A patient bed may include a tag reader that may be connected to antennas on opposite sides of the patient bed. The patient bed may also include circuitry configured to produce, with the tag reader and the antennas, an interrogation signal from the opposite sides of the patient bed, to cause a location tag that may be mounted to a doorway of a room to produce a response signal. The circuitry may also be configured to receive, with the tag reader and with one of the antennas, the response signal from the location tag. Additionally, the circuitry may be configured to determine, as a function of room data in the response signal, a present location of the patient bed.

A patient bed may include a tag reader that may be connected to antennas on opposite sides of the patient bed. The patient bed may also include circuitry configured to produce, with the tag reader and the antennas, an interrogation signal from the opposite sides of the patient bed, to cause a location tag that may be mounted to a doorway of a room to produce a response signal. The circuitry may also be configured to receive, with the tag reader and with one of the antennas, the response signal from the location tag. Additionally, the circuitry may be configured to determine, as a function of room data in the response signal, a present location of the patient bed.

There is described support structures for a bed, and various embodiments of a bed for use in a hospital. In an example, a support structure comprises a plurality of sections, each configured to support a respective part of a body, and a plurality of resilient members that extend in a longitudinal direction from an upper end of the support structure to a lower end of the support structure, wherein a shape and/or profile of the support structure is determined by a shape and/or profile of the resilient members.

High-accuracy locating systems and methods are used for determining successful caregiver rounding, monitoring whether housekeepers have properly cleaned patient beds, or determining whether patients have ambulated sufficient distances during recovery. Patient beds having at least two locating tags are used for establishing patient care zones around the patient beds. Locating anchors and equipment tags are moved around a patient room to determine optimum locating anchor placement within the patient room based on signal quality values. A locating tag on a patient bed switches roles to operate as a locating anchor in response to the patient bed becoming stationary. A locating tag has a digital compass which is used to determine a field of good ranging relative to a front of a caregiver wearing the locating tag.

Apparatus and methods are described including identifying that a subject suffers from sleep apnea. Positive airway pressure (PAP) is applied to the subject via a mask placed on a face of the subject. A respiratory-related parameter of the subject is sensed, while the mask is on the face of the subject, and a need of the subject for respiratory support is assessed, responsively to the respiratory-related parameter. In accordance with the assessed need, the mask is configured to regulate the PAP provided to the subject's face. Other applications are also described.

Bedding for a crib mattress includes a plurality of temperature sensitive sensors disposed therein and an on-board power source. The sensors are configured to be in wireless communication with a monitoring device. A visual indicator is disposed upon the bedding and in electrical communication with the power source. The visual indicator is activated when a pre-set temperature is sensed by any one of the sensors.

Bedding for a crib mattress includes a plurality of temperature sensitive sensors disposed therein and an on-board power source. The sensors are configured to be in wireless communication with a monitoring device. A visual indicator is disposed upon the bedding and in electrical communication with the power source. The visual indicator is activated when a pre-set temperature is sensed by any one of the sensors.

The present invention relates to a system and method of skin detection of a human subject using a textile product. The textile product (10, 31, 43) is made from or comprising textile including near-infrared, NIR, absorbing pigments. It supports and/or partially covers the human subject while skin detection and/or detection/monitoring vital signs of the human subject is carried out. A increased contrast between the textile product and skin in the NIR wavelength range is thus achieved.

The present invention relates to a system and method of skin detection of a human subject using a textile product. The textile product (10, 31, 43) is made from or comprising textile including near-infrared, NIR, absorbing pigments. It supports and/or partially covers the human subject while skin detection and/or detection/monitoring vital signs of the human subject is carried out. A increased contrast between the textile product and skin in the NIR wavelength range is thus achieved.

A patient support apparatus includes a support structure having a patient support deck and a side rail coupled to the support structure. The side rail is movable relative to the support structure. A lock releasably locks the side rail in one or more side rail positions, such as in a raised position and an intermediate position. A manual release is coupled to the side rail and operable to unlock the side rail. A bypass lever is provided to allow a user to raise the side rail from a lowered position to the raised position without locking in the intermediate position. A damper is located inside the side rail to counterbalance the weight of the side rail and assist the user in raising the side rail, bi-directionally. The side rail is formed of first and second walls that are heat staked together to form a lightweight side rail of suitable strength.