Loading patent…
AssigneeHill-Rom Services, Inc.
InventorsSandy M. Richards, Stephen L. Douglas, Ruchik A. Amin, Timothy J. Receveur, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III
Estimating the term…
A patient support apparatus includes a patient support structure, such as a bed frame or mattress or both, that is configured to support a patient in a recumbent position. The patient support structure is configured to provide at least one therapy to a patient. A therapy enabler token is coupleable to the patient support structure. The at least one therapy is disabled when the therapy enabler token is decoupled from the patient support structure and the at least one therapy is enabled in response to the therapy enabler token being coupled to the patient support structure.
-20. (canceled)
A therapy enabler apparatus for use with a patient support apparatus, the therapy enabler apparatus comprising a therapy enabler token having a memory containing first data that is transferrable to a reader of the patient support apparatus to enable a first therapy of the patient support apparatus, the memory being reprogrammable by a remote computer over a network with second data that is transferrable to the reader of the patient support apparatus to enable a second therapy of the patient support apparatus, the memory of the therapy enabler token being reprogrammable while the therapy enabler token is in communication with the reader of the patient support apparatus.
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the therapy enabler token includes a transmitter or transceiver to provide wireless communication between the memory of the therapy enabler token and the reader of the patient support apparatus.
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory of the therapy enabler token is reprogrammed via communication from the network, through control circuitry of the patient support apparatus, and through the reader of the patient support apparatus.
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory of the therapy enabler token is reprogrammed via wireless communication from control circuitry of the patient support apparatus which is in communication with the network.
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory of the therapy enabler token is reprogrammed via communication from the network without involving any control circuitry of the patient support apparatus.
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the therapy enabler token also enables bed frame movements of the patient support apparatus that are otherwise locked out from use.
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein a software update for the patient support apparatus is stored in the memory of the therapy enabler token and is uploaded to control circuitry of the patient support apparatus from the therapy enabler token via the reader.
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein an operational parameter for the patient support apparatus is stored in the memory of the therapy enabler token and is transmitted to control circuitry of the patient support apparatus from the therapy enabler token via the reader.
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory of the therapy enabler token is reprogrammable via a wired interface.
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the therapy enabler token is configured to be worn by a patient.
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory of the therapy enabler token is reprogrammed wirelessly when the therapy enabler token is separated from the patient support apparatus.
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises one or more of the following:
The therapy enabler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the patient support apparatus includes an air mattress, the first therapy comprises controlling inflation of the air mattress in a first manner, and the second therapy comprises controlling inflation of the air mattress in a second manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.