Patient safety system with automatically adjusting bed

[0001] The present application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/405,097, filed Oct. 20, 2010, entitled “Patient Safety System With Automatically Adjusting Bed” The present application incorporates the foregoing disclosure herein by reference.

[0002] Patient safety systems are commonly found in medical and geriatric facilities, and often incorporate adjustable beds. Generally, these beds include a guard rail assembly which can be raised to prevent the patient from falling out of the bed. The guard rail can be lowered to allow the patient ingress and egress from the bed or to provide the care provider unobstructed access to the patient for treatment. The height of some beds can be adjusted to raise the patient to a proper level for treatment by the care provider and the bed can also be lowered for easier patient ingress and egress.

[0003] There have been numerous instances in which patients have fallen out of bed, even with the presence of guard rails. In some instances, the care provider may forget to return the guard rails to the raised position after treatment, allowing the patient to roll off the bed. Even where the guard rails are returned to the raised position, a restless patient can easily climb over top of the guard rails and potentially fall to the floor. The situation can be exacerbated in some instances involving height adjustable beds, where the bed height may be inadvertently left in the raised position, resulting in the patient falling from a higher distance off the raised bed. Injuries from these falls can not only be traumatic but also catastrophic, possibly resulting in death.

[0004] Aspects of the present disclosure include a bed with safety features to reduce the risk of accidental patient injury. In an embodiment, a raisable patient bed is described which is configured to automatically lower from a raised position when certain criteria are met. For example, the criteria can include when a patient's movements indicate that a patient is attempting to leave the bed or when a guard rail is lowered by a patient. Other criteria can also be used as described further herein. In an embodiment, an alarm feature can also be used to alert care providers that a patient is attempting to leave the bed. In an embodiment, both an alarm feature and an automatically lowering feature can be used in conjunction with each other.

[0005] Thus, in accordance with at least one of the embodiments disclosed herein, a patient safety system can comprise an adjustable bed adjustable between at least a lowered position and a raised position. A first sensor can be configured to detect the presence of a care provider and a second sensor can be configured to detect when a patient is trying to leave the bed. The adjustable bed can be configured to automatically adjust to the lowered position when the first sensor indicates that a care provider is not present and the second sensor indicates that a patient is trying to leave the bed.

[0006] In some embodiments, the patient safety system can also include at least one movable guard rail on the lateral side of the bed, the guard rail movable between a lowered configuration and a raised configuration, wherein in the raised configuration the guard rail obstructs the patient from falling off the bed. The bed can adjust to where the guard rails are in a raised configuration when the first sensor indicates that a care provider is not present and the second sensor indicates that a patient is trying to leave the bed.

[0007] In some embodiments, the patient safety system can further comprise an alarm linked to the first and second sensors that is triggered when the first sensor does not detect the care provider and the second sensor detects that a patient is trying to leave the bed.

[0008] In accordance with another embodiment disclosed herein, the patient safety system can comprise an adjustable bed adjustable between at least a first position and a second position, and a first sensor configured to determine the presence of a care provider near the patient. The adjustable bed can be configured to automatically adjust from the first position to the second position when the presence of a care provider is no longer detected.

[0009] In some embodiments, the patient safety system can comprises at least one movable guard rail on the lateral side of the bed that moves from a lowered configuration to a raised configuration when the presence of a care provider is no longer detected. In some embodiments, the patient safety system can comprise a height adjustment that moves from a raised position to a lowered position when the presence of a care provider is no longer detected.

[0010] In some embodiments, the adjustable bed can wait a predetermined period of time after the presence of a care provider is no longer detected before adjusting from the first position to the second position.

[0011] The patient safety system can further comprise a monitoring station or a pager that displays an alert when the first sensor does not detect the care provider and the second sensor detects that a patient is trying to leave the bed.

