WO2017037612A1

WO2017037612A1 - Hospital equipment interconnection

Info

Publication number: WO2017037612A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/055157
Authority: WO
Inventors: David L. Hadley; Hani A.M. Alhourani
Original assignee: Innovative Designs For Healthcare LLC
Current assignee: Innovative Designs For Healthcare LLC
Priority date: 2015-09-01
Filing date: 2016-08-29
Publication date: 2017-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-01

Abstract

A patient care system for use with a bed provides fluid and electrical power to patient life support and monitoring equipment mounted to the bed. The patient care system includes a bed interface assembly, a stationary interface assembly, and a link. The link supplies fluids and electrical power to the bed interface assembly from a stationary surface. The link may be separable so that the bed can be transported with patient life support and monitoring equipment when the link is separated.

Description

HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT INTERCONNECTION

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[001] The present application claims priority to United Stated provisional application

Serial No. 62/212,865 filed September 1, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] The present invention is directed to a mounting technique to mounting

equipment in a hospital. While it is useful in mounting equipment to a hospital bed, it may also be useful in mounting equipment independent of a bed. While illustrated for use with an intensive care facility, it may find use in a general patient area of a hospital or other patient care facility, such as out-patient care, hospice care, or the like.

[003] Hospital rooms, in general, and intensive care rooms, in particular, include an ever-increasing number of monitors and tubes connected with the patient. Such devices tend to create hazards for personnel treating the patient. Also, it becomes difficult to move the patient in order to render care and to transport the patient for remote testing, therapy, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[004] The present invention provides a unique design for a medical facility. It reduces obstructions, such as cables and hoses from between the healthcare staff and the patient, and allows for 360-degree access around the patient. It provides a patient-centered environment so that the healthcare team can maintain visual contact with the patient while also viewing the equipment parameters and better manage the hose and tubing connection. It provides a means of easily moving the patient while in the bed and still remain connected to all of the medical equipment during room cleaning or during procedures without having to disconnect the patient from the equipment or move it from its location. It provides for quick transportation of the patient, in bed, to another location while maintaining continuous connection with life support equipment.

[005] A patient care system for use with a bed, according to an aspect of the invention, provides fluid and electrical power to patient life support and monitoring equipment mounted to the bed. The patient care system includes a bed interface assembly, a stationary interface assembly and a separable link. The separable link supplies fluids and electrical power to the bed interface assembly from a stationary surface. In this manner, the bed can be transported with patient life support and monitoring equipment when the link is separated.

[006] A patient care system for use with a bed, according to an aspect of the invention, provides fluid and electrical power to patient life support and monitoring equipment mounted to the bed. The patient care system includes a bed interface assembly, a stationary interface assembly, and a link. The bed interface assembly is adapted to be attached to the bed and has electrical connectors for supplying electrical energy and fluid ports for supplying fluid to the patient life support and monitoring equipment. The stationary interface assembly is configured to be positioned at a stationary portion separate from the bed. The link connects the bed interface assembly and stationary interface assembly and supplies fluids and electrical power to the bed interface assembly from the stationary interface assembly.

[007] The link may include a tether that mechanically connects the bed interface

assembly to the stationary interface assembly and limits extension of the bed interface assembly from the stationary interface assembly. The tether may be energy absorbing, such as by including a dampened piston, or the like. The link may include a pressure sensor in order to supply a warning if mechanical force applied to the link exceeds a particular amount. The link may be connected with the bed interface assembly and/or the stationary interface assembly with a frangible material in order to break if mechanical force applied to the link exceeds another particular amount.

[008] The link may further supply data signals between the bed interface assembly and stationary interface assembly. At least one equipment support may be adapted to be mounted to the bed for mounting patient life support and monitoring equipment to the bed.

[009] The stationary interface assembly may be mounted by a pendant assembly to a stationary surface of the building. The pendant assembly may include a pendant, a first coupling that pivotally couples the pendant to the stationary surface and a second coupling that pivotally couples the pendant to the stationary interface assembly. The pendant assembly may include a first elongated member and a second elongated member. The first coupling may pivotally couple a first end portion of the first elongated member to the stationary surface. A third coupling may pivotally couple a first end portion of the second elongated member to a second opposite end portion of the first elongated member. The second coupling may pivotally couple a second opposite end portion of the second elongated member to the stationary interface assembly. The stationary interface assembly may include a vertically elongated pendant body. A lamp assembly may be adjustably connected with the stationary interface assembly in a manner that allows the lamp to be moved to be over the bed.

