Diagnostic and control system for a patient support

A diagnostic and control system for a patient support, said patient support having integrated therein one or more electronically controlled devices for providing one or more functions to the patient support, said system comprising:

• a) a control subsystem electronically coupled to one or more electronically controlled devices for transmission of data therebetween, said control system for controlling the functionality of the one or more electronically controlled devices,
• b) a monitor subsystem electronically coupled to said one or more electronically controlled devices, said monitor subsystem collecting information relating to operational conditions representative of said one or more electronically controlled devices;
• and
• c) a diagnostic subsystem electronically coupled to the control subsystem and monitor subsystem for transmission of data therebetween, said monitor subsystem activating said diagnostic subsystem upon detection of an operational fault relating to the one or more electronically controlled devices, said diagnostic subsystem receiving information from the monitor subsystem and analyzing said information using one or more evaluation routines for the determination of a potential source of the operational fault.

A patient position monitoring system for a patient support, said patient support having integrated therein one or more electronically controlled devices for providing one or more functions to the patient support, said system comprising:

• a) a control subsystem electronically coupled to one or more electronically controlled devices for transmission of data therebetween, said control system for controlling the functionality of the one or more electronically controlled devices, said control system collecting information relating to operational conditions representative of said one or more electronically controlled devices;
• b) one or more load sensors operatively connected to the frame, said one or more load sensors electrically connected to a control unit that is configured to receive signals from the one or more load sensors, said signals relating to the weight of the patient;
• c) a tilt sensor operatively connected to the frame, said tilt sensor connected to the control unit that is configured to receive data from the tilt sensor, said data representative of frame tilt;
• and optionally
• d) a diagnostic subsystem electronically coupled to the control subsystem for transmission of data therebetween, said control subsystem activating said diagnostic subsystem upon detection of an operational fault relating to the one or more electronically controlled devices, said diagnostic subsystem receiving information from the control subsystem and analyzing said information using one or more evaluation routines for the determination of a potential source of the operational fault.
• wherein said control unit correlates the signals and data thereby providing a means for determining patient characteristics.