Abstract:
A communication and control device for attachment to the head end of a hospital bed for positioning a voice activated communication and control module adjacent a patient&#39;s head. The device comprises an arm having first, second and third arm segments, with first and second articulating joints connecting the first and second and second and third arm segments respectively. A securing mechanism releasably secures the first arm segment to the bed, and a third articulating joint connects the first arm segment to the securing mechanism. The first articulating joint accommodates electrical transmission wire substantially within the joint.

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/778,961, filed Jan. 6, 1997, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/409,940 filed Mar. 23, 1995, and issued as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 5,592,153 on Jan. 7, 1997, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/984,208, filed Nov. 30, 1992, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to communication and control devices, and more particularly to a communication and control device adapted to be used in conjunction with a hospital bed for activating any one of a number of functions such as bed adjust, mattress adjust, nurse call, room light, reading light, TV and phone. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many types of devices in the health care industry which allow a patient situated atop a hospital bed to activate a number of communication and control functions, such as adjust bed, adjust mattress, call nurse, room light, reading light, TV and phone. One such device is located in the hospital bed sideguard, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,015 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Another such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,790, which discloses a bedside control module which may be releasably attached to a hospital bed siderail. These and other prior art devices generally employ one or more pushbutton or pressure sensitive type switches to activate the various communication and control functions. A common criticism of these types of devices is that a fairly high degree of manual dexterity is required by a patient in order to properly activate these devices. Accordingly, their application is relatively limited. 
     Various types of voice recognition systems have been developed which further tend to reduce or eliminate the need for relying on the activation of pushbutton or pressure sensitive type switches to provide for “hands free” operation of some types of equipment. In these types of systems, electronics are “trained” to “learn” to associate certain functions with a user&#39;s verbal commands, and to carry out or perform those functions upon subsequently receiving the learned verbal commands. Due to the sensitivity of such voice recognition systems, prior art communication and control devices such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,183,015 and 4,680,790 are generally ill-suited for use in conjunction therewith. For example, such prior art devices are not generally located adjacent to the patient&#39;s head when the patient is situated atop a hospital bed when the communication and control device is either an integral part of or removably secured to the bed sideguard. If the communication and control device is of the type which is located near the head end of the hospital bed, it is generally simply pinned to the mattress on one side or the other of the patient&#39;s head, and depending on the particular condition of the patient, the patient may not be able to turn his/her head toward the device in order to speak clearly into the device, thus making such devices ill-suited for voice recognition systems as well. 
     Other voice recognition devices are known which take the form of either a box which would rest upon a bedside table, or a headset type device which would be worn by the patient. Of these types of devices, the former suffers the drawback that the device is prone to being inadvertently activated by ambient noise as the device must have a high degree of audio sensitivity since it is not located closely adjacent a patient&#39;s head. The latter suffers the obvious drawback of having to be worn by a patient, which creates discomfort, etc. 
     Other types of bedside devices have been developed for more severely disabled patients who suffer both speech and motor disabilities and who, as a consequence, are not able to manipulate push-button type devices or use speech recognition devices. These include so-called “sip and puff” devices where a patient alternately sucks from and blows into a straw type device to generate electrical signals; pillow type switches wherein a patient rocks his/her head to one side to activate the switch within the pillow; tongue activated devices; and even eyebrow activated devices which are adhered directly to a patient&#39;s skin adjacent the eyebrow and which are activated upon a patient&#39;s raising or lowering his/her eyebrows. 
     It has therefore been a primary objective of the present invention to provide a communication and control device for use on a hospital bed which is specifically adapted for voice activation of communication and control functions. 
     It has been a further objective of the present invention to provide an arm mechanism for attachment to a hospital bed for positioning a communication and control module adjacent a patient&#39;s head. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the stated objectives of the present invention, the present invention is a communication and control device for use on a hospital bed which comprises a voice recognition communication and control module for activating at least one of a plurality of communication and control functions upon sensing the patient&#39;s voice, and arm means connected to the module and adapted to be connected to the hospital bed for positioning the module adjacent to the head of the patient situated atop the bed. The communication and control functions activatable by the module preferably include adjusting the height, configuration and orientation of the hospital bed, adjusting the mattress atop the bed, nurse call, room light, reading light, TV and phone. The module of the communication and control device further advantageously includes an alpha numeric display. 
