US20050017468A1 - Apparatus and method for upgrading a hospital room - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile care cart adapted to carry a battery and a fluid supply has a first display to provide battery-related information and a second display to provide fluid supply-related information. The battery may be coupled to patient care equipment located on the cart. The first display may indicate the status of the battery charge level. The cart may include a fluid port located on the cart and coupled to a fluid supply. The second display may indicate if the fluid supply is below a predetermined level. The first and second displays may be located on an upwardly-facing top wall of the cart.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE
• This is a continuation in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/792,881, filed Jan. 31, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to an apparatus and method to facilitate upgrading of a standard, general care hospital room to a critical room. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for providing seamless critical care services to a patient in a hospital room and during transport of the patient within the hospital.
• Recent trends have caused cost reducing pressures on hospitals. These cost pressures have driven traditional in-patient services to less expensive out-patient and home care settings. Therefore, hospitals tend to have smaller in-patient populations. Future in-patient populations are likely to be older and sicker patients with multiple complications. The population of intermediate care patients is also likely to increase while the med-surg hospital population is decreasing over time. Therefore, the in-patient hospital population has a higher level of acuity.
• Hospitals will likely have fewer beds in the future. Reconstruction of hospital rooms for critical care services is very expensive. Typically, existing structures must be torn out and rebuilt with critical care capabilities.
• It is known to provide a pivoting power column built within the room to provide life support services for critical care patients. These pivoting power columns, however, are not transportable and must be built within the particular hospital room. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,359; U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,371; U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,255; U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,337; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,906.
• Several problems face hospital administrators and planners. Facilities within inflexible architectural systems restrict the ability of institutions to upgrade services quickly and inexpensively. In addition, the process of transporting critical care patients creates adverse conditions and risks for staff and patients due to the inability to easily move and maintain power for the ventilator and/or IV pumps and transport monitor.
• In order to adapt to changes for fewer but more acute patients, hospitals need the option for more responsive architectural systems and patient rooms that can be upgraded to critical care or downgraded to med-surg quickly and inexpensively. In order to accomplish these needs and to reduce the number of staff and time required to transport a critical care patient, hospitals need a mobile equipment system that can support and provide power, medical gases, and a communication interface to a ventilator, IV pumps and/or a patient monitor. The system must consume minimum space within a patient room, be able to fit substantially within the footprint of the patient bed during transport, and organize and manage lines connected to the patient.
• The apparatus of the present invention provides a mobile care cart which mates with an architectural headwall or pivoting power column that allows a hospital to create a “general care” patient room that can be upgraded quickly and efficiently to a critical care room “upon demand” without remodeling the room. The apparatus of the present invention allows a general care “flexible” headwall or pivoting power column with services that can be upgraded or downgraded easily. In addition, the care cart supports critical care devices such as the ventilator, pumps, etc. at the bedside. The care cart can be coupled to the patient bed for manually transporting the patient. During the transport the mobile care cart provides uninterrupted power for critical care devices.
• The care cart provides a platform for mounting primary critical care equipment. A ventilator is mounted on a movable, power assisted and adjustable shelf so that the ventilator can be positioned in an elevated position when the mobile care cart is used in the hospital room. When it is desired to transport the critically ill patient within the hospital, the mobile care cart is disconnected from the headwall or power column and connected to an end of the patient's hospital bed. An on-board power supply on the care cart supports the ventilator during transport. Pivoting IV poles on the care cart can swing into a nested position adjacent the bed for transport. During transport, the equipment shelf is lowered to a position below the bed.
• While the critical care patient remains in the hospital room the mobile care cart integrates with and is nested with the headwall or power column. The care cart is connected to the main power supply of the room and the ventilator is connected to oxygen or air supplies in the headwall or power column in a conventional manner.
