US 6,208,250 B1 · Patient position detection apparatus for a bed

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for detecting a position of a body on a support surface of a bed. The apparatus includes at least one first sensor coupled to the bed and at least one second sensor located adjacent the support surface. The at least one first sensor has an output signal which is variable in response to changes in a weight applied to the support surface. The at least one second sensor has an output signal which is variable in response to changes in the position of the body on the support surface. The apparatus also includes a controller having inputs configured to receive the output signals from the first and second sensors. The controller is configured to monitor the output signals, to provide an indication of changes in the position of the body relative to the support surface, and to provide an indication if the body exits the support surface.

Claims67

Dependent claims

An apparatus for detecting a position of a body on a support surface of a bed, the apparatus comprising:

at least one first sensor coupled to the bed, the at least one first sensor having an output signal which is variable in response to changes in a weight applied to the support surface;
at least one second sensor located adjacent the support surface, the at least one second sensor having an output signal which is variable in response to changes in the position of the body on the support surface;
and
a controller having inputs configured to receive the output signals from the first and second sensors, the controller being configured to monitor the output signals, to provide an indication of changes in the position of the body relative to the support surface, and to provide an indication if the body exits the support surface.

1 more element

An apparatus for supporting a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a frame,
a mattress supported by the frame, and
a patient position detection system including an alarm and at least one sensor configured to detect a position of the patient relative to the mattress, the patient position detection system having at least three modes of operation, a first mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves toward exiting the mattress by a first amount, a second mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves toward exiting the mattress by a second amount greater than the first amount, and a third mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient exits the mattress.

An apparatus for supporting a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a frame,
a mattress supported by the frame, and
a patient position detection system including an alarm and at least one sensor configured to detect a position of the patient relative to the mattress, the patient position detection system having at least three modes of operation, a first mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves away from a central region of the mattress by a first amount, a second mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient moves away from the central region of the mattress by a second amount greater than the first amount, and a third mode of operation resulting in the alarm being activated when the patient exits the mattress.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Patient position detection apparatus for a bed

Life of this patent

Patient position detection apparatus for a bed

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims67