Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for context scoring adjustments for candidate answer passages. In one aspect, a method includes scoring candidate answer passages. For each candidate answer passage, the system determines a heading vector that describes a path in the heading hierarchy from the root heading to the respective heading to which the candidate answer passage is subordinate; determines a context score based, at least in part, on the heading vector; and adjusts answer score of the candidate answer passage at least in part by the context score to form an adjusted answer score. The system then selects an answer passage from the candidate answer passages based on the adjusted answer scores.

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: A patient support apparatus may include a foam frame defining a space. A bladder assembly may be positioned in the space. The bladder assembly may include a plurality of foam filled bladders. Each of the foam filled bladders may be interconnected by a manifold. A plurality of mutually exclusively selectable pressure relief valves may be provided to release air from the bladder assembly.

Abstract: An imaging device for monitoring a skin feature includes a camera, at least one processor and memory. The imaging device displays a body area guide, receives a selection of a body area, initiates an image sequence of the body area, the image sequence including capturing, using the camera, a plurality of images, determines whether all body areas have been imaged, analyzes the images, and provides the analyzed images to a clinician. The imaging device can be part of a system including a server in communication with a monitor, where the clinician views the images on the monitor. Additionally, each skin feature can be ranked in order of risk and presented to the clinician in that order.

Abstract: An example system for estimating a hydration level of an individual can include: a mechanism configured to apply mechanical pressure to a digit of the individual; an light detector configured to sense the light from the digit; and a controller programmed to perform functions including: send a first signal to the mechanism to apply the mechanical pressure to the digit; send a second signal to the mechanism to release the mechanical pressure on the digit; determine a capillary refill time based upon a third signal from the light detector indicating an amount of time for capillaries of the individual to refill with blood; and estimate the hydration level of the individual based upon the capillary refill time and one or more additional parameters.

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 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 system for measuring capillary refill time includes a wearable device and a control unit. The wearable device includes a force sensor to obtain a force signal and an optical sensor to obtain an optical signal. The system ensures that an applied force is acceptable in both magnitude and duration, and that a duration over which the applied force is released or removed is acceptable. These factors can establish that a capillary refill time determined or calculated therein is accurate. The system can also determine the capillary refill time based on the force and optical signals obtained by the force and optical sensors, respectively.

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 movement, including movement in a patient bed and around a room. 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: 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 movement detection device includes a signal transmission device configured to transmit a radar signal transmission toward a target area and to receive reflected radar signals, and a signal analysis device configured to analyze the reflected radar signals to detect a movement in the target area that is indicative of micro-shivering. In response to detecting the micro-shivering, the movement detection device generates an alarm.

Abstract: A patient fall detection system includes a computer and multiple transceivers mounted at fixed locations in a healthcare facility. The transceivers are electronically coupled to the computer. A patient identification tag is worn by a patient and includes a tag transceiver. The high-accuracy locating system monitors a location of the patient ID tag via signals from the tag transceiver to determine whether a patient has entered a bathroom. The computer monitors at least one of an elevation of the patient ID tag in the bathroom, an elevation drop of the patient ID tag in the bathroom, or a time that the patient ID tag has been in the bathroom to determine whether the patient has fallen.

Abstract: A packaging system comprises: a package forming a set of discrete compartments; and a film portion interfacing with the package. The film portion includes a set of one or more electrically conductive traces in which each electrically conductive trace is associated with a respective compartment of the set of discrete compartments. Each electrically conductive trace of the set of electrically conductive traces forms a respective circuit loop that has a terminal end that terminates within an interface region of the film portion to collectively form a termination pattern. At least one of the package or the film portion have two or more alignment ports defined therein that are arranged according to an alignment pattern, each alignment port passing through at least one of the package or film portion.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system includes sensors, a patient support assembly, and a gateway device and/or control module. Example sensors include physiological sensors and patient status devices. The sensors acquire patient-related data. Patient related action is determined based on the patient-related data.

Abstract: A body worn patient monitoring device includes a flexible substrate having a plurality of electrical connections adapted to be coupled to a skin surface to measure physiological signals. The flexible substrate is adapted to be directly and non-permanently affixed to a skin surface of a patient and configured for single patient use. A communication-computation module, removably attached to an upper surface of the flexible substrate, is configured to receive physiological signals from the flexible substrate and includes a microprocessor that is configured to process and analyze the physiological signals. A series of resistive traces screened onto the flexible substrate are configured as at least one series current-limiting resistor to protect the communication-computation module.

Abstract: High-accuracy locating systems and methods are used for determining successful caregiver rounding, monitoring whether housekeepers have properly cleaned patient beds, or determining whether patients have ambulated sufficient distances during recovery. Patient beds having at least two locating tags are used for establishing patient care zones around the patient beds. Locating anchors and equipment tags are moved around a patient room to determine optimum locating anchor placement within the patient room based on signal quality values. A locating tag on a patient bed switches roles to operate as a locating anchor in response to the patient bed becoming stationary. A locating tag has a digital compass which is used to determine a field of good ranging relative to a front of a caregiver wearing the locating tag.

Abstract: A patient support system for supporting a patient includes a core support structure which includes supportive foam. The support structure has an upper surface and a lower surface. A radar apparatus, including at least one antenna situated beneath the upper surface and spatially separated therefrom, is adapted to emit a pulse which travels through the support structure and is reflected, by either the upper surface or a surrogate thereof, as a reflected signal back to the radar antenna. The emitted pulse and reflected signal comprise a ranging signal. The patient support system also includes circuitry that determines a life parameter of the core support structure as a function of at least the ranging signal. The patient support system also includes an RFID tag having a memory. The RFID tag is in communication with the circuitry.

Abstract: A system and method to determine availability of caregivers to respond to nurse calls or other alerts originating in patient rooms is provided. Caregivers are designated as unavailable depending upon room types in which they are located, or depending upon patient types in the rooms in which they are located, or depending upon how long they have been present in certain rooms, or depending upon whether the caregivers have designated themselves as unavailable, or any combination of the foregoing. A system and method to escalate alerts to other caregivers if a primary caregiver is unavailable includes escalating first to a designated secondary caregiver and then to a caregiver who is closest in proximity to the room from which the alert originated if the secondary caregiver is also unavailable.

Abstract: A system for detecting one or more physical assessment parameters of a subject includes a sensing patch and a processor. The sensing patch is configured to sense signals from the subject corresponding to one or more physical assessment parameters, reduce sensed parameter data corresponding to the sensed signals, and transmit the sensed parameter data. The sensing patch also includes at least one adjustable sensing patch parameter. The processor is separate from the sensing patch and configured to receive the sensed parameter data from the sensing patch and transmit a command to the sensing patch. The sensing patch is configured to perform different amounts of data reduction on the sensed parameter data before transmitting the sensed parameter data to the processor. These different amounts of data reduction are determined at least in part by one or more system parameters.

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.