Patent Description:
Conventional patient support apparatuses include user interfaces having a plurality of controls for controlling various features of the patient support apparatus. Such user interfaces often require pressing multiple buttons and/or activating multiple controls in order for the caregiver to carry out the desired functions, thereby making usage of the user interface complex and difficult. User interfaces that are simple to operate and that reduce the work necessary for a caregiver to carry out the function desired by the caregiver are desirable. United States patents <CIT> and <CIT>, and United States patent application <CIT> each discloses a patient support apparatus with a user interface having controls for controlling various features of the patient support apparatus and also having monitoring capabilities.

The invention provides a patent support apparatus as claimed in claim <NUM>. Preferred features are recited in the dependent claims appended hereto. According to various embodiments, an improved patient support apparatus is provided that includes a user interface having one or more navigation controls that simultaneously function as activation controls. That is, the navigation controls not only take the caregiver to a corresponding screen for carrying out a function related to that particular navigation control, but the navigation control also automatically implements that function, thereby saving the caregiver the additional step of manually implementing the function. Further, the automatic implementation of the function is carried out in a smart manner. That is, the automatic implementation of the function is carried out using one or more settings that the caregiver previously used with that particular patient, or it is automatically carried out using one or more settings that were preset by either administrators of the healthcare facility or the manufacturer of the patient support apparatus. Still further, if the caregiver changes one or more of the settings associated with the selected function, not only are the settings changed during that implementation of the function, but the settings are saved and automatically applied to future uses of that function (at least when those future uses are carried out with respect to the same patient). These features reduce the level of work required by the caregiver when utilizing various functions of the patient support apparatus, thereby enabling the caregiver to focus more on patient care, rather than equipment interaction.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a patient support apparatus is provided that includes a support structure, an exit detection system, a user interface, and a controller. The support structure includes a patient support surface adapted to support a patient thereon. The exit detection system is configured to issue an alert when the exit detection system is armed and a patient exits the patient support surface. The user interface includes a display and an exit detection navigation control. The controller, is adapted to, in response to user-activation of the exit detection navigation control, display an exit detection control screen on the display, determine whether a setting of the exit detection system was previously customized for the patient, and arm the exit detection system with the patient-customized setting if the setting was previously customized for the patient or with a preset setting if the setting was not previously customized for the patient.

According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the exit detection navigation control may be physically separated from the display, may be incorporated into the display, and/or may include a first exit detection navigation control displayed on the display and a second exit detection navigation control positioned outside of the display.

In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to, in response to user-activation of the exit detection navigation control, determine if the exit detection system is currently issuing an alert, and to cancel the alert if the exit detection system is determined to be currently issuing an alert.

In some embodiment, the patient-customized setting is a sensitivity level of the exit detection system.

In some embodiments, the exit detection control screen includes a sensitivity control for changing a sensitivity level of the exit detection system, and the controller is further configured to save in a memory a change made by the user to the sensitivity level of the exit detection system using the sensitivity control.

The controller, in some embodiments, is configured to automatically adjust the patient-customized setting according to the change made by the user to the sensitivity level of the exit detection system.

The controller may further be adapted to perform the following in response to a subsequent user-activation of the exit detection navigation control: display the exit detection control screen on the display, and arm the exit detection system with the adjusted patient-customized setting.

In some embodiments, the sensitivity level corresponds to a particular zone. In such embodiments, the exit detection system may comprise a plurality of force sensors adapted to detect a center of gravity of the patient, wherein the exit detection system is configured to issue an exit alert if the patient's center of gravity moves outside of the particular zone.

In some embodiments, a memory is included onboard the patient support apparatus in which the patient-customized setting and the preset setting are stored. In such embodiments, the user interface includes a new patient control and the controller is further configured to erase the patient-customized setting from the memory in response to user-activation of the new patient control, but retain the preset setting in the memory.

The user interface may include a control for allowing the user to modify the preset setting.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a patient support apparatus is provided that includes a support structure, a monitoring system, a user interface, and a controller. The support structure includes a patient support surface adapted to support a patient thereon. The monitoring system is configured, when armed, to monitor a set of conditions of the patient support apparatus and to generate an alert when at least one condition from the set of conditions changes from a desired state to an undesired state. The user interface includes a display and a monitor navigation control. The controller is configured to, in response to user-activation of the monitor navigation control: display a monitoring control screen on the display; determine whether a setting of the monitoring system was previously customized for the patient; and arm the monitoring system with the patient-customized setting if the setting was previously customized for the patient or with a preset setting if the setting was not previously customized for the patient.

According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the controller is further configured to, in response to user-activation of the monitor navigation control, determine if the monitoring system is currently issuing an alert, and to cancel the alert if the monitoring system is determined to be currently issuing an alert.

In some embodiments, the patient-customized setting defines what conditions are in the set of conditions monitored by the monitoring system.

In some embodiments, the monitoring control screen includes a plurality of monitoring controls and each monitoring control corresponds to a particular condition of the patient support apparatus. In such embodiments, the controller is configured to change the set of conditions monitored by the monitoring system based on whether the user activates one or more of the monitoring controls or deactivates one or more of the monitoring controls.

The controller may further be configured to automatically adjust the patient-customized setting in response to the user activating one or more of the monitoring controls or deactivating one or more of the monitoring controls. Still further, the controller may also be adapted to perform the following in response to a subsequent user-activation of the monitor navigation control: display the monitoring control screen on the display, and arm the monitoring system with the adjusted patient-customized setting.

In some embodiments, the set of conditions monitored by the monitoring system includes at least two of the following: a height of the patient support surface, a state of a brake onboard the patient support apparatus, a position of one or more siderails onboard the patient support apparatus, an armed/disarmed state of an exit detection system onboard the patient support apparatus, and an angle of a pivotable back section of the patient support surface.

The patient-customized setting, in some embodiments, also defines a desired state for at least one of the conditions in the set of conditions monitored by the monitoring system. The desired state is a threshold angle for a pivotable back section of the patient support surface in at least one embodiment, and the monitoring system is adapted to issue the alert if the pivotable back section pivots below the threshold angle. Additionally or alternatively, the desired state may be a threshold height for the patient support surface, in which case the monitoring system is adapted to issue the alert if the patient support surface is raised above the threshold height.

In some embodiments, the user interface is adapted to allow the user to customize the threshold angle and/or the threshold height.

In some embodiments, the user interface includes a control for allowing the user to modify the preset setting.

In at least one embodiment, the patient support apparatus further comprises an exit detection system configured to issue an alert when the exit detection system is armed and a patient exits the patient support surface. In such embodiments, the user interface further comprises an exit detection navigation control and the controller is further configured to, in response to user-activation of the exit detection navigation control: display an exit detection control screen on the display; determine whether an exit detection setting of the exit detection system was previously customized for the patient; and arm the exit detection system with the patient-customized exit detection setting if the exit detection setting was previously customized for the patient or with a preset exit detection setting if the exit detection setting was not previously customized for the patient.

In some embodiments, the monitoring system further comprises a plurality of sensors in communication with the controller. The plurality of sensors includes at least two of the following: a side rail sensor adapted to detect a position of a siderail onboard the patient support apparatus, a head-of-bed (HOB) angle sensor adapted to detect an angle of a pivotable back section of the patient support surface, a height sensor adapted to detect a height of the patient support surface, and a bed angle sensor adapted to detect a tilt of the patient support surface.

Before the various embodiments disclosed herein are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the claims are not to be limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments described herein are capable of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

An illustrative patient support apparatus <NUM> that incorporates one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown in <FIG>. Although the particular form of patient support apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is a bed adapted for use in a hospital or other medical setting, it will be understood that patient support apparatus <NUM> could, in different embodiments, be a cot, a stretcher, a gurney, a recliner, an operating table, a residential bed, or any other structure capable of supporting a person, whether stationary or mobile and/or whether medical or residential.

A support structure <NUM> provides support for the patient. The support structure <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> comprises a base <NUM> and a support frame <NUM>. The base <NUM> comprises a base frame <NUM>. The support frame <NUM> is spaced above the base frame <NUM> in <FIG>. The support structure <NUM> also comprises a patient support deck <NUM> disposed on the support frame <NUM>. The patient support deck <NUM> comprises several sections, some of which are capable of articulating (e.g., pivoting) relative to the support frame <NUM>, such as a back (Fowler) section <NUM>, a seat section <NUM>, a leg section <NUM> and a foot section <NUM>. The patient support deck <NUM> provides a patient support surface <NUM> upon which the patient is supported. A lift system <NUM> may be coupled to the support structure <NUM> to raise and lower the support frame <NUM>, patient support deck <NUM>, and patient support surface <NUM> to different heights relative to the base frame <NUM>, including to a lowest height relative to the base frame <NUM>. Such a lift system <NUM> may be like that described in <CIT>, entitled "Lift Assembly For Patient Support Apparatus".

A mattress (not shown) is disposed on the patient support deck <NUM> during use. The mattress comprises a secondary patient support surface upon which the patient is supported. The base <NUM>, support frame <NUM>, patient support deck <NUM>, and patient support surface <NUM> each have a head end and a foot end corresponding to designated placement of the patient's head and feet on patient support apparatus <NUM>. The base <NUM> comprises a longitudinal axis L1 along its length from the head end to the foot end. The construction of the support structure <NUM> may take on any known or conventional design, and is not limited to that specifically set forth above.

Patient barriers, such as side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are coupled to the support frame <NUM> and/or patient support deck <NUM> and are thereby supported by the base <NUM>. A first side rail <NUM> is positioned at a right head end. A second side rail <NUM> is positioned at a right foot end. A third side rail <NUM> is positioned at a left head end. A fourth side rail <NUM> is positioned at a left foot end. In the embodiment shown, the head end side rails <NUM>, <NUM> are mounted to the back section <NUM> for movement with the back section <NUM>. The foot end side rails <NUM>, <NUM> are mounted to the support frame <NUM> for movement with the support frame <NUM>. If patient support apparatus <NUM> is a stretcher or a cot, there may be fewer side rails. The side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are movable relative to the back section <NUM>/support frame <NUM> to a raised position in which the side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> block ingress and egress into and out of patient support apparatus <NUM>, one or more intermediate positions, and a lowered position in which the side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are not an obstacle to such ingress and egress. In the embodiment shown, the side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the back section <NUM> and/or the support frame <NUM> by pivotal support arms to form four bar linkages. Such side rails and the manner in which they may be raised/lowered are shown and described in <CIT> and entitled "Powered Side Rail For A Patient Support Apparatus".