     In accordance with other features of the present invention, the communication and control device comprises a first arm segment having first and second ends, mechanism for removably securing the first arm segment to a hospital bed, a second arm segment having first and second ends, a first articulating joint connecting the second end of the first arm segment to the first end of the second arm segment, a third flexible arm segment having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the second end of the second arm segment, a communication and control module for activating at least one of a plurality of communication and control functions and a second articulating joint connecting the communication and control module to the second end of the third flexible arm segment. 
     The communication and control device of the present invention further advantageously includes a third articulating joint connecting the first arm segment to the removably securing mechanism for allowing the first arm segment to rotate relative to the removably securing mechanism about an axis which is generally parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the bed. 
     The first articulating joint of the present invention preferably allows the second arm segment to rotate relative to the first arm segment about two axes, one of which is generally perpendicular to the first arm segment and generally parallel to a plane defined by the head end portion of the bed, the other of which is generally collinear with the longitudinal axis of the first arm segment. 
     The second articulating joint preferably allows the communication and control module to rotate relative to the third flexible arm segment about an axis which is generally collinear with a longitudinal axis of the third flexible arm segment. 
     The removably securing mechanism of the communication and control device of the present invention preferably takes the form of first and second coupling members in the form of a plate and a hook, and a draw latch for effecting relative movement between the first and second coupling members for connection of the coupling members to a hospital bed. 
     Electrical transmission wire travels from the first end of the first arm segment through the first, second and third arm segments to the module for sending electrical signals from the communication and control module to various electrical devices. The first articulating joint allows this wire to be substantially contained within the first articulating joint where the wire spans from the first arm member to the second arm member. To do so, the articulating joint comprises a rotatable collar connected to one of the first and second arm members, and a pair of hubs connected to the other of the first and second arm members for rotational connection to the collar, the collar including a circumferential slot for accommodating movement of the wire as the first and second arm members are rotated relative to one another, whereby the first and second arm members may be rotated relative to one another without the electrical transmission wire having to be located external to the joint. 
     One advantage of the present invention is that it advantageously presents a voice recognition type communication and control module adjacent to a patient&#39;s head when the patient is situated atop the hospital bed. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it allows for maximum adjustability of a communication and control module whether a patient is situated atop the hospital bed or is recreating in a chair beside the bed. 
     Still another advantage of the present invention is that a hospital bed may be readily retrofitted with a communication and control device which presents its voice recognition type communication and control module adjacent to the patient&#39;s head when situated atop the hospital bed. 
     Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a novel articulating joint for a communication and control device, or for any other type of electrical device for that matter which employs pivoting arms and which alleviates the need to run electrical transmission wires externally of the pivoting joint. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hospital bed outfitted with a communication and control device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the communication and control device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is the front view of the communication and control module of the device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hospital bed being readily retrofitted with a communication and control device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the position of the hospital bed headboard in conjunction with the communication and control device and interface box of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the interface box which supports the communication and control device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view in partial cross-section of the means for removably securing the arm to a hospital bed and of the articulating joint means permitting rotation of the first arm segment relative to the removably securing means; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the articulating joint means permitting relative rotation of the second arm member relative to the first arm member; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged side elevational view in partial cross-section illustrating the articulating joint means of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 9A is a view similar to FIG. 9 illustrating the second arm rotated to its extreme positions; and 
     FIG. 10 is a view taken along line  10 — 10  of FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a hospital bed  1 , a patient  2  situated atop the bed  1 , and the communication and control device of the present invention indicated generally by the numeral  3  secured to the bed  1  for use by the patient  2 . With reference to FIG. 2, the device  3  is shown in side elevation. The device  3  includes, generally, a first arm segment  5 , a mechanism  6  for removably securing the first arm segment  5  to a hospital bed  1 , an articulating joint  7  which allows the first arm segment  5  to rotate with respect to the securing mechanism  6  and hence the bed  1 , second arm segment  8 , an articulating joint  9  connecting the first and second arm segment  5 ,  8  respectively and allowing for relative rotation therebetween, a third arm segment  10  connected to the second arm segment  8 , a communication and control module  11  for activating one of a plurality of communication and control functions, and an articulating joint  12  connecting the module  11  to the third arm segment  10 . The first, second, and third arm segments  5 ,  8 , and  10  and articulating joints  7 ,  9 ,  12  comprise an arm or articulating arm assembly. The bed  1  includes a head end  210 , a foot end  212 , and first and second sides  214 ,  216  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The head end  210  includes a head portion or head end portion  218  and a head end edge  220  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. 
