CZ308893B6 - Hospital device for patient support - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a hospital patient a support device comprising a central control unit and a data-connectable hardware key containing the data. Furthermore, the hospital patient support device comprises peripherals, such as sensors, drives, connectable accessories, compressors and control units. The data includes peripheral configuration data, configuration data for the patient's communication interface with the hospital patient support device, and other similar data.

Description

Field of technology

The invention relates to hospital patient support devices used in hospitals and nursing and to systems for controlling their electrical peripherals, storing configuration data, histories of vital signs and other similar functions.

Prior art

In the current state of the art, hospital facilities, such as hospital beds, are equipped with a number of different peripherals and a control unit containing firmware and data. If the control unit is damaged, the stored data as well as the firmware will be lost. This is undesirable in terms of increasing the complexity of replacing a damaged control unit.

In case of replacement of any of the existing peripherals or addition / removal of peripherals, it is necessary to subsequently update the firmware, in order to maintain faultless functionality. This firmware update can be performed remotely, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,852,208 B2, where the hospital bed is wirelessly connected to the hospital network and the firmware can be uploaded to the hospital bed automatically from a remote computer. The remote computer receives data from the bed message, including the version number of the current firmware, and if this firmware is outdated, the remote computer uploads a new firmware version to the hospital bed. This connection method also allows the transmission of up-to-date information about the bed, for example information about the connection to the electrical network, the need for service or the tilting of parts of the bed, even when the hospital bed is being moved. The disadvantage of this involvement is the need to use a hospital network, which may not exist, especially in older hospitals. In the case of a non-existent hospital network, a firmware update is required by direct connection to the control unit, which again increases the complexity of the firmware update, as the service technician is forced to use a computer with specialized software.

The essence of the invention

The above-mentioned drawbacks are eliminated by a hospital patient support device comprising a central control unit and peripherals. The essence of the advantage lies in the fact that the connectable part of the hospital means for patient support is an electronic hardware key, data-connected to a central control unit. The essence of the advantage is used to simplify the installation of a hospital device or the updating of data stored on an electronic hardware key when replacing or adding new peripherals.

Preferably, the electronic hardware key comprises data comprising any of the following types of data: configuration data for performing the desired peripheral operation, configuration data for the patient's communication interface with the hospital patient support device, other configuration data affecting the behavior and manifestations of the hospital device for patient support during its use, data regarding the use of a hospital patient support device and other similar information.

Other configuration data influencing the behavior and manifestations of a hospital device to support a patient during use include, for example, specific motor end position constants or specific constants of various sensors.

Preferably, the data is encrypted. The essence of the advantage is used to improve security, by preventing the use of unauthorized electronic hardware keys.

- 1 CZ 308893 B6

Advantageously, it is used that the electronic hardware key can be implemented as a device containing a memory of, for example, NVRAM (non volatile random access memory), i.e. static memory intended for read only type ROM (Read Only Memory) or programmable read only memory type PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory) or erasable semi-permanent memory type EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), or electrically erasable semi-permanent memory type EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) or ferroelectrically erasable memory with direct input type FRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory) or Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM) or nano random access memory (NRAM) or any other suitable data storage.

Preferably, the hospital patient support means further comprises a port for connecting an electronic hardware key.

Preferably, the port may be a module for physically connecting an electronic dongle (e.g., a USB connector or SD card slot or a DIN / miniDIN connector or any other suitable connector or slot) or a module for wireless communication with an electronic dongle (e.g. for Bluetooth or near-field-communications or any other suitable wireless transmission). The communication protocol between the hospital patient support device and the electronic hardware key can be standardized (USB, RS485, CAN, etc.) or by properties.

Preferably, the peripherals are sensors, drives, connectable accessories, compressors or control units.

Examples of embodiments of the invention

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a hospital patient support device, for example a hospital bed, a transport bed or an armchair, for example a maternity chair or a transport chair. The hospital patient support device includes, for example, a loading surface, a peripheral, a chassis, and a central control unit. The peripherals are, for example, a brake sensor or electric control of brakes, wheels, electric control of directional locking or turning of wheels, linear drive for positioning parts of the loading area, column drive for lifting or tilting the loading area, display device, patient vital signs sensors, sheet winder, controller driven wheel various foot controls, chassis backlight, massage equipment, entertainment equipment, physiotherapy equipment, bed location module, automatic wheel braking system, Nurse call connector, scale module, side controls, side limit switch, X-ray limit switch, motors, patient mobilization system, other elements for sensing the patient's position and condition, a mattress equipped with communication electronics, an active anti-decubitus mattress compressor, a communication module for connecting a hospital patient support device to the hospital network, peripheral diagnostics and data-intensive peripherals, the communication module it can be you, among others Equipped with a wireless communication device using the IEEE 802.11 Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering standard, it can provide video signal transmission within a hospital patient support communication network and other similar peripherals. The peripherals are electrically connected to a central control unit to ensure their controllability.

An electronic hardware key can be connected to the hospital patient support device. The electronic hardware key is in the form of a non-volatile random access memory, ie ROM or PROM or EPROM or EEPROM or FRAM or RRAM or NRAM or any other suitable data storage. The data is stored on an electronic hardware key. This data may include, for example, various types of configuration data for performing the desired peripheral operation, configuration data for a communication interface of a patient-hospital interaction for a hospital device.

