# US 2006/0179571 A1 · Transferable patient care equipment support

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- Number: US 2006/0179571 A1
- Document ID: US20060179571A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/340,982
- Filed: 2006-01-27
- Published: 2006-08-17
- Earliest claimed: 2005-02-11
- Assignees: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
- Inventors: David Newkirk
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060179571A1

## CPC

- A61G 13/107: {Supply appliances (supply appliances for dental machines A61C1/0007)}
- A61G 7/012: raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame (A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence)
- A61G 12/002: {Supply appliances, e.g. columns for gas, fluid, electricity supply (vertical ducts or channels for receiving utility lines E04F17/08; installations of electric cables or lines, wall trunking H02G3/0431; structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles F21V33/0068; stands or trestles as supports for apparatus or articles F16M11/00; buildings for public purposes E04H3/08)}
- A61G 12/004: {mounted on the ceiling}
- A61G 12/005: {mounted on the wall}
- A61M 5/1413: {Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements}
- G16H 40/63: for local operation
- A61G 2203/80: for connecting a trolley to a device, e.g. bed or column table
- A61M 16/00: Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. ventilators (iron lungs A61H31/02); Tracheal tubes
- A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen
- A61M 2202/03: Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
- A61M 2209/082: Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
- A61M 2209/084: Supporting bases, stands for equipment
- G16H 40/40: for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

A patient care equipment support includes power and data connectors configured to be coupled to power and data connectors of patient care equipment when the patient care equipment is coupled to the equipment support to provide a power coupling and a data coupling between the patient care equipment and the equipment support. The equipment support is transferable between a first device, such as a hospital bed, and a second device, such as an overhead support arm.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A patient care equipment support for use with patient care equipment having power and data connectors, the equipment support comprising power and data connectors configured to be coupled to the respective power and data connectors of the patient care equipment when the patient care equipment is coupled to the equipment support to provide a power coupling and a data coupling between the patient care equipment and the equipment support.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The equipment support of claim 1, wherein the patient care equipment comprises any one or more of the following: an infusion pump, a ventilator, a cardiac monitor, a pulse oximeter, a non-invasive blood pressure measuring device, a digital thermometer, a liquid oxygen module, a defibrillator, a respiratory rate measuring device, medical gas delivery equipment, intra-venous bags, and the like.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The equipment support of claim 1, further comprising any one or more of the following: a microcontroller, a user interface device, a display, an on-board battery, and the like.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The equipment support of claim 1, comprising an on-board battery to supply power to the patient care equipment when the patient care equipment is coupled to the equipment support.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The equipment support of claim 1, wherein the equipment support is configured to be detachably coupled to a first device, the equipment support comprising extendible support legs with floor-engaging wheels which allow the equipment support to be decoupled from the first device and supported on an underlying floor for independent operation thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The equipment support of claim 5, wherein the support legs are configured to retract when the equipment support is lifted off the floor and coupled to the first device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The equipment support of claim 1, wherein the equipment support is transferable between a first device and a second device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The equipment support of claim 7, wherein the first device has first power and data connectors, the equipment support has third power and data connectors, the equipment support is configured to be detachably coupled to the first device so that the third power and data connectors couple to the respective first power and data connectors to supply power to the equipment support and to establish a communication link between the first device and the equipment support.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The equipment support of claim 8, wherein the communication link between the first device and the equipment support is wireless.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The equipment support of claim 8, wherein the second device has second power and data connectors, the equipment support has fourth power and data connectors, the equipment support is configured to be detachably coupled to the second device so that the fourth power and data connectors couple to the respective second power and data connectors to supply power to the equipment support and to establish a communication link between the second device and the equipment support.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The equipment support of claim 10, wherein the communication link between the second device and the equipment support is wireless.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The equipment support of claim 10, wherein the third and the fourth power and data connectors are arranged so that the first and second power and data connectors can be coupled substantially simultaneously to the respective third and fourth power and data connectors before disconnection of either one of the first and second power and data connectors from the respective third and fourth power and data connectors to permit the equipment support to be transferred between the first and second devices without a loss of power to the equipment support or without a loss of communication link with the equipment support.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The equipment support of claim 7, wherein the first device is one of the following: a wall of a hospital room, a patient support, a hospital bed, a stretcher, a surgery table, and an ambulatory care chair.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The equipment support of claim 7, wherein the second device is one of the following: a support arm, a column, a headwall, a cart, and a stand.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The equipment support of claim 1, wherein the equipment support includes at least one equipment-receiving cavity and the power and data connectors of the patient care equipment are coupled to the respective power and data connectors of the equipment support when the patient care equipment is received in the at least one equipment-receiving cavity.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The equipment support of claim 15, wherein the at least one equipment-receiving cavity comprises a plurality of equipment-receiving cavities, and each equipment-receiving cavity is configured to receive an associated patient care equipment.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The equipment support of claim 15, wherein the power and data connectors of the equipment support and the patient care equipment are drawer connectors to facilitate blind mating when the patient care equipment is inserted into the associated equipment-receiving cavity of the equipment support.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The equipment support of claim 17, wherein the power and data connectors of the equipment support are receptacle connectors and the power and data connectors of the patient care equipment are plug connectors.

