Abstract: A person support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, or the like, for a supporting an occupant includes an exit detection system that has, in some embodiments, multiple user-selectable zones. An alert is triggered when the occupant crosses a boundary of the selected zone. A first zone has a boundary that is adjusted based on a condition of the person support apparatus, such as the width of the support deck or other characteristic. A second zone has a boundary that is not adjusted based on the condition of the person support apparatus, but which may have a boundary that is dependent on an initial location of the occupant when the exit detection system is armed. The initial location of the occupant may correspond to a center of gravity of the occupant.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, or the like, includes a litter frame, a support deck, a plurality of force sensors adapted to output signals corresponding to downward forces exerted on the support deck, and a controller configured carrying out various functions and to display various screens on a touchscreen or display, including a scale home screen and a scale equipment screen. A patient's current weight can be displayed on the scale home screen and the weight of equipment supported on the apparatus can be displayed on the scale home screen and the scale equipment screen. When a patient's current weight is characterized as possibly including non-patient weight, the controller can display a warning screen.

Abstract: A person support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, chair, or the like, includes a frame, a support surface supported by the frame, a plurality of load cells that detect weight supported on the support surface, at least one A/D converter, and a controller. The load cells output analog signals that are converted to digital by the A/D converters. The controller switches a sampling rate of the A/D converters between at least first and second rates. The outputs from the load cells are forwarded to a plurality of signal acquisition nodes that include the A/D converters. The nodes are positioned at locations that minimize the length of travel of the analog signals, thereby reducing noise interference. Shivering, occupant absence/presence, vital signs, occupant movement, and/or other parameters are detected by the load cells.

Abstract: A person support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, or the like, includes an exit detection system that has, in some embodiments, multiple user-selectable modes. A first mode issues an alert in response to a static condition being met and the second mode issues an alert in response to a dynamic condition being met. The static condition may be defined by an unchanging boundary that triggers an alert if the occupant's center of gravity crosses the boundary. The dynamic condition may be defined by a changing boundary that triggers an alert if the occupant's center of gravity crosses it. The changing boundary may change based upon the occupant's height, weight, BMI, vital sign, or other characteristic. The changing boundary may also change based upon a position of one or more components of the person support apparatus, such as a siderail or Fowler section.

Abstract: A person support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, or the like, includes an exit detection system that has, in some embodiments, multiple user-selectable modes. A first mode issues an alert in response to a static condition being met and the second mode issues an alert in response to a dynamic condition being met. The static condition may be defined by an unchanging boundary that triggers an alert if the occupant's center of gravity crosses the boundary. The dynamic condition may be defined by a changing boundary that triggers an alert if the occupant's center of gravity crosses it. The changing boundary may change based upon the occupant's height, weight, BMI, vital sign, or other characteristic. The changing boundary may also change based upon a position of one or more components of the person support apparatus, such as a siderail or Fowler section.

Abstract: A person support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, cot, recliner, or the like, includes a support surface adapted to support a person, a litter, an accelerometer positioned below the support surface, and a controller that processes signals from the accelerometer to detect the presence or absence of a person on the support surface. In some embodiments, the controller also receives signals from a plurality of force sensors and uses them in combination with the accelerometer outputs to determine if the person has exited the person support apparatus. The controller may also be adapted to use outputs from the accelerometer to detect an impact against the person support apparatus, compare a magnitude of the detected impact with a threshold, and, if the threshold is exceeded, to issue a warning indicating potential damage to one or more of the plurality of force sensors.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a plurality of primary sensors adapted to measure different parameters used in the control of the patient support apparatus. One or more suites of secondary sensors are added to the patient support apparatus to provide data about the primary sensors. The secondary sensors may be used to detect errors in the primary sensors, to modify outputs from the primary sensors, and/or to provide usage and/or diagnostic data about the use of the patient support apparatus. The suite(s) of secondary sensors may measure parameters that affect the outputs of one or more of the primary sensors. In some embodiments, the suite(s) of secondary sensors include one or more dormant sensors that are not used on the patient support apparatus until a code modification is received from one or more external sources instructing the control system of the patient support apparatus to begin using the dormant sensor(s).

Abstract: A patient support apparatus comprising a patient support deck, a touchscreen, and a controller. The patient support deck comprises a patient support surface. The touchscreen comprises a screen, an input surface arranged adjacent to the screen, and a touch sensor configured to generate an electric field within an envelope defined adjacent to the input surface to sense conductive objects interacting with the electric field. The touch sensor is operable at a first sensitivity level to detect conductive objects approaching the input surface, and a second sensitivity level to detect conductive objects engaging the input surface. The controller is in communication with the touchscreen to operate the touch sensor at the first sensitivity level during an absence of conductive objects interacting with the electric field, and to operate the touch sensor at the second sensitivity level in response to conductive objects interacting with the electric field within the envelope.

