Patient weighing system

A patient weighing hospital bed apparatus comprising:

• at least one weight bearing first member supporting a bed;
• a second member supporting the first member;
• a piezoelectric load cell disposed in weight bearing relation between the first member and the second member wherein the load cell generates a load cell signal representative of a load weight;
• and a processor electrically connected to the load cell wherein the processor calculates data representative of a discharge time constant of the load cell.

A patient weighing hospital bed apparatus comprising:

• at least one weight bearing first member supporting a bed;
• a second member supporting the first member;
• a piezoelectric load cell disposed in weight bearing relation between the first member and the second member wherein the load cell generates a load cell signal representative of a load weight;
• and a memory, wherein the memory stores data representative of a discharge time constant for the load cell, and further comprising a processor operatively connected to the load cell and the memory, and wherein the processor generates a display signal responsive to the load cell signal and the data corresponding to discharge time constant.

A patient weighing hospital bed apparatus comprising:

• at least one weight bearing first member supporting a bed;
• a second member supporting the first member;
• a piezoelectric load cell disposed in weight bearing relation between the first member and the second member wherein the load cell generates a load cell signal representative of a load weight;
• and a processor operatively connected to the load cell, and wherein the processor calculates a discharge time constant for the load cell from the load cell signals upon unloading of the load cell.

A support assembly for a patient holding apparatus comprising:

• a base housing having a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion, the upper housing portion supportably engaging a member of the patient holding apparatus;
• an expandable fluid tight chamber between the upper and lower housing portions;
• a piezoelectric load cell supportable on the lower housing portion in weight bearing relation with the member;
• wherein expansion of the chamber enables selectively loading or unloading of the piezoelectric load cell by the member.

A support assembly for a patient holding apparatus comprising:

• a base housing having a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion, the upper housing portion supportably engaging a member of the patient holding device;
• an expandable fluid tight chamber between the upper and lower housing portions;
• a load cell supportable on the lower housing portion in weight bearing relation with the member, wherein expansion of the chamber enables selectively loading or unloading of the load cell by the member;
• a wheel supporting the lower housing portion, and further comprising a central member extending upward from the lower housing portion, a sleeve portion in the upper housing portion, the sleeve portion including a sleeve top portion, and wherein the load cell is positioned between the central member and the sleeve top portion.

A patient weighing system for a patient housing device, comprising:

• a force sensor, the force sensor including a piezoelectric load cell;
• a lift in operative connection with the patient housing device, wherein the lift is operative to selectively apply a weight associated with the housing device to the force sensor;
• and wherein the force sensor is in operative connection with a telescoping support, wherein the force sensor is selectively extendable into a downward position;
• and wherein the telescoping support includes at least one interengaging cam and cam slot, whereby the force sensor may be releasably locked in the downward extended position.

A method for weighing a patient in a patient supporting device comprising the steps of:

• supporting a weight bearing frame member of said device on a support member with a piezoelectric load cell in load bearing relation between said frame member and said support member;
• moving said frame member in a first direction to unload said load cell;
• calculating data corresponding with a discharge time constant for said load cell with a processor connected to said load cell and storing said calculated discharge time constant data in a memory connected to said processor;
• moving said frame member in a second direction so the load of said frame member is on said load cell;
• generating a signal in said processor corresponding to a load weight on said frame member from a signal from said load cell and said discharge time constant data stored in the memory.