Patient Support Reminder Lights for Bed Exit Configuration Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient support apparatuses have complex user interfaces that are difficult to operate, leading to caregivers often overlooking or forgetting to properly configure the apparatus before exiting the room, which compromises safety and usability.
Innovation Solution
The patient support apparatus is equipped with a reminder system that provides gentle visual cues, such as synchronized pulsing lights around the perimeter, to remind caregivers of uncompleted configuration tasks, ensuring proper setup before exiting the room, and prevents certain functions from activating until all tasks are completed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the user interface is made comprehensive to include all necessary controls and monitoring functions, then the functionality and safety monitoring capability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates making the interface difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is segmented into multiple independent user interfaces distributed at different locations on the patient support apparatus (headboard, footboard, side rails). Each interface provides a subset of controls and monitoring functions, allowing caregivers to access only the functions relevant to their current task without being overwhelmed by the complete system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting component states and pre-configuring the user interface to display only the necessary controls and information for the current situation. The controller monitors component states and proactively manages which functions are accessible, reducing the cognitive load on caregivers before they even interact with the interface.
2Ease of operation
If the user interface is simplified to improve ease of operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the functionality and comprehensive monitoring capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple user interfaces are provided throughout the apparatus, each capable of performing multiple functions relevant to their location and usage context. For example, interfaces on side rails can provide both local control functions and system-wide monitoring, allowing a single interface to serve multiple purposes and maintain comprehensive functionality while keeping each individual interface simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that manages the distribution of functionality across multiple user interfaces. It coordinates between the simplified local interfaces and the comprehensive system monitoring capabilities, ensuring that safety monitoring functions are maintained system-wide even though individual interfaces remain simple and easy to operate.
3Loss of information
If visual reminder lights are made bright and intense to ensure visibility, then the effectiveness of the reminder is improved, but the patient comfort deteriorates due to harsh visual disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The visual reminder system uses localized, low-intensity lights positioned on the side rails rather than bright, pervasive lighting. The lights provide sufficient visual cueing for caregivers in the immediate vicinity while maintaining a gentle intensity that does not disturb patients. Different locations have lights optimized for their specific viewing conditions without requiring high intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reminder lights operate periodically or intermittently rather than continuously at high intensity. They can pulse or activate only when configuration issues are detected, providing effective reminders to caregivers while minimizing visual disturbance to patients. The periodic activation reduces overall light exposure while maintaining reminder effectiveness.
Data Source
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AI summary
A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, operating table, recliner, or the like, includes a patient support structure, a user interface, a display, a plurality of lights, and a controller. The user interface comprises a display and controls for configuring various components of the patient support apparatus. The controller uses the lights and/or display to issue one or more reminders to the caregiver to put the patient support apparatus in a desired configuration before the caregiver walks away from the patient support apparatus. The reminders help ensure that the caregiver properly configured the patient support apparatus. In some embodiment, the reminders include pulsing the lights in an unobtrusive, but easily seen, manner until the proper configuration is achieved. Reminders may also be implemented by prohibiting certain functionality until the patient support apparatus is properly configured.