A method for assessing compliance with a protocol requiring or advising the use of lift assist equipment for repositioning an occupant of an occupant support includes the steps of: 1) determining a measure of load borne by the occupant support over an interval of time; 2) determining how much the location of the occupant's center of mass relative to the occupant support has changed during the interval of time; and 3) assessing compliance with the protocol as a function of the load measure, the change of location, and a measure of the occupant's weight.
In one embodiment the load measure is an integral of load over an interval of time. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a processor and instructions which are executable by the processor.

A patient support apparatus includes a base frame, lift mechanism supporting an upper frame relative to the base frame, a load frame, and a plurality of deck sections, a patient support surface, and a number of barriers positioned about the patient supporting surface. The patient support apparatus includes a notification system for visually notifying a caregiver of a condition or status of a component of the patient support apparatus.

The invention includes a medical technology station and a method for using the medical technology cart. The station can be a portable cart that can be movable, such as rollable, and has a computer system. Attached to the cart is a housing that communicates with the computer system. Insertable in the housing is a cassette system that includes a series of drawers. The drawers are openable and preferably closeable on command from a user. The drawers have a readable unique drawer identifier that is readable by sensors in the cassette. The cassette also preferably includes proximity sensors, while the drawers contain a target for the proximity sensors. In use, an operator, with proper credentials, can, though the computer system, identify a drawer to be opened by the computer system. The cassette and drawers can be removed from the housing and transported to another location for filling of the drawers with medications or other supplies.

A patient support system includes a patient support apparatus and a powered device mounted relative to the patient support apparatus and an electrical circuit to power the powered device, with the electrical circuit having a wireless power receiver to inductively couple to and transfer electrical energy from a wireless power transmitter when the wireless power receiver is in proximity to the wireless power transmitter.

A patient support apparatus includes a first transceiver adapted to wirelessly communicate with a second transceiver of a headwall interface that is positioned off of the patient support apparatus. A communication link is automatically established between the first and second transceivers without requiring a user of the patient support apparatus to activate a designated control and without requiring the user to identify the headwall interface. The first transceiver includes a unique identifier assigned to the headwall interface in its messages to the headwall interface. The first transceiver may also automatically transmit a disconnect signal to the headwall interface indicating the termination of the communication link is not accidental. The disconnect signal is sent based on one or more of the following: (1) a brake being off, (2) an A/C power cord being unplugged; and/or (3) a signal strength between the transceivers decreasing.

The present invention relates to a system (100) for preventing pressure wounds. The system (100) comprises a pump (4) for supplying or evacuating air to or from a mattress (2). The mattress (2) comprises at least two air channel systems (8) and a hose (6). The hose (6) comprises a connector unit (10) at the distal end for connecting the mattress (2) to a receiving unit (12) provided on the pump (4). The connector unit (10) is provided with an information carrier (54) carrying information, which is readable by the pump (4), for operating the at least two channel systems (8) independently of each other.

A person lift system includes a lift unit, a sling bar that is coupled to the lift unit, where the sling bar includes a plurality of attachment points each having coupling sensors and an electronic control unit that is communicatively coupled to the coupling sensors. The person lift system also includes a lifting accessory having a plurality of lifting points that are adapted to be selectively coupled to the plurality of attachment points of the sling bar. The electronic control unit comprises a processor and a computer readable and executable instruction set which, when executed by the processor detects with the coupling sensors whether the lifting accessory is installed in a proper manner and projects an indication when the lifting accessory is installed in the proper manner.

Introduced here are pressure-mitigation systems able to mitigate the pressure applied to a human body by a surface and associated methods for operating the same. A system can include a pressure-mitigation surface with a plurality of chambers whose pressure can be varied by a controller that regulates the flow of fluid produced by a pump. The plurality of chambers may be arranged in a geometric pattern designed to mitigate the pressure on a specific anatomic region when the human body is arranged over the pressure-mitigation surface.

The invention includes a medical technology station and a method for using the medical technology cart. The station can be a portable cart that can be movable, such as rollable, and has a computer system. Attached to the cart is a housing that communicates with the computer system. Insertable in the housing is a cassette system that includes a series of drawers. The drawers are openable and preferably closeable on command from a user. The drawers have a readable unique drawer identifier that is readable by sensors in the cassette. The cassette also preferably includes proximity sensors, while the drawers contain a target for the proximity sensors. In use, an operator, with proper credentials, can, though the computer system, identify a drawer to be opened by the computer system. The cassette and drawers can be removed from the housing and transported to another location for filling of the drawers with medications or other supplies.

An incontinence detection pad has an RFID tag in which an authentication code, such as an electronic product code (EPC), is stored. A reader in wireless communication with the RFID tag of the incontinence detection pad verifies that the incontinence detection pad is an authorized detection pad. Thus, unauthorized incontinence detection pads that do not have the proper authentication code are not able to be used in an incontinence detection system.