A headboard <NUM> and a footboard <NUM> are coupled to the support frame <NUM>. The headboard <NUM> and footboard <NUM> may be coupled to any location on patient support apparatus <NUM>, such as the support frame <NUM> or the base <NUM>. In still other embodiments, patient support apparatus <NUM> does not include the headboard <NUM> and/or the footboard <NUM>.

Caregiver interfaces <NUM>, such as handles, are shown integrated into the headboard <NUM>, footboard <NUM>, and side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to facilitate movement of patient support apparatus <NUM> over a floor surface F. Additional caregiver interfaces <NUM> may be integrated into other components of patient support apparatus <NUM>. The caregiver interfaces <NUM> are graspable by the caregiver to manipulate patient support apparatus <NUM> for movement, to move the side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the like.

Wheels <NUM> are coupled to the base <NUM> to facilitate transport over the floor surface F. The wheels <NUM> are arranged in each of four quadrants of the base <NUM> adjacent to corners of the base <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, the wheels <NUM> are caster wheels able to rotate and swivel relative to the support structure <NUM> during transport. Each of the wheels <NUM> forms part of a caster assembly <NUM>. Each caster assembly <NUM> is mounted to the base <NUM>. Brakes <NUM> may be associated with one or more of the wheels <NUM> to arrest rotation of the wheels when active. The brakes <NUM> may be manually or electronically actuated. It should be understood that various configurations of the caster assemblies <NUM> and/or brakes <NUM> are contemplated. In addition, in some embodiments, the wheels <NUM> are not caster wheels and may be non-steerable, steerable, non-powered, powered, or combinations thereof. Additional wheels are also contemplated. For example, patient support apparatus <NUM> may comprise four non-powered, non-steerable wheels, along with one or more powered wheels. In some cases, patient support apparatus <NUM> may not include any wheels.

In other embodiments, one or more auxiliary wheels (powered or non-powered), which are movable between stowed positions and deployed positions, may be coupled to the support structure <NUM>. In some cases, when these auxiliary wheels are located between caster assemblies <NUM> and contact the floor surface F in the deployed position, the auxiliary wheels cause two of the caster assemblies <NUM> to be lifted off the floor surface F, thereby shortening a wheel base of patient support apparatus <NUM>. A fifth wheel may also be arranged substantially in a center of the base <NUM>.

The mechanical construction of patient support apparatus <NUM> may be the same as, or nearly the same as, the mechanical construction of the Model <NUM> S3 bed manufactured and sold by Stryker Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan. This mechanical construction is described in detail in the <NPL>. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that patient support apparatus <NUM> can be designed with other types of mechanical constructions, such as, but not limited to, those described in <CIT>, issued April <NUM>,<NUM><NUM>, entitled "Hospital Bed," and/or <CIT>, entitled "Patient Handling Device Including Local Status Indication, One-Touch Fowler Angle Adjustment, and Power-On Alarm Configuration". The mechanical construction of patient support apparatus <NUM> may also take or forms different from what is disclosed in the aforementioned references.

Additionally, patient support apparatus <NUM> may include one or more user interfaces <NUM> supported by the support structure <NUM> of patient support apparatus <NUM>. The user interfaces <NUM> may be disposed at the head end, the foot end, and/or on one or more sides of patient support apparatus <NUM>. More specifically, the user interfaces <NUM> may be attached to the headboard <NUM>, footboard <NUM>, and/or side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or at any other suitable location, via fasteners, welding, snap-fit connections, or the like. In some versions, each user interface <NUM> comprises a separate housing fixed to the headboard <NUM>, footboard <NUM>, and/or side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or other suitable locations. In other versions, the housings of the user interfaces <NUM> are integrated into the headboard <NUM>, footboard <NUM>, and/or side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In at least one embodiment, one of the user interfaces <NUM> is attached to the footboard <NUM> of patient support apparatus <NUM> and other user interfaces <NUM> are attached to one or more of the side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The user interface <NUM> attached to the footboard <NUM> shall be described in detail, but the features and functions to be described are equally applicable to the other user interfaces <NUM> that may be located elsewhere on patient support apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of user interface <NUM> attached to the footboard <NUM>. User interface <NUM> includes a display 64a. Display 64a may be a touchscreen-type display, although it will be understood that a non-touchscreen display may alternatively be used. Display 64a displays one or more visual indicators, one or more controls, and/or one or more control screens, as will be discussed more below. Display 64a may comprise an LED display, OLED display, or another type of display.

Display 64a is configured to display a plurality of different screens thereon, only one of which is shown in <FIG>. Specifically, display 64a is shown in <FIG> displaying a motion control screen <NUM>. Motion control screen <NUM> includes a plurality of motion controls 107a-i that, when touched, cause movement of the associated component(s) of patient support apparatus <NUM>. Thus, for example, pressing and holding motion control 107c causes back section <NUM> to be pivoted upwardly, while pressing and holding motion control 107d causes back section <NUM> to be pivoted downwardly. If the user wishes to control other aspects of patient support apparatus <NUM> besides movement, he or she can navigate to different screens that include different controls and/or other information about patient support apparatus. Thus, for example, if the user presses navigation control 66a, user interface <NUM> displays an exit detection control screen <NUM> (<FIG>) that allows the user to control various aspects of exit detection system <NUM>. If the user presses navigation control 66b, user interface <NUM> displays a bed monitor control screen <NUM> (<FIG>) that allows the user to control various aspects of the bed monitor system <NUM>. If the user presses navigation control 66c, user interface <NUM> displays a scale screen (not shown) that allows the user to take a patient weight reading and/or control other aspects of the scale system. Still further, if the user presses home navigation control 66d, user interface <NUM> displays a home screen that, in some embodiments, includes controls for accessing all of the functionality of patient support apparatus <NUM>.

In some embodiments, navigation controls 66a-d are displayed on all, or substantially all, of the screens that are displayable on display 64a. By including navigation controls 66a-d on all, or substantially all, of the screens shown on display 64a, the user is always able to easily navigate to a different screen by simply pressing the desired navigation control 66a-d on display 64a. This avoids the needs for scrolling back, or otherwise sorting through multiple levels of screens, to get to the desired screen. In some embodiments, user interface <NUM> may be configured to not display a navigation control <NUM> if display <NUM> is currently displaying a screen that corresponds to a particular navigation control <NUM>. Thus, for example, if a user selects scale navigation control 66c and user interface <NUM> displays a scale screen (not shown) on display 64a, user interface <NUM> is configured to still display navigation controls 66a, 66b, and 66d on the scale screen but may, in some embodiments, omit navigation control 66c on the scale screen. Alternatively, or additionally, any of navigation controls 66a-d may be physical controls that are separated from display 64a and always available to the user.

User interface <NUM>, in some embodiments, also includes a dashboard 64b that communicates the current states of various conditions of patient support apparatus <NUM> to a caregiver. Dashboard 64b comprises a plurality of indicia <NUM> that are illuminated via first light emitters <NUM> to thereby act as visual indicators for indicating the current state of different conditions of patient support apparatus <NUM>. For example, a first indicium 70a (e.g., a graphical symbol of an alarm over a bed) is illuminated when exit detection system <NUM> is armed, a second indicium 70b (e.g., a graphical symbol of an eye) is illuminated when bed monitor system <NUM> is armed, a third indicium 70c (e.g., a graphical symbol of an arrow and bed) is illuminated when the bed is at its lowest height (or below a threshold height), a fourth indicium 70d (e.g., a graphical symbol of an unplugged AC power cord) is illuminated when the patient support apparatus <NUM> is plugged into an electrical wall outlet and a fifth indicium 70e (e.g., a graphical symbol of a lock and wheel) is illuminated when the brakes are activated. Any one or more of these indicia 70a-e may be illuminated a different color when the associated condition is in another state (e.g. the brake is deactivated, exit detection system <NUM> is disarmed, etc.) and/or one or more of them may alternatively not be illuminated at all when the associated condition is in another state. Fewer or additional indicia <NUM> may be included as part of dashboard 64b.

Dashboard 64b, unlike display 64a, retains the illumination of one or more of indicia 70a-e at all times. That is, display 64a is configured in some embodiments to go blank after a predetermined time period elapses without usage. Dashboard 64b, however, retains the illumination of the various indicia <NUM> even after display 64a goes blank, thereby providing the caregiver with information about the status of patient support apparatus <NUM> when display 64a is blank. Thus, for example, if the brake is not activated and indicium 70e is illuminated with an amber or red color, this illumination remains for as long as the brake remains inactive, even if display 64a times out and goes to sleep (or otherwise goes blank).

Still referring to <FIG>, one or more reflective surfaces <NUM> may be located on patient support apparatus <NUM> proximate user interface <NUM>. The reflective surfaces <NUM> may be disposed relative to user interface <NUM> such that one or more second light emitters <NUM> supported by the housing of user interface <NUM> project light away from user interface <NUM> toward the reflective surfaces <NUM> to be reflected off the reflective surfaces <NUM> and outward from patient support apparatus <NUM> to act as another visual indicator.

The first light emitters <NUM> and/or the second light emitters <NUM> may comprise RGB LEDs ("Red-Green-Blue Light Emitting Diodes"). The first light emitters <NUM> and/or the second light emitters <NUM> may comprise a single RGB LED, or may comprise a plurality of LEDs. The first and second light emitters <NUM>, <NUM> may also comprise one or more incandescent bulbs, halogen lamps, neon lamps, fluorescent tubes, and/or any other types of light emitting devices. Some of the light emitters <NUM> may be located on the sides of user interface <NUM> to illuminate through light-transmitting covers C attached to the housing of user interface <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates user interface <NUM> coupled to a sensor system S. Sensor system S includes a plurality of sensors that detect various conditions of patient support apparatus <NUM>, including, but not necessarily limited to, the conditions that are indicated by indicia 70a-e. As shown in <FIG>, user interface <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> having one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, field programmable gate arrays, systems on a chip, discrete circuitry, and/or other suitable hardware, software, or firmware that is capable of carrying out the functions described herein. Controller <NUM> is coupled to display 64a, dashboard 64b, and light emitters <NUM>, <NUM> in a manner that allows controller <NUM> to control display 64a and light emitters <NUM>, <NUM> (connections shown schematically in <FIG>). Controller <NUM> may communicate with display 64a and light emitters <NUM>, <NUM> via wired or wireless connections to perform the functions described herein. Power to display 64a, light emitters <NUM>, <NUM> and/or controller <NUM> may be provided by a battery <NUM> and/or an external power source <NUM>.