- 2 CZ 308893 B6 patient support, specific constants of motor end positions or specific constants of various sensors. The communication interface for patient-hospital interaction can be, for example, a powered wheel controller or various other types of hand controls, foot controls, a touch screen, or remote access devices such as tablets, cell phones, computers, or specialized devices. The required peripheral operation may be, for example, positioning parts of the bed surface, measuring the patient's weight, moving the hospital device over the surface in a certain direction, changing the height of the bed surface, lateral therapy, positioning the bed surface to CPR, positioning the bed surface to Trendelenburg position, positioning the bed surface to reverse Trendelenburg position, indication of lateral lifting, indication of leaving the hospital device to support the patient, or indication of the patient's intention to leave the hospital to support the patient, turning on the chassis lighting, calling service personnel, measuring patient vital signs, transfer of measured data to remote storage, information about the hospital device to support the patient to the remote storage or their display on the display device, positioning the sides, changing the pressure in the mattress, controlling the movement of the massage device, controlling the physiotherapy equipment, controlling entertainment facilities, controlling electrical devices in the room in which the hospital patient support device is located or the sheet winding and other similar operations. The data stored on the electronic dongle can be encrypted. The electronic hardware key is programmed, for example, by means of a specialized programming device or by means of a computer equipped with specialized software. A port is also part of the hospital bed to support the patient. The port can be located on the central control unit or outside the central control unit, for example on the bed frame or on the sides, data-connected to the central control unit. The port allows communication between the control unit and the electronic hardware key. The port may be a physical connection module, such as a USB connector or SD card slot or a DIN / miniDIN connector or any other suitable connector or slot, or a wireless communication module, such as Bluetooth or near-field-communications (NFC) or any other suitable data transfer.

In another exemplary embodiment, only a password for accessing remote storage may be stored on the electronic hardware key. The data is then stored in remote storage. The connection of the electronic dongle to the remote storage is wireless or wired.

Each peripheral has a unique serial number, where the data can be adapted to work with peripherals with a specific serial number, which is advantageous to avoid the use of unauthorized peripherals. Therefore, when replacing a peripheral, for example due to a malfunction or adding / removing a peripheral, it is necessary to update the data. At the same time, the data must be updated when calibrating the peripherals. When changing data, it is necessary to authorize changes via the communication interface of the bed by an authorized person after connecting the electronic hardware key to the port.

When connecting an electronic dongle, the electronic dongle plugs into the port with the hospital patient support device turned off. Another possibility is to connect an electronic hardware key while the hospital patient support device is running, where the control unit is constantly testing whether the electronic hardware key is connected. If the electronic hardware key is not connected or damaged while the hospital patient support device is running, the configuration will not be loaded and the hospital patient support device will operate to a limited extent in emergency mode. In a preferred embodiment in emergency mode, the central control unit tests the connection of the electronic hardware key or allows the use of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation position) or allows the transmission of a missing hardware key message or a combination thereof. The message about the missing hardware key is sent, for example, by means of a signaling diode or remotely, for example via a hospital network or a GSM module. If the electronic hardware key is connected and a valid configuration is loaded into the control unit, the hospital patient support device will be started in a fully functional mode, where the functionality of individual elements depends on the configuration. If the configuration is not valid, for example due to its damage due to the loss of part of the data on the electronic hardware key, the hospital support device remains in emergency mode. In full

- 3 CZ 308893 B6 electronic mode, an electronic hardware key can be used to store, for example, a history of the patient's vital signs, the patient's weight, etc.

In the fully functional mode, the electronic hardware key can also be used as an event register, 5 where the event can be, for example, a fault on some peripheral.

When disconnecting the electronic hardware key as standard, it is advantageous to turn off the hospital patient support device. Then, when the hospital patient support device is turned off, the electronic dongle can be disconnected without the risk of data loss.

Improper disconnection of the electronic hardware key with the hospital patient support device turned on, for example due to an electronic hardware key failure or unexpected disconnection of the electronic hardware key, may result in a stored data or event log failure. For example, after a non-standard disconnection of the electronic hardware key, the hospital patient support device may go into emergency mode or remain in fully functional mode, but without the ability to store data or event logs on the electronic hardware key, until the hospital patient support device is turned off or resolved.

Claims (8)

A hospital patient support means comprising a central control unit, peripherals and a connectable electronic hardware key with a data connection to the central control unit, characterized in that the connectable electronic hardware key comprises data comprising any of the following types of data: configuration data for performing a desired operation peripherals, configuration data for patient communication interface with hospital patient support device, configuration data for specific endpoints of hospital patient support device motor endpoints and for specific hospital device support device sensor constants in use, data regarding use of hospital support device where, in the case of the connection of an electronic hardware key to a hospital patient support device, the hospital patient support device is in a fully functional mode determined by the data stored in the electronic hardware key, without an electronic hardware key connection, the hospital patient support device is in emergency mode, in which the central control unit of the hospital patient support device is operable only to test the electronic hardware key connection, and / or to enable a message on the missing electronic hardware key, and / or to allow the use of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation position of a hospital device to support a patient. Hospital patient support device according to claim 1, characterized in that the data is encrypted. Hospital patient support device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic hardware key is designed as a device comprising a non-volatile memory with direct access to the central control unit. A hospital patient support device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a port for connecting an electronic hardware key. Hospital patient support device according to claim 4, characterized in that the port is a module for the physical connection of an electronic hardware key. Hospital patient support device according to claim 4, characterized in that the port is a module for wireless communication with an electronic hardware key. Hospital patient support device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripherals are sensors, drives, connectable accessories, compressors, auxiliary control units, display devices, audio devices, communication devices connected to the hospital patient support device or other a device for interacting with a hospital patient support device. Hospital patient support device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hospital patient support device is a hospital bed or a transport bed.