     More specifically, the first arm segment includes first and second ends  5   a  and  5   b.  Securing mechanism  6  is connected to the first end  5   a  of first arm segment  5  through the articulating joint  7 . With reference to FIG. 7, the securing mechanism  6  and articulating joint  7  are shown with more specificity. More particularly, the securing mechanism  6  takes the form of a downturned channel section  15  having a top wall  15   a  and two side walls  15   b  and  15   c.  The forward end  15   d  of channel section  15  has fixedly secured there to a plate  16 . A pair of locating pins  35  on the aft side of plate  16  serve to locate the plate  16  against supporting bed structure, the operation of which will be subsequently described. Approximately one-third of the way from the aft end  15   e  of the channel section  15  toward the forward end  15   d  there is a drawlatch assembly  20  for securing the channel section  15  and plate  16  to a hospital bed  1 . 
     More particularly, as seen in FIG. 7, the drawlatch assembly  20  includes a mounting plate  21  which is fixedly secured to the sidewalls  15   b  and  15   c  of he channel section  15 . A downturned generally channel section-shaped mounting bracket  22  has a top wall  22   a  and sidewalls  22   b  and  22   c  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. Top wall  22   a  is secured to the mounting plate  21  with bolts  23  and nuts  24 . A drawlatch  25  includes substantially identical halves  25   a  and  25   b,  the aft ends of each of which are pinned to the respective sidewalls  22   b  and  22   c  of mounting bracket  22  via pins  26 . A threaded collar  27  is rotatably secured between drawlatch halves  25   a  and  25   b  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. Threaded hole  28  of collar  27  is threaded to mateably accept the threaded end  29  of rod  30 , the other end of which is formed into a U-shaped hook  31 . U-shaped hook  31  is formed to curve around a torque tube  32  which forms a part of the support structure of bed  1 , the specifics of which will be described subsequently in more detail. Sidewalls  15   b  and  15   c  of channel section  15  similarly include U-shaped relieved areas, one of which is shown at  33 , to accommodate torque tube  32  on the side opposite to that engaged by hook  31 . The effective length of rod  30  between the drawlatch assembly  20  and the torque tube  32  may be adjusted by rotating the rod  30  within the threaded collar  27  to either shorten the distance between collar  27  and hook  31  or lengthen the distance therebetween. When the desired distance is obtained, lock nut  34  on rod  30  is tightened against the collar  27  to prevent any subsequent inadvertent rotation of rod  30  with respect to the collar  27 . 
     With reference to FIG. 5, the communication and control device  3  is shown being mounted to the bed  1 . The plate  16  abuts the headboard side of transverse support  40 , the support  40  including a pair of holes  41 ,  41  for receiving the pair of pins  35 ,  35  located on the mounting plate  16 . Hook  31  is positioned underneath and aft of the torque tube  32 , and with reference to FIG. 4, the drawlatch  25  is snapped upwardly to cam the hook  31  of rod  30  against the aft side of torque tube  32  and the aft side of plate  16  against the forward side of transverse support  40 , thereby securing bed support structure  32  and  40  therebetween. 