[010] These and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[Oi l] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a medical facility taken from above and from the left side showing a patient care system, according to an embodiment of the invention;

[012] Fig. 2 is the same view as Fig. 1 with the bed separated from the stationary

surface;

[013] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a bed interface assembly shown connected with a link;

[014] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a bed interface assembly shown disconnected from the link;

[015] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a bed interface assembly; and

[016] Fig. 6 is the same view as Fig. 5 with the bed interface assembly connected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[017] Referring now specifically to the drawings, and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a healthcare bed system 10 includes a conventional hospital bed 12 of the type manufactured by Hill Rom, Stryker, or the like, and a patient care system 14 for providing fluid and electrical power to patient life support and monitoring equipment 60 mounted to the bed. Equipment support 39, such as brackets, and the like, are provided for mounting patient life support and monitoring equipment 60 to the bed. The patient life support and monitoring equipment is conventional and may include infusion pumps, patient ventilator, heart monitors, blood pressure monitors respiration monitors, and the like. Patient care system 14 includes a bed interface assembly 16, a stationary interface assembly 18, and a link 20. [018] Bed interface assembly 16 is adapted to be attached to bed 12 and has at least one electrical connector 36a for supplying electrical energy to equipment electrical outlet 38b, at least one fluid port or connector 38a for supplying fluid to a patient life support fluid port 38b, and data connectors 40a for exchanging signals between bed interface assembly 16 and stationary interface assembly 18 and equipment data connectors 40b for exchanging data with the life support and monitoring equipment. Stationary interface assembly 18 is configured to be positioned at a stationary portion of the room separate from bed 12, such as the room ceiling or other stationary surface.

[019] Link 20 connects bed interface assembly 16 and stationary interface assembly

18 and supplies fluids via fluid hoses 22 and electrical power via electrical power lines 24 and data signals between bed interface assembly 16 and stationary interface assembly 18 via signal lines 26. Signal lines 26 may be analog, digital or optical. The entire bed and attached bed interface assembly can be easily moved to allow for cleaning under and around the bed without disconnecting power or fluids from the patient life support and monitoring equipment. The link flexibility allows the nursing staff to easily move the patient and their bed, with all life support equipment mounted to the bed, in the event of a liquid spill so that the environment can be maintained clean with minimum human resources.

[020] In the illustrated example, link 20 is a separable link. This allows bed 12 to be transported with patient life support and monitoring equipment 60 when the link is separated. This may be accomplished by at least one fluid connector 23 on fluid lines 22 that separably interface with fluid connectors 38a on bed interface assembly 16, at least one electrical power connectors 25 on power lines 24 that separably interfaces with electrical power connectors 36a on the bed interface assembly and at least one data connector 27 on data line 26 that separably interfaces with data connector 40 on the bed interface assembly.

[021] In the event that the patient needs to be transferred to another location within the hospital, the nurse only has to disconnect the security tether, a few hoses, and cables, and then the bed with all of the equipment can be moved without having to disconnect any cables or hoses from the patient. This saves time during emergency transport. During transport, the equipment rotates on specially designed swivel mounts that allow the staff moving the patient to see the patient's vital signs while on-route to their destination. In the meanwhile, all equipment data is being stored in the equipment and will up-load to the clinical information system the moment it is reconnected to the network. There are no power cables, hoses, or other cables between the bed and the wall when the link is separated, so the medical staff has 360-degree access around the patient without tripping on a cord or hose.

[022] Link 20 includes a tether 28 that mechanically connects bed interface assembly

16 to stationary interface assembly 18. Tether 28 limits extension of bed interface assembly 16 from stationary interface assembly 18. Tether 28 is energy absorbing, such as by including a dampened piston 30. This maintains the physical connection between the bed interface assembly and stationary interface assembly because the piston can extend or swivel if the bed is elevated or moved slightly, but will maintain close physical proximity between the bed and wall to ensure that the power cables, data cables, and gas hoses are constrained from excess tension. Tether 28 includes a hook 29 that separably connects with a loop 32 on bed interface assembly 16. A pressure sensor 34 between the loop and the assembly sounds an alarm if tension on the tether exceeds a particular level. In the illustrated embodiment, the alarm force is 50 kg, but other force can be chosen. Loop 32 is made from a frangible material so that the loop will break if an even greater force is applied to the tether. This provides a fail-safe connection between the tether and stationary interface assembly which allows the loop to break and cables to be disconnected if someone pulls the bed so hard that it puts undue force on the tether. In the illustrated embodiment, the loop will break at a force of 100 kg, but other force levels can be chosen. While link 20 is shown being separable from bed interface assembly 16, it could, alternatively, be separable from stationary interface assembly 18 or both.

[023] Stationary interface assembly 18 is mounted by a pendant assembly 42 to a stationary surface of the building, such as wall or ceiling. Pendant assembly 42 includes a first coupling 48 that pivotally couples the pendant assembly to the stationary surface and a second coupling 50 that pivotally couples the pendant assembly to the stationary interface assembly 18. The pendant assembly 42 includes a first elongated member 44 and a second elongated member 46. Coupling 48 pivotally couples a first end portion of first elongated member 44 to the stationary surface, a third coupling 52 that pivotally couples a first end portion of said second elongated member 46 to a second opposite end portion of said first elongated member 44. The second coupling pivotally couples a second opposite end portion of second elongated member 46 to the stationary interface assembly 18. Stationary interface assembly 18 includes a vertically elongated pendant body 54. A lamp assembly 56 is adjustably connected with the vertically elongated pendant body of stationary interface assembly in a manner that allows said lamp to be moved to be over said bed.

