Patents by Inventor Williams F. Collins

Williams F. Collins has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8803669
    Abstract: A user station configurable for use in a healthcare communication system, such as a nurse call system, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Schuman, Sr., Erik E. Roehl, Williams F. Collins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8803668
    Abstract: An indicator apparatus is configurable for use in a healthcare communication system, such as a nurse call system. The indicator apparatus includes a visual indicator. The visual indicator is operable to selectively display one or more colors in response to calls received by the healthcare communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Schuman, Williams F. Collins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8756078
    Abstract: A system and method for collecting, communicating, displaying, and/or analyzing data from multiple medical devices is disclosed. The system includes a local data collection module and a number of medical device adapters. The medical device adapters are coupled to respective medical devices via hardwired connections to receive data from the respective medical devices. The medical device adapters wirelessly transmit the data to the local data collection module. The local data collection module communicates the data received from the medical device adapters to an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system for automatic entry of at least some of the data in the electronic medical record of a patient associated with the medical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Williams F. Collins, Jr., Michael D. Gallup
  • Patent number: 8727804
    Abstract: A system for use with a hospital bed having circuitry and a standard AC power outlet spaced from the hospital bed is provided. The system includes a cable assembly couplable to the circuitry of the hospital bed. The cable assembly has power conductors and at least one data conductor. The cable assembly also has a plug including a first power coupler coupled to the power conductors and a first data coupler coupled to the at least one data conductor. The system also includes a second data coupler mountable adjacent the standard AC power outlet. The second data coupler is configured to couple to the first data coupler when the first power coupler is coupled to the standard AC power outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. McNeely, Richard H. Heimbrock, Carl W. Riley, Keith A. Huster, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, Paul J. McDaniel, III, Williams F. Collins, Jr., Oscar A. Manguiat, Terry L. Tincher
  • Publication number: 20140091913
    Abstract: A hospital bed has a bed frame and communication circuitry operable to transmit bed status data to a network of a healthcare facility and to receive messages from the network. The messages include information indicating whether bed status conditions are being monitored by a remote computer of the network for generation of alert messages to at least one caregiver in response to alert conditions being indicated by the bed status data. The bed has at least one user input that is used locally at the bed to enable and suspend monitoring of the bed status conditions by the remote computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Williams F. Collins, JR., James M. Allwn, Keith A. Huster, Carl W. Riley, Patricia A. Glidewell, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, Richard J. Schuman, Benjamin E. Howell, Timothy D. Wildman
  • Publication number: 20140009271
    Abstract: A system for use in a healthcare facility having a nurse call system with a nurse call computer located remotely from patient rooms is provided. The system includes a hospital bed having communication circuitry configured for communicating data from the hospital bed. An interface unit is spaced from the hospital bed. The interface unit has a first connector to which the hospital bed couples via a wired connection, a second connector which is communicatively coupled to the nurse call system, and circuitry comprising a third connector for connection to an external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Williams F. Collins, JR., James M. Allen, Keith A. Huster, Carl W. Riley, Patricia A. Glidewell, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, Richard J. Schuman, Christopher A. Mathura
  • Patent number: 8604917
    Abstract: A hospital bed has a bed frame and communication circuitry operable to transmit bed status data to a network of a healthcare facility and to receive messages from the network. The messages include information indicating whether bed status conditions are being monitored by a remote computer of the network for generation of alert messages to at least one caregiver in response to alert conditions being indicated by the bed status data. The bed has at least one user input that is used locally at the bed to enable and suspend monitoring of the bed status conditions by the remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Williams F. Collins, James M. Allen, Keith A. Huster, Carl W. Riley, Patricia A. Glidewell, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, Richard J. Schuman, Benjamin E. Howell, Timothy D. Wildman
  • Publication number: 20130257600
    Abstract: A user station configurable for use in a healthcare communication system, such as a nurse call system, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Schuman, Sr., Erik E. Roehl, Williams F. Collins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8536990
    Abstract: A system for use in a healthcare facility having a nurse call system with a nurse call computer located remotely from patient rooms is provided. The system includes a hospital bed having communication circuitry configured for communicating data from the hospital bed. An interface unit is spaced from the hospital bed. The interface unit has a first connector to which the hospital bed couples via a wired connection, a second connector which is communicatively coupled to the nurse call system, and circuitry comprising a third connector for connection to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Williams F. Collins, Jr., James M. Allen, Keith A. Huster, Carl W. Riley, Patricia A. Glidewell, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, Richard J. Schuman, Christopher A. Mathura
  • Patent number: 8456286
    Abstract: A user station configurable for use in a healthcare communication system, such as a nurse call system, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Schuman, Erik Edward Roehl, Williams F. Collins
  • Patent number: 8421606
    Abstract: A system includes a unit having associated therewith first identification (ID) data. The unit is mountable to a room wall and has a first transmitter that transmits the first ID data wirelessly. The system also includes a hospital bed having associated therewith second ID data. The hospital bed is spaced from the unit and has a wireless receiver that receives the first ID data transmitted by the unit. The hospital bed has a second transmitter that transmits the first ID data and the second ID data wirelessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Williams F. Collins, Jr., James M. Allen, Keith A. Huster, Carl W. Riley, Patricia A. Glidewell, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, Richard J. Schuman, Christopher A. Mathura
  • Patent number: 8384526