• The mobile care cart of the present invention includes a base, a patient treating apparatus on the cart and a handle. The handle on the cart is pivotally coupled to pivot between a stored position and extended position. The handle is U-shaped and pivotally connected at its ends. Preferably, the handle includes extensions extending from the end of the U-shape and transverse to the plane of the U. The extension is pivotally mounted to the handle to the cart. The cart includes a recess in which the handle lies in the stored position. A stop connects the handle to the cart and limits the extended position. The stop, preferably, is a bracket having a first elongated slide and a pin riding in the slot. The bracket includes a second slot extending transverse to the first slot in which the pin rides to latch the handle in the extended position. This bracket is considered a second latch. A tab extends from the bracket to facilitate lifting of the bracket to move the pin from a second slot to the first slot for releasing the second latch.
• A mobile cart according to the present invention has a base with wheels. At least one leg is pivotally mounted adjacent at one of its ends to the base and one of the wheels is mounted on the leg adjacent the second end of the leg. A driver coupled to the arm maintains the leg, in a first position. A spring biases the leg to the first position. The leg includes a shaft pivotally mounted to the base and the driver is coupled to the shaft. The driver is in the housing of the base. Preferably, the pivotal leg with the driver are provided as a pair of back legs adjacent the back of the base. A pair of front legs are fixedly mounted adjacent the front of the base at a first end and have wheels mounted at the second end of the front legs.
• While the first position of the back extends backwards from the back of the base, the second position is substantially coplanar with the back of the base. The coplanar position allows the back of the base to be as close as possible to an object in the room or elevator in which the bed is located, for example, the wall. It also increases the stability of the cart when it is not connected to the bed so as to meet the requirements that will not turn over at 10° of tilt. In the first position where the back legs are not coplanar to the base, they decrease the transverse profile of the cart when attached to the bed. This is not detrimental since the bed has stability against the 10° tilt and also allows the cart and combination of the bed to get through doorways and into elevators.
• The mobile cart of the present invention can be part of a power column which has electrical outlets, fluid ports and other patient treating accessories. The power column would have upper and lower separable sections. An arm would mount the upper section to the room. The lower section would be the mobile care cart which would include wheels and patient treating accessories on the lower section. The lower section of the mobile cart would provide patient treatment when the bed and the lower section are moved relative to the upper section. The upper section would include a recess in which a portion of the lower section would nest. Also, the lower section includes a recess for a portion of the upper section to nest. The lower section would move with the upper section independent of the bed when the lower section is not coupled to the bed by a latch. A second latch, or a press fit would connect the upper and lower section of the power column. The first and second sections separate when the lower section is coupled to the bed and moves the bed relative to the upper section to overcome the press fit. IV racks and patient monitors may be coupled to the lower section.
• The mobile care cart includes a support coupled to the cart movable relative to the base between an elevated and a lowered position. Patient treating accessories are provided on the movable support. The support includes a port to be connected to one of the patient treating accessories movable with the support and a line connecting the port to the source on the cart. A take-up-reel on the cart engages the line to change the length of the line with the movement of the support. A drive couples the movement of the support to the spool. Preferably, the take-up-reel is on the movable support and engages the line to change the length of the line with the movement of the support. The line can be an electrical cord connected to a source of electricity on the cart or the line could be a tube connecting a fluid source on the court. This structure minimizes the entanglement damage and disconnection of the line during transport of the cart as well as adjustment of the support.
• Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile care cart attached to a bed and a pivotally mounted power column according to the principles of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the care cart nested with the pivotal power column incorporating the principles of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the nesting of the mobile care cart to the pivotal power column.
• FIG. 4 is a rear perspective of the mobile care cart illustrating the two positions of the rear wheels and a partial cut-away, without IV poles.
• FIG. 5 is a partial cut-away illustrating the driver and the two positions of the rear wheels according to the principles of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a partial cut-away view illustrating the two positions of the rear handle.
• FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of a stop structure for the rear handle.
• FIG. 8 is a plan view of a battery display.
