There is provided a load detector including a beam-type load cell which is supported on a support base in a cantilever manner, and a platform connected to the beam-type load cell. The platform includes a main body on which a subject is to be placed and a slope having a first end, which is connected to the main body, the slope being configured to guide the subject to the main body. The slope is configured to swing between a first position in which a second end of the slope is in contact with a placement surface on which the load detector is placed and a second position in which the second end is separated from the placement surface. The platform further includes a lever connected to the first end of the slope and positioned above the main body.

A system for measuring data specific to a subject using gravity comprises a substrate on which a subject lies, the substrate having multiple legs extending from the substrate to a floor to support the substrate, and load sensor assemblies. Each load sensor assembly is associated with a respective leg and comprises a cap configured to receive a load from the substrate, a base configured to provide contact with the floor, the base and cap configured to fit together to maintain alignment of the cap to the base while allowing vertical movement of the cap, a load cell between the base and the cap, one of the base and cap configured to translate the load to the load cell and a printed circuit board that processes and outputs data from the load cell, wherein a combination of all load sensor assemblies receive an entire load to which the substrate is subjected.

Devices and methods for determining item-specific information for single or multiple items on one or multiple substrates are described. The method includes generating multiple sensor multiple dimensions array (MSMDA) data from multiple sensors, where each of the multiple sensors capture sensor data for one or more items in relation to a substrate. For each item, the method includes determining relationships between the multiple sensors based on characteristics of the MSMDA data, determining a location of the item on the substrate based on at least the determined relationships between the multiple sensors, determining an angular orientation of the item on the substrate based on at least the determined relationships between the multiple sensors, and determining a body position of the subject on the substrate based at least the determined relationships between the multiple sensors, the location of the subject, and the angular orientation of the item.

A bed comprises substrate support members, each including a load bearing and a base configured to provide contact with a floor. The load bearing member is configured to move vertically relative to the base, while the base and the load bearing member are configured to fit together to maintain lateral alignment of the base and the load bearing member. A load sensor is positioned between the base and the load bearing member, the load bearing member configured to transmit a load from the substrate to the load sensor. A printed circuit board is in communication with the load sensor. A controller is in communication with the printed circuit board of each substrate support member and is configured to receive and process data output by the printed circuit boards.

There is provided a respiratory waveform drawing system. The system includes load detectors; a center of gravity position calculation unit; a waveform drawing unit configured to draw the respiratory waveform of the subject based on a temporal variation of the position of the center of gravity of the subject; and a drawing compensation unit configured to compensate a drawing state of the respiratory waveform. The drawing compensation unit includes a predictive waveform generation unit configured to generate a predictive waveform for the respiratory waveform of the subject based on the temporal variation of the position of the center of gravity of the subject in a past; and a correction distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance between the respiratory waveform and the predictive waveform at a predetermined sampling time point, the drawing compensation unit being configured to compensate the drawing state of the respiratory waveform depending on the distance.

A sleep assist system to monitor and assist the user's sleep, comprising a bedside device positioned near the user's bed, the bedside device comprising a loudspeaker and a light source and optionally a microphone, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a control unit, an air quality sensor, a display unit, a user interface. The sleep assist system further comprises a first sensing unit positioned in the user's bed and comprising one or more sensors adapted to sense at least pressure and/or changes in pressure exerted by the user lying in the bed. The system monitors the user's sleep, assesses the user's sleep cycles and the phase of sleep cycle, and provides the user with at least one light and sound program, the light and sound program being based on the assessment of the user's sleep cycles and the phase of sleep cycle.

A bed includes: a bed body having a space for a user to rest; a monitoring device connected to the bed body, the monitoring device including a pressure detecting mechanism, a signal processing unit electrically coupled to the pressure detecting mechanism, and a monitoring unit electrically coupled to the signal processing unit. The pressure detecting mechanism is configured to detect pressure variations of the bed body, generate pressure data, and transmit the pressure data to the signal processing unit. The signal processing unit is configured to process the pressure data and generate processed signal data. The monitoring unit is configured to monitor the processed signal data.

A method of determining a lifting event of a person lifting apparatus is provided. The method includes receiving one or more of (i) current load information from a current measuring device that is indicative of current drawn by an actuator operatively connected to a lifting strap of the person lifting apparatus; (ii) strap position information from a position sensor that is indicative of a paid out length of the lifting strap of the person lifting apparatus; and (iii) weight information from a weight sensor that is indicative of a load supported by the lifting strap of the person lifting apparatus. A computing device comprising a processor using logic is used to identify at least one of a raising event, a repositioning event and a lowering event based on the one or more of the current load information, strap position information and weight information.

A person lifting apparatus includes a first lifting strap feeding device including a first drum and a first lifting strap wound on the first drum. A second lifting strap feeding device includes a second drum and a second lifting strap wound on the second drum. A controller is communicatively coupled to the first lifting strap feeding device and to the second lifting strap feeding device. The controller includes logic that controls operation of the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device based on a comparison of current draws of the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device.

Systems and methods for a load sensing system that determines a mass on a bed. The systems generally are in the form of a castor base, particularly one that can be used as part of an adjustable hospital bed. The load sensing system serves to determine the mass of any object or objects (typically a human or animal patient) which is placed on the bed by having the mass create a force on lever arms of a plurality of load cells in the castor base. The load sensing systems are designed to work without hindering the adjustable functionality of the bed and can accurately determine mass (weight) at any position of the bed, and potentially even while the bed is adjusting between positions.