Method for automatically adjusting the height of a patient support

Abstract

A system for adjusting the height of a patient support surface on a bed includes one or more height adjustment actuators operable to adjust a height of the patient support surface above a floor surface; a controller connected to the one or more height adjustment actuators, the controller including a memory; and one or more user interface units connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to record as a stored actuator state a current state of the one or more height adjustment actuators in the memory in response to a first input signal from the one or more interface units, and is configured to operate the one or more height adjustment actuators to automatically return them to the stored actuator state in response to a second input signal from the one or more interface units. Alternatively, or in addition, the controller may be configured to provide an indication to a user when the one or more height adjustment actuators have returned to the stored actuator state during a subsequent height adjustment operation.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting the bed egress or ingress height of a patient support surface, the method comprising: adjusting the height of the patient support surface to a desired bed egress and/or ingress height in response to a first user input; storing the desired height in a memory storage device in response to a second user input; subsequently automatically returning the patient support surface to the desired height from a different height in response to a third user input; and preventing storage of the desired height in the memory storage device in response to the second user input if the patient support surface is tilted by more than 2 from a horizontal position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: subsequently articulating the patient support surface to raise a head section of the patient support surface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing an indication to a user when the patient support surface has returned to the desired height during a subsequent adjustment of the height of the patient support surface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the indication is a disabling of height adjustment actuators used to adjust the height of the patient support surface for a predetermined period.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing storage of the desired height in the memory storage device in response to the second user input if a height adjustment actuator is moving.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired height is stored in the memory storage device independently of any other data relating to the configuration of the patient support surface.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the indication comprises an audible, tactile, or visual indication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user input comprises a button or key for pressing by a user, a patient, and/or a caregiver to generate a first input signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first input signal is generated only after continuous actuation of the first user input for a first period of time.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second user input comprises a second button or a second key for pressing by the user, the patient, and/or the caregiver to generate a second input signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the height of the patient support surface comprises operating one or more height adjustment actuators in response to the first user input.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising an articulated deck on which the patient support surface is positioned, and an intermediate frame, wherein the articulated deck comprises a plurality of sections that may be moved relative to one another and are supported by the intermediate frame, wherein the one or more height adjustment actuators are arranged to adjust the height of the intermediate frame above a floor surface.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising storing a state of the one or more height adjustment actuators independently of storing a position of the sections of the deck.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising operating the one or more height adjustment actuators to return the patient support surface to the desired height before moving the plurality of sections relative to one another into a substantially flat or level position.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising operating the one or more height adjustment actuators to return the patient support surface to the desired height while also moving the plurality of sections relative to one another into a substantially flat or level position.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing storage of the desired height in the memory storage device in response to the second user input if a height of the patient support surface is above a maximum height threshold.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising one or more interface units including a caregiver interface and a patient interface, and wherein the first user input can be generated by the caregiver interface but cannot be generated by the patient interface.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising one or more interface units including a caregiver interface and a patient interface, and wherein the second user input can be generated by the caregiver interface but cannot be generated by the patient interface.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising one or more interface units including a caregiver interface and a patient interface, and wherein the third user input can be generated by the caregiver interface but cannot be generated by the patient interface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Illustrative embodiments will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a bed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure in a low position;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the bed of FIG. 1 with the patient support surface removed, showing the height adjustment actuators and the deck actuators;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the control elements of the height adjustment system of the bed of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the bed of FIG. 1 adjusted to a height for patient egress;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the bed of FIG. 1 in a patient egress position;

(7) FIGS. 6a and 6b show exemplary interface units for the bed of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7a is a flow diagram of the process for storing a bed egress height;

(9) FIG. 7b is a flow diagram of the operation of the bed during a subsequent selection of the bed egress function; and

(10) FIGS. 8a and 8b illustrate the operation of the actuators and indicator of the bed of FIG. 1 in two different scenarios.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIG. 1 shows a long-term care bed 10 in accordance with the present disclosure. The bed comprises a patient support surface 12, which is a mattress that may incorporate various functional components such as inflatable bladders. The patient support surface is positioned on an articulated deck 14, which is supported on an intermediate frame 15. The bed is supported on the floor by two sets of caster wheels 20. A lift mechanism is included, comprising two pairs of lift arms 16, 18 that extend between the sets of casters 20 and the intermediate frame 15.