Controller <NUM> is configured to process instructions and algorithms stored in memory <NUM> to control operation of display 64a and dashboard 64b and, in some embodiments, to control operation of various other components of the patient support apparatus <NUM>. The instructions followed by controller <NUM> in carrying out the functions described herein, as well as the data necessary for carrying out these functions, are stored in memory <NUM>.

Sensor system S comprises sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and is integrated into patient support apparatus <NUM> to generate one or more output signals corresponding to various states of patient support apparatus <NUM>. Controller <NUM> generates command to control display 64a, dashboard 64b, and the light emitters <NUM>, <NUM> based on the signals that controller <NUM> receives from the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of sensor system S.

Sensor system S includes one or more force sensors <NUM>, side rail sensors <NUM>, HOB angle sensors <NUM>, height sensors <NUM>, tilt sensors <NUM>, brake sensors <NUM>, and power source sensors <NUM>. Force sensors <NUM> output signals in response to downward forces exerted onto support deck <NUM> by the patient and/or objects, and force sensors <NUM> may be implemented as load cells, although other types of force sensors may be used. Side rail sensors <NUM> output signals that indicate a current position of side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> so that controller <NUM> can determine whether the side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are in the raised position (up), lowered position (down), or in one of the intermediate positions. HOB angle sensor <NUM> outputs signals that indicate a current angle of the back section <NUM> so that controller <NUM> can determine whether the back section <NUM> is at or above a preset angle relative to the support frame <NUM> or at less than the preset angle. Height sensors <NUM> output signals that indicate a current height of the support frame <NUM>/patient support deck <NUM> so that controller <NUM> can determine whether patient support apparatus <NUM> is at the lowest height or not. Tilt angle sensors <NUM> output signals that indicate a current tilt angle of the patient support surface <NUM> so that controller <NUM> can determine whether the patient support surface <NUM> is flat or not flat. Brake sensors <NUM> output signals that indicate whether the brakes are active (on) or inactive (off). Power source sensors <NUM> output signals that indicate whether or not the AC power plug that provides power from the external power source <NUM> to patient support apparatus <NUM> is plugged into a corresponding outlet (e.g., wall outlet) to receive external power. These sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may include one or more load cells, pressure sensors such as piezoelectric and piezoresistive sensors, Hall Effect sensors, capacitive sensors, resonant sensors, thermal sensors, limit switches, gyroscopes, accelerometers, motion sensors, ultrasonic sensors, range sensors, potentiometers, magnetostrictive sensors, electrical current sensors, voltage detectors, and/or any other suitable types of sensors for carrying out their associated functions. When the sensor system S outputs signals indicative of a state change, controller <NUM> may cause activation/illumination of a respective state indicator <NUM>, indicium 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70e, and/or reflective surface <NUM> in the manner described herein.

Force sensors <NUM> are part of an exit detection system <NUM> that determines if the occupant has exited patient support apparatus <NUM>. Force sensors <NUM> can also be part of a scale system that detects the weight of an occupant of patient support apparatus <NUM>, the details of which are not described herein. Force sensors <NUM> are adapted to detect downward forces exerted on the patient support surface <NUM>, i.e. by an occupant of support deck <NUM>. Thus, when an occupant is positioned on support deck <NUM> and substantially still (i.e. not moving in a manner involving accelerations that cause forces to be exerted against support deck <NUM>), force sensors <NUM> will detect the weight of the occupant. Force sensors <NUM> can also be used to determine a center of gravity of the occupant in order to determine if the occupant is about to exit patient support apparatus <NUM>. In alternative embodiments, the outputs from force sensors <NUM> are analyzed, not to determine a center of gravity, but instead to determine a weight distribution and/or a change in weight distribution, such as by determining one or more ratios of the relative weights sensed by force sensors <NUM> and using them to determine if the occupant is about to exit patient support apparatus <NUM>. In still other embodiments, force sensors <NUM> may be modified to detect forces other than, or in addition to, the downward forces exerted by the occupant. Other types of sensors may additionally or alternatively be used for determining if the patient has exited, or is about to exit.

The particular structural details of exit detection system <NUM> can vary widely. In some embodiments, exit detection system <NUM> is constructed in accordance with the exit detection system described in <CIT>, entitled "Patient Exit Detection Mechanism for Hospital Bed". In such embodiments, exit detection system <NUM> may include multiple zones that trigger an alert when the patient's center of gravity travels outside of the zone. In this manner, exit detection system is able to have its sensitivity selected by the caregiver, as will be discussed in more detail below. Other types of exit detection systems may also or alternatively be used.

Exit detection system <NUM> is configured to be armed and disarmed. When armed, exit detection system <NUM> issues an alert when the occupant exits patient support surface <NUM>, or is about to exit patient support apparatus <NUM>. The alert issued by exit detection system <NUM> includes activation/illumination and/or changing a color, frequency, or illumination pattern of light emitted/projected from one or more of the lights of user interface <NUM>. Such lights include, but are not limited to, the lights that shine on reflective surface <NUM>.

User interface <NUM> communicates with controller <NUM> and allows the caregiver to control various aspects of exit detection system <NUM>, such as, but not limited to, arming or disarming exit detection system <NUM>, customizing a setting of exit detection system <NUM>, such as customizing a sensitivity level of exit detection system <NUM>, and cancelling an alert issued by exit detection system <NUM>. Other customizable settings for exit detection system <NUM> are possible.

The sensitivity level of exit detection system <NUM> can be set to low, medium, or high. The sensitivity level settings can correspond to different zones of patient support apparatus <NUM> which are monitored by exit detection system. For example, with the low sensitivity level setting selected, exit detection system monitors a first, relatively large zone that is generally positioned near the center of the patient support surface <NUM>. With the medium sensitivity level setting selected, exit detection system monitors a second zone at or near the center of the patient support surface <NUM> which is smaller than the first zone. With the high sensitivity level setting selected, exit detection system monitors a third zone at or near the center of the patient support surface <NUM> which is smaller than both the first and second zone.

One or more of the side rail sensors <NUM>, HOB angle sensors <NUM>, height sensors <NUM>, and bed angle sensors <NUM> are part of a bed monitor system <NUM> (<FIG>) that determines if any monitored conditions of patient support apparatus <NUM> are in an undesired state. Other monitored conditions may be included within bed monitor system <NUM>, such as, but not limited to, the state of the brake, the state of the power source (e.g. battery versus outlet power), and the state of exit detection system <NUM> (armed or disarmed). Such other monitored conditions may utilize additional sensors for determining the state of these other conditions of patient support apparatus <NUM>. The particular structural details of bed monitor system <NUM> can vary widely. An exemplary bed monitor system is described in <CIT>, entitled "Patient Handling Device Including Local Status Indication, One-Touch Fowler Angle Adjustment, and Power-On Alarm Configuration". Other types of bed monitor systems may be used.

Bed monitor system <NUM> is configured to be armed and disarmed. When armed, bed monitor system <NUM> issues an alert when at least one monitored condition of patient support apparatus <NUM> is in an undesired state, which may include when one or more of the side rails are down, when the HOB angle is less than the preset angle, when the bed is not flat, or when the bed height is above a threshold height. The alert issued by bed monitor system <NUM> can include activation/illumination of one or more lights, and/or changing the color, frequency, or illumination pattern of one or more lights, such as, but not limited to, the lights that emit light onto reflective surface <NUM>.

User interface <NUM> communicates with controller <NUM> and enables the caregiver to control one or more aspects of bed monitor system <NUM>, such as, but not limited to, arming or disarming bed monitor system <NUM>, customizing a setting of bed monitor system <NUM>, such as customizing which conditions of bed monitor system <NUM> are monitored and, in some cases, customizing the desired and undesired states for the monitorable conditions, and cancelling an alert issued by bed monitor system <NUM>. Other customizable settings for bed monitor system <NUM> are possible. Display 64a displays information regarding bed monitor system <NUM>, such as, but not limited to, displaying a bed monitor control screen, displaying an alert issued by bed monitor system <NUM>, and displaying a setting of the bed monitor system <NUM>, such as displaying the conditions of bed monitor system <NUM> currently being monitored or displaying a customized desired state of the monitored condition.

For example, the position of one or more of the side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, the HOB angle, the bed angle, and the bed height are monitorable conditions of bed monitor system <NUM>. The monitoring setting for each of these conditions can be set to on, e.g. being monitored, or off, e.g. not being monitored. Of these monitored conditions, at least the preset angle for the HOB angle can be set, for example to <NUM> degrees or <NUM> degrees.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrates one example of a motion control screen <NUM> that can be displayed on display 64a. Motion control screen <NUM> includes a plurality of controls, which can include touchscreen controls, non-touchscreen controls, or a combination thereof. The controls may perform a variety of different functions, and the number, function, lay-out, size, and/or other characteristics of these controls may vary from what is shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, and may also vary depending upon what screen is being displayed at a given time by display 64a.

In the particular example of <FIG> and <FIG>, the controls include exit detection navigation control 66a and bed monitor navigation control 66b. Each of these controls allow the user to navigate to an associated control screen. For example, when exit detection navigation control 66a is pressed, controller <NUM> displays an exit detection control screen (e.g. screen <NUM> of <FIG>) on display 64a. The exit detection control screen <NUM> is used by a caregiver or other user to control aspects of exit detection system <NUM>, as described in further detail below. Briefly, the exit detection control screen <NUM> enables the caregiver to arm and/disarm the exit detection function of exit detection system <NUM>, as well as to change one or more of the customizable settings associated with the exit detection function.

