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 device for remote care management provides a screen configurable by a caregiver to create a virtual care request. The device receives a selection on the screen to submit the virtual care request. The device receives an acceptance of the virtual care request from a remote care provider. The device provides a connection for the caregiver to enter a virtual patient room with the remote care provider.

Abstract: A mattress support includes a base plate having a free end and a hinged end and an upper plate having a free end and a hinged end. The hinged end of the upper plate is connected to the hinged end of the base plate by a hinge. The mattress support also includes an equipment support anchor at the free end of the base plate.

Abstract: A mattress support for a bed includes a base plate and an upper plate assembly. The upper plate assembly includes a head plate having a head end and a foot end. The head end of the head plate is hinged to the base plate by a first hinge. The upper plate assembly also includes a foot plate in tandem with the head plate. The foot plate is hinged to the foot end of the head plate by a second hinge which is parallel to the first hinge. An actuator system between the base plate and the upper plate assembly is operable to adjust the upper plate assembly between a planar configuration and a nonplanar configuration.

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 system for monitoring a wound includes a wound dressing configured to cover a wound surface of the wound, one or more sensing devices attached to the wound dressing, a network interface hardware, and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors, and one or more memory modules storing computer readable and executable instructions. The controller receives data measured by the one or more sensing devices, determines whether an infection is likely to occur based on the data measured by the one or more sensing devices, and outputs an alert, through the network interface hardware, in response to determining that the infection is likely to occur.

Abstract: Embodiments include cooling articles including a receptacle, an endothermic ingredient contained in a first capsule within the receptacle, an endothermic matrix within the receptacle, and a color indicator. The endothermic ingredient, when mixed with the endothermic matrix, generates an endothermic reaction, and the color indicator is activated upon the generation of the endothermic reaction to indicate that cooling has been initiated. Other embodiments include cooling articles including an electric circuit configured to melt at least a portion of the first capsule to enable the endothermic ingredient and the endothermic matrix to mix. Systems for providing cooling that include a person support apparatus and a cooling article including a thermoelectric device coupled to the person support apparatus to direct heat from a source region to a sink region including the person support apparatus are also described.

Abstract: In blood pressure measurement of a vertebrate through use of an inflatable pressure cuff disposed about a limb of the vertebrate limb and inflated by pump driven by a motor, the air pressure within the cuff is determined at any given time during the inflation of the cuff by calculating the incremental change in pressure in the pressure cuff over a series of small time increments and summing the calculated incremental pressure changes from the initiation of cuff inflation to a desired point in time during the inflation of the pressure cuff. The incremental change in pressure within the cuff is calculated as a function of the incremental change in current drawn by the pump motor over the time increment.

Abstract: A method is provided for blood pressure measurement by means of an inflatable cuff (50) applied to a limb of a vertebrate and pneumatically coupled to a first port (112A) and a second port (112B) of a blood pressure measurement apparatus (100). A pump (160) coupled to the second port inflates the cuff pneumatically. During an initial cuff inflation period, a first pressure sensor (180) pneumatically coupled to the first port senses a first pressure and a second pressure sensor (182) pneumatically coupled to the second port senses a second pressure. An analysis module (142) compares the magnitude of the first pressure to the magnitude of the second pressure to determine the relative relationship between the respective magnitudes of the first pressure and the second pressure.