Patient Bed-to-Room Association Using Light Signatures and Barcodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bed location systems in healthcare facilities face challenges with line-of-sight requirements for infrared signals and ambiguity in radio frequency signals, leading to increased installation costs due to the need for specialized receivers and interface units.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a light source with a unique signature, such as visible or infrared light, that is analyzed by a patient bed's circuitry to determine location, and transmitted via wireless or wired connections to a network, along with a bar code scanner or graphical user interface for manual entry, to associate beds with rooms efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If infrared signals are used for bed location tracking, then line-of-sight location determination is achieved, but the system requires uninterrupted line of sight and cannot penetrate walls or floors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines infrared and radio frequency signals into a single hybrid system. The infrared component provides precise line-of-sight location data when available, while the RF component provides complementary data when infrared is blocked, creating a unified location tracking system that leverages the strengths of both signal types without requiring separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional location tracking system that can operate in multiple modes depending on environmental conditions. The system automatically switches between infrared-only mode (when line of sight is clear), RF-only mode (when infrared is blocked), and hybrid mode (combining both), making the system universally applicable across all locations in the healthcare facility regardless of physical obstructions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If radio frequency tags are used for bed location tracking, then signal penetration through floors and ceilings is achieved, but multiple receivers receive the same signal causing location ambiguity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces signal strength analysis as an intermediary mechanism to resolve RF signal ambiguity. By measuring and comparing the strength of RF signals received at multiple receivers, the system can determine which receiver is closest to the tag, thereby resolving the location ambiguity that would otherwise result from multiple receivers detecting the same signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for physical line-of-sight mechanical alignment (required by infrared) with electromagnetic field-based RF signaling. This substitution allows the system to penetrate walls and floors without requiring direct visual contact between the tag and receiver, enabling location tracking through opaque barriers.
3Reliability
If specialized interface units are installed to receive bed ID and status data, then complete bed-to-room association is achieved, but installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing wireless access points multi-functional by enabling them to perform both their original function (providing Wi-Fi connectivity) and a new function (receiving and processing bed location and status data). This eliminates the need for separate specialized interface units, as the access points handle both networking and bed tracking tasks, thereby reducing installation complexity and equipment costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the bed data reception function with the existing wireless access point infrastructure. Instead of installing separate interface units dedicated solely to bed tracking, the system combines these functions into the already-deployed access points, reducing the total number of devices required and simplifying the overall system architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces the need for specialized receivers and interface units by using visible or infrared light signatures and bar codes to accurately associate beds with rooms, minimizing installation costs and enhancing location determination accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a light source that may emit visible light that may have a signature that may be unique to a location of the healthcare facility
Implementation Method 2
the light source may emit visible light and infrared (IR) light
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of associating beds and/or rooms and/or patients are provided. One system and method involves using a signature of emitted light to determine a location of a patient bed in a healthcare facility. Another system and method involves reading a bar code from an array of redundant bar codes. Still another system and method involves manually entering location information on a graphical user interface of a patient bed for subsequent transmission. A further system and method involves sending bed ID and location ID along parallel paths from two independent circuits on a patient bed for receipt by two different transceivers and ultimately by two different remote computers that cooperate to associate the bed ID with the location ID. Still a further system and method involves using circuitry on a bed to mutate a received location ID and a bed ID into a single unique mutated ID such as by adding the location ID and bed ID and then performing a hashing operation.