Systolic	<70	71-80	81-100	101-199	—	>200	—
BP
Heart rate	—	<40	41-50	51-100	101-110	111-129	>130
(BPM)
Respi-	—	<9	—	9-14	15-20	21-29	>30
ratory
rate
(RPM)
Temper-	—	<35	—	35.0-38.4	—	>38.5	—
ature
(° C.)
AVPU	—	—	—	A	V	P	U

In the MEWS table, the various integers in the column headings are added together based on the various readings for the person of the data corresponding to the rows of the table. A score of 5 or greater indicates a likelihood of death. With regard to the systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature portions of the MEWS, those pieces of information are obtained usingsensors3036 ofperson support apparatus3014 and/or using the other manners of obtaining a person's physiological data as discussed above. It is contemplated by this disclosure that the AVPU portion of the MEWS is obtained using information from theperson support apparatus3014 as discussed below.

The AVPU portion of the MEWS indicates whether a person is alert (A), responsive to voice (V), responsive to pain (P), or unresponsive (U). As discussed above, theperson support apparatus3014 in some embodiments comprises a hospital bed having a patient position monitoring system including sensors, such as load cells, piezoelectric sensors, and/or force sensitive resistors (FSR's) which sense a patient's position and/or movement. In accordance with this disclosure, the patient movement information is used by the controller to automatically assign an appropriate integer corresponding to the A portion or the U portion of the AVPU line of the MEWS depending upon the amount of movement of the patient. For example, if the patient has not moved for a threshold amount of time, such as fifteen minutes or an hour or some threshold greater than or less than these particular times, then the integer associated with the U portion of the AVPU line of the MEWS is assigned automatically bycontroller3074. If the patient has moved by a threshold amount within a particular time period, then the integer associated with the A portion of the AVPU line of the MEWS is assigned automatically bycontroller3074.

It is contemplated by this disclosure that thecontroller3074 initiates a voice query to the person in some embodiments. If the person answers the voice query orally or by engaging a designated user input, such as pressing a particular button mentioned in the voice query, then thecontroller3074 automatically assigns an appropriate integer corresponding to the V portion of the MEWS. The voice query is a pre-recorded message in some embodiments. The voice query is initiated bycontroller3074 if the person has been inactive for the threshold period of time. In other words, in some embodiments, the voice query is initiated only after the conditions for assigning the U portion of the MEWS has been satisfied. Thus, if the person responds properly to the voice query, the AVPU portion of the MEWS is assigned as V rather thanU. Apparatus3014, therefore, has speakers or similar such sound-producing devices through which the voice query is played and, in some instances, a microphone that picks up the person's oral response. Appropriate interactive voice recognition (IVR) software is provided in such embodiments.

With regard to determining whether to select the P portion of the AVPU line of the MEWS score,apparatus3014 is operated to inflict some amount of discomfort to the patient and then monitors the person's response, such as an oral response or movement. For example, in some embodiments,apparatus3014 includes an inflatable cuff or sleeve placed on a limb of the person and thecontroller3074 controls inflation and deflation of the cuff or sleeve. If the patient movement information indicates sufficient patient movement by the patient in response to inflation of the cuff or sleeve, then the controller automatically assigns the appropriate integer corresponding to the P portion of the AVPU line of the MEWS. Alternatively or additionally, a microphone is used to determine if the patient expresses an audible pain or discomfort sound at which point the integer associated with the P portion of the AVPU line of the MEWS is assigned. The steps for determining whether to assign the P integer are performed only after the steps for determining whether to assign the U integer and/or the V integer in some embodiments. That is, operating theperson apparatus3014 so as to cause the patient some discomfort is only done as a last resort. In assigning the AVPU integer in the MEWS, it will be appreciated that it is the lowest pertinent integer that is assigned. Clearly, an alert person would also be responsive to voice for example.

The MEWS and Visensia® index discussed above are just a couple of examples of condition scores according to this disclosure. The teachings of this disclosure are intended to be broadly applicable to all types of condition scores.

Referring once again toFIG. 6, in the operation ofblock3090, thecontroller3074 compares the calculated condition score (referred to sometimes inFIG. 6 as an “index value” or simply an “index”) with the predetermined thresholds to determine at least one of the likelihood that an adverse condition will occur, an amount of time before an adverse condition will occur, and/or how close the condition score is to the threshold.

