TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to patient supports, such as hospital beds, and more specifically, patient supports for bariatric patients. More particularly, this disclosure relates to patient supports with features for use with morbidly overweight patients.

BACKGROUND

Typical hospital beds are designed with numerous functionalities to facilitate patient comfort and safety and to facilitate the ability of caregivers to provide efficient and effective care. However, most hospital beds are designed to accommodate patients of average size and weight. For bariatric patients, i.e. morbidly obese patients having extremely large sizes and whose weights can be as high as 1000 pounds or greater, normal hospital beds are generally too small and lack sufficient structural strength to withstand the load of a bariatric patient. Special bariatric beds have been designed to accommodate bariatric patients, but these beds generally lack the functionalities of regular hospital bed. Further, bariatric beds are generally specialized only for bariatric patients, limiting their use for general patient care, which ultimately increases hospital costs to have such bariatric beds in stock without seeing regular usage.

There is a need in the art for a hospital bed that possesses the same functionalities as regular hospital beds but can be converted between a regularly sized hospital bed and one that can accommodate bariatric patients.

SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION

There is provided a patient support that may be adjustable in height, width, length or a combination thereof. The patient support may be useable with normal sized patients or with bariatric patients.

A height adjustable patient support may comprise one or more frames and a patient support deck supported on at least one of the one or more frames by at least one height adjustable leg assembly. The height adjustable patient support may comprise two or more frames, for example three frames. The patient support deck may be supported on one of the one or more frames. The height adjustable patient support may comprise at least two height adjustable leg assemblies, for example two height adjustable leg assemblies. At least one of the frames may comprise one or more casters, for example four casters, for supporting the patient support on a surface.

A height adjustable patient support may comprise a patient support deck supported on a first frame, the first frame supported on a second frame by at least two linearly extendible leg assemblies, the linearly extendible leg assemblies configured to adjust a height of the first frame relative to the second frame.

A patient support may comprise a patient support deck supported on a first frame, the first frame supported on a caster frame, one or both of the patient support deck and caster frame having an adjustable width.

A height adjustable patient support may comprise a patient support deck supported on a first frame, the first frame supported on a second frame by at least one leg assembly configured to raise and lower the first frame, wherein a touch sensitive obstruction sensor is provided on the patient support under the first frame, the touch sensitive obstruction sensor configured to detect an obstruction under the patient support and to stop lowering of the first frame when an obstruction is detected.

A height adjustable patient support may comprise: a patient support deck supported on a frame by one or more leg assemblies configured to raise and lower the patient support deck, the patient support deck having an adjustable width, the patient support deck configured to articulate into a plurality of positions; sensors configured to detect deck height and deck width and/or position; and, a controller in electrical communication with the sensors and patient support functions, the controller configured to enable and/or disable actions of the patient support in response to sensed combinations of the deck height and deck width and/or position.

In one aspect, leg assemblies of a patient support may be telescoping. Each leg assembly may comprise lower and upper legs in a telescoping arrangement. The lower leg may be pivotally mounted on the second frame. The lower leg may be longitudinally immoveable on the second frame. The upper leg may be pivotally mounted on the first frame. The upper leg may be longitudinally immoveable on the first frame. A lift actuator may be pivotally connected to the upper leg and the first frame. The lift actuator may be configured to rotate the upper leg causing the leg assembly to telescope. Each leg assembly may comprise a variable speed control mechanism configured to vary the speed at which the upper leg moves. Varying the speed at which the upper leg moves may compensate for a non-linear relationship between the speed at which the upper leg moves and a rotational speed of the lift actuator at the pivotal connection between the lift actuator and the upper leg. The variable speed control mechanism may comprise a leg actuator connecting the lower leg to the upper leg. The leg actuator may comprise cam arm. The cam arm may comprise a cam configured to ride in a cam track mounted on the lower leg. The cam arm and cam track may be configured to vary the speed at which the upper leg moves as the lift actuator raises and lowers the upper leg.

In one aspect, at least a patient support deck of a patient support may have an adjustable width. The width of the patient support deck may be adjustable manually. The width may be adjustable from either side of the patient support. Manually adjusting the width may be accomplished by pulling or pushing the patient support deck in a direction lateral to a longitudinal axis of the patient support, the longitudinal axis extending between a head end and a foot end of the patient support. The patient support deck may comprise a rack and pinion mechanism configured to permit manually adjusting the width of the patient support deck. The patient support deck may comprise at least two deck extension pans. The rack and pinion mechanism may connect the at least two deck extension pans. The rack and pinion mechanism may comprise a latch releasable from either side of the patient support. Releasing the latch may permit manually adjusting the width of the patient support deck. Manually adjusting the width of the patient support deck may be accomplished by simultaneously sliding the at least two deck extension pans by pulling or pushing one of the deck extension pans.

