Medical Bed Wall Unit Pairing With Time-Based Wireless Authorization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient beds with wireless communication capabilities face challenges in accurately pairing with wall modules due to RF signal interference, leading to improper location determination and potential damage from abrupt cable removal.
Innovation Solution
A system involving a medical device with a wireless transceiver and timer, paired with a wall unit that uses AC plug sensors and timers for precise uptime comparison to ensure automatic pairing when plugged into an outlet, ensuring accurate location determination and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired nurse call cables are used to connect patient beds to wall modules, then reliable communication and location determination are achieved, but cable damage occurs when beds are moved and connectors are abruptly disconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the physical nurse call cable connection from the system, replacing it with wireless communication between patient beds and wall modules. This extraction eliminates the cable and connector components that are susceptible to damage during bed relocation, while maintaining the communication function through RF transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical wired connection system with an electromagnetic wireless communication system. The physical cable and connector mechanism is replaced by RF transceivers that transmit communication signals through the air, eliminating mechanical wear and physical damage risks associated with plugging and unplugging cables.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If wireless RF transmissions are used for bed-to-wall module communication, then cable damage is eliminated, but RF signals pass through walls and are received by multiple wall modules causing pairing ambiguity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where wall modules transmit their identification information back to the patient bed, and the bed selects the appropriate wall module based on received signal strength indicators (RSSI). This feedback loop enables the system to determine which wall module is closest to the bed, resolving the pairing ambiguity caused by RF signals being received by multiple wall modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes in the form of signal strength measurements to resolve the pairing issue. By monitoring and comparing the strength of RF signals received from different wall modules, the system can identify the strongest signal source and establish pairing with that specific wall module, thereby maintaining accurate location determination despite the omnidirectional nature of RF transmissions.
3Ease of operation
If wireless pairing is implemented without wired connection, then ease of bed relocation is improved, but automatic pairing with the correct wall module becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service pairing where the patient bed and wall module automatically establish communication without manual intervention. The bed continuously scans for wall modules, receives their identification signals, and automatically pairs with the appropriate wall module based on signal strength, eliminating the need for caregivers to manually configure wireless connections when relocating beds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by having wall modules continuously broadcast their identification information before the bed needs to pair with them. This pre-established signal presence allows the bed to immediately identify and pair with the correct wall module upon entering the room, without requiring manual configuration or complex pairing procedures during relocation.
Data Source
AI summary
A time-based wireless pairing operation between a medical device, such as a patient bed, and a wall module in a patient room is initiated in response to a power plug of the medical device being plugged into a power receptacle carried by the wall module. Times determined by timers of the medical device and the wall module are compared by the wall module or by the medical device so that wireless pairing occurs only with the medical device that was plugged into the wall module. Different types of plug detectors used in the wall module to detect connection of the power plug include optical detectors, mechanical switches, and current sensors.