• FIG. 9 is a plan view of a gas display.
• FIG. 10 is a schematic of the connection of the ports and line connecting accessories on the movable support and equipment shelf to sources on the cart according to the principles of the present invention.
• FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a latch connecting the care cart to the power column in its open position according to the principles of the present invention.
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the latch ofFIG. 11 in its closed position.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a power column, care cart and bed in a transition state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• Referring now to the drawings,FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the system and structural components of the present invention for providing a hospital room capable of upgrading services quickly and inexpensively. A headwall orpower column10 is pivotally mounted on a ceiling12 of a hospital room byarms11. Thepower column10 includes anelongated body section14 and abed locator section16. Thepower column10 includesoutlets18 for electrical power andoutlets20 for oxygen, air, and vacuum. A pivotingIV pole21 with ahook23 for hanging IV bags is mounted onbody section14. Apivotal lock19 on the IV pole allows rotation of the top of the pole relative to the bottom of the pole. Thelock19 may be a detent or friction lock. Thepower column10 can be used by itself in the room to provide for general care and support and for med-surg patients, for example.
• When it is desired to upgrade the hospital room into a critical care room, acare cart24 is moved into the room adjacent abed25. Thecare cart24 includes a base26 havingcasters28. The front casters are onlegs27 fixed to thebase26. Therear casters28 are lockable byseparate brakes29 and are onlegs31 pivotally connected to thebase26. A pair ofIV poles30 are pivotally mounted on thebase26 byarms34. A pivotal lock equivalent to lock19 may be provided. This allows theIV poles30 to be pivoted from various use positions adjacent the side or front of thecare cart10 to behind the care cart. Preferably, theIV poles30 are positioned between therear wheels28 during transport. This provides protection of the pump during transport and minimizes the width. Thepoles30 includehooks32 for hanging IV bags. IV pumps36 may also be mounted on thepoles30.
• Care cart24 also includes anequipment support shelf38 for supporting afull end ventilator40 or other critical care equipment.Ventilator40 may be secured to theshelf38 by latching brackets (not shown). Thesupport shelf38 is movable from an elevated, in-room position illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 to a lowered transport position illustrated inFIG. 4 as discussed in detail below. Themovable equipment shelf38 therefore facilitates transport of theventilator40 with thecare cart24 during movement of the critical care patient.
• Atransport monitor42 can also be mounted to carecart24 during transport as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 4. The transport monitor42 includes or rests on ashelf41. Apost43 extends from the bottom ofshelf41 and is pivotally connected to thecare cart24 inhole45.
• Themobile care cart24 further includes an air hose orline44, an oxygen hose orline46, and a standard power cord orline50 as shown inFIG. 4. Aseparate power cord48 to charge the battery may be provided as shown inFIGS. 13.Care cart24 also includes atransport battery52 to operate equipment during transport of the critical care patient. Thebattery52 provides power for theventilator40 and other critical care equipment during transport. The IV pumps36 and transport monitor42 each typically have an internal power supply. Thebattery52 is recharged when thecare cart24 is plugged into thepower column outlets18.Gas tanks54 are also provided oncare cart24.
• A vacuum pump for providing integral suction can be provided on thecart24. A vacuum level adjustment controller, gauge, and connector are also included on thecare cart24 to provide suction on thecart24 during transport.
• Care cart24 includes an upper series ofelectrical outlets56 which are powered only when the care cart is plugged into thepower column outlet18. As shown inFIG. 4, thecare cart24 includesseparate power outlets57 are automatically powered by thebattery52 when thecare cart24 is unplugged from thepower column outlets18. Therefore, the equipment requiring power during transport must be plugged into the designatedlower outlets57 for an uninterrupted power supply from thebattery52.
• In order to upgrade the hospital room to a critical care room,care cart24 is moved into the position illustrated inFIG. 2.Power cord50 is plugged into theoutlet18 ofpower column10. Air andoxygen lines44 and46 are connected to thegas outlets20. Preferably, the connection of the power cord orline50 andgas lines44 and46 are to outlets on the rear of thepower column10. In the position ofFIG. 2, thebattery52 is recharged and air andoxygen tanks54 are shut off to keep the tank supplies from being depleted. Also as illustrated inFIG. 2, thecare cart24 is configured to nest with thelocator section16 ofpower column10. Therefore, the hospital room can be upgraded to a critical care room without reconstruction.
• Thecare cart24 is also used to transport the critical care patient within the hospital. For example, thecare cart24 is coupled to thehospital bed25 as discussed below. Using thecare cart24 to transport the patient provides seamless care for the patient during transport to the radiology department or other diagnostic testing facility within the hospital.
