Wireless Bed Locating System for Nurse Call Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hospital bed systems often require manual unplugging and replugging of nurse call cables and power cords when moved, leading to potential damage and disruptions in communication with nurse call systems.
Innovation Solution
A surface association system that uses computing devices to associate support surfaces with hospital beds based on status data and location identifiers, allowing for automated tracking and communication within healthcare facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual unplugging and replugging of nurse call cables is performed when moving hospital beds, then the bed can be relocated to different positions, but the nurse call cable may be damaged and communication with the nurse call system may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system. The bed incorporates a wireless transceiver that communicates with the nurse call system without requiring physical cable connections, thereby eliminating cable damage risks while maintaining communication continuity during bed relocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication intermediary (wireless transceiver and wireless network infrastructure) between the bed and the nurse call system. This intermediary enables data transmission without direct physical cable connections, allowing bed movement without unplugging/replugging operations.
2Reliability
If wired nurse call systems are used in healthcare facilities, then reliable communication can be established, but network infrastructure installation and cable management become complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired network infrastructure with a wireless communication system. The bed includes a wireless transceiver that communicates with the nurse call system through wireless signals, eliminating the need for physical cable routing, wall jack installations, and complex wired network infrastructure while maintaining communication reliability.
3Reliability
If wired connections are used for nurse call systems, then stable data transmission is achieved, but caregivers must remember to plug in cables after bed relocation, increasing operational time and potential for errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cable plugging/unplugging operations with wireless communication. The bed's wireless transceiver automatically maintains communication with the nurse call system during and after relocation without requiring caregiver intervention to connect or disconnect cables, thereby eliminating setup time while maintaining transmission stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless communication system provides self-service functionality where the bed automatically maintains connection to the nurse call system during relocation without requiring caregiver action. The system independently handles the communication maintenance that would otherwise require manual cable management.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, beds, supports surfaces and machine readable medium for associating beds and support surface of a healthcare facility are disclosed. A surface association system for a healthcare facility may comprise a plurality of beds. The system may further comprise a computing device and a plurality of support surfaces to be placed upon beds of the plurality of beds. The computing device may associate a support surface of the plurality of support surfaces with a bed of the plurality of beds. The computing device may make the association based upon status data received from the plurality of beds and the plurality of support surfaces. The support surface and/or bed to be associated may initiate a surface association request. The computing device, in response to the surface association request, may request performance of one or more actions on the bed and/or support surface to be associated to identify the bed and/or support surface from the beds and support surfaces of the healthcare facility.