[0012] In a method of monitoring a patient in a bed, the method can comprise the steps of determining whether a care provider is near the patient and adjusting the bed to a predetermined configuration when the care provider is determined not to be near the patient. In some embodiments, the method can further comprise determining whether a patient is trying to leave the bed and sounding an alarm and adjusting the bed to a predetermined configuration when the patient is determined to be trying to leave the bed and the care provider is determined to have left the patient.

[0018] A patient safety system including safety beds that can automatically adjust to a safe default configuration and a patient monitoring system for detecting the movement of a patient are disclosed herein. Such safety systems can be particularly advantageous to substantially prevent or reduce the risk of injuries to patients from falls off beds.

[0019] A patient safety system having desirable features and advantages will now be described with reference to the figures. Although the following description is provided in the context of an example patient safety system, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited by the examples or claims. None of the structures, steps, or other features disclosed herein are essential or indispensible; any can be omitted or substituted by an equivalent.

[0020] Certain terms are used herein, such as “higher,” “lower,” “lateral” and the like, to assist in providing a frame of reference. These terms should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure and should be recognized as having their ordinary meaning. Furthermore, the term “computer” used herein should be broadly interpreted as any device or group of components that can accept input information from a user input or from another source such as, for example, another computer, process the information, and/or output information, such as to another device or to a display screen.

Safety Bed

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a safety bed 10 is illustrated having a mattress 12 and a frame 20. The frame 20 can include a headboard 22 at one side of the bed, a footboard 24 at the opposite side of the bed, and a set of guard rails 26 on each lateral side of the bed interposed between the headboard 22 and the footboard 24. Each of the headboard 22, footboard 24 and guard rails 26 extend above a top surface 14 of the mattress 12 to form a perimeter around the mattress 12 for retention of the patient on the bed 10.

[0022] The guard rails 26 can be substantially planar members sized to obstruct substantially the entire lateral sides between the footboard 24 and the headboard 22. In some embodiments, the guard rails 26 can comprise more than one piece on each side of the bed. In some embodiments, the guard rails 26 can be planar members. In other embodiments, the guard rails can be a frame structure, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Each of the guard rails 26 can include a set of transparent windows made from Plexiglas, polycarbonate, or other suitable material, that can allow a care provider to monitor a patient through the window without having to look over the guard rail 64.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the guard rail 26 can have a lowered configuration wherein the guard rail 26 is moved downward to provide improved access to the patient. In some embodiments, the guard rail 26 can be hinged at the lower end such that it can rotate about the lower edge between a raised configuration, such as shown in FIG. 1, and a lowered configuration, such as shown in FIG. 2. In other embodiments, the guard rail 26 can slide along a channel from a raised configuration to a lowered configuration. In still other embodiments, the guard rail 26 can have double armed hinges that allow the guard rail 26 to swing from a raised configuration to a lowered configuration while remaining in the same orientation. In some embodiments, the guard rail 26 can be held in the raised and/or lowered configuration by detents, hooks, tabs or other known securement devices. In some embodiments, switches or sensors can be disposed on or adjacent the guard rail 26, so that a computer or processor can detect the position of the guard rails 26. When the guard rail 26 is in the raised configuration, the patient is constrained from rolling out of the bed 10. In the lowered configuration, the guard rails 26 are out of the way so that the care provider can have improved access to the patient.

[0024] In some embodiments, the headboard 22 and/or footboard 24 can be configured to move downward to provide improved access to the patient, similar to the guard rail 26 described above. The features and methods described for the lowering of the guard rail 26 can be applicable to the headboard 22 and/or footboard 24 to move it into a lowered configuration.