When the bed monitor navigation control 66b is pressed, controller <NUM> displays a bed monitor control screen (e.g. screen <NUM> of <FIG>) on display 64a. The bed monitor control screen <NUM> is used by a caregiver or other user to control aspects of bed monitor system <NUM>, as described in further detail below. Briefly, the bed monitor control screen <NUM> enables the user to arm and/disarm the bed monitor function of bed monitor system <NUM>, as well as to change one or more of the customizable settings associated with the bed monitor function.

Motion control screen <NUM> may be displayed initially after patient support apparatus <NUM> is powered on, or it may be displayed in response to a caregiver navigating to it from another screen. It will be understood that the particular layout shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is only one of a large variety of different ways in which controller <NUM> may present a motion control screen <NUM>. It will also be understood that exit detection navigation control 66a and the bed monitor navigation control 66b are provided on other screens or elsewhere on user interface <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, exit detection control screen <NUM> includes an arm/disarm control <NUM> for disarming exit detection system <NUM>. Upon user-activation of the arm/disarm control <NUM>, controller <NUM> is operable to disarm exit detection system <NUM>. Subsequent selection of the arm/disarm control <NUM> rearms exit detection system <NUM>.

Exit detection control screen <NUM> also includes setting controls 114a, 114b, 114c and associated setting indicators 116a, 116b, 116c. Each setting control 114a, 114b, 114c corresponds to one of the sensitivity levels of exit detection system <NUM>. Selection of control 114a sets exit detection system <NUM> to a low sensitivity level (e.g. much patient movement is required before an exit alert is triggered); selection of control 114b sets exit detection system <NUM> to a medium sensitivity level; and selection of control 114c sets exit detection system <NUM> to a high sensitivity level (e.g. very little movement is required to trigger an exit alert).

The setting indicators 116a, 116b, 116c indicate to the caregiver whether the associated sensitivity level is currently being utilized by exit detection system <NUM>. The setting indicators 116a, 116b, 116c are displayed on the screen <NUM> in a first color when the associated sensitivity level setting is unselected and in a second color when the associated sensitivity level setting is selected. In the illustrated example of screen <NUM>, the low and high sensitivity level settings are unselected, and their associated setting indicators 116a, 116c are generated on the screen <NUM> in gray, and the medium sensitivity level setting is selected, and its associated setting indicator 116b is displayed on the screen <NUM> in green. The setting indicators 116a, 116b, 116c may alternatively employ text or graphics, or other forms of visual content, to indicate the current sensitivity level.

Exit detection control screen <NUM> also includes a home navigation control 66d and a menu navigation control <NUM> for navigating away from the exit detection control screen <NUM>. Upon user-activation of the home navigation control 66d, controller <NUM> is operable to display a home screen (not shown) on display 64a. Upon user-activation of the menu navigation control <NUM>, controller <NUM> is operable to display a menu screen (not shown) on display 64a.

When exit detection navigation control 66a on user interface <NUM> is selected, not only does controller <NUM> react by automatically displaying exit detection control screen <NUM> on display 64a, it also automatically arms exit detection system <NUM>. Thus, exit detection navigation control 66a performs dual functions in response to a single action by the caregiver-it brings the user to exit detection control screen <NUM> and it activates exit detection system <NUM>. This saves the user the extra step, prevalent in many prior art patient support apparatuses, of having to press a first button (or other control) in order to get to an exit detection control screen and then, once at that screen, press a second button (or other control) to activate the exit detection system <NUM>. By performing two functions (navigation and auto-arming) in response to a single touch by the caregiver of a single control, controller <NUM> streamlines the usage of exit detection system <NUM>.

Additionally, controller <NUM> is configured to not only automatically arm exit detection system <NUM> in response to the user touching navigation control 66a, but it is also configured to automatically arm exit detection system <NUM> using either a preset setting or a patient-customized setting that was previously selected by the caregiver for the particular patient who is now assigned to patient support apparatus <NUM>. These features are discussed in more detail below with respect to exit detection management algorithm <NUM> (<FIG>).

When a user touches exit detection navigation control 66a on user interface <NUM>, controller <NUM> begins following exit detection management algorithm <NUM>, one example of which is shown in <FIG>. Exit detection management algorithm <NUM> begins at step <NUM> when exit detection navigation control 66a is selected by the caregiver. Prior to this, the caregiver can be using user interface <NUM> to perform other functions and display 64a may be displaying a screen other than exit detection control screen <NUM>, such as motion control screen <NUM> of <FIG>.

After exit detection navigation control 66a is selected, controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM> where it determines if exit detection system <NUM> is currently issuing an alert. Such an alert is issued if exit detection system <NUM> is armed and the occupant exits the patient support surface <NUM>. If exit detection system <NUM> is currently issuing an alert, controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM> and cancels the alert, such as by deactivating first light emitter <NUM> and/or second light emitter <NUM> and/or other lights. In another example, controller <NUM> can cancel the alert by changing the color, frequency, or illumination pattern of light projected from the first light emitter <NUM> and/or second light emitter <NUM>, and/or still other lights. In another example, an issued alert can comprise emitting an audible alarm from a speaker on user interface <NUM>, elsewhere on patient support apparatus <NUM>, or remote from patient support apparatus <NUM>, and controller <NUM> can cancel the alert by silencing the audible alarm. After cancelling the alert, controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM> and displays exit detection control screen <NUM> on display 64a.

If exit detection system <NUM> is not currently issuing an alert, from step <NUM> controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM>, where it determines if exit detection system <NUM> is currently armed. If exit detection system <NUM> is currently armed, controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM> and displays exit detection control screen <NUM> on display 64a.

If exit detection system <NUM> is not currently armed, controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM> and determines whether a setting was previously customized for the patient currently assigned to patient support apparatus <NUM>. If a setting was previously customized for the patient currently assigned to patient support apparatus <NUM>, controller <NUM> proceeds from step <NUM> to step <NUM> and arms exit detection system <NUM> with the patient-customized setting. If no settings were previously customized for the patient currently assigned to patient support apparatus <NUM>, controller <NUM> proceeds from step <NUM> to step <NUM> where it arms exit detection system <NUM> with a preset setting. From both steps <NUM> and step <NUM>, controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM> where it displays the exit detection control screen <NUM> and allows the caregiver to utilize the controls and functionality of control screen <NUM>.

Before turning to the operation of control screen <NUM>, it should be noted that the customized setting used in step <NUM> and the preset setting used in step <NUM> both refer to, in at least one embodiment, the sensitivity level of exit detection system <NUM>. It will be understood, however, that the settings referred to in steps <NUM> and <NUM> may refer to and/or include other settings associated with exit detection system <NUM>. For example, the setting referred to in steps <NUM> and <NUM> may relate to one or more characteristics of the alert that is issued when exit detection system <NUM> is triggered, such as which lights, if any, are activated, what sounds, if any, are activated (and/or their volume level), and/or if the alert is to be communicated to a remote location and, if so, how such communication takes place and/or to what devices the communication is to be forwarded. Still other types of settings may be incorporated into steps <NUM> and <NUM>.

It will also be understood that, in some embodiments, the setting referred to in steps <NUM> and <NUM> may refer to multiple settings such that controller <NUM> either automatically arms exit detection system <NUM> using multiple patient-customized settings at step <NUM> or it arms exit detection system <NUM> using multiple preset settings. Still further, in some embodiments, controller <NUM> may automatically arm exit detection system <NUM> using a combination of patient-customized settings and preset settings, choosing the patient-customized settings over the preset settings whenever such patient-customized settings have been previously defined for the current patient, and using the preset settings whenever no patient-customized settings have been previously defined.

When exit detection control screen <NUM> is displayed at step <NUM> (<FIG>), the caregiver is able to disarm exit detection system <NUM> (which was just automatically armed at step <NUM> or <NUM>) via arm/disarm control <NUM>, as well as to change one or more of settings via controls 114a, 114b, 114c. While exit detection control screen <NUM> is being displayed, controller <NUM> monitors user interface <NUM> to see if the caregiver activates one or more functions associated with screen <NUM>, and follows steps <NUM> through <NUM> of algorithm <NUM>.

If the caregiver makes any changes to the settings of exit detection system <NUM> while exit detection control screen <NUM> is displayed (e.g. selects a different sensitivity level by touching one of controls 114a, 114b, or 114c), controller <NUM> not only implements those changes immediately for exit detection system <NUM>, but it also saves those changes in memory and uses them as patient-customized settings whenever exit detection system <NUM> is armed in the future (at least for that same patient). In other words, setting controls 114a, 114b, and 114c not only function as controls for changing the current settings of exit detection system <NUM>, but they also automatically customize those settings for the particular patient who is currently assigned to patient support apparatus <NUM>.

For example, if a patient A is currently occupying patient support apparatus <NUM> and the caregiver arms exit detection system <NUM> by touching navigation control 66a, controller <NUM> automatically arms exit detection system <NUM> and displays exit detection control screen <NUM>. If this is the first time that exit detection system <NUM> has been armed for patient A, controller <NUM> follows step <NUM> and arms exit detection system <NUM> using the preset setting which, in at least one embodiment, refers to the medium sensitivity level. After arming exit detection system <NUM> at this medium sensitivity level at step <NUM>, controller <NUM> displays exit detection control screen <NUM> and allows the user to change the sensitivity level of exit detection system <NUM> via controls 114a, 114b, and 114c. If the user selects, say, control 114a, controller <NUM> changes the sensitivity level of exit detection system <NUM> to "low. " Further, controller <NUM> also stores this "low" setting in memory and automatically uses it for all the future times it arms exit detection system <NUM> for patient A. Thus, if exit detection system <NUM> is later disarmed (say, while patient A exits from patient support apparatus <NUM> and subsequently returns), and exit detection system <NUM> is re-armed with patient A onboard, controller <NUM> will follow step <NUM> of algorithm and automatically re-arm the exit detection system using the "low" sensitivity level. In this manner, once a caregiver selects a sensitivity level for a particular patient, every time the caregiver re-arms exit detection system <NUM> with that particular patient onboard, controller <NUM> automatically selects the sensitivity level that the caregiver previously selected.