Abstract: A patient support system for providing customized user menus. The system comprises a patient support apparatus, a user interface configured to receive input from a user, and a display configured to display user menus or information. The user menus may comprise indicia representative of the operational functions of the patient support apparatus. A controller determines the customized user menu based on usage characteristics, a position of the user interface in proximity to the patient support apparatus, a location of the user interface within a facility, an identification of the user, and/or a patient condition. A touchscreen and/or a mobile device may comprise the user interface and the display. The mobile device may be removably coupled to the patient support apparatus. Methods for improving patient care by providing the customized user menu are also disclosed.

Abstract: A first node of a patient care device processes data relating to the patient care device and sets a public variable equal to a value of the data. A second node receives the public variable from the first node, sets a private variable equal to the value of the public variable, and executes a software program that reads the private variable but not the public variable. In other embodiments, the second node checks to see if the public variable is registered at the second node, and if so, uses the private variable in carrying out a function. The first node executes a first software program that sets the public variable to the value and relies on a service to share the value with the second node. The sharing occurs despite the first software program not containing any instructions for transmitting the value or variable to the second node.

Abstract: A person support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, chair, or the like, includes a frame, a support surface supported by the frame, a plurality of load cells that detect weight supported on the support surface, at least one A/D converter, and a controller. The load cells output analog signals that are converted to digital by the A/D converters. The controller switches a sampling rate of the A/D converters between at least first and second rates. The outputs from the load cells are forwarded to a plurality of signal acquisition nodes that include the A/D converters. The nodes are positioned at locations that minimize the length of travel of the analog signals, thereby reducing noise interference. Shivering, occupant absence/presence, vital signs, occupant movement, and/or other parameters are detected by the load cells.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus is provided, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, or the like, that includes a sensor adapted to detect movement of the occupant while the occupant is supported on the support apparatus. A controller monitors outputs from the sensor in response to a mobility assessment control being activated. After monitoring the outputs for a period of time, the controller generates a mobility score based on the outputs from the sensor. In some embodiments, the controller use outputs from the sensor to determine which region of a defined surface area the patient has moved to. The controller records these visited regions over a time period and uses them to generate the mobility assessment. The mobility assessment provides an objective measure of an important factor used in predicting a patient's risk of developing pressure ulcers.

Abstract: A person support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, cot, recliner, or the like, includes a support surface adapted to support a person, a litter, an accelerometer positioned below the support surface, and a controller that processes signals from the accelerometer to detect the presence or absence of a person on the support surface. In some embodiments, the controller also receives signals from a plurality of force sensors and uses them in combination with the accelerometer outputs to determine if the person has exited the person support apparatus. The controller may also be adapted to use outputs from the accelerometer to detect an impact against the person support apparatus, compare a magnitude of the detected impact with a threshold, and, if the threshold is exceeded, to issue a warning indicating potential damage to one or more of the plurality of force sensors.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention comprise holocam systems and methods that enable the capture and streaming of scenes. In embodiments, multiple image capture devices, which may be referred to as “orbs,” are used to capture images of a scene from different vantage points or frames of reference. In embodiments, each orb captures three-dimensional (3D) information, which is preferably in the form of a depth map and visible images (such as stereo image pairs and regular images). Aspects of the present invention also include mechanisms by which data captured by two or more orbs may be combined to create one composite 3D model of the scene. A viewer may then, in embodiments, use the 3D model to generate a view from a different frame of reference than was originally created by any single orb.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention comprise holocam systems and methods that enable the capture and streaming of scenes. In embodiments, multiple image capture devices, which may be referred to as “orbs,” are used to capture images of a scene from different vantage points or frames of reference. In embodiments, each orb captures three-dimensional (3D) information, which is preferably in the form of a depth map and visible images (such as stereo image pairs and regular images). Aspects of the present invention also include mechanisms by which data captured by two or more orbs may be combined to create one composite 3D model of the scene. A viewer may then, in embodiments, use the 3D model to generate a view from a different frame of reference than was originally created by any single orb.

Abstract: An image of a scanned book is segmented using a feature image to map pixels corresponding to a page area and to create page objects and detect borders of the page. A book spine region is detected by locating a plain background area between two of the page objects, analyzing the page borders to detect their shape, and analyzing their shape to detect the book spine end points. Using the page borders, the feature image is examined to detect top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top declines in pixel values to determine the corners of a shadow distortion in the original scanned image. Squeeze and curvature distortion are also detected. A Bezier curve is used to model each of the three distortions detected on the page. The detected distortion is corrected by first defining a trapezoidal correction area. The intensity, squeeze, and curvature corrections are then applied along lines within the trapezoidal correction area.

Abstract: An image of a scanned book is segmented using a feature image to map pixels corresponding to a page area and to create page objects and detect borders of the page. A book spine region is detected by locating a plain background area between two of the page objects, analyzing the page borders to detect their shape, and analyzing their shape to detect the book spine end points. Using the page borders, the feature image is examined to detect top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top declines in pixel values to determine the corners of a shadow distortion in the original scanned image. Squeeze and curvature distortion are also detected. A Bezier curve is used to model each of the three distortions detected on the page. The detected distortion is corrected by first defining a trapezoidal correction area. The intensity, squeeze, and curvature corrections are then applied along lines within the trapezoidal correction area.