US 10,478,359 B2 · Person support apparatuses with acceleration detection

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.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A person support apparatus comprising:

a support surface adapted to support a cushioning structure and a person thereon, the support surface including a first section and a second section, the first section being pivotable between a raised orientation and a lowered orientation;
a litter adapted to support the support surface;
a first accelerometer positioned below the first section and coupled to the litter such that the first accelerometer does not change orientation when the first section pivots;
and
a controller in communication with the first accelerometer, the controller adapted to process signals from the first accelerometer to detect a presence or absence of the person on the support surface.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Person support apparatuses with acceleration detection

Life of this patent

Person support apparatuses with acceleration detection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20