[024] Several unique features may be included in patient care system 14. A built-in isolated power Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) can provide isolated power directly to the equipment being connected to the patient, and uninterruptable power available in the event of a power failure and a delay in the start-up of the emergency generator. It can also be included in bed interface assembly 16 to power the monitoring equipment while the link is separated. A computer notepad can be integrated into the bed interface unit so that the nurse can control all of the lighting, room temperature, and generate support services requests right next to the patient without leaving the patient's side. If there is a need for the IT department, maintenance for the equipment or the room, or, if there is a need for a nurse's aide or food services, the nurse can generate the request with only a few touches to the screen.

[025] An integrated barcode reader can be provided. Smart bin drawers contain

essential supplies related to the medical equipment being used on the patient so that these items are immediately available when needed. The moment an item is removed, a request for replenishment is generated automatically through the notepad which is networked to the hospital information system.

[026] While the foregoing description describes several embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications to these embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims below. The present invention encompasses all combinations of various embodiments or aspects of the invention described herein. It is understood that any and all embodiments of the present invention may be taken in conjunction with any other embodiment to describe additional embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, any elements of an embodiment may be combined with any and all other elements of any of the embodiments to describe additional embodiments.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A healthcare bed system, comprising:

a bed;

a patient care system providing fluid and electrical power to patient life support and monitoring equipment mounted to the bed;

said patient care system comprising a bed interface assembly, a stationary interface assembly and a separable link;

wherein said separable link supplying fluids and electrical power to said bed interface assembly from a stationary surface and wherein said bed can be transported with patient life support and monitoring equipment when said link is separated.

2. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said link comprises a tether that mechanically connects said bed interface assembly to said stationary interface assembly, said tether limiting extension of said bed interface assembly from said stationary interface assembly.

3. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tether is energy absorbing.

4. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said tether comprises a dampened piston.

5. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said separable link includes a pressure sensor in order to supply a warning if mechanical force applied to said link exceeds a particular amount.

6. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said separable link is connected with at least one chosen from said bed interface assembly and said stationary interface assembly with a frangible material in order to break if mechanical force applied to said link exceeds another particular amount.

7. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said link supplies data signals between said bed interface assembly and said stationary interface assembly.

8. A healthcare bed system, comprising:

a bed;

said patient care system comprising a bed interface assembly, a stationary interface assembly and a link;

said bed interface assembly being attached to the bed and having electrical connectors for supplying electrical energy and fluid ports for supplying fluid to the patient life support and monitoring equipment;

said stationary interface assembly configured to be positioned at a stationary portion separate from the bed; and

said link connecting said bed interface assembly and said stationary interface assembly, said link supplying fluids and electrical power to said bed interface assembly from said stationary interface assembly.

9. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said link comprises a separable link wherein said bed can be transported with patient life support and monitoring equipment when said link is separated.

10. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said link comprises a tether that mechanically connects said bed interface assembly to said stationary interface assembly, said tether limiting extension of said bed interface assembly from said stationary interface assembly.

11. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tether is energy absorbing.

12. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tether comprises a dampened piston.

13. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said link includes a pressure sensor in order to supply a warning if mechanical force applied to said link exceeds a particular amount.

14. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said link is connected with one of said bed interface assembly and said stationary interface assembly with a frangible material in order to break if mechanical force applied to said link exceeds another particular amount.

15. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said link supplies data signals between said bed interface assembly and said stationary interface assembly.

16. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 8 including at least one equipment support for mounting patient life support and monitoring equipment to the bed.

17. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said stationary interface assembly is mounted by a pendant assembly to a stationary surface of the building.

18. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said pendant assembly comprises a pendant, a first coupling that pivotally couples said pendant to the stationary surface and a second coupling that pivotally couples said pendant to the stationary interface assembly.

19. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said pendant assembly includes a first elongated member and a second elongated member, said first coupling pivotally couples a first end portion of said first elongated member to the stationary surface, a third coupling that pivotally couples a first end portion of said second elongated member to a second opposite end portion of said first elongated member and said second coupling to pivotally couple a second opposite end portion of said second elongated member to the stationary interface assembly.

20. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said stationary interface assembly comprises a vertically elongated pendant body.

21. The healthcare bed system as claimed in claim 19 including a lamp adjustably connected with said stationary interface assembly in a manner that allows said lamp to be moved to be over said bed.

22. A patient care system for use with a bed for providing fluid and electrical power to patient life support and monitoring equipment mounted to the bed, said patient care system comprising;

a bed interface assembly, a stationary interface assembly and a separable link; wherein said separable link supplying fluids and electrical power to said bed interface assembly from a stationary surface and wherein said bed can be transported with patient life support and monitoring equipment when said link is separated.

23. A patient care system for use with a bed for providing fluid and electrical power to patient life support and monitoring equipment mounted to the bed, said patient care system comprising:

a bed interface assembly, a stationary interface assembly and a link;

said bed interface assembly adapted to be attached to the bed and having electrical connectors for supplying electrical energy and fluid ports for supplying fluid to the patient life support and monitoring equipment; said stationary interface assembly configured to be positioned at a stationary portion separate from the bed; and