In the conditional ofblock3100, if thecontroller3074 determines that the condition score is greater than the threshold, then, in one illustrative embodiment, a status update including the condition score is communicated to a caregiver through the signaling andcommunication system3012 and/or is displayed on thedisplay3040 as indicated atblock3110. That is, if the condition score exceeds the threshold, then, in some embodiments, at least one of the condition score and an alert signal are communicated to a caregiver. In other embodiments, the alert condition may correspond to the condition score being less than, rather than greater than, a particular threshold. The term “greater than” is intended to cover one or both of a greater than situation and a greater than or equal to situation and the term “less than” is intended to cover one or both of a less than situation and a less than or equal to situation.

As alluded to above, in some embodiments, the condition score and/or alert signal are communicated to a caregiver through the signaling andcommunication system3012. Alternatively or additionally, the condition score and/or alert signal are displayed on thedisplay3040. In still other embodiments, the condition score and/or alert signal are communicated to the Visensia® Alert system sold by OBS Medical. In further embodiments, the condition score is communicated to and stored in the person's EMR.

Thedisplay3040 is any suitable display such as a liquid crystal display, touch screen display, plasma screen, light emitting diode display, cathode ray tube display, or other conventional display. Thedisplay3040 is operable to display multiple parameters thereon along with the condition score in some embodiments. In some contemplated embodiments, thedisplay3040 displays physiological and/or biochemical information sensed bycontact sensors3044 along with the condition score. Thus, it is within the scope of this disclosure for thedisplay3040 to display physiological and/or biochemical information on thedisplay3040 along with the condition score. In yet other embodiments, thedisplay3040 displays bed status information and/or graphics, for example, a head deck section HD angle or PPM armed indicator, on the display along with the condition score. In still other contemplated examples, thedisplay3040 displays bed status information and/or graphics along with patient condition graphics, such as, pie charts. Other information that is displayable on thedisplay3040 includes force profile information and/or graphics, person position information and/or graphics, weight, and other physiological information.

Referring now toFIG. 7, thesensors3036 are operatively coupled to thecontrol modules3038 and are configured to sense various parameters, including, but not limited to, for example, a person's physiological information, a position of a person on theperson support apparatus3014 and/orperson support surface3026, a pressure of the fluid inside thebladders3028 in theperson support surface3026, or other various parameters. As mentioned above, thesensors3036 can be sensors configured to contact the tissue of a person and/or sensors configured to not contact the tissue of a person. In some embodiments, thesensors3036 areforce sensors3044 coupled to theupper frame3018 and are configured to measure force on theupper frame3018 as shown inFIGS. 4 and 7. In some embodiments, thesensors3036 areforce sensors3044 that measure force on theupper frame3018 and are positioned between theintermediate frame3032 and theupper frame base3034 so as to couple theintermediate frame3032 anddeck3030 to theupper frame base3034.

In some contemplated embodiments, thesensors3036 areforce sensors3044 integrated into theperson support surface3026 and configured to measure changes in force on theperson support surface3026 as shown inFIG. 4. Alternatively or additionally, theforce sensors3044 are coupled to thesupports3020 and/or thelower frame3016.Sensors3044 integrated into thecasters3024 and/or engaged by thecasters3024 are also within the scope of this disclosure. In some embodiments, theforce sensors3044 are load cells that are coupled proximate the corners of theintermediate frame3032. In other embodiments, thesensors3044 are piezoelectric sensors and/or elongated sensor strips orarrays3038. It will be appreciated that theforce sensors3044 comprising other force sensor types can be provided and positioned in other locations on theupper frame3018 and/or within theperson support surface3026.

In some embodiments, thesensors3036 arepressure sensors3046 integrated into theperson support surface3026 and configured to measure the pressure in or among thefluid bladders3028 in theperson support surface3026 as shown diagrammatically inFIG. 7. Thepressure sensors3046 are coupled between thebladders3028 in some embodiments such that they can allow communication betweenadjacent bladders3028. It should be appreciated that the pressure sensors can be situated within thebladders3028 and/or otherwise positioned to measure the pressure within thebladder3028.Pressure sensors3046 coupled tobladders3028 via pneumatic tubes, hoses, or other types of conduits are contemplated by this disclosure as well.