• When it is desired to transport the critical care patient, oxygen andair tanks54 are loaded on to thecare cart24 as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 13. Transport monitor42 is also attached to thecare cart24. Prior to transport, valves on the oxygen and air tanks are manually opened to supply gas through a manifold130 to theventilator40. Thegas lines44 and46 andpower cord50 ofcare cart24 are then disconnected frompower column10.Battery52 on thecare cart24 automatically switch on to support theventilator40 when the power cord and50 are disconnected.
• For transport, theequipment shelf38 is lowered to the transport position illustrated inFIG. 1, 4 and13 and the bed is raised. For visualization of equipment, such as aventilator40, theequipment shelf38 supporting theequipment40 can be rotated if desired. The transport position of theequipment shelf38 allows the equipment, such as aventilator40 to be transported under the sleep surface frame of the bed and within existing dimensions of thebed25 as shown inFIG. 1. This allows the equipment to be transported with the bed and still fit within existing elevators in the hospital.
• Next, thecare cart24 is coupled to the bed using thelatch mechanisms58 shown inFIG. 2. Thelatch mechanism58 on thecare cart24 is coupled to pins (not shown) attached to frame of thebed25. Thelatch mechanism58 rides inslots60 in the front offace61 of thecare cart24 and its height is adjustable. It is understood that thecare cart24 can be coupled to either a head end or foot end of thebed25.
• The IV lines and vent circuits do not need to be disconnected from the patient prior to transport. The IV pumps36 andventilator40 also do not need to be handled. This method maintains seamless, uninterrupted functioning of the life support to the patient.
• Thebed25 and thecare cart24 are then transported as a unit as illustrated inFIG. 1. A caregiver can use a rear push-handle74 to guide thecare cart24 andbed25 from the rear or either side handle76 to guide from the side. During transport, the IV pumps36 and monitor42 operates on their own internal batteries. The equipment without internal batteries operate on thebattery52 ofcare cart24 through designatedoutlets57.Battery52 provides battery power for the transport procedure.
• At the destination, thecare cart24 is coupled to medical gas and wall or tower electrical outlets to prevent depleting of the on-board gas tank54 supplies andbattery52. A cross over valve allows the cart to be connected to the medical gas supply for a limited period of time with negligible leakage of gas from thetanks54. The patient can then be transferred to a scanning table. Thebed25 can be removed from thecare cart24 and taken from the room. Therefore, thecare cart24 can remain adjacent the scanning table to continue to provide life support for the patient.
• The original transport procedures are followed for the return trip to the room. Upon returning the patient to the room, thecare cart24 is plugged into theelectrical outlets18 andgas outlets20 of thepower column10 as discussed above. The transport monitor42 is removed. Thecare cart24 is separated from the bed to permit theventilator40 on theshelf38 to be moved to the elevated position ofFIG. 2. Theequipment shelf38 is then rotated and reoriented so that the displays on thecritical care equipment40 are facing outwardly into the room. Acare cart24 is then moved adjacent thehospital bed25 into the nested position with thepower column10 ofFIG. 2 to resume in-room critical care services. It is understood that thecare cart24 can be positioned in any orientation at the head end ofbed25.
• Thefront legs27 ofbase26 are long enough to pass beyond casters of the hospital bed base and are separated wide enough to encompass the bed casters and still be within the foot print of the bed. For example, thefront legs27 extend at least 15.5 inches from theface61 of thecare cart24. The center to center separation of the pivot point of the casters on thefront legs27 is approximately 37.5 inches for 5inch casters28.
• Therear legs31 include ashaft62 pivotally mounted to base26 as shown inFIG. 5. Alinkage64 connects adriver66 toshaft62. Thedriver66 is pivotally connected to the base at68 and may be a mechanical or fluid spring. It maintains therear leg28 in a first position extending backward from thecart24 and preferably, within the width of a bed. To minimize the depth of thebase26, thelegs31 can pivot to a second position substantially coplanar with the back of the base26 (shown in phantom). This may be accomplished by backing the base into a wall, for example, a wall of a room or an elevator. The side handle76 allows positioning of the bed and cart in an elevator and to press therear wheel legs31 against a wall.
• The rear push handle74 is pivotally connected to the rear of thecare cart24 bybrackets78 and has a stored position as illustrated inFIG. 7 and an extended position illustrated inFIG. 4 and in phantom inFIG. 6. In the stored position, thehandle74 lies in therecess70 between theland72 and on atop wall71 of the care cart. The push handle74 is U-shaped and includesextensions75 extending from the ends of the U-shape and transverse to the plane of U-shape. Theextensions75 have ends77 pivotally mounting the push handle74 to the cart atbracket78. Preferably, thehandle74 is coated with a non-slip grip material.
