Abstract: A system for adjusting the configuration of a patient support apparatus includes a patient support apparatus having at least one actuator configured to adjust the configuration of the patient support apparatus and a control unit to control the at least one actuator. The control unit has a memory that is configured to store patient support apparatus configurations. The control unit is also configured to: receive a first input including patient risk information of a patient to be supported; determine an optimum patient support apparatus configuration from the patient support apparatus configurations based on the patient risk information; receive a second input from a user to accept the determined optimum patient support apparatus configuration; and if the determined optimum patient support apparatus configuration is accepted by a user, control the at least one actuator to adjust the patient support apparatus into the determined optimum patient support apparatus configuration.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus comprises a substantially rigid support deck for supporting a patient support element, a first sensing element and a second sensing element arranged on the support deck and separated from one another in a direction along the width of the patient support apparatus. Each sensing element is configured to determine, in use, the force or pressure applied to it by the patient support element and a patient on the patient support element. One or more processors, coupled to the sensing elements, are configured to determine the location of the center of gravity of a patient on the patient support element, along the width of the patient support apparatus, based upon outputs of the first and second sensing elements. An alarm may be activated when the location of the center of gravity along the width of the patient support apparatus is outside a predetermined range of values.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus comprises a substantially rigid support deck for supporting a patient support element, a first sensing element and a second sensing element arranged on the support deck and separated from one another in a direction along the width of the patient support apparatus. Each sensing element is configured to determine, in use, the force or pressure applied to it by the patient support element and a patient on the patient support element. One or more processors, coupled to the sensing elements, are configured to determine the location of the center of gravity of a patient on the patient support element, along the width of the patient support apparatus, based upon outputs of the first and second sensing elements. An alarm may be activated when the location of the center of gravity along the width of the patient support apparatus is outside a predetermined range of values.