A fall risk mitigation system includes a sensor gathering data associated with a person's bodily movements, and a control system that processes the sensor data and assesses the person's fall risk. The sensor may be integrated into a wearable device, or may be integrated into the person's environment as a camera/imaging device, a sensor in a floor tile or mat, etc., to gather movement data passively. If a heightened fall risk state is found, the control system may initiate a fall-mitigating intervention by transmitting a control signal to another device. The control signal may notify a caregiver, to prompt the caregiver to provide the intervention. Alternatively, the control signal may cause another device to notify the person, or cause a mechanism in the person's environment to automatedly deploy an assistive device to aid in preventing a fall, such as a bed guardrail, a handrail or grab bar.

Methods, systems, and techniques for controlling posture by using eye gaze technology to facilitate position changes in seating, such as in a wheelchair or bed, are provided. Example embodiments provide an Eye Gaze Posture Control System (EGPCS) which enables people with advanced motor neuron diseases or disabilities like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or muscular dystrophy to use eye gaze technologies to control their seating and bed positioning. In one embodiment, the example EGPCS comprises a posture and pressure advisor, logging and telemetry logic, a posture control application, device interface(s) to one or more other devices that control aspects of the powered wheelchair or bed, and eye gaze actuation control. These components cooperate to adjust position of a seat or a bed using eye gaze technology as opposed to by a virtual cursor or by manual control.

A control device includes a controller that controls, based on a first changing amount of extension/contraction of an axis of a first actuator of a bed device, a speed of the extension/contraction of the axis of the first actuator.

A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, recliner, etc. includes a support deck, one or more lifts, and a plurality of circuit boards. Each circuit board includes an associated controller and memory, as well as a set of data associated with that circuit board. One of the controllers, such as, but not limited to, a main controller is adapted to automatically store a backup copy of the set of data associated with the other circuit boards. This main controller is further adapted to automatically determine if any of the circuit boards, including itself, are replacements of a previously installed circuit board. If so, the main controller uses the backup copy of the corresponding set of data to supply the replacement circuit board with the data from its previous counterpart, thereby ensuring that the historical data from past circuit boards is automatically transferred forward to their replacements.

Methods, systems, and techniques for controlling posture by using eye gaze technology and other interfaces to facilitate position changes in seating, such as in a wheelchair or bed, are provided. Example embodiments provide an Eye Gaze Posture Control System (EGPCS) which enables people with advanced motor neuron diseases or disabilities like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or muscular dystrophy to use eye gaze technologies to control their seating and bed positioning. In one embodiment, the example EGPCS comprises a posture and pressure advisor, logging and telemetry logic, a posture control application, device interface(s) to one or more other devices that control aspects of the powered wheelchair or bed, and eye gaze actuation control. These components cooperate to adjust position of a seat or a bed using eye gaze technology as opposed to by a virtual cursor or by manual control.

A system can include a bed having a mattress, a sensor, and the data processing device. The sensor is configured to sense a feature of the mattress and transmit readings to a data processing device. The data processing device includes a processor and is configured to receive the readings from the sensor and determine if the readings i) indicate a user presence on the mattress and ii) indicate the user intends to sleep. The data processing device is configured to transmit a command to a peripheral controller responsive to determining that the readings i) indicate user presence on the mattress and ii) indicate the user intends to sleep.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for configuring a bed frame are described. Biometric information corresponding to a user is obtained. A bed frame configuration is determined based on the biometric information and the bed frame is configured based on the determined bed frame configuration and the biometric information.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for reconfiguring a bed frame are described. Biometric information regarding a user is obtained. A bed frame configuration is determined based on the biometric information and the bed frame is reconfigured based on the determined bed frame configuration and a detection of an absence of a sleep event that benefits from mitigation.

A system can include a bed having a mattress, a sensor, and the data processing device. The sensor is configured to sense a feature of the mattress and transmit readings to a data processing device. The data processing device includes a processor and is configured to receive the readings from the sensor and determine if the readings i) indicate a user presence on the mattress and ii) indicate the user intends to sleep. The data processing device is configured to transmit a command to a peripheral controller responsive to determining that the readings i) indicate user presence on the mattress and ii) indicate the user intends to sleep.

A therapeutic support device includes a bladder having one or more independently inflatable compartments, each including a plurality of inflatable cells. When inflated, each inflatable cell forms a contact node that may support a user or another object disposed thereon. The inflatable compartments can be alternately inflated and deflated such that contact pressure can be applied to and relieved from corresponding portions of the user's body in an alternating manner.