In some embodiments, thesensors3036 arephysiological sensors3048 integrated into theperson support surface3026 and configured to measure various physiological parameters of a person supported on theperson support surface3026 as suggested inFIG. 7. Optionally, thephysiological sensors3048 can be coupled to theupper frame3018, thesupports3020, and/or thelower frame3016 in lieu of being coupled to themattress3046. As indicated above, theforce sensor3044 and/orpressure sensor3046 are configured to sense physiological parameters in some embodiments. For example, one or more of thephysiological sensors3048 are used to sense the heart rate and/or respiration rate of a person supported on theperson support surface3026 in some embodiments. Alternatively or additionally, one or more of thephysiological sensors3048 are configured to sense the temperature of the person. In some embodiments, thephysiological sensors3048 are configured to sense the weight of the person on theperson support surface3026. In some embodiments, thephysiological sensors3048 are pressure-strip sensors disposed on thefluid bladders3028 along an axis parallel to the lateral axis Y1 and/or along an axis parallel with the longitudinal axis X1.

In some embodiments, one or more of thesensors3036 produces an analog data signal and is connected directly to thecontroller3074. In other embodiments, one or more of thesensors3036 produce a digital data signal, e.g., a serial digital data signal, and are connected to thenetwork3042, e.g., SPI network, to communicate with thecontroller3074. The data signals can be stored in thememory3076, which is operatively coupled with thecontroller3074. As mentioned above, thememory3076 is integrated into thecontroller3074 in some embodiments.

In some embodiments, thecontroller3074 executes operating logic that defines various control, management, and/or regulation functions. This operating logic can be in the form of software, firmware, and/or dedicated hardware, such as, a series of programmed instructions, code, electronic files, or commands using general purpose or special purpose programming languages or programs that can be executed on one or more general purpose or special purpose computers, processors, other control circuitry, or networks; a hardwired state machine; and/or a different form as would occur to those skilled in the art.

Any theory, mechanism of operation, proof, or finding stated herein is meant to further enhance understanding of principles of the present disclosure and is not intended to make the present disclosure in any way dependent upon such theory, mechanism of operation, illustrative embodiment, proof, or finding. It should be understood that while the use of the word preferable, preferably or preferred in the description above indicates that the feature so described can be more desirable, it nonetheless can not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same can be contemplated as within the scope of the disclosure, that scope being defined by the claims that follow.

In reading the claims it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” “at least a portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.

While embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the selected embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes, modifications and equivalents that come within the spirit of the disclosure as defined herein or by any of the following claims are desired to be protected.

Claims

1. A method comprising

sensing a characteristic of a person supported on a person-support apparatus,

calculating a condition score as a function of the characteristic, and

configuring a support system and/or a communication system as a function of the condition score.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the support system includes the person-support apparatus.

3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the support system includes a person-support surface.

4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the condition score includes a fall risk assessment score or a pressure ulcer risk assessment score.

5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the support system includes a fluid supply and the configuring comprises causing the fluid supply to initiate a therapy.

6. A system comprising:

a person-support structure,

a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of a person supported on the person-support structure, and

a control configured to calculate a condition score as a function of the characteristic of the person, the control being operable to change a characteristic of the person-support structure as a function of the condition score.

7. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the person-support structure includes a bed frame with a movement mechanism, the control controlling the movement mechanism as a function of the condition score to change a characteristic of the bed frame.

8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the frame includes an upper frame portion with a deck movably coupled thereto having a head section, the control causing the head section to rotate between a relatively horizontal position and an inclined position.

9. The system ofclaim 6, further comprising a fluid supply, the person-support structure including a fluid chamber configured to receive fluid from the fluid supply, and the control controlling the fluid supply as a function of the condition score.

10. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the control causes the fluid supply to initiate a therapy.

11. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the fluid chamber comprises at least one of a temperature and humidity topper, a mattress, and a gas bladder.

12. The system ofclaim 6, further comprising a communication device configured to receive an input signal corresponding to information in an electronic medical record, the control calculating the condition score as a function of the characteristic of the person and the input signal.

13. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the input signal includes a fall risk assessment score or a pressure ulcer risk assessment score.

14. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the control calculates the condition score as a function of the status of the person-support structure and the characteristic of the person.

15. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the control calculates the condition score as a function of the status of the person-support structure, an input signal corresponding to information in an electronic medical record, and the characteristic of the person.