US 11,699,525 B2 · Patient support apparatus communication systems

Abstract

A patient support apparatus includes a frame, patient support surface, memory having a first key stored therein, a transceiver, and a controller. The transceiver wirelessly communicates with a medical device over a first mesh network using the first key. The controller transmits a request message over the first mesh network to the medical device via the transceiver. The request message includes an identifier identifying the patient support apparatus and a request to join a second mesh network different from the first mesh network. The controller receives a second key input over the first mesh network, uses the second key input to generate a second key, and to use the second key to communicate over the second mesh network. In some instances, the second key input originates from a cloud-based server storing a list of authorized devices for a particular healthcare facility.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A patient support apparatus system comprising a plurality of patient support apparatuses, each of the patient support apparatuses comprising:

a frame;
a patient support surface supported on the frame and adapted to support a patient thereon;
a transceiver adapted to communicate over a first mesh network using a first key factory-installed on each of the plurality of patient support apparatuses, the transceiver further adapted to communicate over a second mesh network after receiving a second key input;
and
a controller adapted to use a factory-installed algorithm to generate a second key from the second key input, the second key enabling the transceiver to communicate over the second mesh network;
wherein each of the plurality of patient support apparatuses are adapted to receive a software update intended for another one of the plurality of patient support apparatuses and to forward the software update to the intended another one of the plurality of patient support apparatuses using the second mesh network.

3 more elements

A patient support apparatus system for a healthcare facility, the patient support apparatus system comprising a plurality of patient support apparatuses, each of the patient support apparatuses comprising:

a frame;
a patient support surface supported on the frame and adapted to support a patient thereon;
a transceiver adapted to communicate over a first mesh network using a first key factory-installed on each of the plurality of patient support apparatuses, the transceiver further adapted to communicate over a second mesh network after receiving a second key input;
and
a controller adapted to use a factory-installed algorithm to generate a second key from the second key input, the second key enabling the transceiver to communicate over the second mesh network;
wherein a first one of the patient support apparatuses is adapted to receive the second key input from a technician and to distribute the second key input to the rest of the plurality of patient support apparatuses over the first mesh network without requiring the technician to perform any additional steps;
and
wherein each of the plurality of patient support apparatuses are adapted to receive a software update intended for another one of the plurality of patient support apparatuses and to forward the software update to the intended another one of the plurality of patient support apparatuses using the second mesh network.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Patient support apparatus communication systems

Life of this patent

Patient support apparatus communication systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11