• A stop or latchbracket80 is connected between thehandle74 and a side wall of thecare cart24. The stop or latchbracket80 is pivotally connected at81 to thehandle74 onextension75 and includes a firstelongated slot82 and a secondelongated slot83 transverse the firstelongated slot82. A pin is84 mounted to the side wall of the care cart and rides in theelongated slots82 and83. The ends of the firstelongated slot82 forms a stop for the extended and stored position of thehandle74. The secondelongated slot83 forms a latch to latch thehandle74 in its extended position when thepin84 rides up into elongatedslot83. Atab86 extends from the stop or latchbracket80 to reposition thepin84 from theelongated slot83 down into elongatedslot82. Thus, thehandle74 can then be raised to its stored position alongslot82.
• FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the stop or latchbracket80. Theelongated slot82 is curved instead of linear as it is inFIG. 6. Also, alobe88 has been added to the terminus ofslot83 extending generally transverse to theslot83. The stop or latchbracket80 is mounted to the front face of theextension75 of thehandle74 inFIG. 7 versus the side as shown inFIG. 6. Thetab86 extends from the bracket past thepivot point86 inFIG. 7 where it is within the body of the stop or latch bracket and adjacent theelongated slot82 inFIG. 6. InFIG. 6, one hand must be used to raise the stop or latchbracket using tab86 while the other hand is used to raise thehandle74. With the bracket ofFIG. 7, the latch can be unlocked and the handle raised with a single hand. A hand holding thebracket74 could release the stop or latchbracket80 by thumb ontab86.
• Beforepower cord50 of thecare cart24 is disconnected fromoutlets18, the caregiver must check to determine whether the on-board battery52 and the gas supply oncare cart24 are in proper working order. Apower display panel90 shown inFIG. 8 is on one of thelands72 at the top of thecare cart24.Power display90 provides information on the charge status and condition of the onboard battery52 when thebattery52 is both plugged into the room and when discharging during transport. Thedisplay90 illustratively includes two separate display sections. Thefirst display section92 provides a display of battery charge level. The second display section includesstatus indicator94.
• Thefirst display92 is a series of indicators which form a bar graft of the battery charge level. Each position may have a different shade or brightness. Thedisplay92 may flash when the battery charge is low.
• The operating status is indicated byindicators94 which may be LED, an LCD or other display. Anindicator94 is only illuminated when a particular condition exists. Illustratively, the status conditions include lighting an indicator when a battery power is on. Lighting an indicator when no input power is detected or there is an overload. An indicator is lit when service is required. An audible alarm can also be provided.
• Theother land72 includes afluid supply indicator96 as shown inFIG. 9. By way of example, anindicator97 is shown for air and oxygen. If the indicator flashes, the gas supply is below a predetermined level, for example 500 PSI. An audible alarm may also be provided.Touch pads98 are provided to silence the alarm.
• As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 10, aninternal rack100 having a plurality of teeth are exposed inslot98 offront face61 of the care cart. Amovable support102 which carries theequipment shelf38 is coupled to the care cart.Gears104 in themovable support102 cooperates with each of theracks100. Ashaft106 extends between thegears104. Amotor108 andgearbox110 on themovable support102 are used to rotateshaft106 and to move thesupport102 up and down to control the height ofshelf38. Acontrol switch114 shown inFIG. 4 is adjacent a top end of thecare cart24 and controls motor108 to move the support upwardly and downwardly.
• Referring toFIG. 7, themovable support102 includes a pair ofsides112 to which is mounted theshaft106,motor108 andgear box110. A pair ofbraces114 along the top and bottom are secured to thesides112. Thesides112 extend into theopenings98 in theface61 of the cart and have a flange, not shown, along the back of the front face of the cart. This limits the horizontal movement of themovable support102 while allowing vertical movement. Asupport arm116 extends from thelower brace114. Theequipment shelf38 is pivotally connected to thesupport arm116.
• It should be noted inFIG. 10 that thecover118 for themovable support102 has been removed. As can be seen inFIGS. 2, 3 and13, thecover118 is generally U-shaped and receivessupport arm116 of theequipment shelf38 therebetween. One leg of theU-shaped cover118 receives themotor108,gear box110 and one of thegears104. The other leg of the U ofcover118 includes theother gear104 and a terminal120 having a pair ofports122 and124 therein as illustrated inFIG. 10.Lines126 and128 are connected to port122 and124 respectively and are contained within the interior of thecover118. Theports122 and124 are for life support equipment, for example,ventilator40, onequipment shelf38. Thus, the lines, be they electrical cords or fluid tubes of the equipment on the shelf are plugged into theports122 and124 and move with the shelf. The ports may also be data or communication ports. The connection of theports122 and124 to their sources, be it a gas source or an electrical source, is through the interior of thehousing118 of themovable support102. This reduces the entanglement of the support lines for the equipment on theequipment shelf38.