In one aspect, a patient support may comprise a guard structure positioned at a side of the patient support. The guard structure may be moveable between a guard position above a plane of a patient support deck and an ultralow position fully below a plane of the patient support deck. The guard structure may be configured to swing longitudinally but not laterally while the guard structure is moved between the guard position and the ultralow position. The guard structure may comprise at least one pivotal arm configured to be pivotally mounted on the patient support. Pivoting of the at least one pivotal arm on the patient support may cause the guard structure to raise and lower. The at least one pivotal arm may have a pinion gear mounted thereon. The pinion gear may be meshed with a toothed rack of the guard structure. The toothed rack may be configured to translate longitudinally as the at least one pivotal arm pivots and the guard structure is raised and lowered. The at least one pivotal arm may be two pivotal arms. The guard structure may be configured to translate laterally in the ultralow position to be tuckable under the patient support deck. The guard structure may be lockable in the guard position. The guard structure may be electronically unlockable and releasable to permit unassisted lowering of the guard structure. The guard structure may be in electronic communication with a cardiopulmonary resuscitation feature, and actuation of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation feature may cause the guard structure to unlock and release.

In one aspect, a patient support may comprise a touch sensitive obstruction sensor provided on one or more surfaces of the patient support, for example on the extendible leg assemblies and/or one or more frames. The touch sensitive obstruction sensor may be configured to detect an obstruction under the patient support and to stop lowering of a moveable frame when an obstruction is detected. The touch sensitive obstruction sensor may be configured to at least partially raise the frame when the touch sensitive obstruction sensor detects the obstruction. A touch sensitive obstruction sensor may be provided on all of the leg assemblies.

In one aspect, a patient support may comprise an electrical connection assembly for mounting an endboard on the patient support. The electrical connection assembly may comprise first and second electrical mating halves. The first electrical mating half may comprise at least one electrically conducting leaf spring. The second electrical mating half may comprise at least one electrically conducting tab. The at least one leaf spring and at least one tab may be in electrical contact when the mating halves are mated. The at least one electrically conducting leaf spring may be longer and/or wider than the at least one electrically conducting tab. One of the mating halves may be on the endboard. The other of the mating halves may be in a mounting bracket on the patient support. The mounting bracket may comprise a retractable cover over the mating half in the mounting bracket. The retractable cover may be configured to be retracted as the endboard is being mounted on the mounting bracket and the mating half on the endboard contacts the retractable cover.

In one aspect, sensors for a patient support may be configured to detect position of a guard structure. A controller may be configured to enable and/or disable actions of the patient support in response to sensed combinations of patient support deck height, patient support deck width and/or position and guard structure position. The sensors may be configured to detect both patient support deck width and patient support deck position. Enabling and/or disabling actions of the patient support in response to the sensed combinations may involve raising or lowering the patient support deck, preferably enabling and/or disabling raising and/or lowering the patient support deck beyond pre-determined set points.

A width adjustable headboard for a patient support may comprise a first headboard section and a second headboard section, the first headboard section having at least one mount configured for removable installation on a headboard supporting base, the first headboard section moveable between at least two different positions on the headboard supporting base, the first and second headboard sections configured to leave no gap therebetween when the first headboard section is at any of the at least two different positions. The width adjustable headboard may comprise downwardly extending mounting posts. The mounting posts may be configured to remove ably and selectively engage different post sockets in a headboard supporting base at different positions along the headboard supporting base.

In one aspect, a width adjustable headboard for a patient support may comprise a first headboard section and a second headboard section linked by a length extendible actuator, extension of the actuator driving the first and second headboard sections laterally in opposite directions, the first headboard section comprising a first side laterally off-set to the second headboard section, and the first headboard section comprising a second side substantially laterally aligned with the second headboard section when the actuator is fully retracted.

In one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a hospital bed comprising a height adjustable patient support deck, the method comprising: determining a weight applied to the bed; and, adjusting an allowable minimum height, an allowable maximum height or a combination thereof in response to the weight applied to the bed.

In one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a hospital bed comprising a height adjustable patient support deck and a frame having a pair of caster wheels mounted thereto at each end thereof, a width between each pair of caster wheels being adjustable, the method comprising: determining the width between at least one pair of caster wheels; and, adjusting an allowable minimum height, an allowable maximum height or a combination thereof in response to the width between the pair of caster wheels.

In one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a hospital bed comprising a frame having a pair of caster wheels mounted thereto at each end thereof, a width between each pair of caster wheels being adjustable, the method comprising: determining a weight applied to the bed; determining the width between at least one pair of caster wheels; and, indicating that an increase or decrease in width between the pair of caster wheels is desirable based upon the weight applied to the bed. The method may further comprise increasing or decreasing the width based upon the weight applied to the bed.

