There is provided a dynamic and proactive system for supporting sitting while detecting and changing sitting postures of a user and method of operation thereof. The system including a frame, a plurality of supports, each configured to support a different body part, and a plurality of joints each configured to move independently of or together with any other of the joints, each of the supports is connected to the frame via a corresponding joint, at least one of the joints is a two dimensional joint which enables a change in angle between the frame and a corresponding support. Each one of the plurality of supports is configured to move with respect to the frame or to another support, thereby enabling any changes in sitting postures of the user. The system comprises sensors, which based on their readings, the system detects user postures and suggests or creates posture changes.

A method includes receiving sensor data relating to an environment from a plurality of mobility deices, determining locations of one or more points of accessibility within the environment based on the sensor data, creating an environment map based on the sensor data, and transmitting the environment map to a mobility device. The environment map includes the one or more points of accessibility.

A user module for a patient support apparatus is provided. The user module has a user interface operably coupled thereto. The user interface includes an input device and an output device. The output device includes a visual display including textual and non-textual elements. The non-textual elements include enhanced, graphical, and animated portions relating to one or more operational features of the patient support or to a person positionable on the patient support. The input device includes one or more touch sensors corresponding to defined regions of the visual display.

The material contained in this disclosure pertains to robotics related to convertible robots incorporating telecommunication elements. Embodiments of the system and apparatuses described can facilitate instant communication with family and friends, health status monitoring and support from caregivers; and promote optimal health, longevity, and independent living by providing high-tech economical solutions at each stage of the aging process. Embodiments of the system and apparatuses may be converted from an independent telecommunications robot, to a robotic walker, to a robotic wheelchair.

A medical station includes a movable cart and a cassette system. The cassette system including a frame, a plurality of lockable drawers slidably mounted to the frame, and a graspable handle configured for movement between a closed position where the handle is not accessible or graspable by a user and a released position.

A patient support, such as a mattress, includes a plurality of inflatable bladders. Depth sensors are included in the support that measure the degree of penetration of a patient into the mattress. An air pressure sensor is also included that measures the pressure inside at least one bladder. A suitable inflation level of the mattress is determined by monitoring the rate of change of the depth with respect to air pressure as the bladder is either inflated or deflated. By detecting an inflection point in the graphical relationship of the depth and pressure outputs, a suitable inflation point for the bladders is determined that reduces interface pressures experienced by the patient, yet does not overly sink the patient into the mattress to a degree of discomfort. Analyzing the outputs of the depth and pressure sensors can also be used to detect a patient's heart rate and respiration rate.

A switch assembly for a lift unit includes a switch, an emergency stop device, and a reset actuator. The switch is arranged to move between a closed position, wherein the switch electrically couples a lift motor of the lift unit to an energy source, and an open position, wherein the switch electrically decouples the lift motor from the energy source. The emergency stop device is coupled to the switch and arranged to move the switch from the closed position to the open position. The reset actuator is coupled to the switch and arranged to move the switch from the open position to the closed position, wherein the reset actuator is controllable to move the switch from the open position to the closed position.

The present disclosure relates to patient support systems, such as hospital beds, and particularly to reconfigurable patient support systems movable among a number of different positions. The present disclosure further relates to control algorithms and interfaces for use in patient support systems.

A chair includes a control system for moving the chair between seated and standing configurations to thereby help facility an occupant's egress out of, or ingress into, the chair. One or more controls are provided on the chair that enable the occupant to control the timing of when the chair's movement between the configurations starts, what speed the chair moves at, and when the chair stops. A caregiver control panel provides the caregiver with multiple options for dictating what aspects of the chair's movement between the configurations the occupant is able to control. In some embodiments, a controller dynamically adjusts the speed of the chair based on shifts in the occupant's weight during the transition between the standing and seated configurations, as detected by one or more force sensors. The force sensors may be integrated into the armrests, the seat, the backrest, a combination of these, or elsewhere.

A system and method for integrated surgical table icons includes a computer-assisted medical device. The computer-assisted medical device includes a control unit for controlling the computer-assisted medical device and a display unit coupled to the control unit having at least a surgical table status region. The control unit is configured to receive information from a surgical table describing an orientation of a top of the surgical table relative to a base of the surgical table, generate one or more icons graphically depicting the surgical table and the orientation, and send the one or more icons to the display unit for display within the surgical table status region. The surgical table is coupled to the computer-assisted medical device via a communications connection.