• Theline126 is shown connected to a manifold130 on the back side of the cart which is connected totank54. Theother line128 may be connected to a different manifold and tank. For example, terminal122 may provide oxygen and terminal124 may provide hospital air.Lines126 and128 connected toports122 and124 extend throughslot132 in thefront face61 of the cart. Although not shown, the electrical connections to themotor108 would also extend throughslot132 in theface61. As an alternative, thelines126 and128 for the ports and the lines for the motor may extend through slots in theface61 adjacent a respective edge of theface61.
• If the length oflines126 or128 is relatively short with respect to its connection to its source, they may be connected directly to their source through theslot132. If the source of one of the lines is far from the cart, or the amount of movement of theshelf38 is of concern, take upreels134 and136 may be provided for thelines126 and128. The take up reels are connected toshaft106 and are driven by the shaft to change the length of the line with the movement of thesupport equipment shelf38. Thus, thereels134 and136 would play-out or lengthen thelines126,128 in one direction of rotation and shorten or reel-in thelines126 and128 in the opposite direction of rotation ofshaft106.
• The placement ofreels134 and136 may be any place along theshaft106. If they are extremely thick, they would be place in the legs of the L of thecover118. If they are placed closer to the edge, a pair ofslits132 may be provided adjacent the sides of themovable support102.
• Thelocator portion16 of thepower column10 includes afront face140 andbottom face142 of thebody14 of thepower column10 as illustrated inFIG. 1. The front portion ofbody14 includes afront face144 and a pair of front portion side faces146. The rear portion of thepower column10 extends the length of thebody portion14 and thelocator16 and includes side faces148 and arear face150, generally parallel to thefront face140 and144.
• When thecare cart24 is nested with thepower column10, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, thebottom face142 of the locator is received in therecess70 in the top of thecare cart24 between lands72. The back of thecare cart24 is adjacent to thefront face140 of thelocator16. The combined mobile cart and power column form a complete power column unit and constitute the lower and upper sections respectively, thereof.
• The fit between thepower column10 and thecart24 may be a loose fit, in which case, the combination are moved rearwardly by moving thecart24 rearwardly or moving it forwardly by moving thecolumn10 forward. The side handle76 of the cart aid moving the combination rearwardly. As an alternative, the fit between thepower column10 and thecart24 atlocator16 may be a friction fit. Thehandle74 in the stored position may engage thebottom face142 and aid in achieving such a friction fit. When thecare cart24 is latched coupled to a bed, the movement of the bed with the latched cart is sufficient to overcome the friction fit.
• As illustrated, theland72 are substantially triangular forming atrapezoidal recess70. Thefront face144 and side faces146 of the front portion of thebody14 of the power column also have a trapezoidal cross section which is to be received in thetrapezoidal recess70. It should also be noted that theback face150 and the side faces148 of the rear portion of thepower column10 also forms a trapezoidal cross section. The particular selections of the cross sections are purely aesthetic and any cross section may be used. Preferably, the cross section of thefront face144 and side faces146 will be complementary to the cross-section of therecess70 to provide proper nesting.
• As an alternative, a latch may be provided to secure thecart24 to thepower column10. Such a latch is illustrated inFIGS. 11 and 12. Alatch152 includes a bracket mounted to the cart byfasteners156. The position illustrated inFIGS. 11 and 12 is above thebracket78 of thehandle74. Ahousing158 includes aU-shaped channel160 to receive apost162. Thehousing158 is mounted to thebracket154 byfasteners164 and thepost162 is mounted to thepower column10 by fasteners166. Thelatch152 includes twolinks168 and170 which are cam to be bistable or an over center linkage inhousing158. Thecam168 includes aU-shaped recess172 to receive thepost162 and thelink170 includes ahandle174. A pair ofcoil springs176 connected to each of thelinks168 and170 bias the cams to the open position illustrated inFIG. 11.
• When thepost162 intersects therecess172 inlink168, it rotates thelink168 counter clockwise into the housing and allowing thepost162 to be guided intorecess160 of thehousing158. This force overcomes the force of thesprings176 and causes thelinks170 and168 to become unstable and snap into the closed position illustrated inFIG. 12. To release the latch, the handle178 is moved to rotate thelink170 in a counter-clockwise direction thereby driving thelink168 in the clockwise direction. This releases thepost162. The general operation of this mechanism is very similar to the safety door locks on automobiles.
• It should also be noted that a similar structure to latch152 can be used in lieu of thelatch58 which latches thecare cart24 to thebed25.
• FIG. 13 is a general overview of abed25,care cart24 andpower column10 in a transition state. Thecart24 is disconnected from the power column and is being prepared to be attached to the bed. The bed is raised and theequipment shelf38 is lowered. The power and fluid lines are disconnected from thepower column10 and atransport monitor42 is mounted on the cart. Subsequently, thecare cart24 is latched to thebed25.FIG. 13 illustrates two power cords, one for thebattery48 and one forgeneral power50.
• Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims (23)

