Patent Publication Number: US-11654064-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for indicating continence state of a patient on a bed

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/831,926, filed Mar. 27, 2020, which claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/833,040, filed Apr. 12, 2019, the contents of each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to patient support apparatuses having alerting capabilities. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to patient support apparatuses that include sensors for monitoring an incontinence state of a patient and structures for alerting caregivers when moisture is detected. 
     Patients in healthcare facilities may become incontinent and may need the wetness to be removed from the bed to prevent undesirable side effects. When moisture is detected by an incontinence detection system, a nurse may receive an alert of the incontinence state immediately, although immediate action may not be needed nor possible if all nurses are preoccupied with other, urgent tasks. Furthermore, other members in the vicinity of the patient and the hospital bed may become upset if they notice an alert that the patient has become incontinent yet no caregivers are available to immediately assist them. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present application discloses one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter: 
     In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a patient support apparatus includes a frame, an incontinence detection pad supported by the frame, and an indicator. The incontinence detection pad is operable to detect incontinence of a patient supported by the frame. The indicator is coupled to the frame and operable to provide a visual indication that incontinence has been detected by the incontinence detection pad. 
     In some embodiments, a user input is provided to enable and disable the indicator. When the indicator is disabled, no visual indication that incontinence has been detected by the incontinence detection pad is provided by the indicator. 
     In some embodiments, the indicator includes a light at a foot end of the frame. The visual indication includes an incontinence icon that is projected onto a floor adjacent to the frame. 
     In some embodiments, the patient support apparatus further includes communication circuitry coupled to the frame and operable to transmit an incontinence status signal for receipt by a remote computer. The patient support apparatus further includes a graphical user interface (GUI) coupled to the frame and wherein the user input is displayed on the GUI. 
     In some embodiments, the incontinence detection pad provides a wireless signal indicative of an incontinence detection state. The indicator comprises a light coupled to the frame and a projector coupled to the frame and operable to project an incontinence icon onto a surface adjacent the frame. The light includes a second incontinence icon that matches an appearance of the incontinence icon that is projected onto the surface. The user input is usable to enable and disable the light, the projector, or both. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system includes a patient support apparatus, and a detection and notification system. The detection and notification system includes an incontinence detection pad, an external alarm system, and a controller. The incontinence detection pad is supported by the patient support apparatus and having a condition-responsive sensor to produce a signal indicative of moisture being present on the incontinence detection pad. The external alarm system includes a first indicator located in the vicinity of the incontinence detection pad and a second indicator located in a remote location out of view from the incontinence detection pad 
     In some embodiments, the first and second indicators display a first iconic representation indicative of a lack of moisture on the incontinence detection pad and a second iconic representation indicative of the presence of moisture on the incontinence detection pad. The controller is coupled to the incontinence detection pad and includes a processor and a memory device storing instructions that, when executed, cause the first indicator to display selectively the first iconic representation when the condition-responsive sensor produces the signals and the second indicator to display the second iconic representation when the condition-responsive sensor produces the signals. 
     In some embodiments, the controller is reprogrammable through user inputs to display selectively the first or the second iconic representation using the first indicator when the condition-responsive sensor determines that moisture is present on the incontinence detection pad. The first iconic representation includes an iconic representation with a first color and the second iconic representation includes the iconic representation with a second color different from the first color to indicate the presence of moisture on the incontinence detection pad. 
     In some embodiments, the first indicator includes an indicator panel coupled to the patient support apparatus. The first indicator may be coupled to a foot end of the frame. The first indicator further may include a projector configured to display an image on a surface spaced apart from the patient support apparatus. The surface includes a floor around the patient support apparatus. The first and second iconic representations may be displayed at the same time. 
     In some embodiments, the system further includes a user interface for receiving user inputs to control the first indicator to cause the first indicator to display selectively the first iconic representation or the second iconic representation. The user interface includes a touch screen with a number of button icons for receiving user inputs to control the first indicator to cause the first indicator to display selectively the first iconic representation or the second iconic representation. 
