Abstract: A person support system including a person support surface. The person support surface may include a blower subassembly and a surface foundation layer. The person support surface may further include a turn assist bladder layer, a working cushion layer, and a support cushion layer positioned between a first lateral side bolster and a second lateral side bolster of the surface foundation layer, a foot bladder layer positioned proximally adjacent the surface foundation layer, and a microclimate management (MCM) layer, where the blower subassembly may be configured to supply air to the MCM layer. A top encasement portion of the person support surface may be removably coupled to a bottom encasement portion of the person support surface to enclose such included components within the person support surface.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a support frame. A projection housing may be rotatably coupled with the support frame. The projection housing may include a body defining an aperture. A light source is configured to emit a beam of light. A projector may be configured to direct the beam of light through the aperture in the body and onto a surface.

Abstract: A system for detecting potential for infection includes a wound dressing and an electronics component. The wound dressing includes a temperature sensing layer and a cover layer comprising a substrate and a backing layer. The electronics component includes a power source, an electronic control unit (ECU), and a communications interface positioned within a housing and removably coupled to the temperature sensing layer of the wound dressing. The electronics component is configured to receive a plurality of temperature readings from the temperature sensing layer, and provide an indication of potential infection of the wound based the plurality of temperature readings. In various embodiments, each of the plurality of temperature readings corresponds to a temperature of an area around a wound. Methods for preventing infections using the system are also described.

Abstract: A patient control unit for controlling functions of a hospital bed includes a housing having a first side that includes a plurality of user inputs to control the functions of the hospital bed. The housing has a second side that includes a dock to secure a handheld phone in place on the housing. A hospital bed has a head-of-bed angle (HOBA) lockout selector that is used to signal a controller to prevent a head section of the bed from being moved below a threshold.

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: A caregiver location system includes a computer configured to track a location of a caregiver in a healthcare facility. A caregiver identification (ID) tag is worn by a caregiver and has a tag transmitter configured to communicate with a plurality of receivers. The plurality of receivers and the computer cooperate to form a locating system that is operable to determine a location of the caregiver ID tag. The computer collects data over time related to a caregiver location within the healthcare facility and determines a problem area within the healthcare facility where a determined caregiver location is inaccurate.

Abstract: A restraint bracket of a bracket assembly mounted to a lower surface of a support frame of a person support apparatus is disclosed. The restraint bracket includes a bracket body having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a pair of flanges formed on the upper surface of the bracket body, and an attachment member extending from the lower surface of the bracket body, the attachment member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end and the second end fixed to the lower surface of the bracket body.

Abstract: A protective dressing includes an outer dressing and an adhesive layer. The outer dressing includes an opening and a cavity sized to receive a phase-change material (PCM) insert inserted through the opening. The adhesive layer is configured to adhere to a patient's skin surrounding an anatomic site. When adhered to the patient's skin, the PCM insert modifies the patient's skin at the anatomic site. The PCM insert may be removed and replaced with another PCM insert. For example, a warm PCM insert may be replaced with a refrigerated PCM insert. The opening of the outer dressing may be self-sealing. The opening of the outer dressing may be sealed with an upper layer dressing coupled to the PCM cooling insert.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for monitoring a subject. A sensor monitors the subject and generates a sensor signal in response thereto and a plurality of filters are used to filter the sensor signal using respective filter parameters. A computer processor receives the sensor signal, filters the signal with each of two or more of the filters, and in response to a quality of each of the filtered signals, selects one of the plurality of filters to filter the sensor signal. Subsequently, the computer processor detects that the subject has undergone motion, by analyzing the sensor signal, and in response thereto, filters the signal with each of two or more of the filters, and in response to a quality of each of the filtered signals, selects one of the plurality of filters to filter the sensor signal. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus may include a support surface configured to conduct air along a top face of the support surface so that heat and moisture from a patient lying on the support surface are drawn away from the top face of the support surface. An opening may be formed in a side of the support surface. A cavity may extend from the opening into the support surface. An inlet port may be positioned within the cavity and fluidly coupled to the top face. A blower assembly may be configured to position within the cavity. The blower assembly may have an outlet port that couples to the inlet port when the blower assembly is positioned within the cavity. The blower assembly may conduct air through the inlet port to the top face of the support surface.