### Claim 19

A patient support apparatus for use with a detachable patient care equipment support, the apparatus comprising:
a base frame,
an upper frame above the base frame, and
a support structure extending outwardly from the base frame so that at least a portion of the support structure extends outside a footprint of the upper frame, the portion of the support structure extending outside the footprint of the upper frame being configured to carry the equipment support such that the equipment support is spaced from an underlying floor.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the equipment support has an upper portion situated above the upper frame when the equipment support is carried by the support structure.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the support structure is coupled to the base fame for side-to-side movement.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the support structure is coupled to the base fame for pivoting movement about a vertical axis.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the support structure is telescopic so that the equipment support, when attached to the support structure, can move between a retracted position closer to the patient support apparatus and an extended position further spaced from the patient support apparatus.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, further including a pair of handle posts near one end of the patient support apparatus, wherein the equipment support, when attached to the support structure, is located between the handle posts when the support structure is in the retracted position and located forwardly of the handle posts when the support structure is in the extended position.

### Claim 25

A patient support apparatus comprising:
a base frame,
an upper frame above the base frame, and
a patient care equipment support carried by the base frame such that the equipment support is spaced from an underlying floor, the equipment support having an upper portion situated above the upper frame.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The apparatus of claim 25, comprising a support structure extending outwardly from the base frame so that at least a portion of the support structure extends outside a footprint of the upper frame, wherein the equipment support is carried by the support structure outside the footprint of the upper frame.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the equipment support is detachably coupled to the support structure.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the equipment support is configured to support any one or more of the following: an infusion pump, a ventilator, a cardiac monitor, a pulse oximeter, a non-invasive blood pressure measuring device, a digital thermometer, a liquid oxygen module, a defibrillator, a respiratory rate measuring device, an oxygen tank, intra-venous bags, and the like.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The equipment support of claim 25, further comprising any one or more of the following: a microcontroller, a user interface device, a display, an on-board battery, and the like.

### Claim 30

An apparatus comprising:
a hospital bed having movable portions,
patient monitoring equipment coupled to the hospital bed to monitor at least one patient physiological condition, and
a user interface device coupled to the hospital bed, the user interface device including a display for displaying patient data and controls for controlling bed functions.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the user interface device comprises a touchscreen display.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the touchscreen display is operable to display patient data and a plurality of icons that are touchable to move the movable portions of the hospital bed.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the touchscreen display is operable to display the patient data and the plurality of icons at the same time.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the touchscreen display is operable to display the patient data and the plurality of icons at different times.

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the hospital bed includes a detachable patient care equipment support, and the touchscreen display is coupled to the equipment support.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the equipment support includes a microcontroller coupled to the touchscreen display, and the touchscreen display is operable to display a plurality of icons that are touchable to provide inputs to the microcontroller.

### Claim 37 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the patient data includes any one or more of the following: blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation level, patient weight, and the like.

### Claim 38 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the display is additionally configured to display the operational status of the hospital bed including information concerning one or more of the following: lock-outs, bed articulation, bed elevation, siderail positions, and therapy surface data.

### Claim 39 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the display is additionally configured to display the operational status of the patient care equipment including information concerning one or more of the following: the alarm status, and the equipment settings.

### Claim 40 (depends on 1)

The equipment support of claim 1, wherein each power connector includes a wired coupler to supply electrical power to the patient care equipment, and each data connector includes a wireless coupler to establish a communication link between the patient care equipment and the equipment support.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The equipment support of claim 40, wherein the wired coupler comprises electrical contacts.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The equipment support of claim 41, wherein the wireless coupler comprises one or more of the following: a photoemitter, a photodetector, a photodiode, a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, an RF receiver, an RF transceiver, an infrared (IR) transmitter, an IR receiver, and an IR transceiver.

### Claim 43 (depends on 40)

The equipment support of claim 40, wherein data from the patient care equipment is wirelessly communicated to a computer network (190, 690) of a healthcare system when the patient care equipment is coupled to the equipment support so that other computer devices connected to the computer network have access to the data from the patient care equipment.

### Claim 44 (depends on 40)

The equipment support of claim 40, wherein wireless communication between the patient care equipment and the equipment support is in accordance with one of the following protocols: IrDA, spread spectrum (including the Bluetooth protocol), RS232, TCP/IP, USB, and 802.11X.

### Claim 45 (depends on 40)

The equipment support of claim 40, wherein wireless communication between the patient care equipment and the equipment support uses frequency modulation.

### Claim 46 (depends on 40)

The equipment support of claim 40, wherein wireless communication between the patient care equipment and the equipment support uses frequency modulated infrared (FMIR).