     In some embodiments, the button icons include a first indicator button icon that, when selected, may cause the first indicator to turn off such that the first and second iconic representations are displayed only by the second indicator. The button icons include a second indicator button icon that, when selected, may cause the indicator panel and the projector to display both the first and second iconic representations such that the first and second iconic representations are displayed by both the first the second indicators. The button icons include a projector button icon that, when selected, may cause the projector to turn off such that the first and second iconic representations are displayed only by the indicator panel and the second visual indicator. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes: providing a patient support apparatus with a detection and notification system including a first indicator in a proximate location to the patient support apparatus and a second indicator in a remote location to the patient support apparatus. The method further includes displaying a first iconic representation at the proximate location when a condition is lacking. The method further includes displaying the first iconic representation at the remote location when the condition is lacking. 
     In some embodiments the method further includes displaying a second iconic representation at the remote location when the condition is present and displaying selectively the first iconic representation at the proximate location when the condition is present. The condition is the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus detected by a sensor. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a detection and notification system includes a condition-responsive sensor to produce a signal indicative of moisture being present, an external alarm system, and a controller. The external alarm system includes a first indicator located in a proximate location to the sensor and a second indicator located in a remote location out of view from the sensor. The controller coupled to the sensor to receive the signal produced by the sensor. 
     In some embodiments, the first and second indicators display a first iconic representation indicative of a lack of moisture and a second iconic representation indicative of the presence of moisture. The controller includes a processor and a memory device storing instructions that, when executed, cause the first indicator to display selectively the first iconic representation or the second iconic representation when the condition-responsive sensor produces the signals and the second indicator to display the second iconic representation when the condition-responsive sensor produces the signals. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a detection and notification system includes an incontinence detection pad having a condition-responsive sensor to produce a signal indicative of moisture being present on the incontinence detection pad, an external alarm system, and a controller. The external alarm system includes a first indicator located in a proximate location to the incontinence detection pad and a second indicator located in a remote location out of view from the incontinence detection pad. The controller is coupled to the incontinence detection pad and the external alarm system. 
     In some embodiments, the controller includes a processor and a memory device storing instructions that, when executed, cause the first indicator to display selectively a first iconic representation or a second iconic representation when the condition-responsive sensor produces the signals and the second indicator to display the second iconic representation when the condition-responsive sensor produces the signals. The first indicator displays the first iconic representation when the incontinence detection pad is installed on the patient support apparatus, the second iconic representation displays the first indication when there is a lack of moisture on the incontinence detection pad, and the second indicator displays the second iconic representation when there is a presence of moisture on the incontinence detection pad. The first visual indicator continues to display the first iconic representation when there is a presence of moisture on the incontinence detection pad. 
     Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims, may comprise patentable subject matter and 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 invention as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a patient support apparatus including a detection and notification system according to the present disclosure and a user interface with a touch screen used to control the detection and notification system; and 
         FIG.  2 - 7    are diagrammatic representations displayed on the graphical user interface with a number of button icons for controlling the detection and notification system; 
         FIG.  2    is a screen shot of a home screen displayed on the graphical user interface in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a screen shot of a settings screen displayed on the graphical user interface in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a screen shot of a bed features screen displayed on the graphical user interface in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a screen shot of an indicator settings screen displayed on the graphical user interface in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is a screen shot of an incontinence indicator screen displayed on the graphical user interface in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  7    is a screen shot of a projector screen displayed on the graphical user interface in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a patient support apparatus  10  is illustratively embodied as a hospital bed  10 . The hospital bed  10  includes a frame  12 , a mattress  14  supported on the frame  12 , and a detection and notification system  16 . An example of a suitable frame  12  and mattress  14  is shown and described in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2018/0184984 which is expressly incorporated by reference herein for the purpose of describing the frame  12  and mattress  14  along with associated functions and capabilities of the frame  12  and mattress  14 . The detection and notification system  16  is configured to determine an incontinence state of a patient resting on the mattress  14  and display selectively notifications that indicate various statuses of the detection and notification system  16 . 