[0025] With continued reference to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the safety bed 10 can be in a raised position. In the raised position, a patient lying on the mattress 12 can be more easily attended to by a care provider without having to bend down. The patient can still be safely constrained in the safety bed 10 where the guard rail 64 is in the raised configuration. If the care provider needs better access to the patient, the guard rail 26 can be moved to a lowered configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0026] In some embodiments, the mattress 12 can be adjusted to raise the patient's head, raise the patient's legs, or tilt the patient's whole body. In some situations, it can be medically advantageous to raise the patient's head or legs, such as to assist blood circulation, assist respiratory function, or improve delivery of medication to the patient.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, the safety bed 10 can be changed to a lowered position. With the safety bed 10 in the lowered position, it is easier for the patient to get on and off the bed. Furthermore, the lowered position can be safer because the safety bed 10 is advantageously closer to the ground in case the patient falls from the bed. In the lowered position, a care provider can still access the patient, with the guard rails 26 in either the lowered or raised configurations.

[0028] In some situations, the care provider may forget or otherwise neglect to move the guard rail 26 to a raised configuration or lower the bed 10 to a lowered position or return the mattress to a flat configuration after treating the patient. If the care provider fails to return the guard rails 26 to a raised configuration, then the risk of the patient rolling off the bed 10 is increased. Even where the guard rails 26 are returned to a raised configuration, the patient can still climb over the guard rail 26 and off the bed. Therefore, if the care provider fails to return the bed 10 to a lowered position, then the risk of the patient falling from a raised height is increased, which can result in severe injuries. Furthermore, if the mattress is left in a tilted or angled configuration, it may be easier for the patient to roll off the bed or climb over the guard rails 26. If the care provider fails to return the guard rails 26 to the raised configuration and the bed to the flat, lowered position, then the patient's risk of injury from rolling off the bed at a raised height is increased.

[0029] Therefore, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a safety bed 10 that automatically returns the bed 10 to a default safe configuration after the patient has been treated. In some embodiments, the default safe configuration is where the safety bed 10 is in a lowered height position. In some embodiments, the default safe configuration is where the guard rails 26 are in a raised configuration. Furthermore, the default safe configuration is where the mattress 12 is in a generally flat configuration. In preferred embodiments, the default safe configuration is where the bed 10 is in a lowered height position and the guard rails 26 are in a raised configuration and the mattress 12 is generally flat. In some embodiments, the default safe position can be specified by the care provider. For example, the care provider may need to keep the head of the mattress 12 tilted up to help treatment of the patient. In this case, the care provider can define the default safe position where the safety bed 10 is in the lowered position and the guard rails 26 are in the raised configuration, with the head of the mattress 12 tilted up.

[0030] In some embodiments, a sensor 16 can be placed on the safety bed 10 or in the patient's room to detect when a care provider is present in the room. The signals can be emitted by a device attached to the care provider. In some embodiments, the care provider can wear a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag that transmits a signal to the sensor 16 to notify a computer or processor of the care provider's presence. In some embodiments, other signal types can be used to indicate when a care provider is present, such as Bluetooth, cellphone signals, or other types of signals known in the art. When the care provider leaves the room, the signal is no longer present and the computer can send a signal to prompt the safety bed 10 to return to the default safe configuration. Therefore, if the care provider forgets or fails to return the bed 10 to the default safe configuration before leaving the patient's room, then the safety bed 10 can automatically return to the default safe configuration to help avert patient injuries from falls. In an embodiment, when the care provider leaves the room, the safety bed does not return to the default safety position immediately, but waits until patient motion is sensed which indicate the patient may be attempting to get off the bed.

[0031] In some embodiments, the safety bed 10 can wait a predetermined period of time after a care provider leaves the room before returning to the default safe configuration. For example, when the sensor 16 no longer detects the presence of the care provider, a timer can activate and the safety bed 10 can return to the default safe configuration at the end of the timer countdown. The predetermined amount of time can be adjustable and set by the care provider, or the time can be preset during manufacture of the bed. The amount of wait time can be at least approximately 5 seconds and/or less than or equal to approximately 30 minutes. In some embodiments, the amount of wait time can be at least approximately 15 seconds and/or less than or equal to approximately 15 minutes. Preferably, the amount of wait time can be at least approximately 30 seconds and/or less than or equal to approximately 5 minutes. In some embodiments, the timer can be overridden and the safety bed 10 can immediately return to the default safe configuration, such as when the patient monitoring system detects that the patient is trying to leave the bed. Monitoring of patient movements is described in greater detail below.

