Equipment support rail for hospital bed

A patient support includes a lower frame, an upper frame supported above the lower frame, an equipment carrier coupled to the upper frame, and an actuator operable to adjust the orientation of the equipment carrier to compensate for the upper frame changing its orientation between the Trendelenberg and reverse Trendelenberg positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an equipment support rail for supporting patient care equipment, such as an infusion management system, adjacent to a patient support, such as a hospital bed.

Hospitalized patients often require patient care equipment to be in close proximity during hospital care. Such patient care equipment is typically supported on a patient care equipment support carried by a support structure, such as a service column, a hospital bed, and the like. Illustratively, the patient care equipment includes heart monitoring equipment, medical gas delivery equipment, infusion management systems, IV bags, patient monitors, equipment monitors, defibrillators, and the like, many of which directly connect to the patient via lines or tubes.

Many hospital beds are movable between a Trendelenberg position and a reverse Trendelenberg position. It is desirable to maintain the vertical orientation of the patient care equipment support carried by the hospital bed as the hospital bed moves between the Trendelenberg and reverse Trendelenberg positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises one or more of the following features or elements in the appended claims or combinations thereof.

A patient support apparatus may comprise a lower frame, an upper frame supported above the lower frame, a rail coupled to the upper frame, an equipment carrier coupled to the rail, and an actuator operable to maintain the orientation of the equipment carrier relative to the lower frame as the upper frame changes its orientation relative to the lower frame.

The upper frame may be configured to change its orientation between the Trendelenberg and reverse Trendelenberg positions. Illustratively, the actuator is operable to maintain the vertical orientation of the equipment carrier as the upper frame changes its orientation between the Trendelenberg and reverse Trendelenberg positions.

The equipment carrier may include first and second portions movably coupled to each other. The first portion may be coupled to the rail and the second portion may be coupled to the actuator so that the actuator can change the orientation of the second portion relative to the first portion to maintain the vertical orientation of the second portion as the upper frame changes its orientation relative to the lower frame.

The actuator may comprise a manually operable knob to change the orientation of the second portion relative to the first portion. The actuator may include a first threaded member having a first end coupled to the first portion and a second end coupled to the knob and a second threaded member coupled to the second portion and configured to threadably engage the first threaded member to move the second portion relative to the first portion in response to the rotation of the knob. The first threaded member may comprise a screw and the second threaded member may comprise a nut threadably engaging the screw.

The apparatus may comprise a socket coupled to the second portion. The socket may include an upwardly-extending bore to receive a downwardly-extending post of a patient care equipment support, such as an infusion management device (“IMD”). The actuator may be operable to maintain the vertical orientation of the IMD as the orientation of the upper frame changes between the Trendelenberg and reverse Trendelenberg positions.

The IMD may be supported by the rail, and the actuator may be operable to maintain the vertical orientation of the rail carrying the IMD as the upper frame changes its orientation. The rail may have a first portion pivotally coupled to the upper frame and a second portion pivotally coupled to the actuator. The actuator may comprise an electrically powered linear actuator that is coupled to the upper frame and coupled the second portion of the rail. The linear actuator may be controlled automatically to maintain the vertical orientation of the rail carrying the IMD as the orientation of the upper frame changes relative to the floor.

The rail may have an upper track surface facing downwardly and a lower track surface facing upwardly, and the equipment carrier may have at least one upper roller located below the upper track surface and riding on the upper track surface and at least one lower roller located above the lower track surface and riding on the lower track surface.

The upper and lower track surfaces may be convex and the upper and lower rollers may have concave circumferences. The upper and lower convex track surfaces may be received in the concave circumferences of the upper and lower rollers to maintain the equipment carrier on the rail.

A pair of mounting plates may be coupled to opposite ends of the rail to prevent the equipment carrier from falling off the ends of the rail. Each mounting plate may include a mounting bracket integrally formed therewith and configured to be coupled to the upper frame. The rail may be extruded.

Additional features which may comprise patentable subject matter will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the present invention as presently perceived.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a patient support apparatus20, such as a hospital bed, supported on a floor22of a hospital room. Apparatus20comprises a support rail100configured to support a patient care equipment support24, such as an infusion management device (referred to herein as “IMD”). InFIG. 1, the illustrative apparatus20is a hospital bed and the illustrative patient care equipment support24is an IMD. However, it should be understood that the patient support apparatus20may very well comprise a stretcher, a surgery table, an ambulatory care chair, and the like. Likewise, it should be understood that the patient care equipment support24may very well be configured to support any type of patient care equipment such as, for example, one or more of the following: heart monitoring equipment, medical gas delivery equipment, patient monitors, equipment monitors, defibrillators, and the like, many of which directly connect to the patient via lines or tubes.