     The detection and notification system includes a condition-responsive sensor  18 , a controller  20  coupled to the sensor  18 , and an external alarm system  22  as shown diagrammatically in  FIG.  1   . The sensor  18  is configured to sense the presence of moisture on the patient and/or the mattress  14  and output signals indicative thereof. The controller  20  receives the signals from the sensor  18  and issues commands to the external alarm system  22  to provide a notification based on user inputs and/or user preferences stored in the controller  20 . The external alarm system  22  provides one or more notifications that match the stored inputs or preferences. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the sensor  18  is integrated into an incontinence detection pad  24  that is supported on the mattress  14  and the frame  12  as suggested in  FIG.  1   . The incontinence detection pad  24  is positioned on the hospital bed  10  for surveillance for unwanted incontinence fluids or other biofluids that may be produced by a patient. The incontinence detection pad  24  absorbs and retains the fluids therein and the incontinence detection pad  24  may be removed and replaced without replacing the entire mattress  14 . An example of a suitable incontinence detection pad  24  is shown and described in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2019/0060137 which is expressly incorporated by reference herein for the purpose of describing a suitable incontinence detection pad. 
     The condition-responsive sensor  18  includes a sensor circuit with a plurality of electrically conductive traces printed on a substrate of the incontinence detection pad  24  that produce the sensor signals when moisture is present on the incontinence detection pad  24 . Examples of a suitable sensor with a sensor circuit integrated into an incontinence detection pad is shown and described in U.S. Patent Pub. Nos. 2017/0065464 and 2018/0021184, each of which is expressly incorporated herein for the purpose of showing and describing a suitable sensor for an incontinence detection pad and means for powering the sensor and transmitting the signals produced by the sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor  18  communicated wirelessly with controller  20 . In other embodiments, a wired connection is provided between sensor  18  and controller  20 . 
     The controller  20  includes a processor  26  and a memory device  28  storing instructions that, when executed, cause the external alarm system  22  to display selectively the notifications according to the user inputs. The controller  20  includes all of the functionality needed to operate the external alarm system  22  and is coupled with a graphical user interface  30  mounted on or near the hospital bed  10  as shown in  FIG.  1   . The user inputs are entered by a caregiver with the graphical user interface  30  and are stored in memory device  28  to program the controller  20  to operate the external alarm system  22  according to the caregiver&#39;s and/or patient&#39;s preferences. 
     The external alarm system  22  displays notifications that represent statuses of the sensor  18  based on the user inputs that have been entered into the user interface  30  and stored in the memory device  28  of the controller  20 . In one embodiment, the status of the sensor  18  is whether or not moisture is present on the incontinence detection pad  24 . In another embodiment, the status of the sensor  18  is whether or not the hospital bed  10  is provided with an incontinence fluid sensing capability (i.e. the incontinence detection pad  24  with the integrated sensor  18 ). 
     The external alarm system  22  includes a first indicator  32  located in a proximate location to the hospital bed  10  and a second indicator  34  located in a remote location out of view from the hospital bed  10 . The proximate location may be in the same room as the hospital bed  10  while the remote location is outside of the room with the hospital bed  10 . The controller  20  may be coupled with the external alarm system  22  through a suitable connection, such as a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) connection  36 , or through a wireless connection  38  that includes one or more antennas  40  and/or transceivers  42 . The first indicator  32  displays iconic representations on or near the hospital bed  10 . Depending on the user inputs entered into the user interface  30 , the first indicator  32  may display an iconic representation indicative of whether or not moisture is present on incontinence detection pad  24 , or an iconic representation indicative of whether or not the patient&#39;s hospital bed  10  is currently provided with an incontinence detection pad  24 . The second indicator  34  may display the same representations at the remote location or different representations depending on the user inputs entered into the user interface  30 . In the illustrative embodiment, the second indicator  34  is located at a master nurse call station. 