Sensitivity controls 114a-c therefore not only change the current sensitivity level of exit detection system <NUM>, but they also define the patient-customized sensitivity level for future usage of exit detection system <NUM> with that particular patient. Still further, if a caregiver has already customized a sensitivity level for exit detection system <NUM> for a particular patient, he or she can use sensitivity controls 114a-c to change the previous customization for that particular patient. This is done by merely selecting a different sensitivity control 114a-c on screen <NUM>.

This process of customizing the sensitivity level of exit detection system <NUM> for a particular patient is illustrated in steps <NUM> and <NUM> of algorithm <NUM> (<FIG>). If the caregiver selects a different one of controls 114a-c than the one selected automatically by controller <NUM> at step <NUM> or step <NUM>, controller <NUM> implements this change at step <NUM>. After step <NUM>, it proceeds to step <NUM> where it records the change in memory <NUM> and sets (or resets) the patient-customized setting to match the recorded change. As a result, the next time controller <NUM> executes step <NUM>, it will proceed to step <NUM> and implement the patient-customized setting that was stored previously at step <NUM>.

If the caregiver presses the arm/disarm control <NUM> on the exit detection control screen <NUM> at step <NUM> (<FIG>), controller <NUM> moves to step <NUM> where it disarms exit detection system <NUM>. After disarmament of exit detection system <NUM>, controller <NUM> continues to display the exit detection control screen <NUM> on display 64a. In some embodiments, controller <NUM> changes the label on arm/disarm control <NUM> from "turn off" to "turn on" after the caregiver has disarmed exit detection system <NUM> and toggles these two labels back and forth as the caregiver switches between arming and disarming exit detection system <NUM>. Alternatively, after disarmament of exit detection system <NUM>, controller <NUM> may be configured to display a different screen on display 64a, such as motion control screen <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>, or another screen (not shown). In one example, controller <NUM> displays a confirmation screen on display 64a which confirms that exit detection system <NUM> has been disarmed, after which controller <NUM> displays the exit detection control screen <NUM>, motion control screen <NUM>, or another screen (not shown) on display 64a.

If the caregiver navigates away from the exit detection control screen <NUM>, such as by selecting the home navigation control 66d or the menu navigation control <NUM> on the exit detection control screen <NUM> at step <NUM>, controller <NUM> returns to the start of the algorithm <NUM> the next time exit detection navigation control 66a is touched.

It will be understood that, in some embodiments, the preset setting used at step <NUM> is permanently set by the manufacturer of patient support apparatus <NUM> and cannot be changed. It will also be understood that, in some alternative embodiments, patient support apparatus <NUM> can be constructed in a manner that allows healthcare administrators, or other authorized personnel, to change the preset setting used at step <NUM>. In these latter embodiments, healthcare administrators can override the factory-defined preset setting and choose a different preset setting that better suits their particular needs. However, even if the healthcare facility decides to change the preset setting to one that better suits their needs, the caregiver can still customize this setting to a particular patient in the manner just described.

It will also be understood that various changes may be made to exit detection management algorithm <NUM> from the particular implementation shown in <FIG>, such as changing the order of one or more steps, adding one or more additional steps, omitting one or more of the existing steps, and/or modifying one or more of the existing steps. In one such example, the particular order of step <NUM> is changed such that it occurs earlier than shown, such as between step <NUM> and step <NUM>. Still other locations of step <NUM> within algorithm <NUM> may also be implemented.

Returning to <FIG>, when the user touches bed monitor navigation control 66b, controller <NUM> displays bed monitor control screen <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, on display 64a. The touching of bed monitor navigation control 66b also causes controller <NUM> to automatically arm the bed monitoring system <NUM>. Bed monitor navigation control 66b therefore performs a dual function in response to a single action by the caregiver-it brings the user to bed monitor control screen <NUM> and it activates bed monitoring system <NUM>. As with the dual function of exit detection navigation control 66a, the dual function of bed monitor navigation control 66b saves the user the extra step, prevalent in many prior art patient support apparatuses, of having to press a first button (or other control) in order to get to a bed monitoring control screen and then, once at that screen, press one or more additional buttons (or other controls) to activate the bed monitoring system <NUM>. By performing two functions (navigation and auto-arming) in response to a single touch by the caregiver of a single control, controller <NUM> streamlines the usage of the bed monitoring system <NUM>.

Controller <NUM> is also configured to not only automatically arm bed monitor system <NUM> in response to the user touching navigation control 66b, but it is also configured to automatically arm bed monitor system <NUM> using either a set of preset settings or a set of patient-customized settings that were previously selected by the caregiver for the particular patient who is now occupying patient support apparatus <NUM>. These features are discussed in more detail below with respect to bed monitor management algorithm <NUM> (<FIG>).

Referring first to <FIG>, bed monitor control screen <NUM> includes an arm/disarm control <NUM> for disarming bed monitor system <NUM> (and manually arming bed monitor system <NUM> if it has been disarmed while screen <NUM> is displayed). Upon user-activation of the arm/disarm control <NUM>, controller <NUM> disarms bed monitor system <NUM>. Subsequent selection of the arm/disarm control <NUM> causes controller <NUM> to rearm bed monitor system <NUM>.

Bed monitor control screen <NUM> includes setting controls 154a-g and associated setting indicators 156a-g for each of the conditions of patient support apparatus <NUM> which are able to be monitored by bed monitor system <NUM>. Each setting control 154a-g corresponds to one of the monitorable conditions of bed monitor system <NUM>. Setting control 154a corresponds to bed height; setting control 154b corresponds to side rail position for side rail <NUM>; setting control 154c corresponds to side rail position for side rail <NUM>; setting control 154d corresponds to side rail position for side rail <NUM>; setting control 154e corresponds to side rail position for side rail <NUM>; setting control 154f corresponds to head-of-bed (HOB) angle, which is shown herein as set for a <NUM> degree angle; and setting control <NUM> corresponds to bed tilt angle, which is shown herein as set for a flat bed (zero degree angle). Text and/or graphics, or other forms of visual content, are associated with the setting controls 154a-g to indicate which of the monitorable conditions correspond to which setting control.

The setting indicators 156a-g indicate the current setting of the monitorable conditions to the caregiver, e.g. whether the associated condition is currently being monitored or not monitored by bed monitoring system <NUM>. Setting indicators 156a-g include a check mark when the associated condition is being monitored and do not include this check mark when the associated condition is not being monitored. In some embodiments, controller <NUM> displays an X mark (or some other non-check mark symbol) instead of the check mark when the condition is not being monitored, or leaves the interior of the setting indicator 156a-g blank when the condition is not being monitored. In addition to utilizing a symbol to convey which condition is being monitoring and which condition is not being monitored, controller <NUM> may also change the color of indicators 156a-g to indicate whether the monitored condition is currently in its desired state or its undesired state. When in the desired state, controller <NUM> may display the corresponding indicator 156a-g in green, and when in the undesired state, controller <NUM> may display the corresponding indicator 156a-g in amber, or some other color.

In the particular example shown in <FIG>, the bed height and all of the side rails are being monitored, and their associated setting indicators 156a, 156b, 156c, 156d, and 156e include a check mark. The HOB angle is also being monitored but the current angle of back section <NUM> is below the desired threshold (the undesired state), so controller <NUM> is shown displaying an exclamation point in indicator 156f (and its color has changed to amber). The bed angle is not being monitored, and its associated setting indicator <NUM> is displayed without a check mark and in a gray color. The setting indicators 156a, 156b, 156c, 156d, 156e, 156f, <NUM> may alternatively employ text or graphics, or other forms of visual content, to indicate the current setting of the monitorable conditions.

When determining which color to display a particular setting indicator 156a-g, controller <NUM> uses the outputs from sensors <NUM>-<NUM> to determine if the corresponding monitored component is in a desired state or an undesired state. Thus, the color of setting indicators 156a-f are selected by controller <NUM> based at least in part on readings from the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The color of setting indicator 156a is selected by controller <NUM> based at least in part on readings from height sensors <NUM>; the colors of setting indicators 156b-e are selected by controller <NUM> based at least in part on readings from side rail sensors <NUM>; the color of setting indicator 156f is selected by controller <NUM> based at least in part on readings from HOB angle sensor <NUM>; and the color of setting indicator <NUM> is selected by controller <NUM> based at least in part on readings from the bed angle sensors <NUM>.

Bed monitor control screen <NUM> also includes a home navigation control 66d and a menu navigation control <NUM> for navigating away from the bed monitor control screen <NUM>. Upon user-activation of the home navigation control 66d, controller <NUM> is operable to display a home screen, which, in some embodiments, may be motion control screen <NUM> (<FIG>), although other home screens may also be displayed on display 64a. Upon user-activation of menu navigation control <NUM>, controller <NUM> is operable to display a menu screen (not shown) on display 64a.

Bed monitor control screen <NUM> also includes state controls 164a, 164f for selecting the desired state and/or undesired state for one or more of the conditions of patient support apparatus <NUM> which are monitorable via bed monitor system <NUM>. Pressing the state control 164a, 164f allows the caregiver to change a threshold value for the monitored condition. For example, pressing HOB angle state control 164f switches the preset HOB angle between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees (or in some cases, allows the user to select any numeric value for the minimum HOB angle). In <FIG>, the threshold HOB angle is shown as being <NUM> degrees. Upon user-activation of the HOB angle state control 164f, controller <NUM> is operable to change the threshold HOB angle to <NUM> degrees. Subsequent selection of the HOB angle state control 164f changes the threshold HOB angle back to <NUM> degrees.