(12) As shown in FIG. 1, the bed is in a low position, with the lift arms collapsed to lie almost parallel to the intermediate frame 15. FIG. 2 illustrates the bed in a raised position, with the mattress removed.

(13) The lift arms 16, 18 can be raised to raise the height of the patient support surface above the floor. In this embodiment, the lifts arms are driven by a pair of height adjustment linear actuators 44, 48 mounted to the intermediate frame 15. An upper end of each of the lift arms is pivotally connected to the intermediate frame. The linear actuators are coupled to the upper ends of the lift arms by extension links so that extension of retraction of the linear actuators 44, 48 rotates the upper ends of the lift arms. A lower end of each lift arm is slidable along a base frame 20 to which caster wheels are mounted. A link arm 17 is pivotally fixed to the base frame and to a mid-point of lift arm 16 to ensure that the lift arms do not undesirably slide along the base frame 20. The linear actuators 44, 48 can be operated independently so that the intermediate frame can be raised, lowered and tilted. The linear actuators in this embodiment are Linak actuators, Model No. LA27, available from LINAK U.S. Inc. located at 2200 Stanley Gault Parkway, Louisville Ky. 40223.

(14) This type of lift mechanism is well known in the art, and is described for example in EP2181685, but any suitable lift mechanism may be used to raise and lower the height of the patient support surface.

(15) The articulated deck is 14 is also equipped with deck actuators to allow the sections of the deck to be independently moved relative to the intermediate frame 15. In this embodiment, the deck is provided with one actuator 42 for moving a head support section of the deck and another actuator 46 for moving a leg support section of the deck. The deck actuators 42, 46 are also linear actuators, similar to the height adjustment linear actuators. This allows a patient to be supported in a sitting position and to have their legs elevated, as shown in FIG. 2.

(16) This type of articulated deck arrangement is well known in the art. An example of a sophisticated articulated deck is described in detail in EP2181685. However, any type of deck may be used with the present invention.

(17) The bed is provided with a caregiver interface unit 30. The caregiver interface unit is positioned on the side of the bed so that it can be easily accessed by a caregiver but cannot easily be accessed by a patient on the patient support surface. The caregiver interface unit 30 includes keys or buttons allowing the caregiver to adjust the height of the patient support surface and to adjust the configuration of the articulated deck 14. Additional user interface units may be provided elsewhere on the bed, or as a remote control. In this embodiment, an identical user interface unit is positioned on the opposite side of the bed and a different user interface unit is provided for the patient on a siderail (not shown).

(18) FIGS. 6a and 6b show example user interface units. FIG. 6a illustrates the caregiver interface 30 provided on the side of the bed for use by the caregiver. The caregiver interface 30 includes keys 302, 304, 306 allowing the caregiver to lock the attitude of the head section of the deck and the leg section of the deck and to lock the height of the patient support surface. A memory key 310 is provided to allow a particular height of the patient support to be stored as a desired height for patient egress, as will be described. A key 314 for an under bed light is also provided for the caregiver. FIG. 6b shows a user interface that is intended for use by both the caregiver and the patient. It includes keys 320, 322 allowing for adjustment of the attitude of the deck sections and for the adjustment of the height of the patient support surface. It also includes a patient egress key 324. A further set of keys 326 is provided for caregiver use only, for putting the patient into particular positions for caregiver procedures, such as the Trendelenburg position.

(19) The bed includes a controller 40 that controls the operation of the various bed functions, including the height adjustment actuators, in response to signals from the user interface units. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the control system. The controller 40 receives input signals from user interface units 30, 32. The controller comprises one or more programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and includes a memory 50. Memory 50 in this embodiment is a non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM. The controller 40 sends control signals to each of the actuators 42, 44, 46, 48, referred to as M1, M2, M3 and M4, to control the height and configuration of the patient support surface. In this embodiment, M2 and M4 are height adjustment actuators and M1 and M3 are deck adjustment actuators.