     Referring back to FIG. 7, and describing now the joint  7  with more particularity, end  5   a  of first arm segment  5  is fixedly secured to a pivot barrel  45  which rotates in a bushing  46  which is press fitted within a circular opening in plate  16 . In order to adjust the rotational stiffness of joint  7 , aft end  45   a  of the pivot barrel  45  is disposed within a band brake assembly or adjustable clamp  47  which takes the form of a circular split band or collar or first and second clamping portion  48  secured to the sidewalls  15   b  and  15   c  of channel section  15  with screws  49 . Tabs  50  are located on either side of the split  48   a  in the band  48 , one of which is threaded to accept screw or adjustment mechanism  50   a  for adjusting the relative tightness of the band  48  about the pivot barrel  45 . A screw  51  in aft end  45   a  of the pivot barrel  45  serves as a mechanical stop, preventing the pivot barrel  45  from slipping forwardly out of the band brake assembly  47  and also limiting the rotational travel of the arm segment  5  to approximately 180 degrees (90 degrees to either side of vertical); a dimple (not shown) is formed in both of the sidewalls  15   b  and  15   c  of the channel section  15  for contact by the screw  51  in the extreme most positions of the arm segment  5  (+and −90 degrees from vertical). 
     Referring back to FIG. 2, it will be seen that end  8   a  of second arm segment  8  is connected to end  5   b  of first arm segment  5  via joint  9 . Referring now to FIG. 8, joint  9  as illustrated there in exploded form for clarity. Referring first to end  5   b  of first arm segment  5 , a swivel collar  55  includes matching collar halves  55   a  and  55   b.  Referring to collar half  55   b,  it has a semicircular portion  55   c  which, when mated with the similar portion of collar half  55 A, forms a tubular portion. Collar half  55   b  further includes a pair of longitudinal flanges  55   d,    55   d.  A transverse flange  55   e  is located on the upper end of the collar half  55   b.  The semicircular portion  55   c  and the matching portion of collar half  55   a  are adapted to accept a stem  56  of a yoke and stem assembly  57 . Connected to the upper end of stem  56  is a yoke  58 . Swivel collar halves  55   a  and  55   b  fit within the end  5   b  of first arm segment  5 . Holes  59  in the flanges  55   d  are tapped to accept threaded screws  60  which are inserted through clearance holes  61  in end  5   b  of first arm segment  5 . Tightening of the screws  60  tightens the swivel collar  55  about the stem  56  of the stem and yoke assembly  57  and thereby adjusts the rotational stiffness of the joint  7  when rotating about an axis which is generally collinear with the first arm segment  5 . 
     The joint  9  further includes means providing a second pivot axis for allowing second arm segment  8  to pivot relative to first arm segment  5  about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the first arm segment  5 . A brake band assembly  65  is fixedly secured to end  8   a  of arm segment  8 . The brake band assembly  65  is similar to the band brake assembly  47  of joint  7  described previously, in that there is a split band or collar  66  which includes tabs  67 , one of which is located on either side of a split  66 , and one of which is threaded for accepting screw  68  for tightening of the band  66 . A pair of hubs  69  are fixedly secured to the sides  58   a  of yoke  58  and serve as a rotational connection between yoke  58  and the split band  66 . 
     More specifically, each hub  69  includes an inwardly facing cylindrical portion  70  which fits relatively snugly within the inside diameter of split band  66 . Each hub  69  includes a shoulder  71  which is fitted against the side of the split band  66  when assembling the hubs thereinto. Further, each hub  69  includes a vertically oriented slot  72  which is slightly wider than the width of the sides  58   a  of the yoke  58 . The sides  58   a  of the yoke  58  are slipped through the slots  72  of the hubs  69  for securing the hubs  69  to the stem and yoke assembly  57 . The sides  58 A of the yoke  58  include notches  73  which cooperate with inwardly facing tabs  74  within the hubs  69  (FIG. 9) for securing them on to the sides  58   a  of the yoke  58 . Upper and lower decorative shrouds  75  and  76  may be secured to arm segment  8  as with screws  77  (FIG.  2 ). 
