Beds – Invalid bed or surgical support
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-20
2004-03-16
Lagman, Frederick L. (Department: 3673)
Beds
Invalid bed or surgical support
C005S658000, C005S503100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06704956
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to devices for supporting equipment used with patient assist apparatuses, and more particularly to a device for supporting patient care equipment and providing electrical connections thereto from a receptacle attached to the patient assist apparatus which removably receives the support.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Patient assist apparatuses, such as hospital beds, are typically provided with or connected to medical equipment, such as control pendants, monitors/interface devices, etc. Conventional pendants are generally electrically connected to the control circuitry of the bed by a cable which permits placement of the pendant at various locations on the bed. Interface devices are generally mounted to the side rails or the head or foot board of the bed, and electrically hardwired to the bed electronics.
It is desireable to have maximum flexibility in terms of locating and relocating such medical equipment to accommodate access to the patient by medical personnel, placement of other monitoring and treatment equipment, and re-positioning of the patient. While conventional pendants are easily moved between various locations, the cable may become tangled, or otherwise impede access to the patient, placement of other equipment, and movement of the patient.
Additionally, interface devices may be difficult to use or inconviently located when provided at a fixed location on the bed. For example, if an interface device is mounted to a bed side rail which must be folded down, the interface may be rendered essentially useless. If the interface is mounted to the foot board, medical personnel positioned at the head of the bed must relocate to use the interface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an equipment support device for use with a patient assist apparatus which may include a plurality of receptacles mounted at various locations on the apparatus for removably receiving a support body to which is mounted equipment, such as a control pendant and/or an interface device. The receptacles may include a cavity and a plurality of contacts extending into the cavity and being connected to the control circuitry of the apparatus. The support body may include a plug at one end having a plurality of contacts configured to mate with the receptacle contacts when the plug is seated in the receptacle cavity. Conductors extend from the plug contacts to the equipment mounted to the support body. Accordingly, medical personnel may locate the equipment support device at any of the receptacle locations around the patient assist apparatus by inserting the support body plug into the desired receptacle, thereby electrically connecting the equipment mounted to the equipment support device to the apparatus control circuitry and mechanically supporting the equipment in a desired location.
In an alternate embodiment, the receptacles may include power and signal windings that loop around the central cavity of the receptacle. These windings form one side of a pair of transformers, one for supplying power to the support body, and one for supplying other signals to the support body. The support body plug includes corresponding secondary windings that complete the pair of transformer circuits, and are connected to conductors that supply power and other signals to the equipment mounted to the support body. In this embodiment, the receptacle contacts and the plug contacts are eliminated. Power and other signals are provided to the equipment with electrical isolation. Additionally, a spring-loaded detent is provided in each of the receptacles for cooperating with a lock ring on the support body plug to mechanically retain the plug in the receptacle when the plug is in a seated position.
The features of the present invention described above, as well as additional features, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 383815 (1888-05-01), Kilborn
patent: 1290809 (1919-01-01), Truax
patent: 1490650 (1924-04-01), Wagner
patent: 1674081 (1928-06-01), Adams
patent: 1919114 (1933-07-01), Ley
patent: 2470524 (1949-05-01), Scudder
patent: 2673771 (1954-03-01), Krewson
patent: 2696963 (1954-12-01), Shepherd
patent: RE24290 (1957-03-01), MacKnight
patent: 3004743 (1961-10-01), Wenger
patent: 3402947 (1968-09-01), Lewis
patent: 3552577 (1971-01-01), Latham, Jr.
patent: 3588023 (1971-06-01), Cohen
patent: 3674294 (1972-07-01), Kirkham
patent: 3814023 (1974-06-01), Stantial
patent: 4005844 (1977-02-01), Richmond
patent: 4113222 (1978-09-01), Frinzel
patent: 4163536 (1979-08-01), Heller et al.
patent: 4190224 (1980-02-01), LeBlanc et al.
patent: 4225104 (1980-09-01), Larson
patent: 4262872 (1981-04-01), Kodet
patent: D260816 (1981-09-01), Zissimopoulos et al.
patent: 4339104 (1982-07-01), Weidman
patent: 4511157 (1985-04-01), Wilt, Jr.
patent: 4511158 (1985-04-01), Varga et al.
patent: 4559036 (1985-12-01), Wunsch
patent: 4600209 (1986-07-01), Kerr, Jr.
patent: 4616797 (1986-10-01), Cramer
patent: 4629074 (1986-12-01), Toder
patent: D289604 (1987-05-01), Gallant et al.
patent: 4691397 (1987-09-01), Netzer
patent: 4702448 (1987-10-01), LoJacono et al.
patent: 4718892 (1988-01-01), Yung-Ho
patent: 4729576 (1988-03-01), Roach
patent: 4744536 (1988-05-01), Bancalari
patent: 4768241 (1988-09-01), Beney
patent: 4905882 (1990-03-01), Ross
patent: 4905944 (1990-03-01), Jost et al.
patent: 4925444 (1990-05-01), Orkin et al.
patent: 4945592 (1990-08-01), Sims et al.
patent: 4966340 (1990-10-01), Hunter
patent: 4969768 (1990-11-01), Young
patent: 4997150 (1991-03-01), Mardollo
patent: 5016307 (1991-05-01), Rebar
patent: 5023967 (1991-06-01), Ferrand
patent: 5078349 (1992-01-01), Smith
patent: 5083807 (1992-01-01), Bobb et al.
patent: 5094418 (1992-03-01), McBarnes, Jr. et al.
patent: 5108066 (1992-04-01), Lundstrom
patent: 5110076 (1992-05-01), Snyder et al.
patent: 5112019 (1992-05-01), Metzler et al.
patent: 5125607 (1992-06-01), Pryor
patent: 5174533 (1992-12-01), Pryor et al.
patent: 5207642 (1993-05-01), Orkin et al.
patent: 5224681 (1993-07-01), Lundstrom
patent: 5319816 (1994-06-01), Ruehl
patent: 5322253 (1994-06-01), Stevens
patent: 5335384 (1994-08-01), Foster et al.
patent: 5400995 (1995-03-01), Boyd
patent: 5407163 (1995-04-01), Kramer et al.
patent: 5542138 (1996-08-01), Williams et al.
patent: 5588166 (1996-12-01), Burnett
patent: 5592153 (1997-01-01), Welling et al.
patent: 5636823 (1997-06-01), Boyd
patent: 5647491 (1997-07-01), Foster et al.
patent: 5657884 (1997-08-01), Zilincar, III
patent: 5699988 (1997-12-01), Boettger et al.
patent: 5704577 (1998-01-01), Gordon
patent: 5772162 (1998-06-01), Lin
patent: 5820086 (1998-10-01), Hoftman et al.
patent: 5826847 (1998-10-01), Warner et al.
patent: 5857685 (1999-01-01), Phillips et al.
patent: 5888014 (1999-03-01), Lung et al.
patent: 6224027 (2001-05-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 299 03 222 (1999-06-01), None
patent: 0 893 557 (1998-07-01), None
patent: WO 93/12346 (1993-06-01), None
patent: WO 98/02107 (1998-01-01), None
patent: WO 01/86575 (2001-11-01), None
Action Troy D.
Riley Carl W.
Bose McKinney & Evans LLP
Hill-Rom Services Inc.
Lagman Frederick L.
LandOfFree
Hospital bed equipment support apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Hospital bed equipment support apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hospital bed equipment support apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3268232