A method for the partial emptying of buoyant objects, which are stored in a loading aid having at least one opening is provided. A processing weight to be partially emptied is established. A fill weight is determined of the objects in the loading aid via a first weighing. The loading aid is at least partially immersed in a liquid bath. The loading aid is positioned or moved for a retention time predefined as a function of the fill weight and of the processing weight in the bath such that there is an on-average constant flow relative to the loading aid and such that the opening is disposed at least partially below a fill level surface of the bath, whereby the objects are taken along by the flow. The at least partially emptied loading aid is lifted out of the bath after the retention time has elapsed.

A method for the partial emptying of buoyant objects, which are stored in a loading aid having at least one opening is provided. A processing weight to be partially emptied is established. A fill weight is determined of the objects in the loading aid via a first weighing. The loading aid is at least partially immersed in a liquid bath. The loading aid is positioned or moved for a retention time predefined as a function of the fill weight and of the processing weight in the bath such that there is an on-average constant flow relative to the loading aid and such that the opening is disposed at least partially below a fill level surface of the bath, whereby the objects are taken along by the flow. The at least partially emptied loading aid is lifted out of the bath after the retention time has elapsed.

An apparatus includes a backboard configured to support an immobilized, supine individual during transportation of the individual and a weighing device associated with the backboard and moveable with the backboard during the transportation of the individual. The weighing device configured to determine weight of the individual on the backboard. A light on the backboard is in electronic communication with the weighing device, and the light is associated with a predetermined weight range. The light is configured to be illuminated only when the weight determined by the weighing device is within the predetermined weight range. The apparatus permits determining the dosage of a medicament to be administered to an individual, especially a pediatric patient, when the individual is on the backboard because the dosage of the medicament is correlated to the weight of the individual.

Methods and a system are provided for assessing postpartum hemorrhage risk and postpartum hemorrhage stages in a clinical setting. Generally, a clinician may indicate that the mass of several bloody items, indicated in type and quantity, is to be measured using a scale. The mass of bloody items is compared to the known unused dry mass of such items in order to accurately determine the quantitative blood loss (QBL) of a patient at the bedside. The cumulative QBL can be updated by weighing additional items. Based on the cumulative QBL, the patient's vital signs, and other factors, a corresponding hemorrhage stage is identified and communicated to the clinician. Recommendations specific to the hemorrhage stage are provided to a clinician. Some recommendations are selectable actions that trigger automatic placement of medical orders and notifications to relevant medical services, such as a blood bank or anesthesia.

Methods and a system are provided for assessing postpartum hemorrhage risk and postpartum hemorrhage stages in a clinical setting. Generally, a clinician may indicate that the mass of several bloody items, indicated in type and quantity, is to be measured using a scale. The mass of bloody items is compared to the known unused dry mass of such items in order to accurately determine the quantitative blood loss (QBL) of a patient at the bedside. The cumulative QBL can be updated by weighing additional items. Based on the cumulative QBL, the patient's vital signs, and other factors, a corresponding hemorrhage stage is identified and communicated to the clinician. Recommendations specific to the hemorrhage stage are provided to a clinician. Some recommendations are selectable actions that trigger automatic placement of medical orders and notifications to relevant medical services, such as a blood bank or anesthesia.

The package dimensioning device is configured for ascertaining measurements of cuboidal and boxed items to provide data to computer-implemented package management processes. The device has a base and a vertical support member. The base is configured to receive a package thereon and includes a weight sensor. There are multiple space-apart contactless sensors including a top sensor carried by the vertical support member, and side sensors positioned adjacent sides of the base which output dimensional data signals related to a height, length and width of the package. A control unit is communicatively coupled to the weight sensor and multiple spaced apart sensors and configured to calculate weight, height, length and width measurements of the package based upon the weight data signal and dimensional data signals. A communication unit is coupled to the control unit and configured to output the weight, height, length and width measurements to a computer network resource for access and use by the computer-implemented package management processes.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus of commodity detection. The method of commodity detection includes determining commodities taken by a user and weight data of each commodity; acquiring weight data within a weight rise time interval from the time when the user has taken the commodities to the time when a gravity balance is stabilized, wherein the gravity balance is used for detecting commodity weight; determining maximum return weight data according to a difference between maximum weight data and minimum weight data among the weight data within the weight rise time interval; and estimating whether each commodity has been returned according to the maximum return weight data and the weight data of each commodity.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus of commodity detection. The method of commodity detection includes determining commodities taken by a user and weight data of each commodity; acquiring weight data within a weight rise time interval from the time when the user has taken the commodities to the time when a gravity balance is stabilized, wherein the gravity balance is used for detecting commodity weight; determining maximum return weight data according to a difference between maximum weight data and minimum weight data among the weight data within the weight rise time interval; and estimating whether each commodity has been returned according to the maximum return weight data and the weight data of each commodity.

A platform is supported at four corners by four half-bridge load cells. Adjacent load cells are oppositely polarized. During operation, analog output from a pair of oppositely polarized half-bridge load cells is provided to an instrument amplifier. Analog output from the instrument amplifier is provided to an analog to digital converter to provide digital data. The digital data is then used to determine weight data indicative of a weight as measured by the pair of half-bridge load cells at that time. A set of switching elements, such as a quad bilateral switch controlled by a microcontroller, rapidly switch between pairs of oppositely polarized load cells. The weight data may be used to determine an overall weight change on the platform, such as a pick or a place of an item. Weight data from the four pairs of load cells may be used to determine a change in center of gravity.

A platform is supported at four corners by four half-bridge load cells. Adjacent load cells are oppositely polarized. During operation, analog output from a pair of oppositely polarized half-bridge load cells is provided to an instrument amplifier. Analog output from the instrument amplifier is provided to an analog to digital converter to provide digital data. The digital data is then used to determine weight data indicative of a weight as measured by the pair of half-bridge load cells at that time. A set of switching elements, such as a quad bilateral switch controlled by a microcontroller, rapidly switch between pairs of oppositely polarized load cells. The weight data may be used to determine an overall weight change on the platform, such as a pick or a place of an item. Weight data from the four pairs of load cells may be used to determine a change in center of gravity.