Headwall Beacon System for Wireless Nurse Call Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headwall systems in medical facilities lack efficient wireless communication between patient support apparatuses and nurse call systems, environmental controls, and the ability to provide location information to non-patient devices, while also sensing environmental conditions for patient comfort evaluation.
Innovation Solution
A stationary communication unit with multiple transceivers and a controller is mounted in healthcare facilities, enabling wireless communication between patient support apparatuses and nurse call systems, emitting beacon signals for non-patient devices, and sensing environmental parameters like noise and temperature to evaluate patient comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional headwall outlet is used with wired cables for nurse call and environmental controls, then reliable communication is achieved, but system complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired cable connection system with a wireless communication system using Bluetooth and other wireless protocols. The headwall unit includes wireless communication interfaces that enable data transmission without physical cables, thereby reducing installation complexity while maintaining communication reliability through protocol-level error correction and connection management.
Solution Approach 2:
The headwall unit acts as an intermediary device that bridges wired infrastructure (nurse call system, environmental controls) and wireless patient support apparatus. It includes both wired interfaces for connecting to building infrastructure and wireless interfaces for communicating with mobile devices, thereby enabling reliable communication while simplifying the patient-side interface.
2Ease of operation
If wireless communication is implemented between patient support apparatus and nurse call system, then ease of operation is improved, but communication reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wired mechanical connections with wireless communication protocols including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other radio frequency technologies. This substitution enables ease of operation by eliminating cable management while implementing multiple protocol support and error correction mechanisms to maintain communication reliability in the wireless environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless communication system dynamically adapts to changing environmental conditions by selecting appropriate communication protocols and adjusting transmission parameters. The headwall unit and patient support apparatus continuously negotiate connection quality and switch between available wireless channels to maintain reliable communication despite mobility and environmental interference.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transceivers are added to the headwall unit for wireless communication and beacon signaling, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The headwall unit is designed as a multi-functional device that integrates nurse call system interface, environmental control communication, wireless patient support apparatus connectivity, and beacon signaling for wayfinding. By consolidating multiple functions into a single device mounted at the headwall, the system improves versatility while managing complexity through shared hardware resources and unified control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple communication transceivers and processing functions into a single integrated headwall unit. Rather than deploying separate devices for nurse call, environmental controls, and wireless communication, the system merges these functions into one unified platform, thereby improving adaptability while containing device complexity through integration.
4Loss of information
If beacon signals are emitted for location tracking of non-patient devices, then information availability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon signals are transmitted periodically rather than continuously, allowing non-patient devices to determine their location by receiving and processing these periodic signals. This periodic transmission approach provides sufficient location information for wayfinding applications while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous beacon emission.
Data Source
AI summary
A stationary communication unit is adapted to be mounted to a headwall of a healthcare facility and forward messages between a patient support apparatus and a nurse call system. The unit includes first and second transceivers. The first transceiver may use two different communication protocols and forward audio signals from a nurse call system to the patient support apparatus (and vice versa) using a first one of the communication protocols, and emit a beacon signal using the second communication protocol. The beacon signal is adapted to be detected by electronic devices positioned in the room. The second transceiver sends a first identifier to the patient support apparatus and the first transceiver sends a second identifier to any electronic devices positioned in the room. The communication unit may also forward sensor readings to the patient support apparatus and/or to a hospital network, either directly or via a mesh network.