The equipment support24includes an equipment supporting portion26configured to support patient care equipment28and a downwardly-extending post30coupled to the equipment supporting portion26. The post30has a lower tapered portion34configured for receipt in a socket104of an equipment carrier102which is supported by the rail100. The equipment support24is transferable between the apparatus20and some other support structure, such as a service column.

Illustratively, the apparatus20includes a lower frame50supported on casters52, an upper frame54supported above the lower frame50, a deck56supported above the upper frame54, and a mattress58supported on the deck56. An elevation adjustment mechanism60connects the upper frame54to the lower frame50. The upper frame54has a head end62and a foot end64. The upper frame54includes a head-end frame member66, which extends horizontally along the head end62of the upper frame54beyond the outer periphery of deck56. The equipment support rail100is supported adjacent to the head-end frame member66. An equipment carrier or carriage102is mounted on the rail100for movement therealong between opposite ends68,70of the rail100. As shown, for example, inFIGS. 2 and 3, the equipment carrier102includes a socket mount124having an upwardly-opening bore125for receiving the socket104. The socket104is configured to releasably receive the lower tapered portion34of the post30of the equipment support24. The carrier102may be configured to be lockable at any one of a plurality of locations along the rail100. A pair of push handles72are coupled to the head-end frame member66. The apparatus20includes a pair of side rails76near the head end62and a pair of side rails78near the foot end64to prevent a patient supported on the mattress58from rolling off the bed20. The side rails72,74are movable to a storage position below the deck56.

The elevation mechanism60is driven by suitable actuators to raise and lower the upper frame54relative to the lower frame50, and to change the angular orientation of the upper frame54relative to the lower frame50between a Trendelenberg position where the head end62of the upper frame54is below the foot end64of the upper frame54and a reverse Trendelenberg position where the head end62of the upper frame54is above the foot end64of the upper frame54. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/0000019 A1, titled “PATIENT CARE EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,” filed Mar. 17, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,812, discloses an illustrative hospital bed and equipment support, and is incorporated by reference herein.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the rail100has an upper track surface110facing downwardly and a lower track surface112facing upwardly. The carrier102includes a roller mounting plate114, a pair of upper rollers120rotatably mounted to the mounting plate114by respective pins116, and a pair of lower rollers122rotatably mounted to the mounting plate114by respective pins118. The upper rollers120are located below the upper track surface110and ride on the upper track surface110. The lower rollers122are located above the lower track surface112and ride on the lower track surface112. Illustratively, the upper and lower track surfaces110,112are convex. The upper and lower rollers120,122have complementary concave grooves130,132along their respective circumferences. The receipt of the upper and lower convex track surfaces110,112in the complementary concave grooves130,132of the upper and lower rollers120,122retains the carrier102on the rail100. A pair of rail mounting plates134are coupled to the respective ends68,70of the rail100. The mounting plates134prevent the carrier102from falling off the ends68,70of the rail100.

As shown inFIG. 1, the mounting plates134are coupled to the head-end frame member66by a pair of mounting bosses136which are received in spaces80between respective upper and lower brackets82,84attached to the head-end frame member66. In some embodiments, roller bumpers81of the bed20are received in the spaces80as shown inFIG. 10. The roller bumpers81protect the bed20from accidental or incidental contact with the carts and the like. A fastener, such as a bolt87, extends through openings88in the upper and lower brackets82,84and through bores in the roller bumpers81to mount the roller bumpers81to the head-end frame member66of the upper frame54. However, in the embodiment shown, for example, inFIGS. 1-3, the roller bumpers81are removed from the spaces80and replaced with the bosses136to support the mounting plates134of the rail100. A fastener, such as a bolt86, extends through the openings88in the upper and lower brackets82,84and through bores in the bosses136to mount the rail100to the head-end frame member66of the upper frame54. Illustratively, the rail100is extruded, and the mounting bosses136are integrally formed with the associated mounting plates134.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rail100has convex track surfaces110,112, and the rollers120,122have complementary concave grooves130,132. Alternatively, the rail100may have concave grooves and the rollers120,122may have complementary convex track surfaces. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the track surfaces110,112and the complementary grooves130,132have rounded cross sections. Alternatively, the track surfaces110,112and the complementary grooves130,132may have other suitable cross sections, such as v-shaped, rectangular, etc. In some embodiments, sliding elements may be substituted for the rollers120,122. In some other embodiments, the rollers120,122may be dispensed with, and the equipment carrier102may ride directly on the rail100.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the cross section of the rail100is generally C-shaped with an arcuate portion111interconnecting elongated cylindrical beads113which provide the track surfaces110,112. The mounting plates134couple to the opposite ends68,70of the rail100by fasteners, such as screws, which are received in the hollow bores115of the beads113of the rail100. To reduce the weight of the rail100, a plurality of large openings117are formed in the arcuate portion111of the rail100creating small webs119extending between the openings117. Also to reduce the weight, the cylindrical beads113are hollow.