In one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a hospital bed comprising a variable width patient support deck and a frame having a pair of caster wheels mounted thereto at each end thereof, a width between each pair of caster wheels being adjustable, the method comprising: determining the width of the patient support deck; determining the width between at least one pair of caster wheels; and, indicating that an increase or decrease in width between the pair of caster wheels is desirable based upon the width of the patient support deck. The method may further comprise increasing or decreasing the width based upon the width of the patient support deck. The method may further comprise determining a weight applied to the bed; and, indicating that an increase or decrease in width between the pair of caster wheels is desirable based upon both the width of the patient support deck and the weight applied to the bed. In this case, the method may yet further comprise increasing or decreasing the width based upon both the width of the patient support deck and the weight applied to the bed.

In one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a hospital bed comprising a height adjustable patient support deck that is optionally variable in width mounted to an upper frame of the bed and comprising at least one guard structure mounted to either the patient support deck or the upper frame along a side of the bed, the guard structure movable both vertically and laterally along a width of the bed, the guard structure locatable beneath at least the patient support deck, the method comprising: determining whether the guard structure is located beneath the patient support deck; and, adjusting an allowable minimum height of the bed in response to the guard structure being located beneath the patient support deck. In a particular embodiment, the patient support deck is variable in width and the guard structure is mounted to the patient support deck.

In one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a hospital bed comprising a height adjustable patient support deck that is variable in width mounted to an upper frame of the bed and comprising at least one guard structure mounted to the patient support deck along a side of the bed, the guard structure movable both vertically and laterally along a width of the bed, the guard structure locatable beneath at least the patient support deck, the method comprising: determining whether a width of the patient support deck is too wide to fit through a doorway of the hospital; decreasing the width of the patient support deck to fit through the doorway; and, moving the guard structure to a position located beneath the patient support deck.

In one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a hospital bed comprising a plurality of vertically movable guard structures each comprising a locking structure that is an electronically actuatable between a locked and unlocked state, the method comprising: electronically actuating the locking structure of each guard structure simultaneously to the unlocked state; and, allowing each guard structure to move vertically downwardly under the influence of gravity when in the unlocked state. The locking structure may be electronically actuated using a single electronic signal provided to all guard structures simultaneously. The single electronic signal may be transmitted when the CPR release is activated.

In one aspect, there is provided a method of operating a hospital bed having a bed condition monitoring system comprising: monitoring a plurality of signals associated with a plurality of bed conditions; automatically obtaining setpoints for the conditions based on a current configuration of the bed after a first pre-determined time period has elapsed; and, generating an alarm in the event that the monitored signals indicate that the conditions have varied from the setpoints. The method may further comprise providing a visual indication of the alarm that is able to be switched off, irrespective of ongoing monitoring of the plurality of signals. In this case, the method may still further comprise switching off the visual indication for a second pre-determined time period followed by automatically obtaining new setpoints for the conditions based on a new current configuration of the bed. It is therefore possible to change a configuration of the bed within the second pre-determined time period.

In another embodiment, a height adjustable patient support includes a patient support deck, a first frame, a second frame, and at least two linearly extendible leg assemblies. The extendible leg assemblies are configured to adjust a height of the first frame relative to the second frame wherein each leg assembly comprises lower and upper legs in a telescoping arrangement. The lower leg is pivotally mounted and longitudinally immoveable on the second frame. The upper leg is pivotally mounted and longitudinally immoveable on the first frame. The patient support also includes a lift actuator pivotally connected to the upper leg and the first frame, with the lift actuator configured to raise and lower the upper leg relative to the lower leg.

In yet another embodiment, a height adjustable patient support includes a patient support deck, with at least two deck extension pans, and a rack and pinion mechanism connecting the at least two deck extension pans, and wherein the rack and pinion mechanism comprises a latch releasable from either side of the patient support, whereby releasing the latch permits manually adjusting the width of the patient support deck by simultaneously sliding the at least two deck extension pans by pulling or pushing one of the deck extension pans.

According to yet another embodiment, a height adjustable patient support includes a patient support deck and a guard structure positioned at a side of the patient support deck. The guard structure is moveable between a guard position above a plane of the patient support deck and an ultralow position fully below the plane of the patient support deck, and wherein the guard structure is lockable in the guard position and is electronically unlockable and releasable to permit unassisted lowering of the guard structure.

Further features will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description. It should be understood that each feature described herein may be utilized in any combination with any one or more of the other described features, and that each feature does not necessarily rely on the presence of another feature except where evident to one of skill in the art.