1-33. (canceled)

34. An apparatus comprising a cart adapted to carry a battery and a fluid supply, the cart having a first display to provide battery-related information, and a second display to provide fluid supply-related information.

35. The apparatus ofclaim 34, comprising a patient treating accessory located on the cart, wherein the battery is configured to be coupled the patient treating accessory for supplying power thereto.

36. The apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein the first display includes a first indicator configured to indicate the status of the battery charge level.

37. The apparatus ofclaim 36, wherein the first indicator is a series of indicators forming a bar graph to indicate the status of the battery charge level.

38. The apparatus ofclaim 36, wherein the first indicator flashes when the battery charge is low.

39. The apparatus ofclaim 36, wherein the first display includes a second indicator configured to indicate the operating status of the battery.

40. The apparatus ofclaim 39, wherein the second indicator is a series of indicators, each indicator representing a particular condition of the battery.

41. The apparatus ofclaim 40, wherein one of the indicators is lit when the battery power is on.

42. The apparatus ofclaim 40, wherein one of the indicators is lit when there is battery overload.

43. The apparatus ofclaim 40, wherein one of the indicators is lit when there is no battery output power.

44. The apparatus ofclaim 40, wherein one of the indicators is lit when service is required.

45. The apparatus ofclaim 34, comprising a fluid port located on the cart and coupled to the fluid supply.

46. The apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein the second display includes an indicator configured to indicate if the fluid supply is below a predetermined level.

47. The apparatus ofclaim 46, wherein the indicator flashes when the fluid supply is below a predetermined level.

48. The apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein the second display includes an audible alarm that sounds when the fluid supply is below a predetermined level.

49. The apparatus ofclaim 48, wherein the second display includes an actuator to silence the alarm.

50. The apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein the fluid supply is an oxygen cylinder.

51. The apparatus ofclaim 46, wherein the fluid supply is an air cylinder.

52. The apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein the cart includes an upwardly-facing top wall, and the displays are located on the upwardly-facing top wall.

53. The apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein the cart is a mobile care cart.

54. An apparatus comprising a cart adapted to carry a battery, the cart having an upwardly-facing top wall and a display located on the upwardly-facing top wall to provide battery-related information.

55. An apparatus comprising a cart adapted to carry a fluid supply, the cart having an upwardly-facing top wall and a display located on the upwardly-facing top wall to provide fluid supply-related information.

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