FIGS. 4,5and8illustrate a second embodiment of the support rail100and the equipment carrier102. Like elements of the two embodiments have generally similar reference numbers. Thus, in the second embodiment, numeral200designates the support rail and numeral202designates the equipment carrier. The rail200is pivotally mounted to the head-end frame member66of the upper frame54by a pair of brackets240near the opposite ends268,270of the rail200. Each rail mounting bracket240has a first generally vertical rail mounting portion242secured to the rearwardly-facing wall206of the rail200and a second generally horizontal flange portion244extending rearwardly from the first rail mounting portion242. A pair of frame mounting bosses236are coupled to the head-end frame member66in a manner similar to the manner in which the mounting bosses136are coupled to the head-end frame member66. Thus, the bosses236are received in the spaces80between respective upper and lower brackets82,84attached to the head-end frame member66and coupled to the brackets82,84by respective bolts. Each frame mounting boss236has a first generally vertical frame mounting portion252and a second generally horizontal flange portion254extending forwardly from the first frame mounting portion252. The rearwardly-extending portions244of the rail mounting brackets240are pivotally coupled to the forwardly-extending portions254of the frame mounting blocks236by pins256. The rail200may include stops to prevent the carrier202from falling off the ends268,270of the rail200. Such stops are rail mounting plates (not shown) which attach to the ends of the rail200. Illustratively, the rail200is extruded.

A pair of actuators260, one near each end268,270of the rail200, are operable to maintain the vertical orientation of the equipment support24as the upper frame54changes its angular orientation between the horizontal position shown inFIG. 4, the Trendelenberg position shown inFIG. 5where the head end62of the upper frame54is below the foot end64of the upper frame54and the reverse Trendelenberg position (not shown) where the head end62of the upper frame54is above the foot end64of the upper frame54. Each actuator260comprises a housing262and a piston264that retracts into and extends out of the housing262. The foot end266of the housing262is pivotally coupled to a bracket267by a pin269. The bracket267is mounted to the underside of the upper frame54. The head end272of the piston264is pivotally coupled to a bracket274by a pin276. The bracket274is mounted to the rearwardly-facing wall206of the rail200. As the upper frame54pivots in a clockwise direction278as shown inFIG. 4, the piston264extends out of the housing262in a forward direction280as shown inFIG. 5and the rail200pivots in a counterclockwise direction282to maintain the vertical orientation of the equipment support24. As the upper frame54pivots in a counterclockwise direction279, the piston264retracts into the housing262in a rearward direction281and the rail200pivots in a clockwise direction283to maintain the vertical orientation of the equipment support24. Thus, the piston264is movable into and out of the housing262to maintain the vertical orientation of the equipment support24as the angular orientation of the upper frame54changes between the horizontal, Trendelenberg and reverse Trendelenberg positions. Illustratively, the actuator260is an electrically powered linear actuator of the type manufactured by Linak. Although two actuators260, one near each end268,270of the rail200, are shown in the embodiment ofFIGS. 4 and 5, one actuator near the middle of the rail200may very well be used to pivot the rail200to compensate for the change in the orientation of the upper frame54.

In some embodiments, a sensor (not shown) is provided to determine the vertical orientation of the equipment support24. A control circuit284, illustrated diagrammatically inFIG. 5, drives the actuators260in response to an output from the sensor to maintain the vertical orientation of the equipment support24as the upper frame54changes its orientation between the horizontal, Trendelenberg and reverse Trendelenberg positions. Alternatively, a sensor (not shown) is provided to determine the angular orientation of the upper frame54, instead of the equipment support24. A control circuit, such as a circuit284, drives the actuators260in response to an output from the sensor to maintain the vertical orientation of the equipment support24as the upper frame54changes its angular orientation.