Abstract: A head rest accessory for coupling to sockets provided on a bed frame of a hospital bed is provided. A frame is configured to be insertable downwardly into the sockets to couple the frame to the bed frame of the hospital bed. A head rest mount is coupled to the frame and is repositionable along the frame. A head rest is coupled to the head rest mount and includes a face rest shell. A first angle sensor is positioned along a side of the face rest shell. A second angle sensor is positioned on a head end of the face rest shell.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a bed including a frame. A mattress is supported by the frame. A respiratory therapy apparatus is supported by the frame. A pneumatic system is operable to inflate at least one bladder of the mattress and operable to deliver air to the respiratory therapy apparatus.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame. A vertical transport structure may be coupled with the frame. A grip is coupled with the vertical transport structure and at least one grip sensor is coupled to the grip on the vertical transport structure. A controller determines a vertical position of a user applied force applied to the at least one grip sensor and the controller activates a power drive mode upon determining that the push force has reached a threshold value corresponding to the vertical position of the user applied force and propel patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A system that monitors various conditions of a plurality of hospital beds located in different rooms of a healthcare facility is provided. Alternatively or additionally, other types of equipment may be monitored by the system. Various configurations of network interface units that are coupleable to or integrated into a hospital bed are also disclosed. The system receives data from the hospital beds and/or other equipment and initiates a communication to a wireless communication device of at least one designated caregiver in response to the received data being indicative of an alarm condition.

Abstract: Apparatus for assessing medical risks of a patient includes an analytics engine and equipment that provides data to the analytics engine. The equipment includes a patient support apparatus such as a patient bed, a nurse call computer, a physiological monitor, a patient lift, a locating computer of a locating system, and an incontinence detection pad. The analytics engine analyzes the data from the equipment to determine a sepsis risk score, a falls risk score, and a pressure injury score. The apparatus further include displays that are communicatively coupled to the analytics engine and that display the sepsis, falls, and pressure injury risk scores. The displays include a status board display located at a master nurse station, an in-room display provided by a room station of a nurse call system, an electronic medical records (EMR) display of an EMR computer, and a mobile device display of a mobile device of a caregiver assigned to the patient.

Abstract: A system for automatically assessing orthostatic hypotension for a patient supported on a patient support apparatus. The system receives position data identifying a first position of a patient supported on a patient support apparatus, and after a delay, receives vital signs data of the patient. The system receives position data identifying a second position of the patient supported on the patient support apparatus, and after a delay, receives vital signs data of the patient. The system determines an orthostatic hypotension assessment based on a difference in the vital signs data between the first and second positions. Based on the orthostatic hypotension assessment, the system modifies one or more conditions on the patient support apparatus to mitigate a risk for patient fall.

Abstract: Various methods, systems, and devices relate to identifying a sepsis risk of an individual based on a dwell time of an invasive device in the individual. An example method includes receiving, from multiple transceivers, location data indicating first signals transmitted between the multiple transceivers and a tag attached to the invasive device. A location of the invasive device can be identified based on the location data. The dwell time can be determined based on the location. In certain examples, a second signal indicating the sepsis risk can be generated.

Abstract: An absorbent article has one or more fluid filter layers to inhibit electrode traces from being exposed to low volumes of fluid to reduce the number of false positives that are indicated by an RFID tag of the incontinence detection pad. An antenna inlay has a sacrificial trace portion to permit testing for proper operation of an RFID chip electrically coupled to the antenna inlay. After testing, the sacrificial trace portion is severed. A fluid barrier layer blocks fluid from reaching portions of electrode traces that are located on a backsheet outside a periphery of an absorbent core of an incontinence detection pad. The power at which an antenna transmits to wirelessly energize a passive RFID tag of an incontinence detection pad is controlled to reduce the number of false positives indicated by the RFID tag.

Abstract: A system for detecting pressure sores includes an artificial skin configured to be coupled to a patient's skin. The artificial skin includes a substrate and a strain sensor configured to detect deformation of the substrate. A transmitter is configured to transmit signals indicative of the deformation of the substrate. A control system is configured to receive the signals from the transmitter. The control system includes a timer to track a period of time that the substrate is deformed.

Abstract: A microclimate management system including a person support surface including one or more sensors, a fluid supply device coupled to an inlet of the person support surface and configured to supply fluid to an outlet the person support surface, and a controller configured to detect an inlet condition value at the inlet of the person support surface, detect an outlet condition value at the outlet of the person support surface, determine a difference between the inlet condition value and the outlet condition value, and transmit a first alert in response to determining that a rate of change of the difference between the inlet condition value and the outlet condition value is below a lower condition threshold.