A patient support system includes a scale system, an air system, and a lift system. The patient support system also includes a control system configured to graphically communicate information about the scale system, the air system, and the lift system to a user.

A method for controlling an angular orientation of a person support apparatus including a bladder portion containing fluidized particulate material, an upper frame, and a base frame may include adjusting a height of the upper frame with respect to the base frame with at least one of a first and second actuator at respective speeds, determining a dynamic angular orientation of the upper frame with respect to the base frame based on at least one of a respective operating characteristic of the first and second actuator, determining a corrected angular orientation based on the dynamic angular orientation and a floor angle indicative of the orientation of the base frame with respect to horizontal, comparing the corrected angular orientation with an orientation reference range, and adjusting at least one actuator speed when the corrected angular orientation is outside the orientation reference range until it is within the orientation reference range.

An assistance device that enables appropriate evaluation of to what extent a care receiver is using their own leg power. The assistance device is provided with: a body supporting member configured to support the upper body of the care receiver; a first load detecting device provided on the body supporting member, and configured to detect a first load applied by the care receiver; a second load detecting apparatus provided on the body supporting member at a position rearwards of the first load detecting device, and configured to detect a second load applied by the care receiver; and an effort level calculating device configured to calculate effort levels representing to what extent the care receiver is using their own leg power during the standing assistance based on a relationship between the first load and the second load.

A patient support apparatus comprises a base supported by caster assemblies with each caster assembly comprising a stem, a caster wheel, and a caster wheel axle. A patient support surface is coupled to the base and is configured to receive a load. One or more load sensors are integrated with at least one of the stem, the caster wheel, or the caster wheel axle for measuring the load. One or more of the caster assemblies can be coupled to a steering motor, which controls orientation of the caster assembly. A controller can control the steering motors based on analyzing the measurements of the load sensor. The load sensors can produce measurements indicative of both vertical load and non-vertical load applied to the caster assembly. The controller can also analyze the measurements of the load sensor to determine the load received by the patient support surface by negating the non-vertical load.

A surgical table data transmission system is provided. The system comprises a data aggregation node, and at least one remote node attachable to a component or an accessory of a surgical table, wherein the data aggregation node and the remote node are configured to exchange data by a first wired or wireless communication, the data aggregation node is configured to exchange the data with at least one of a controller of the surgical table and a hospital network gateway by a second wired or wireless communication, and the remote node is configured to transmit identification data of the component or accessory or to transmit received sensor data to the data aggregation node.

A patient support system comprises a patient support apparatus for patients. The patient support apparatus comprises a base and a patient support surface supported by the base. The patient support apparatus also comprises side rails that move between raised and lowered positions. One or more actuators are coupled to each of the side rails. A controller communicates with the actuators to raise and lower the side rails, either without any manual assistance from the user, or with manual assistance from the user.

A medical mattress for temporarily receiving a bed pan for use by a patient, comprising a mattress body of hospital grade mattress foam having a mattress cavity therein. Removable interior and exterior mattress inserts fit in the mattress cavity. The interior insert can be replaced by a bed pan. Hand grips on the interior and exterior inserts assist with removal and replacement of the inserts. Interlock fasteners are provided for temporarily securing the interior and exterior inserts in the mattress cavity for support of the patient. Methods of using and making the mattress are provided.

An automated system and methods are provided for coordinating a transfer of a patient between patient support apparatuses. The system includes first and second patient support apparatuses having a patient support surface supported by an adjustable frame. A controller is provided and is configured to communicate with at least one of the first and second patient support apparatuses. The controller includes programmable instructions to coordinate automated movements of at least one of the patient support apparatuses in order to couple the support apparatuses at a preferential transfer position, engage or monitor at least one safety feature, and provide an indication that it is safe to transfer the patient between the first and second patient support apparatuses.

A ballistocardiogram (BCG), a measurement of cardiogenic whole body movements, is a technique that enables non-invasive cardiovascular monitoring. A main challenge of the BCG signal is that its morphology and amplitude are sensitive to the posture and/or position of the subject during the recording period. The effects of posture on the BCG measured from a subject standing on a weighing scale have been investigated in the literature, but the effects of body posture and/or position on BCG signals measured from a subject lying in a bed have not been quantified. A contemplated method for bed-based BCG recordings includes (1) creating templates for standing BCG signals obtained from subjects in a prior study, and (2) quantifying the distance between these templates and BCG waveforms obtained in different body positions on the bed for a new set of subjects. In addition, an array processing technique is presented, which includes the application of Gaussian weights on a joint probability density function (PDF) and the similarity score called the q-value to assess those PDFs. The Gaussian curve weights the joint probability according to the reference value obtained from the previous inter-beat-interval (IBI) estimations. The PDFs are selected and combined according to their reliability measured by q-values. This array processing significantly reduces the FIR estimation error by comparing the performance of selective channel combinations to the existing multi-channel algorithm.

A secure dispensing unit includes a housing comprising a first end and a second end and a number of storage assemblies. The number of storage assemblies are arranged in parallel with one another within the housing. Each storage assembly includes a number of compartments arranged linearly along an axis of the housing with each of the compartments being configured to store an item. A cover is coupled with the housing and extends between the first end and the second end such that the cover is positioned over the compartments. An actuator is coupled with the cover, the actuator being configured to retract the cover to draw a distal end of the cover from the first end toward the second end to expose a selected number of compartments.