    Abstract: An indicator apparatus is configurable for use in a healthcare communication system, such as a nurse call system. The indicator apparatus includes a visual indicator. The visual indicator is operable to selectively display one or more colors in response to calls received by the healthcare communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Schuman, Sr., Williams F. Collins, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130021143
    Abstract: A hospital bed has a bed frame and communication circuitry operable to transmit bed status data to a network of a healthcare facility and to receive messages from the network. The messages include information indicating whether bed status conditions are being monitored by a remote computer of the network for generation of alert messages to at least one caregiver in response to alert conditions being indicated by the bed status data. The bed has at least one user input that is used locally at the bed to enable and suspend monitoring of the bed status conditions by the remote computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Williams F. Collins, JR., James M. Allen, Keith A. Huster, Carl W. Riley, Patricia A. Glidewell, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, Richard J. Schuman, Benjamin E. Howell, Timothy D. Wildman
  • Patent number: 8344860
    Abstract: A system including a patient support apparatus that has an adjustable height, a brake and a siderail. The system also includes a processor receiving at least two of the following signals: a first signal indicating a brake condition of the brake, a second signal indicating a siderail condition of the siderail, and a third signal indicating a height condition of the patient support apparatus. The system has a user input configured to allow a person to make a selection of any one or more of the brake, siderail and height conditions for monitoring. The system includes a light that has a first state when any of the selected brake, siderail and height conditions indicate an alarm condition and that has a second state when all of the selected brake, siderail and height conditions of the selection indicate no alarm condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Williams F. Collins, Jr., James M. Allen, Keith A. Huster, Carl W. Riley, Patricia A. Glidewell, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, Richard J. Schuman, Christopher A. Mathura
  • Patent number: 8284047
    Abstract: A hospital bed has wireless communication circuitry operable to transmit wirelessly bed status data. A surface supported by the bed has wireless communication circuitry operable to transmit wirelessly surface status data. The wireless communication circuitry of the hospital bed and the wireless communication circuitry of the surface communicate with a network independently. A hospital bed with an integrated surface has wireless communication circuitry operable to transmit wirelessly bed status data and surface status data. The wireless bed status data and the wireless surface status data are received by wireless access points of a network of a healthcare facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Williams F. Collins, Jr., James M. Allen, Keith A. Huster, Carl W. Riley, Patricia A. Glidewell, Irwin J. Vanderpohl, Richard J. Schuman, Benjamin E. Howell, Timothy D. Wildman
  • Patent number: 8280748
    Abstract: A computing device, system, method and machine readable medium for managing beds of a healthcare facility is provided. A system includes a client device and a server computing device. The client device may generate a request to assign a bed to a patient, present a list of beds to assign the patient, and receive a selection that identifies a bed of the list of beds. The server computing device may generate the list of beds presented by the client device in response to the request. The server computing device may retrieve an electronic medical record for the patient, and obtain healthcare attributes for the patient from the electronic medical record. The server computing device may generate the list based upon capabilities of a plurality of beds and the healthcare attributes of the patient retrieved from the electronic medical record. The server computing device may further assign to the patient the bed identified by the selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Allen, Williams F. Collins, Keith A. Huster, Carl W Riley, Patricia A Glidewell
  • Patent number: 8272892
    Abstract: A system is provided for use with a pre-existing hospital bed and a nurse call system. The system includes a first apparatus that is coupleable to a data port of the hospital bed and a second apparatus that is spaced from the hospital bed, that is spaced from the first apparatus, and that is coupleable to the nurse call system. A transmitter of the first apparatus is operable to transmit data received at the data port to a receiver that is operable to wirelessly receive data transmitted by the wireless transmitter of the first apparatus. The first apparatus and second apparatus are used in lieu of a cable that is otherwise usable to connect the hospital bed to the nurse call system via a hard-wired connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. McNeely, Richard H. Heimbrock, Carl W. Riley, Keith A. Huster, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, Paul J. McDaniel, III, Williams F. Collins, Jr., Oscar A. Manguiat, Terry L. Tincher
  • Publication number: 20120223821
    Abstract: A system including a patient support apparatus that has an adjustable height, a brake and a siderail. The system also includes a processor receiving at least two of the following signals: a first signal indicating a brake condition of the brake, a second signal indicating a siderail condition of the siderail, and a third signal indicating a height condition of the patient support apparatus. The system has a user input configured to allow a person to make a selection of any one or more of the brake, siderail and height conditions for monitoring. The system includes a light that has a first state when any of the selected brake, siderail and height conditions indicate an alarm condition and that has a second state when all of the selected brake, siderail and height conditions of the selection indicate no alarm condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Williams F. Collins, JR., James Maurice Allen, Keith A. Huster, Carl W. Riley, Patricia Anne Glidewell, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, Richard J. Schuman, Christopher A. Mathura
  • Publication number: 20120194327
    Abstract: A user station configurable for use in a healthcare communication system, such as a nurse call system, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Schuman, SR., Erik Edward Roehl, Williams F. Collins, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120119890
    Abstract: A system for use in a healthcare facility having a nurse call system with a nurse call computer located remotely from patient rooms is provided. The system includes a hospital bed having communication circuitry configured for communicating data from the hospital bed. An interface unit is spaced from the hospital bed. The interface unit has a first connector to which the hospital bed couples via a wired connection, a second connector which is communicatively coupled to the nurse call system, and circuitry comprising a third connector for connection to an external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Williams F. Collins, JR., James Maurice Allen, Keith A. Huster, Carl W. Riley, Patricia Anne Glidewell, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, Richard J. Schuman, Christopher A. Mathura