Patient Support Sensors for Sleep State and Occupant Detection

The patent combines multiple sensor types (force sensors, vital sign sensors, pressure sensors) into an integrated patient monitoring system within the support apparatus. This merging approach enables comprehensive patient information collection while managing system complexity through unified control and processing architecture.

The support apparatus is designed with multi-functional sensors that can detect various parameters including weight, pressure distribution, and vital signs. This universal sensing capability allows a single system to perform multiple monitoring functions, improving measurement precision across different patient care needs.

The system implements continuous real-time monitoring of patient parameters and maintains constant data transmission capability. This continuous operation improves patient care responsiveness and productivity by ensuring caregivers always have current patient information without interruption.

The monitoring system incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensor data is continuously transmitted to caregivers, who can then respond to patient needs in real-time. This feedback loop improves patient care quality and operational efficiency by enabling timely interventions based on actual patient status.

The system implements automatic patient identification and event detection capabilities that operate without manual intervention. The sensors automatically detect patient presence, identify events such as patient exits or position changes, and transmit information without requiring caregiver input, thereby improving ease of operation.

The control system is pre-programmed with algorithms to automatically analyze sensor data, identify patient events, and trigger appropriate responses. This preliminary configuration enables the system to perform complex identification and detection tasks automatically, simplifying operation for caregivers while managing complexity through pre-established processing logic.