[0032] In some embodiments, other types of sensors, such as motion sensors or heat sensors, can detect movement or heat around the patient's bed to identify when a care provider is present. These types of sensors can advantageously be used without a transmitter or identification device worn by the care provider.

[0033] Some embodiments of the safety bed 10 can include a timer in addition to, or instead of, the sensors. The care provider can place the bed 10 in position for treating the patient. A timer can be automatically, or manually set so that the bed 10 returns to the default safe configuration after a set period of time. In some embodiments, an alarm can sound when the timer is nearing the end of its set time, so that the care provider can reset or add more time to the timer, if desired. If the care provider forgets to return the safety bed 10 to the default safe configuration, then the bed 10 will automatically return to the default safe configuration once the timer has run out.

[0034] In some embodiments, an alarm or voice notification can sound prior to and during the bed's movement to the default safe configuration to alert the patient and care providers of the automatic movement of the bed 10. For example, a recorded voice can alert the patient to remain calm and remain still while the bed 10 moves to the default safe configuration. In some embodiments, an alarm or notification can be transmitted to the care provider at a monitoring station 36 or through a pager system, as described below, to notify the care provider of the automatic movement of the bed 10.

Patient Monitoring

[0035] In some embodiments, a patient monitoring system can be used in conjunction with the safety bed 10. With reference to FIG. 3, the patient monitoring system can include a bed sensor 32 which can be positioned on or about the patient's bed. In some embodiments, the patient monitoring system can include a monitoring station 36 that displays the status of the patient.

[0036] Although any type of bed sensor 32 can be used with the patient monitoring system, bed sensors 32 having ribbon switches are particularly envisioned. For example, a ribbon switch can be used which has contacts that are held closed when a patient is properly positioned on the bed. When the patient's weight is present on the mattress, the ribbon switches are sufficiently compressed so that the ribbon contacts therein are electrically connected. If the patient moves their weight off of the sensor for more than a momentary delay, a computer 34 can recognize the open contacts of the switch. A delay circuit can be included in the bed sensor 32 to provide a delay so that momentary opening of the ribbon switch contacts due to a patient shifting positions, will not set off an alarm. In some embodiments, the bed sensor 32 can have ribbon switches that are disposed around the perimeter edge of the mattress. When the edge ribbon switches are activated, a signal can be transmitted to the computer 34 to report that the patient is trying to leave the bed 10. Other sensors can also be used with the present disclosure.

[0037] When the bed sensor 32 detects the patient's movements and determines that the patient is trying to leave the bed 10, the computer 34 can respond accordingly. In some embodiments, a signal can be sent to a light and/or alarm which can be positioned on the bed or in the patient's room to alert the care provider. A signal can be transmitted to the monitoring station 36 to alert the care provider. In some embodiments, when the computer 34 determines that the patient is trying to leave the bed, the computer can send commands to the bed 10 to place the bed in the default safe configuration, as described above, to reduce the risk of injury to the patient. As mentioned previously, an alarm or voice notification can sound prior to and during the movement of the bed 10 to the default safe configuration to help diminish any risk of injury to the patient or care provider during the transformation of the bed 10.

[0038] In some embodiments, the patient monitoring system can include an override switch so that the patient can be removed or repositioned on the bed without triggering the alarm system. In preferred embodiments, the override switch is positioned such that the care provider can access the switch, but is out of reach of the patient. In some embodiments, a timer can be connected to the override switch to turn off the override switch automatically after a predetermined period, to account for situations where the care provider may forget to turn off the override switch. In some embodiments, the override switch can be integrated with the sensor 16 that detects when the care provider is present in the room. The override switch can be activated when the care provider is in the patient's room and deactivated when the care provider leaves the room. In some embodiments, the presence of a patient care provider acts as an override switch such that the bed will not automatically move when a caregiver is present.