     When a status of the sensor  18  changes, the first and the second indicators may display a new iconic representation to alert the caregiver of the change and indicate that appropriate action may be needed such as, for example, changing a wet or soiled incontinence detection pad  24 . In some instances, changing a wet or soiled incontinence detection pad is not an action that requires urgent completion and medical personnel made be delayed in responding to the action if they are busy with other patients. Still, the sensor  18  within the incontinence detection pad  24  is configured to provide the signals as soon as moisture is detected on the incontinence detection pad  24 . Upon receiving the signals from the sensor  18 , the controller  20  may cause the first indicator  32  to display the new iconic representation proximate to the hospital bed  10  as soon as the sensor  18  detects the moisture. Non-medical personnel within the room may see the new iconic representation and expect urgent action to remedy the situation even though urgent action may not be needed and/or possible at that time. Accordingly, the non-medical personnel may become irritated or upset that the patient&#39;s incontinence detection pad  24  has not been changed. The external alarm system  22  in the illustrative embodiment may be programmed selectively through the user inputs into the user interface  30  to either: 1) turn off the first indicator  32  such that only the second indicator  34  is used; 2) display an iconic representation with the first indicator  32  that indicates only that the hospital bed  10  is currently provided with an incontinence detection pad  24 ; or 3) change selectively what types of indications are provided by the first indicator  32 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, the first indicator  32  is mounted to a foot end  44  of the hospital bed  10  and includes an indicator panel  46  and a projector  48  as shown in  FIG.  1   . The indicator panel  46  displays a plurality of iconic representations  50  associated with different features of the hospital bed  10  and/or information related to the patient. The projector  48  illuminates iconic representations  52  on a surface  54  that is spaced apart from the hospital bed  10 . The iconic representations  52  illuminated by the projector  48  are substantially similar to the iconic representations  50  displayed by the indicator panel  46 ; however, in other embodiments, they may be different. In the illustrative embodiment, the surface  54  is the floor near the foot end  44  of the hospital bed  10 ; however, the surface  54  may be a wall or another surface located proximate to the hospital bed  10 . An example of a suitable indicator panel and projector is described in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2018/0184984, which is already incorporated by reference herein and may also be used for the purpose of describing a suitable indicator panel capable of displaying the iconic representations and a suitable projector capable of illuminating the iconic representations. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, one such iconic representation displayed by the indicator panel  46  and illuminated by the projector  48  is a water droplet  56  as shown in  FIG.  1   . The water droplet  56  is associated with the sensor  18  in the incontinence detection pad  24 . The controller  20  displays the water droplet  56  on the indicator panel  46  and/or illuminates the water droplet using the projector depending on the user inputs entered into the user interface  30 . In one embodiment, the controller  20  causes the water droplet  56  to change colors as the status of the sensor  18  in the incontinence detection pad  24  changes. In the illustrative embodiment, the controller  20  causes first indicator to display and/or illuminate the water droplet  56  with a white color when the hospital bed  10  is not provided with an incontinence detection pad  24 . The controller  20  causes the first indicator  32  to display and/or illuminate the water droplet  56  with a green color when an incontinence detection pad  24  is provided in the hospital bed  10 . In other embodiments, other colors may be used to indicate the presence or lack of an incontinence detection pad  24  on the hospital bed  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the green color indicates a lack of moisture on the incontinence detection pad  24  as determined by the sensor  18 . Once the sensor  18  detects moisture on the incontinence detection pad  24 , a signal is output to the controller  20  and the controller  20 , upon receipt of the signal, causes the first indicator  32  to display and/or illuminate the water droplet  56  with an amber color to notify a caregiver that action is needed. In other embodiments, any suitable color may be used to indicate the presence of moisture on the incontinence detection pad  24  and that action is needed. The controller  20  also causes the second indicator  34  to notify the caregiver at the remote location that action is needed. The second indicator  34  may display and/or illuminate a similar iconic representation to the water droplet  56  in a similar manner to first indicator  32 ; however, any suitable method of notifying a caregiver at the remote location may be used. 