     In order to route electrical wiring cable or electrical connetor  80  (FIG. 2) through first arm segment  5 , through joint  9 , and on through second arm segment  8  and ultimately to communication and control module  11 . First and second arm segments  5 ,  8  and articulating joints  7 , 9  have interconnected hollow interiors as shown, for example, in FIGS. 7-10. More specifically, split band  66  of the brake band assembly  65  includes a circumferential slot  81  which allows cable  80  to be routed through the joint  9  rather than around the joint  9 , while still allowing for maximum relative rotation between second arm segment  8  and first arm segment  5 . Referring particularly to FIG. 9A, second arm segment  8  is illustrated in its extreme most rotational positions relative to first arm segment  5 . As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9A, it will be seen that the circumferential slot  81  accommodates full rotation of arm segment  8  relative to arm segment  5 , while allowing the cable  80  to be substantially located within the joint  9  at the point where it spans between arm segment  5  and arm segment  8 , rather than having to route the cable  80  around the joint  9  as is done in many prior art electrical devices which employ pivoting arms, such as reading lamps and the like. Such a novel joint mechanism creates a sleek, streamlined joint and avoids the bunching of wire, and ensuing tangling thereof, as is exhibited in many prior art electrical devices employing pivoting arms. 
     Referring now back to FIG. 2, end  10   a  of third flexible arm segment  10  is fixedly secured to end  8   b  of second arm segment  8  as by screws  85 . Arm  10  is of the flexible “gooseneck” type which allows control module  11  to be flexed about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of second arm segment  8  within a circumference of 360 degrees. 
     End  10   b  of third flexible arm segment  10  is connected to collar  11   a  of the communication and control module  11 . Articulating joint  12  takes the form of a swivel elbow  90 . Swivel elbow  90  allows the communication and control module  11  to rotate 360 degrees about an axis which is generally collinear with the longitudinal axis of the swivel elbow  90  at its connection to the collar  11   a  of the module  11 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, the communication and control module  11  is shown in greater detail. The module includes a number of communication and control functions with corresponding LED indicator lights. These functions include nurse call  95 , adjust bed  96 , adjust mattress  97 , reading light  98 , TV channel  99 , phone  100 , phone status  101 , and retained voice  102 . Preferably, the bed adjust function  96  would be operable to adjust the height of the bed, the orientation of the bed (for example, Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg) and bed configuration (for example, chair position). The adjust mattress function  96  would preferably be operable to adjust the relative firmness of, for example, an air inflatable type mattress. 
     The module  11  further includes a microphone or receiver  103  for receiving voice commands from a patient. Preferably the module  11  further includes an alpha numeric display  104  which would be operable to display, for example, a menu of sub functions once one of the major functions  95 - 102  is selected. 
     With reference to FIG. 6, there is illustrated an interface box  110  which is used in conjunction with the communication and control device  3  of the present invention. The interface box  110  is of course in electrical communication with module  11  by virtue of being connected therewith via cable  80 , and houses the associated electronics which condition the electrical signals generated by the functions  95 - 102  and route them to their various associated devices. The box  110  includes a transverse beam structure  111  from which depends a relatively thin rectangular electronics box  112 . Along the lower edge of the box  112  are a plurality of male electrical connectors  113  for connection to a plurality of female electrical connectors  114  and associated cable. At opposed transverse ends of the beam structure  111  are a pair of posts  115 ,  115  and a pair of square sockets  116 ,  116 , the use of which will be subsequently described. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be seen that when the device  3  is installed on the bed  1 , the forward end  45   b  of pivot barrel  45  extends forwardly from the head end edge of the bed by a small amount. Raising and lowering of the head end of the bed  1  would result in the forward end  45   b  of the pivot barrel  45  coming into undesirable contact with the headboard  120  (FIG. 5) when the headboard is in its normal location. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, on lower supporting structure  121  of bed  1  there are illustrated two pairs of posts, one pair of which is designated by the numerals  122 ,  122 , and the other of which is designated by the numerals  123 ,  123 . The pair  122 ,  122  is adapted to receive receptacles  124 ,  124  of headboard  120  when hospital bed  1  is conventionally operated without the device  3 . Due to the projecting end  45   b  of the pivot barrel  45 , however, the headboard  120  must be moved forward by a sufficient distance to allow clearance between headboard  120  and end  45   b  of pivot barrel  45  when moving the head portion of the bed up and down. Accordingly, posts  115 ,  115 , of interface box  110  (FIGS. 5 and 6) are utilized to place receptacles  124 ,  124  of headboard  120  thereon in order to support the headboard  120  in a forwardly adjusted position when a bed  1  is so retrofitted with the device  3 . The square sockets  116 ,  116  fit over posts  123 ,  123  which conventionally employ sockets for the insertion of IV poles (not shown) therein. Thumb screws  125  provide for securing the interface box  110  to the posts  123 ,  123 , the open ended nature of the square sockets allowing the IV pole socket posts  123 ,  123  to be utilized conventionally with IV poles. 