In some embodiments, pressing the state control 164a, 164f causes controller <NUM> to display a separate screen with controls for selecting the desired state and/or undesired state for each of the conditions. <FIG> shows a state control screen <NUM> that may be displayed on user interface <NUM> of <FIG> in response to the caregiver touching state control 164a. State control screen <NUM> is used by a caregiver or other user to select a threshold height which support frame <NUM> is desirably kept at or below (and which will trigger an alert when support frame <NUM> goes above). State control screen <NUM> includes a bed height state control <NUM> for selecting the desired threshold height which support frame <NUM> is desirably kept at or below. In this particular example, the desired threshold height can be chosen to be either a single height of eleven inches, or a range of heights between eleven and fourteen inches. If the caregiver selects eleven inches and then uses setting control 154a to include the bed height amongst the parameters monitored by bed monitoring system <NUM>, controller <NUM> will issue an alert if the height of support frame <NUM> moves above eleven inches. If the caregiver selects the range of eleven to fourteen inches and then uses setting control 154a to include the bed height amongst the parameters monitored by bed monitoring system <NUM>, controller <NUM> will issue an alert if the height of support frame <NUM> goes above fourteen inches. Of course, if the caregiver does not use setting control 154a to include the bed height amongst the parameters monitored by bed monitoring system <NUM>, controller <NUM> will not issue any alerts based on the height of support frame <NUM>, no matter how high it is raised or how low it is lowered. (following equivalence will be used for converting inches to cm: <NUM> inch = <NUM>).

In at least one embodiment, the particular height and angular values used for state controls 164a and 164f are customizable in any of the manners disclosed in commonly assigned <CIT> and entitled "Patient Support Apparatuses with Motion Customization".

When bed monitor navigation control 66b on user interface <NUM> is selected, controller <NUM> begins following a bed monitor management algorithm <NUM>, one example of which is shown in <FIG>. Bed monitor management algorithm <NUM> begins at step <NUM> when the bed monitor navigation control 66b is selected by the user. Prior to this, the caregiver can be using user interface <NUM> to perform another function and/or controller <NUM> may be displaying a different screen not associated with bed monitoring system <NUM>. For instance, controller <NUM> may be displaying motion control screen <NUM> on display 64a at the moment the caregiver touches bed monitor navigation control 66b.

After bed monitor navigation control 66b is selected, controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM> where it determines if bed monitor system <NUM> is currently issuing an alert. Such an alert is issued if bed monitor system <NUM> is armed and one or more monitored conditions changes to an undesired state. If bed monitor system <NUM> is currently issuing an alert, controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM> and cancels the alert. For instance, in the case where the issued alert comprises projecting light from first light emitter <NUM> or second light emitter <NUM>, controller <NUM> cancels the alert by deactivating these light emitters. In another example, controller <NUM> cancels the alert by changing the color, frequency, or illumination pattern of light projected from one or more lights, such as, but not limited to, first light emitter <NUM> and/or second light emitter <NUM>. In another example, the issued alert comprises an audible sound emitted from a speaker, buzzer, or the like, and/or a message sent from patient support apparatus <NUM> to a remote device, and controller <NUM> can cancel the alert by silencing the audible alarm and/or sending an alert cancellation message to the remote device. After cancelling the alert, controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM> and displays bed monitor control screen <NUM> on display 64a.

If bed monitor system <NUM> is not currently issuing an alert, controller <NUM> proceeds from step <NUM> to step <NUM>, where it determines if bed monitor system <NUM> is currently armed. If bed monitor system <NUM> is currently armed, controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM> and displays bed monitor control screen <NUM> on display 64a.

If bed monitor system <NUM> is not currently armed, controller <NUM> proceeds from step <NUM> to step <NUM> and determines whether a setting was previously customized for the patient currently assigned to patient support apparatus <NUM>. If a setting was previously customized for the patient, the controller proceeds to step <NUM> and arms bed monitor system <NUM> with the patient-customized setting. If no setting was previously customized for the patient currently assigned to patient support apparatus <NUM>, controller <NUM> proceeds from step <NUM> to step <NUM> where it arms bed monitor system <NUM> with a preset setting. From both steps <NUM> and step <NUM>, controller <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM> where it displays bed monitor control screen <NUM>.

Before turning to the operation of control screen <NUM>, it should be noted that the patient-customized setting used in step <NUM> and the preset setting used in step <NUM> both refer to, in at least one embodiment, the set of conditions that are monitored by bed monitor system <NUM> when it is armed. Additionally, if the set of conditions includes the height of support frame <NUM> (activated by setting control 154a) the patient-customized setting and the preset setting include the specific threshold height that triggers an alert when support frame <NUM> is raised thereabove (e.g. eleven inches, fourteen inches, etc.) Further, if the set of conditions that are monitored by bed monitor system <NUM> includes the HOB angle, the patient-customized and preset settings includes the specific angle that triggers an alert when back section <NUM> is pivoted to less than this angle (e.g. forty-five degrees, thirty-degrees, etc.).

It will also be understood that, in addition to the specific set of conditions monitored by bed monitor system <NUM> (as well as the threshold values for the height of support frame <NUM> and the angle of back section <NUM>), the setting referred to in steps <NUM> and <NUM> may refer to and/or include other settings associated with bed monitor system <NUM>. For example, the setting referred to in steps <NUM> and <NUM> may relate to one or more characteristics of the alert that is issued when bed monitor system <NUM> is triggered, such as which lights, if any, are activated, what sounds, if any, are activated (and/or their volume level), and/or if the alert is to be communicated to a remote location and, if so, how such communication takes place and/or to what devices the communication is to be forwarded. Still other types of settings may be incorporated into steps <NUM> and <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the preset setting used by controller <NUM> at step <NUM> is defined by the manufacturer of the patient support apparatus <NUM> and includes the following definition: (<NUM>) the position of all four side rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are monitored and an alert is triggered if any of them is lowered; (<NUM>) the HOB angle is monitored and an alert is triggered if the angle of back section <NUM> pivots to less than the threshold HOB angle; (<NUM>) the state of the brake is monitored and an alert is issued if the brake is deactivated; and (<NUM>) the height of support frame <NUM> is monitored and an alert is issued if the height is raised above the threshold height. In this embodiment, if any one or more of these conditions are changed or omitted, or if any additional monitored conditions are added to these, such changes represent a patient-customized setting, which is stored in memory <NUM> and automatically implemented by controller <NUM> at step <NUM> in response to the user pressing bed monitor navigation control 66b.

From bed monitor control screen <NUM>, the caregiver is able to arm and/disarm bed monitor system <NUM> via arm/disarm control <NUM>, as well as to change one or more of the settings via the setting controls 154a-g or state controls 164a, 164f. While the bed monitor control screen <NUM> is being displayed, controller <NUM> monitors user interface <NUM> to see if the caregiver activates one or more functions associated with screen <NUM>, and follows steps <NUM> through <NUM> of algorithm <NUM>.

If the caregiver makes any changes to the settings of bed monitor system <NUM> while bed monitor control screen <NUM> is displayed (e.g. selects an additional condition to be monitored, omits a condition to be monitored, and/or changes a threshold height or HOB angle), controller <NUM> not only implements those changes immediately for bed monitor system <NUM>, but it also saves those changes in memory and uses them as patient-customized settings whenever bed monitor system <NUM> is armed in the future (at least for that same patient). In other words, setting controls 154a-g not only function as controls for changing the current settings of bed monitor system <NUM>, but they also automatically customize those settings for the particular patient who is currently assigned to patient support apparatus <NUM>.

For example, if a patient A is currently occupying patient support apparatus <NUM> and the caregiver arms bed monitor system <NUM> by touching navigation control 66b, controller <NUM> automatically arms bed monitor system <NUM> and displays bed monitor control screen <NUM>. If this is the first time that bed monitor system <NUM> has been armed for patient A, controller <NUM> follows step <NUM> and arms bed monitor system <NUM> using the preset setting which, in at least one embodiment, refers to monitoring the four components mentioned above (e.g. siderail position, HOB angle, brake status, and support frame <NUM> height). After arming bed monitor system <NUM> such that these four conditions are monitored at step <NUM>, controller <NUM> displays bed monitor control screen <NUM> and allows the user to change any of these conditions, and/or the threshold height or threshold HOB angle via controls 164a and 164f, respectively.

If the user selects, say, control 154a such that the check mark is no longer displayed as part of indicator 156a, controller <NUM> omits the height of support frame <NUM> from the list of conditions that are monitored by bed monitor system <NUM> when it is armed. Further, controller <NUM> also stores this omitted support frame height monitoring in memory and automatically uses it for all the future times it arms bed monitor system <NUM> for patient A. Thus, if bed monitor system <NUM> is later disarmed (say, while patient A exits from patient support apparatus <NUM> and subsequently returns), and bed monitor system <NUM> is re-armed with patient A onboard, controller <NUM> will follow step <NUM> of algorithm <NUM> and automatically re-arm the bed monitor system such that it does not monitor the height of support frame <NUM>. In this manner, once a caregiver selects a condition to be omitted from monitoring for a particular patient, every time the caregiver re-arms bed monitor system <NUM> with that particular patient onboard, controller <NUM> automatically omits the condition from those that are monitored by bed monitor system <NUM>. The same is true for added conditions: once they are added for a particular patient, every time the caregiver re-arms bed monitor system <NUM>, the added condition is automatically monitored in response to the user pressing the single navigation control 66b.

Bed setting controls 154a-g therefore not only change the current conditions being monitored by bed monitor system <NUM>, but they also define the patient-customized setting for future usage of bed monitor system <NUM> with that particular patient. Still further, if a caregiver has already customized one or more settings for bed monitor system <NUM> for a particular patient, he or she can use setting controls 154a-g to change the previous customization for that particular patient. This is done by merely touching one or more of the setting controls 154a-g and changing their corresponding condition from one that is monitored to one that is not monitored, or vice versa. The same is true for controls 164a and 164f.

This process of customizing the monitored conditions of bed monitor system <NUM> for a particular patient is illustrated in steps <NUM> and <NUM> of algorithm <NUM> (<FIG>). If the caregiver makes any changes to the monitored conditions via bed monitor control screen <NUM>, such as by selecting one of the setting controls 154a-g or state controls 164a, 164f, controller <NUM> moves to step <NUM> and implements those changes for bed monitor system <NUM>. Controller <NUM> then moves to step <NUM> where it stores the new patient-customized setting for the patient in memory <NUM> and sets (or resets) the patient-customized setting to match the recorded change. As a result, the next time controller <NUM> executes step <NUM>, it will proceed to step <NUM> and implement the patient-customized setting that was stored previously at step <NUM>.

