination of the proximity and the determined classification of the detected caregiver location identifier.

Abstract: A graphical audio station of a nurse call system is operable to permit a user to perform one or more of the following functions: establish a two-way voice communication link with another computer device in another patient and/or with a another computer device located in another staff work area and/or with a wireless communication device carried by caregiver and/or with a telephone of the healthcare facility; broadcast a voice page to a group of other selected computer devices; compose and send a text message to a portable device that is carried by a caregiver and that has wireless communication capability; browse web pages and/or view multimedia content, such as videos, hosted on servers of the healthcare facility and/or that are accessible via the Internet; view and/or acknowledge and/or answer and/or cancel alerts or nurse calls originating in a plurality of patient rooms.

Abstract: A method for tracking and assessing a wound includes identifying a wound from an image output by a camera, identifying a set of wound features based on the image, detecting a temperature of the wound from at least one heat sensor, triggering at least one response if the wound temperature is outside of a therapeutic temperature zone, processing the set of wound features and wound temperature using machine learning, determining an optimal wound healing trajectory based on the set of wound features and the wound temperature using machine learning, predicting at least one future wound condition based on the optimal wound healing trajectory using machine learning, and displaying the optimal wound healing trajectory and the at least one future wound condition on a display.

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: One or more radar sensors can be used to monitor patients in a variety of different environments and embodiments. In one embodiment, radar sensors can be used to monitor a patient's breathing, including monitoring of tidal volume, chest expansion distance, breathing rate, etc. In another embodiment, a patient position can be monitored in a patient bed, which can be used as feedback for control of bladders of a patient bed. Additional embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: A charting system is provided for use in a healthcare facility having a network. The charting system includes a microphone to receive voice inputs from a caregiver. A vital sign monitor obtains a vital sign from a patient and displays it. The system includes a communication device having a voice-to-text module that includes a processor coupled to the microphone. The processor operates a voice-to-text algorithm that converts the vital sign into text in response to the caregiver dictating the vital sign into the microphone. The processor initiates transmission of the vital sign to an EMR computer via the network after conversion of the at least one vital sign to text.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use of a sensor for monitoring a subject generate a sensor signal in response to the monitoring. Also disclosed is a computer processor to analyze the signal, and in response thereto, identify a correspondence between positions of the subject and occurrences of health events of the subject, and generate an output on the output device, in response to the identified correspondence. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A locating system includes a tag with body that has a first button and a second button, a driver configured to determine a type of button press of at least one of the first button and the second button, and a control unit in communication with the driver. The control unit is configured to communicate the type of button press determined by the driver. The tag also includes a transmitter in communication with the control unit. At least one receiver is configured to selectively communicate with the transmitter. A controller is in communication with the at least one receiver. The controller is configured to determine a location of the tag within a predefined area based on information from the at least one receiver, correlate the type of button press from the tag with a message, and generate a notification to communicate the message.

Abstract: A system for managing turn-based audio communications includes a user identity that is assignable to a communication device of a plurality of communication devices. The communication device is configured to communicate the turn-based audio communications on at least one channel. The system also includes a monitoring module that monitors at least one communication attribute of the at least one channel. Control circuitry is communicatively coupled with the monitoring module and is configured to determine a modification for the at least one channel based on the at least one communication attribute and adjust a messaging feature of the at least one channel in response to the modification. The messaging feature includes at least one of a timer for push-to-talk (PTT) messaging, a membership of the user identity to the at least one channel, and a priority level for the at least one channel.

Abstract: A patient immersion sensor includes a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) apparatus to determine a time of flight (TOF) of a RADAR pulse and a reflected signal that is reflected by a patient or by a portion of a patient support surface supporting the patient. The TOF is indicative of an immersion depth or a distance toward bottoming out of a patient supported on the patient support surface, such as a mattress or a pad. The RADAR apparatus emits pulses of very short duration so as to be able to detect objects, such as a patient or a portion of a mattress or pad, at very close distances. The RADAR apparatus may use time-of-flight (TOF) between transmission of the pulse and receipt of a reflected signal to determine a distance toward bottoming out by the patient, thereby to determine if the patient is properly immersed into the patient support surface.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame and a mattress supported by the frame and arranged to support a patient thereon. A sensor is included to detect moisture on the patient and/or the patient support apparatus. The sensor produces signals indicative of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus. One or more alerts are output in response to the signals provided by the sensor to notify a caregiver of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus may include a frame and an articulated deck coupled to the frame. The articulated deck may include a head section, a seat section, a thigh section, and a foot section. The seat section may include a stationary frame coupled to the frame and a moveable frame that moves relative to the stationary frame. The moveable frame may move between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A time-based wireless pairing operation between a medical device, such as a patient bed, and a wall module in a patient room is initiated in response to a power plug of the medical device being plugged into a power receptacle carried by the wall module. Times determined by timers of the medical device and the wall module are compared by the wall module or by the medical device so that wireless pairing occurs only with the medical device that was plugged into the wall module. Different types of plug detectors used in the wall module to detect connection of the power plug include optical detectors, mechanical switches, and current sensors.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, includes an alert light assembly or an alert light module having separate zones that are individually illuminated to convey information regarding respective alert conditions. The zones each have indicia related to a particular condition of the patient support apparatus. The illuminated zones are each sufficiently large so as to be seen from afar, such as on the order of ten feet or more. Alternatively or additionally, a GUI of the patient support apparatus displays alert indicia as part of a screen saver. Further alternatively or additionally, the patient support apparatus illuminates an alert light in a manner indicating an optimal time for taking a patient's vital signs.