Weighing scales – Structural installation – Furniture or room fixture
Patent
1993-07-26
1995-02-28
Miller, Jr., George H.
Weighing scales
Structural installation
Furniture or room fixture
5600, G01G 1952
Patent
active
053939387
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to the field of bed scales, and more particularly to a bed scale which is positionable between a bed frame and at least part of a mattress. The scale is used for weighing a person supported on the mattress.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are currently three types of bed scales available for use in weighing a person lying in a bed. The bed scales are either "built-in, .... under-bed," or "bedside."
"Built-in" scales are designed into the bed frame by the bed manufacturer and are usually encountered in higher priced, critical-care bed systems. They can be substantially more expensive than other types of scales, including scales according to the present invention.
"Built-In" scales inherently are unable to be transported from bed to bed. They require the purchase of an entire bed frame specially designed with the "built-in" scale installed. They are not retrofittable to existing bed frames. A patient must be in one of the specially designed "built-in" scale bed frames in order to be weighed. If not, the patient must be moved to that specific bed frame. As the study that is discussed below indicates, when a patient's weight is most desired, movement of the patient is least likely to be in the patient's best interest. Moving the patient is least desirable when the patient is critically ill, and yet this is when the patient is most likely in need of having his/her weight monitored. The relatively high expense of these scales can result in the hospital or care center being unable to afford many of such beds.
Another difficulty with "built-in" scales is that anything hanging on the bed frame can cause error in most of the weighing systems. The error is caused when the scale is initially zeroed out and then items such as urine bags (Folley bags), drug pumps, CPR equipment and the like are hung on the bed frame. The equipment weight causes the scale to include this in the patient's weight, resulting in an incorrect reading of weight. A scale according to the present invention can be independent of both the mattress and the frame of the bed. Therefore, anything hanging on the frame of the bed will not affect the scale or its reading of the patient's weight.
The "under-bed" scales are designed as a ramp for the bed to be rolled onto. The "under-bed" scales can provide continuous monitoring of the total combined weights of the bed, bedding, and patient. These scales typically come as two part systems. One section is used at the head of the bed while the second section is used at the foot of the bed. The installation of these scale systems requires proper ramp placement and alignment so that each of the four bed wheels can be rolled onto the weighing platforms in unison and thereafter be properly positioned on the weighing mechanisms.
These "under-bed" scales are not conveniently transportable, and they are expensive. These "under-bed" scales are relatively difficult to maintain, and often require specially trained personnel to operate them. If these scales are ever moved for use with another bed, they usually require re-calibration by specially trained personnel. Therefore, "under-bed" scales are often both difficult and expensive to install and to maintain.
Finally, there are two types of "bedside" scales. The first type is known alternately as a sling, hammock, or stretcher scale. This scale consists of a canvas type material that is slipped under the patient in the manner of a stretcher. The canvas is then attached to an overhead hoist which lifts the patient from the bed for weighing. The second type of "bedside" scale, sometimes referred to as a litter scale, operates similarly. However, instead of having a canvas sling, this type of scale has a rigid board which lies parallel to the bed, requiring patient transfer before and after weighing.
The need for accurate monitoring of fluctuations in patient body weight has become increasingly important to the medical community in recent years. This fact is being continually reinforced through comments by clinic
REFERENCES:
patent: 4363368 (1982-12-01), Paddon et al.
patent: 4953244 (1990-09-01), Koerber, Sr. et al.
patent: 4961470 (1990-10-01), Koerber, Sr.
patent: 4974692 (1990-12-01), Carruth et al.
patent: 5269388 (1993-12-01), Reichow et al.
Bio Clinic Corporation
Miller Jr. George H.
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