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, the user interface  30  receives user inputs that selectively change an appearance of the iconic representations  50 ,  52  at the proximate location than the appearance typically displayed and/or illuminate when the sensor  18  detects moisture on the incontinence detection pad  24 . In one embodiment, the user inputs program the controller  20  to cause the first indicator  32  to continue to display and/or illuminate the water droplet  56  with the green color even when moisture is present on the incontinence detection pad  24 . In this instance, the green color indicates only that the hospital bed  10  has been provided with an incontinence detection pad  24 . In another embodiment, the indicator panel  46  and/or the projector  48  of the first indicator  32  may be turned off such that only the second indicator  34  notifies a caregiver at the remote location when moisture is detected on the incontinence detection pad  24  by the sensor  18 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  2 - 7   , the graphical user interface  30  displays a touchscreen  60  that includes a number of icons which may be selected by a user to control various functions of the hospital bed  10 . The functionality of the touchscreen  60  is disclosed in the PCT application WO2016/196403, filed May 29, 2016, and incorporated by reference herein for the disclosure of a touch screen menu structure of the hospital bed  10 . The touchscreen  60  displays a home screen  62  that includes an alarm status section  64 , an information bar  66 , a function panel  68 , a home key  70 , and a scrolling menu  72 . The scrolling menu  72  includes a settings button icon  74  which, when touched by a user, activates a settings screen  76  shown in  FIG.  3   . 
     The settings screen  76  is displayed on the graphical user interface  30  when the settings button icon  74  is touched as shown in  FIG.  3   . The settings screen  76  includes a bed function panel  78  and a bed information panel  80 . The bed function panel  78  includes a bed features button icon  82  which, when touched by the user, activates a bed features screen  84  as shown in  FIG.  4   . 
     The bed features screen  84  includes a display function panel  86  as shown in  FIG.  4   . The display function panel  86  includes a selection button icon  88  which, when touched by the user, activates an indicator settings screen  90  as shown in  FIG.  5   . The selection button icon  88  depicts SAFEVIEW™, which is a proprietary term that is used to represent various functions associated with the detection and notification system  16 . 
     The indicator settings screen  90  includes an indicator button icon  92  and a projector button icon  94  that, when selected by a user, activate an incontinence indicator screen  96 , as shown in  FIG.  6   , and a projection screen  98 , as shown in  FIG.  7   . The indicator button icon  92  depicts WATCHCARE™, which is a proprietary term that is used to represent various functions associated with the detection and notification system  16 . 
     With the incontinence indicator screen  96  activated, the user may make a selection to alter the appearance of the first indicator  32 . The incontinence indicator screen  96  includes a first indicator button icon  100 , a second indicator button icon  102 , and a third indicator button icon  104 . The first button icon  100 , when selected, programs the controller  20  to cause the first indicator  32  to display and illuminate the water droplet  56  using both the indicator panel  46  and the projector  48 . The second button icon  102 , when selected, programs the controller  20  to cause the first indicator to display the water droplet  56  using only the indicator panel  46 . The third button icon  104 , when selected, programs the controller  20  to cause the first indicator  32  to be turned off completely. Once the user is finished making a selection, an accept button icon  106  may be selected to activate the desired appearance of the first indicator  32 . In the illustrative embodiment, the second indicator  34  continues to notify the caregiver regardless of the button icon selection made on the incontinence indicator screen  96 ; however, in other embodiments, the appearance of the notification provided at the second location by the second indicator may also be altered. 
     With the projection screen  98  activated, the user may make additional selections to alter the appearance of the illuminated iconic representations  52  from the projector  48  as shown in  FIG.  7   . The projection screen  98  includes a first projector button icon  108  that, when selected, turns the floor projections on and a second projector button icon  110  that, when selected, turns the floor projections off. Once the user is finished making a selection, an accept button icon  112  may be selected to activate the desired appearance of the illuminated iconic representations  52  from the projector  48 . 
     Although certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detail above, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of this disclosure as described and as defined in the following clauses and claims.