     The structural components of the present invention, for example arm segments, securing mechanism and interface box are preferably fabricated of steel. Rotating supports such as the swivel collar, hubs and bushing are preferably fabricated of a crystalline resin material, such as that marketed under the trademark “DELRIN” (trademark of DuPont) or “CELCON” (trademark of Celanese). 
     In use, interface box  110  is placed atop posts  123 ,  123  of support structure  121 . Headboard  120  is then placed atop posts  115 ,  115  of the interface box  110 . Thumb screws  125  are tightened to secure the box  110  to the posts  123 ,  123 . The open top nature of the square sockets  116 ,  116  allows a care provider to utilize the IV pole sockets of the posts  123 ,  123  for insertion of IV poles therein if so desired. 
     The communication and control device  3  is installed on to the bed  1 . The pair of pins  35 ,  35  on plate  16  are indexed into the pair of holes  41 ,  41  of transverse support  40  while hook  31  of the securing mechanism  6  is secured around torque tube  32 . Draw latch  25  of the draw latch assembly  20  is then cammed upwardly, thus effecting relative movement between the hook  31  and plate  16  securely fastening the same on opposed sides of the transverse support  40  and torque tube  32 . 
     Appropriate connections are then made between module  11  and box  110  by connecting cable  80  therebetween, and connectors  114  are connected to connectors  113  of box  110  thereby connecting the device electronics to various other devices to be controlled with module  11 . 
     The device  3  may then freely be adjusted to any position which is accommodating to a patient situated atop the bed  1  or recreating beside the bed, for example in a chair (not shown). First, the first arm segment  5  is rotatably adjustable by virtue of joint  7  about an axis which is approximately parallel to a plane defined by the head end portion of the bed  1 , through an angle of approximately a 180 degrees. Second, second arm segment  8  is adjustable relative to first arm segment  5  about two axes, one of which is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of the first arm segment  5  and generally parallel to the plane defined by the head end portion of the bed, the other of which is generally collinear with a longitudinal axis of the first arm  5 . Third, flexible arm segment  10  may be adjusted to many different configurations relative to second arm segment  8 . Lastly, module  11  can be rotated 360 degrees about an axis which is generally collinear with the end of the gooseneck arm  10  which connects to the module  11  by virtue of joint  12 . 
     The communication and control module  11  could be modified and/or supplemented with other controls. For example, the LEDs on the module  11  could incorporate either pressure sensitive type switches or conductive switches in order to make the module  11  more versatile, that is to accommodate both voice activation and push-button or touch sensitive activation. Further, other types of switches  126  (FIG. 2) could be used in conjunction with the device of the present invention, such as the “sip and puff” type, pillow type, tongue type and eyebrow type actuated switch devices. 
     The communication and control device of the present invention can not only accommodate various positions to suit a patient situated atop a hospital bed, but could as well be positioned for use by a patient not situated atop the bed, but positioned adjacent the bed, for example when recreating in a chair. Further, device  3  of the present invention may be compactly folded for transport, etc., by rotating first arm segment  5  to a position generally parallel to the front side of the head end portion of the bed and rotating second arm, segment  8  to a position generally parallel to the side of the head end portion of the bed. In addition, the device  3  of the present invention could be used on other types of patient supports other than beds, for example wheelchairs, gurneys and the like. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the present invention and which will result in an improved communication and control device, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.