(20) FIG. 4 shows the bed of FIG. 1 with the patient support surface 12 raised to a height ideal for patient egress. In this position, the patient 1, shown schematically, can sit on the side of the bed with their feet flat on the floor. The ideal position depends on the height of the patient and so may differ dramatically from patient to patient.

(21) FIG. 5 shows the bed of FIG. 1 with the patient support surface 12 ideally configured for patient egress. The bed is at the height shown in FIG. 4, but the head section of the deck 14 is raised so that the patient is brought into a sitting position before getting out of the bed.

(22) Operation of the height adjustment mechanism of the bed and operation of the bed egress function will now be described. FIG. 7a illustrates the process for storing a bed egress height. In a first step 600, the caregiver presses the height adjustment keys 322 to place the patient support surface 12 at the desired height. The controller 40 is configured so that the height adjustment actuators M2 and M4 are not operated unless a corresponding input signal is being received by the controller. In other words, one of the keys on one of the interface units must be being depressed for the actuators to move. If the keys are released, the actuators stop moving. This ensures that, in an emergency, movement of the patient support surface 12 can be stopped immediately, simply by releasing the keys.

(23) Once the caregiver has the patient support surface 12 at the desired height, they depress the memory key 310 on the interface unit 30 in step 605. While the memory key 310 is being depressed, the memory key indicator 312 flashes. However, the state of the actuators M2 and M4 is not stored in memory 50 until all the necessary conditions are satisfied. One of these conditions is that the memory key 310 has been continuously depressed for five seconds (although any suitable period may be chosen). In step, 610 the controller 40 determines whether the memory key 310 has been pressed continuously for five seconds. While the memory key is being depressed, the memory key indicator 312 flashes. Once the memory key has been pressed continuously for five seconds, and all other necessary conditions have been satisfied, the state of the height adjustment actuators M2 and M4 is stored in step 620. At this point, the memory key indicator 312 is illuminated constantly for 10 seconds to show that memorization has been successful. If the memory key 310 is released before five seconds has passed, then the state of the height adjustment actuators is not stored, as represented by step 615 in FIG. 6a.

(24) The other necessary conditions that are checked in step 610 are related to the state of the height adjustment actuators themselves. The controller 40 is configured so that the state of the height adjustment actuators M2 and M4 is not stored in memory 50 if the patient support surface 12 is excessively tilted. In particular, if the intermediate frame 15 has been tilted to place the patient support surface in a Trendelenburg or reverse Trendelenburg orientation, the controller 40 will not store the actuator states because such a tilted orientation of the patient support surface is not ideal for bed egress. In this embodiment, the degree of tilt is determined in step 610 by the difference in the state of the first height adjustment actuator M2 and the second height adjustment actuator M4. If the stroke of the first height adjustment actuator differs from the stroke of the second height adjustment actuator by more than 20 mm (corresponding to 2 from horizontal), then the actuator states are not stored in the memory 50, as indicated in step 615. Instead, the indicator 307 flashes and a buzzer sounds while the memory key 310 is being depressed. The stroke of the actuator is the distance the linear actuator travels from an initial position set as a default during manufacture.

(25) Also, as part of step 610, the controller 40 is configured to check if any of the height adjustment actuators is moving, and to prevent the storage of the state of the height adjustment actuators if one of the actuators is moving. In this circumstance, indicator 307 flashes and a buzzer sounds while the memory key 310 is being depressed.

(26) The controller 40 is also configured to prevent storage of the state of the height adjustment actuators if the patient support surface 312 is above a threshold maximum height. In this embodiment, if the intermediate frame is greater than 52 cm from the ground then the actuator state of the height adjustment actuators cannot be stored. This is determined from the stroke of the height adjustment actuators. If the intermediate frame 15 is at or above this height and the memory key 310 is depressed, then indicator 307 is activated to flash and a buzzer sounds while the memory key is being depressed. The controller 40 can be configured to operate in the same way if the intermediate frame 15 is below a predetermined minimum height.

(27) The controller 40 may also be programmed to prevent storage of the state of the height adjustment actuators in step 610 dependent on the state of the deck actuators. However, in this embodiment the state of the deck actuators is not checked by the controller before storing the state of the height adjustment actuators as a desired bed egress state.