If the caregiver presses the arm/disarm control <NUM> on the bed monitor control screen <NUM> at step <NUM>, controller <NUM> moves to step <NUM> where it disarms bed monitor system <NUM>. After disarmament of bed monitor system <NUM>, controller <NUM> continues to display bed monitor control screen <NUM> on display 64a. In some embodiments, controller <NUM> changes the label on arm/disarm control <NUM> from "turn off' to "turn on" after the caregiver has disarmed bed monitor system <NUM> and toggles these two labels back and forth as the caregiver switches between arming and disarming bed monitor system <NUM>. Alternatively, after disarmament of bed monitor system <NUM>, controller <NUM> may be configured to display a different screen on display 64a, such as motion control screen <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>, or another screen (not shown). In one example, controller <NUM> displays a confirmation screen on display 64a which confirms that bed monitor system <NUM> has been disarmed, after which controller <NUM> displays bed monitor control screen <NUM>, motion control screen <NUM>, or another screen (not shown) on display 64a.

If the caregiver navigates away from the bed monitor control screen <NUM>, such as by selecting the home navigation control 66d or the menu navigation control <NUM> on the bed monitor control screen <NUM> at step <NUM>, controller <NUM> returns to the start of the algorithm <NUM> the next time bed monitor navigation control 66b is touched.

It will be understood that, in some embodiments, the preset setting used at step <NUM> is set by the manufacturer of patient support apparatus <NUM> and cannot be changed. It will also be understood that, in some alternative embodiments, patient support apparatus <NUM> can be constructed in a manner that allows healthcare administrators, or other authorized personnel, to change the preset setting used at step <NUM>. In these latter embodiments, healthcare administrators can override the factory-defined preset setting and choose a different preset setting that better suits their particular needs. However, even if the healthcare facility decides to change the preset setting to one that better suits their needs, the caregiver can still customize this setting to a particular patient in the manner just described. The following table illustrates one example of factory-defined preset setting, a healthcare facility-defined preset setting, and a patient-customized setting.

In the particular example shown in this table, patient support apparatus <NUM> is manufactured such that, unless changed by the healthcare facility or caregiver, controller <NUM> will arm bed monitor system <NUM> in response to activation of bed monitor navigation control 66b to monitor all four siderails, the HOB angle for angles less than or equal to <NUM> degrees, the brake, and the height of support frame <NUM> for heights less than or equal to the threshold height. If any of these four conditions change to an undesired state, bed monitor system issues an alert.

If the healthcare facility that purchases patient support apparatus <NUM> does not wish to continue to use the factory-defined preset settings shown above, the healthcare facility-in at least one embodiment-can change these preset settings. One manner in which these preset settings can be changed is discussed in more detail below with respect to <FIG>. In the example shown above in the table, the healthcare facility has changed the preset setting to add the exit detection system <NUM> to the list of conditions that are monitored by bed monitor system <NUM>. When modified in this manner, bed monitor system <NUM> will issue an alert any time the exit detection system <NUM> is disarmed (while bed monitor system <NUM> is armed). This helps ensure that the exit detection system <NUM> is armed at the appropriate times.

If the caregiver does not wish to utilize either the factory-defined preset setting or the healthcare facility-defined preset setting for a particular patient, he or she can customize the settings of bed monitor system <NUM> by using setting controls 154a-g in the manner described above. In the example shown in the table above, the caregiver has changed the healthcare facility-defined settings by changing the HOB angle from forty-five degrees to thirty degrees. Other changes can, of course, be made both by the caregiver and by the healthcare facility.

It will also be understood that various changes may be made to bed monitor management algorithm <NUM> from the particular implementation shown in <FIG>, such as changing the order of one or more steps, adding one or more additional steps, omitting one or more of the existing steps, and/or modifying one or more of the existing steps. In one such example, the particular order of step <NUM> is changed such that it occurs earlier than shown, such as between step <NUM> and step <NUM>. Still other locations of step <NUM> within algorithm <NUM> may also be implemented.

Patient support apparatus <NUM> includes a new patient function that allows the caregiver to erase old parameters, including any patient-customized settings, of patient support apparatus <NUM> that were previously stored for a previous patient. The new patient function is therefore activated when a new patient is to be assigned to patient support apparatus <NUM> and the old data (stored in memory <NUM>) associated with the previous patient is desirably erased. In addition to erasing old data, the new patient function resets any patient-customized settings for the exit detection and/or bed monitor systems <NUM>, <NUM> to their preset setting. The resetting of any patient-customized settings to their preset settings refers to either the factory-defined preset setting or the healthcare facility-defined preset setting. That is, if the healthcare-facility has never changed the factory-defined preset setting, the new patient function resets the patient-customized settings to the factory-defined preset settings. On the other hand, if the healthcare-facility has changed one or more of the factory-defined preset settings, the new patient function resets the patient-customized settings to the healthcare facility-defined preset settings.

The new patient function is activated via a new patient control <NUM> that is displayed on one or more screens, such as, but not limited to, motion control screen <NUM> (<FIG>). When the caregiver presses the new patient control <NUM>, controller <NUM> displays a new patient control screen on display 64a, such as the new patient control screen <NUM> shown in <FIG>. New patient control screen <NUM> includes a reset control <NUM> and a cancel control <NUM>, and a confirmation message requesting that the caregiver confirms that a new patient should be entered and all previous patient data should be erased. Upon user-activation of the reset control <NUM>, controller <NUM> erases all previous patient data stored in the memory <NUM>, including any patient-customized settings for the exit detection and/or bed monitor systems <NUM>, <NUM>. Upon user-activation of the cancel control <NUM>, controller <NUM> displays motion control screen <NUM> (or another screen) on display 64a, and does not erase any patient data stored in the memory <NUM>.

The new patient control screen <NUM> also includes a return control <NUM> for returning to motion control screen <NUM> (<FIG>), or whatever screen was previously displayed before arriving at new patient control screen <NUM>. Upon user-activation of the return control <NUM>, controller <NUM> displays motion control screen <NUM> on display 64a, or whatever screen was previously displayed.

When the new patient function is activated, controller <NUM> begins following a new patient algorithm <NUM>, one example of which is shown in <FIG>. New patient algorithm <NUM> begins at step <NUM> when the new patient function is activated by the caregiver. Prior to this, the caregiver may be using user interface <NUM> to perform other functions and/or controller <NUM> may be displaying other screens on display 64a.

New patient algorithm <NUM> (<FIG>) begins at step <NUM> where controller <NUM> determines if the caregiver has activated (e.g. touched) new patient control <NUM>, or otherwise navigated to the new patient control screen <NUM> (<FIG>). If either of these conditions are met, controller <NUM> displays new patient control screen <NUM> at step <NUM>. While displaying new patient control screen <NUM>, controller <NUM> determines if the caregiver has selected "reset" control <NUM>, "cancel" control <NUM>, or "back" control <NUM>. If the caregiver selects "reset" control <NUM>, controller <NUM> interprets this as confirmation of the caregiver's intent at step <NUM> and proceeds to step <NUM> where it erases all of the patient-customized settings and returns to using the preset settings the next time exit detection navigation control 66a or bed monitor navigation control 66b is touched. In some embodiments, the erasure at step <NUM> is a complete erasure of the patient-customized settings such that this data cannot be subsequently retrieved, while in other embodiments the erasure involves resetting patient support apparatus <NUM> to the healthcare-facility settings while saving a copy of the patient-customized settings for later retrieval, if desired. If the caregiver selects "cancel" control <NUM> or "back" control <NUM>, controller <NUM> retains the patient-customized settings, stops algorithm <NUM>, and returns to displaying on display 64a whatever screen it was previously displaying before it started algorithm <NUM>.

As mentioned previously, the new patient function does not erase any healthcare facility-defined preset settings, only the patient-customized settings. Thus, in the example shown in the table above, activating the new patient function will cause bed monitor system to switch back to monitoring the HOB angle for angles less than or equal to forty-five degrees. It will not, however, omit the monitoring of exit detection system <NUM>, and therefore will not return bed monitor system <NUM> to the state in which it was originally defined by the manufacturer of patient support apparatus <NUM>.

As was also previously mentioned, user interface <NUM> can be provided with one or more screens that enable the healthcare facility to change the factory-defined preset settings into one or more healthcare-facility defined preset settings. Such changes allow the healthcare facility to change the preset settings for the exit detection and/or bed monitor systems <NUM>, <NUM>, and thus allow the caregiver to change, for example, the preset sensitivity level for exit detection system <NUM>, the preset set of monitored conditions for bed monitor system <NUM>, and/or the preset desired and undesired states for one or more of the monitorable conditions of bed monitor system <NUM>. The updated preset settings are thereafter applied for all new patients until- and if-the caregiver customizes one or more of these preset settings for a particular patient.

For bed monitor system <NUM>, the changing of the factory-defined presets may be carried out by touching a menu control <NUM> (see, e.g. <FIG>) that causes controller <NUM> to display a main menu of control options (not shown). One of the control options is an option for changing the settings of patient support apparatus <NUM>. When that setting-changing option is selected, controller <NUM> is configured, in at least one embodiment, to display a screen like the bed monitor presets control screen <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

Bed monitor presets control screen <NUM> (<FIG>) includes preset controls 226a-g and associated preset indicators 228a-g for each of the conditions of patient support apparatus <NUM> which are monitorable via bed monitor system <NUM>. Each preset control 226a-g corresponds to one of the monitorable conditions of bed monitor system <NUM>. Preset control 226a corresponds to the height of support frame <NUM>; preset control 226b corresponds to the position of side rail <NUM>; preset control 226c corresponds to the position of side rail <NUM>; preset control 226d corresponds to the position of side rail <NUM>; preset control 226e corresponds to the position of side rail <NUM>; preset control 226f corresponds to the head-of-bed (HOB) angle, which is shown herein as set for a <NUM> degree angle; and preset control <NUM> corresponds to the bed tilt angle, which is shown herein as set for a flat bed angle (zero degrees). Text and/or graphics, or other forms of visual content, are associated with the preset controls 226a-g to indicate which of the monitorable conditions correspond to which preset control.