In further embodiments, actuators260and the actuators associated with the elevation adjustment mechanism60have sensors, such as potentiometers, which produce signals that correspond to the amount of extension or retraction of the pistons of the respective actuators. In such embodiments, the circuit284controls the actuators260by calculating the appropriate amount of extension or retraction of the actuators260needed to maintain the vertical orientation of the equipment support24based on the angle of inclination of the deck56as determined by the circuit284from the signals provided by the actuators of the elevation adjustment mechanism60. In some embodiments, the actuators260are controlled with a pair of manually-operable push buttons, one to rotate the rail200in the counterclockwise direction282and one to rotate the rail200in the clockwise direction283. The user operates the push buttons to maintain the vertical orientation of the equipment support24.

FIGS. 5,6and9show a third embodiment of the support rail100and the equipment carrier102. Like elements of the various embodiments have generally similar reference numbers. Thus, in the third embodiment, numeral300designates the support rail and numeral302designates the equipment carrier. The rail300has an upper track surface310facing downwardly and a lower track surface312facing upwardly. The carrier302includes a roller mounting plate314, a pair of upper rollers320pivotally mounted to the mounting plate314, and a pair of lower rollers322pivotally mounted to the mounting plate314. The upper rollers320are located below the upper track surface310and ride on the upper track surface310. The lower rollers322are located above the lower track surface312and ride on the lower track surface312. The upper and lower track surfaces310,312are convex. The upper and lower rollers320,322have complementary concave grooves330,332along their respective circumferences. The receipt of the upper and lower convex track surfaces310,312in the complementary concave grooves330,332of the upper and lower rollers320,322retains the carrier302on the rail300.

A pair of rail mounting plates334are coupled to the respective ends368,370of the rail300. The mounting plates334prevent the carrier302from falling off the ends368,370of the rail300. The mounting plates334are coupled to the upper frame54by a pair of mounting bosses336. The mounting bosses336are coupled to the head-end frame member66in a manner similar to the manner in which the mounting bosses136are coupled to the head-end frame member66. Thus, the bosses336are received in the spaces80between respective upper and lower brackets82,84attached to the head-end frame member66and bolted thereto. Illustratively, the rail300is extruded, and the mounting bosses336are integrally formed with the associated mounting plates334.

The carrier302includes a socket mount324pivotally coupled to the roller mounting plate314by pins326. The socket mount324has a body portion having an upwardly-opening bore for receiving the socket104. A pair of upper flange portions340extend forwardly from the mounting plate314. A pair of flange portions342extend downwardly from the socket mount324. The upper flange portions340are spaced apart to define a socket mount-receiving space in which the socket mount324is pivotally mounted by the pins326.

An actuator360comprises a first threaded member, such as a screw362, a second threaded member, such as a nut364, and a manually operable knob366. The screw362has first and second ends367,369. The first end367of the screw362is coupled to a pin372which is pivotally mounted between a pair of lower flange portions344extending forwardly from the roller mounting plate314. The knob366is coupled to the second end369of the screw362to turn the screw362. The screw362is threadably received in the nut364which is pivotally mounted between the downwardly-extending flange portions342of the socket mount324by pins374. As the knob366is turned, the screw362threads into and out of the nut364depending on the direction of rotation of the knob366. As the screw362threads into the nut364, the socket mount324pivots in a clockwise direction383as shown inFIG. 7. As screw362threads out of the nut364, the socket mount324pivots in a counterclockwise direction382. Thus, the knob366is rotatable to maintain the vertical orientation of the equipment support24as the angular orientation of the upper frame54changes between the horizontal, Trendelenberg and reverse Trendelenberg positions.

As best shown inFIGS. 6 and 9, a cosmetic cover376is provided in the illustrated embodiment. The cover376shields from view most of the socket mount324, flanges340-344, screw362, nut364, pins372and374, but is open on the top to permit the post30of the equipment support24to be inserted into the socket104. Furthermore, the cover376has an opening378through which the end369of the screw362extends to support the knob366outside the interior of the cover376.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments, variations and modifications exist with the scope and spirit of this disclosure as described and defined in the following claims.