Patient support apparatus with patient information sensors
Inventors
Hayes, Michael Joseph • Becker, David Terrance • Désaulniers, Annie • Furman, Aaron Douglas • Buckingham, Brandon J. • Steffler, Michael W. • Derenne, Richard A. • Mix, Joshua Elmer
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12465290-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A person support apparatus includes sensors for monitoring aspects of a person positioned thereon. The outputs from the sensors are used to distinguish between new and prior occupants of the support apparatus, automatically zero an integrated scale system, distinguish between objects and humans on the support apparatus, determine if a person is sleeping or awake, monitor and characterize movement levels of the person, record a log of likely events regarding a support surface of the apparatus, propose identifications of objects added to or removed from the support surface, record force outputs, and/or other purposes. A person's sleep state may also be obtained and forwarded to a remote location. The sleep state data may be used to mute and/or control alerts or indicators, and/or to predict when a person is going to wake up and likely exit the support apparatus.
Core Innovation
A patient support apparatus includes an exit alert system adapted to issue an alert if the patient exits the patient support apparatus while the exit alert system is armed, and to not issue the alert if the patient exits while the exit alert system is disarmed. The apparatus includes a controller in communication with the exit alert system, and the controller records a time when the patient exits while the exit alert system is disarmed and records a time when the patient exits while the exit alert system is armed.
The apparatus uses patient-information sensors to distinguish patient occupancy and occupant status, including differentiating a new occupant from a prior occupant and distinguishing objects from humans. The apparatus also provides sensing-based characterization of scale readings, including auto-zeroing and logging weight events with timestamps, and logged likely events include patient entry and exit and object addition and removal that can be caregiver-confirmable.
The controller determines sleep/wake state and sleep stages and/or sleep quality from heart rate and respiration data acquired by the sensors, and it classifies movement/activity levels and patient turning. The apparatus generates alerts based on detected conditions, and it conditionally controls or mutes local and remote alarms and indicators based on sleep status. The apparatus may wirelessly forward caregiver notifications and information to facility/network/mobile devices, and it may predict likely awakening and likely exit using patterns in recorded sensor outputs.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim provides a conditional exit alert system with separate time recording for armed versus disarmed states. Additional features include load-cell-based sensing and recording, physiological inference, pattern-based prediction of imminent exit, and wireless transmission to a server, including IEEE 802.11 communication.
Conditionally issuing an exit alert based on armed versus disarmed status
The exit alert system is adapted to issue an alert if the patient exits the patient support apparatus while the exit alert system is armed, and to not issue the alert if the patient exits while the exit alert system is disarmed.
Recording exit times separately for armed versus disarmed states
The controller is adapted to record a time when the patient exits while the exit alert system is disarmed, and to record a time when the patient exits while the exit alert system is armed.
Exit alert sensing using a plurality of load cells and downward force detection
The exit alert system includes a plurality of load cells adapted to detect downward forces exerted on the support surface.
Recording load-cell outputs prior to and during exiting
The controller records outputs of the load cells prior to, and during, exiting of the patient from the support surface.
Pattern-based prediction of imminent patient exit using future load-cell outputs
The controller analyzes the recorded outputs for patterns, uses the patterns to analyze future outputs of the load cells, and predicts when the patient may be about to exit the patient support apparatus.
Determining respiration rate and/or heart rate from load-cell signals
The controller determines at least one of a respiration rate or a heart rate of the patient from signals from the plurality of load cells.
Wireless transmission of information to a remote server using IEEE 802.11
The controller transmits the message to the server wirelessly in accordance with an IEEE 802.11 standard.
Overall, the claims cover an apparatus that conditionally issues exit alerts based on whether the exit alert system is armed and records exit times in both armed and disarmed states. Further refinements include load-cell-based sensing of downward forces, recording of load-cell outputs prior to and during exiting, prediction of imminent exit based on patterns in future outputs, physiological inference for respiration rate and/or heart rate, and wireless transmission to a server using IEEE 802.11.
Stated Advantages
Conditionally issue or suppress an exit alert depending on whether the exit alert system is armed.
Record exit times separately for armed versus disarmed states.
Documented Applications
Caregiver notification and alerting based on patient exit detection, including local and remote alarms and indicators.
Predicting likely awakening and likely exit using patterns in recorded sensor outputs.
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