[0039] Most health care facilities have a patient monitoring system already in existence, which permits a patient to call the care provider and includes a light positioned over the patient's door and/or a monitoring station to alert the care provider of the need for attention. In these facilities, the safety bed 10 can be integrated into the existing patient monitoring system.

[0040] In some embodiments, the patient monitoring system can include a paging system that transmits a radio frequency signal, or other over-the-air (OTA) signal, to a monitoring station. The transmitter for a particular patient monitoring system can provide a discreet signal so that each signal can be discernable by the monitoring station to identify the patient from which an alarm signal originates. Some embodiments of the paging system can include personal pagers carried by the care providers that receive signals alerting the care provider of the status of the patient. Each patient can be assigned a discreet frequency such that only select care providers are alerted for a specific patient.

Operation of Safety System

[0041] In the operation of the safety bed 10 and patient monitoring system described thus far, reference is made to FIG. 4. When a care provider enters a patient's room, a sensor 16 detects the presence of the care provider. The care provider can adjust the safety bed 10 to a raised position and move the guard rails 26 to a lowered configuration for improved access to the patient. In some embodiments, an alarm that sounds when the guard rails 26 are lowered or when the bed 10 is raised can be deactivated or overridden by the care provider. In some embodiments, the alarm can be automatically deactivated when the care provider's presence is detected by the sensor 16. When the sensor 16 no longer detects the care provider's presence in the room, the safety bed 10 can automatically return to its default safe configuration; e.g. the bed 10 is changed to a flat, lowered position and the guard rails 26 are moved to a raised configuration. In some embodiments, the safety bed 10 can emit an alarm or verbal warning to alert the patient that the bed is moving or about to move. In some embodiments, the safety bed 10 can wait a predetermined period of time after the care provider leaves the room before returning to its default safe configuration, as described above.

[0042] When the system does not detect a care provider in the patient's room, the patient monitoring system can supervise the patient. When a patient is positioned in the bed 10, the patient's weight can trigger bed sensors 32 disposed on or under the mattress 12, which informs the computer that the bed 10 is occupied. If the patient's weight is removed from the mattress 12, the bed sensors 32 inform the computer 34 that the patient is no longer in proper position in bed. The computer 34, in turn, can send an alert signal to the monitoring station 36 and audible/visible alarm. The monitoring station 36 can have a visual display readout that identifies the location or room where the bed sensors 32 have detected undesired patient movement. In some embodiments, the audible/visible alarm can provide a warning within the normal audible range of a patient to let the patient know that he/she has caused an alarm by his movement, which in many cases will remind the patient that he/she is exceeding the desired movement range and thereby encourage the patient to return to the desired position on the bed 10. One such audible alarm can be a voice message such as: “Please return to your bed,” or similar message, so that the patient will be encouraged to return to bed 10. In some embodiments, the computer 34 can send a signal to trigger a remote alarm, for example in the hospital corridors or care provider station. In some embodiments, the computer 34 can send a signal to a transmitter to sends a discreet frequency signal to a particular monitoring station 36 or particular pager for a specific care provider. In some embodiments, the safety bed 10 can return to the default safe configuration when the patient monitoring system detects that the patient is trying to leave the bed 10.

[0043] A power supply can provide power to all components of the patient safety system described above for simpler set-up where electrical outlets are not available, such as remote or undeveloped areas. The independent power supply can simplify integration of the patient safety system into existing systems, by eliminating the need to tap into the existing system's power supply. Even when the patient safety system is connected to the local power system, the independent power supply can provide back-up power in case of local power outages.

[0044] Although certain embodiments, features, and examples have been described herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many aspects of the methods and devices illustrated and described in the present disclosure may be differently combined and/or modified to form still further embodiments. For example, any one feature of the safety bed system described above can be used alone or with other components without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Additionally, it will be recognized that the methods described herein may be practiced in different sequences, and/or with additional devices as desired. Such alternative embodiments and/or uses of the methods and devices described above and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.