Controller <NUM> displays each preset control 226a-g with a check mark if the condition associated with that control is one of the conditions that bed monitor system <NUM> is currently configured to monitor. If a control is not currently configured to be monitored by bed monitor system <NUM>, controller <NUM> may display the corresponding preset controls 226a-g with an X, some other symbol, or no symbol at all. Each preset control 226a-g is set to toggle between a monitored condition and an unmonitored condition. Thus, in the example shown in <FIG>, the preset settings for bed monitor system <NUM> include all of the monitorable conditions: bed height, all of the siderails, HOB angle, and bed tilt. If the caregiver wishes to exclude one or more of these conditions, he or she simply touches the preset control(s) 226a-g that correspond to the condition(s) that are to be omitted from monitoring. In some embodiments, controller <NUM> is configured to display preset controls 226a-g in different colors, depending upon whether the associated condition is selected for monitoring or not.

Bed monitor presets control screen <NUM> also includes preset state controls 230a, 230f for selecting the preset desired state for one or more of the conditions of patient support apparatus <NUM> which are monitorable via bed monitor system <NUM>. Pressing the preset state control 230a, 230f allows the caregiver to change the particular threshold value that is used for the monitored condition. For example, pressing bed height preset state control 230a switches the default preset bed height between a lowest height of <NUM> inches and a lowest height range of <NUM>-<NUM> inches. Pressing HOB angle state control 230f switches the default preset HOB angle between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees. In <FIG>, the default preset HOB angle is shown as being <NUM> degrees. Upon user-activation of the HOB angle preset state control 230f, controller <NUM> is operable to change the default preset HOB angle to <NUM> degrees. Subsequent selection of the HOB angle preset state control 230f changes the default preset HOB angle back to <NUM> degrees.

Bed monitor presets control screen <NUM> further includes a save control <NUM> that saves the current settings to memory <NUM>. Upon user-activation of the save control <NUM>, controller <NUM> is operable to update the preset settings in the memory <NUM>.

It will be understood that the particular set of monitorable conditions shown on screen <NUM> may be modified from what is illustrated in <FIG>. In at least one embodiment, bed monitor system <NUM> is configurable to monitor whether exit detection system <NUM> is armed or disarmed, and to issue an alert if it is disarmed. In this embodiment, bed monitor presets control screen <NUM> may include an additional preset control <NUM> that corresponds to exit detection system <NUM>, thereby enabling the user to selectively include or omit the exit detection system <NUM> from the list of items monitored by bed monitor system <NUM>. Still other changes may be made to bed monitor presets control screen <NUM>.

To the extent not already described, the different content and functions of the various systems and control screens of patient support apparatus <NUM>, including the various embodiments of the exit detection system, the bed monitor system, and associated control screens and control methods disclosed herein, may be used in combination with each other as desired, or separately implemented. The content and/or functions of one control screen may be applied to one or more other control screen. Further, the selected content shown in any particular control screen herein is not to be construed that it must have all of the content shown therein.

It will be understood that, although exit detection navigation control 66a and bed monitor navigation control 66b have both been illustrated in the accompanying drawings as touchscreen controls that are positioned on display 64a, either or both of these controls could be controls that are physically separate from display 64a, such as one or more dedicated buttons, switches, or other controls. Alternatively, user interface <NUM> could be modified to include both navigation controls 66a-b on display 64a and one or more of physically separate navigation controls 66a-b.

<FIG> illustrate a display lockout feature that may be incorporated into patient support apparatus <NUM>. This display lockout feature may be incorporated into an embodiment of a patient support apparatus <NUM> that includes one or more of the various exit detection functions, bed monitor functions, and/or associated control screens and control methods disclosed herein and discussed above, or it may be separately incorporated into an embodiment of a patient support apparatus <NUM> that does not include any or all of the exit detection functions, bed monitor functions, and/or associated control screens and methods disclosed herein and discussed above. Thus, the display lockout features discussed herein may be implemented on a patient support apparatus separately and independently from the other features disclosed herein, or they may be implemented in combination with one or more of the other features disclosed herein.

The display lockout feature of <FIG> allows a caregiver to lock out the usage of display 64a so that unauthorized users, such as visitors, are less likely to use any of the control functions that are accessible via display 64a. The display lockout feature is implemented with a display lockout indicator <NUM> that controller <NUM> adds to one or more of the control screens displayed on display 64a. In some embodiments, lockout indicator <NUM> is added to all of the control screens that are displayable on display 64a. In other embodiments, lockout indicator <NUM> is added to only one or another subset of the set of all screens that are displayable on display 64a.

One example of the lockout indicator <NUM> is shown in <FIG> illustrates a motion control screen <NUM> having a plurality of motion controls <NUM> for controlling movement of various portions of patient support apparatus <NUM>. For example, motion control screen <NUM> includes a first motion control 304a for raising the back section <NUM> of patient support apparatus <NUM>; a second motion control 304b for lowering the back section <NUM>, a third motion control 304c for raising the patient's knees, and a fourth motion control 304d for lowering the patient's knees. Motion control screen <NUM> also includes other controls for controlling still other components of patient support apparatus <NUM>. Motion control screen <NUM> is alternative variation of the motion control screen of <NUM> of <FIG> and it has been provided herein to illustrate one example of the different types of motion control screens that may be incorporated into patient support apparatus <NUM>. In practice, patient support apparatus <NUM> will typically only include a single type of motion control, which may be screen <NUM>, screen <NUM>, or another variation. It will be understood that any or all of the functions of motion control screen <NUM> described above may be incorporated into screen <NUM>, and that any of the lock out functions of screen <NUM> described below may be incorporated into motion control screen <NUM>.

When the user wishes to lock out display 64a such that the controls displayed thereon-such as, but not limited to, motion controls <NUM> and/or <NUM>-are no longer functional, he or she presses the lockout indicator <NUM>. In response to the user pressing lockout indicator <NUM>, controller <NUM> switches to displaying another screen, such as the first locking control screen <NUM> of <FIG>. First locking control screen <NUM> includes lockout indicator <NUM> as well as an instruction <NUM> instructing the user to press and hold the lockout indicator <NUM> if the user wishes to continue with the process of locking out the functionality of display <NUM>. If the user continues with the process of locking out display 64a by pressing and holding lockout indicator <NUM> on screen <NUM>, controller <NUM> switches to displaying another screen, such as second locking control screen <NUM> of <FIG>.

Second locking control screen <NUM> of <FIG> includes lockout indicator <NUM>, but controller <NUM> has displayed lockout indicator <NUM> in <FIG> in a different color from the color in which it is displayed in <FIG>. The particular color variations may selected as desired, but in one embodiment, controller <NUM> displays lockout indicator <NUM> in white in <FIG> and in amber in <FIG>. The color change provides an indication to the user that his or her pressing and holding of lockout indicator <NUM> is being detected and processed.

If the user continues to press and hold lockout indicator <NUM> on second locking control screen <NUM>, controller <NUM> adds a progress bar <NUM> on the display, such as the progress bar <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Progress bar <NUM> includes a progress indicator <NUM> initially fills none of progress bar <NUM>, but gradually expands and fills more and more of progress bar <NUM> until, if the user continues to press and hold lockout indicator <NUM>, it eventually fills the entirety of progress bar <NUM>. Once the entirety of progress bar <NUM> has been filled by progress indicator <NUM>, controller <NUM> locks out display 64a.

The locking out of display 64a may take on different forms. In one embodiment, controller <NUM> is configured to show a blank screen (such as, but not limited to, a black screen) on display 64a when it is locked out. In another embodiment, controller <NUM> is configured to show any or all of the screens that it normally displays, such as, but not limited to, motion control screen <NUM>, but the functionality of those screen(s) is locked out. For example, if controller <NUM> were to display motion control screen <NUM> in this embodiment while display 64a was locked out, then the user pressing on any of controls 304a-d would not cause any movement of any components of patient support apparatus <NUM>. Instead, controller <NUM> would ignore the activation of these controls and would continue to ignore such activations until display 64a was no longer locked out. As another example, if the user navigated to screen <NUM> (<FIG>), the user would be able to view the settings shown there, but would not be able to change any of these settings until display 64a was unlocked. The same principle may be applied to still other screens that are displayable on display 64a.

In at least one embodiment, controller <NUM> is configured to allow the user to unlock display 64a in the same manner that it allows the user to lock the screen. That is, the user presses and holds lockout indicator <NUM> until progress bar <NUM> is completely filled by progress indicator <NUM>, at which point controller <NUM> unlocks display 64a. Once unlocked, controller <NUM> restores the functionality of all of the controls (such as, but not limited to, controls <NUM>) that appear on the various screens of display 64a. In some embodiments, controller <NUM> may be configured to display lockout indicator <NUM> in different colors, depending upon whether display 64a is locked out or not, thus providing an easily understood visual indication to the user of the lock status of display 64a.

The screen lock out process disclosed herein may be modified in a number of different manners from what has been discussed above with respect to <FIG>. For example, in some embodiments, controller <NUM> uses a circular progress bar instead of the linear progress bar <NUM> of <FIG>. Other shapes may also or alternatively be used. Alternatively, the progress bar <NUM>-regardless of its shape-may be omitted and controller <NUM> may be configured to display only the progress indicator <NUM>. In still other embodiments, a pass code, a fingerprint, a pre-designated swiping motion, a series of line segments or other sketching, or still some other types of user-action may be required for the user to lock and unlock the display 64a, and such action(s) may take place either with or without a progress bar <NUM> and/or progress indicator <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A patient support apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a support structure (<NUM>) having a patient support surface (<NUM>) adapted to support a patient thereon;
a monitoring system (<NUM>) configured to be armed and disarmed, the monitoring system (<NUM>) adapted to monitor a set of conditions of the patient support apparatus (<NUM>) and to generate an alert when the monitoring system (<NUM>) is armed and at least one condition from the set of conditions changes from a desired state to an undesired state;
a user interface (<NUM>) comprising a display (64a) and a monitor navigation control (66b); and
a controller (<NUM>) operably coupled to the user interface (<NUM>), characterized in that the controller (<NUM>) is configured to perform all of the following in response to a single action by a user to activate the monitor navigation control:
display a monitoring control screen (<NUM>) on the display (64a);
determine whether a setting of the monitoring system (<NUM>) was previously customized for the patient; and
arm the monitoring system (<NUM>) with the patient-customized setting if the setting was previously customized for the patient or with a preset setting if the setting was not previously customized for the patient.