(28) FIG. 7b illustrates the operation of the bed during a subsequent selection of the bed egress function, after a bed egress height has been stored in memory. In step 630, Bed Egress is selected by the caregiver or patient depressing the Bed Egress key 324 on interface unit 32. In response to depression of the Bed Egress key, the controller 40 operates the height adjustment actuators to bring them to a bed egress position, as shown in FIG. 4. The bed egress position corresponds to the stored state for the height adjustment actuators M2 and M4 and a predetermined state for the deck actuators M1 and M3. As with other adjustment keys, the Bed Egress key 324 must be continuously depressed until the patient support surface 12 has reached the bed egress position. If the Bed Egress key 324 is released before then, the actuators will stop moving.

(29) The controller 40 is configured to operate the height adjustment actuators M2 and M4 first until the height adjustment actuators reach the stored actuator state, corresponding to the desired height. The controller is configured to monitor the state of the height adjustment actuators in step 635 and, if they have not reached the stored state, then further adjustment is made in step 640. During the period in which the height adjustment actuators are being moved and Bed Egress key 324 depressed, the memory key indicator 312 flashes. Once the height adjustment actuators M2 and M4 have reached the stored state, further adjustment of the height adjustment actuators is stopped. This is shown in step 645. In step 645, the memory key indicator 312 stops flashing and is illuminated constantly during the adjustment of the deck actuators M1 and M3.

(30) After the height adjustment actuators M2 and M4 have reached their stored state, the deck actuators M1 and M3 are adjusted in turn. The start of deck adjustment is shown as step 650. First, actuator M3, which moves the leg support section of the deck, is moved to a lowered position. Then actuator M1 is operated to move the head support section to a raised position, to bring the patient into a seated position. The controller 40 continues adjustment, as shown in step 660, until the deck has reached the Bed Egress position, as determined in step 655. Once the Bed Egress position is reached, the actuators stop moving, as shown as step 665. The caregiver can see this and releases the Bed Egress key 324.

(31) FIGS. 8a and 8b show more clearly the sequence of movement of the actuators during a bed egress adjustment process and the illumination of the memory key indicator, for two different sequences of actuation of the Bed Egress key 324.

(32) In FIG. 8a the Bed Egress key is depressed continuously until the bed egress position is reached. As described in a first stage, the actuators M2 and M4 simultaneously move to the stored actuator state, so the patient support surface is at the desired height. The dotted lines 70 and 72 indicate the stored actuator states. During movement of the height adjustment actuators M2 and M4, the memory key indicator (MKI) flashes on and off once the stored states for M2 and M4 have been reached the memory key indicator is illuminated constantly until the bed egress position is reached and for one minute afterwards. The deck actuator M3 is then adjusted to lower the foot support section of the deck and subsequently actuator M1 operated to raise the head support section of the deck.

(33) FIG. 8b shows a scenario in which the Bed Egress key is not continuously depressed. As can be seen, as soon as the Bed Egress key 324 is released, all adjustment of actuators M1, M2, M3 and M4 is stopped and the memory key indicator (MKI) is switched off. When depression of the Bed Egress key is resumed, adjustment of the actuators is resumed, in the same sequence as in FIG. 8a.

(34) The controller may also be configured to indicate when the height of the patient support surface 12 is at the bed egress height when it is being adjusted using height adjustment keys 322. This is particularly beneficial if a dedicated Bed Egress key is not provided. This may be done by illuminating an indicator, such as indicator 323 on interface unit 32, by sounding an audible alarm such as buzzer, by providing a tactile alert such as a vibration through the height adjustment keys 322, by pausing the adjustment of the height adjustment actuators for a predetermined period or using a combination of one or more of these indications. For example, the controller may be configured to pause the operation of the height adjustment actuators for 10 seconds even though the height adjustment buttons continue to be depressed during that time. This provides a caregiver a simple indication that the ideal height for bed egress for the patient has been reached.

(35) Optionally and alternatively, the deck actuators M1 and M3 are manually controlled by a caregiver and moved into the position desired for bed egress by the caregiver after the height adjustment actuators M2, M4 have reached the stored actuator state and the patient support surface is at the stored bed egress height.

(36) Although certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detail above, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of this disclosure as described and as defined in the following claims.