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 User module for a patient supportUSPTO Application #: 20070180616Title: User module for a patient support Abstract: A user module for a patient support is provided. The user module is coupled to a patient support barrier, such as a siderail or a footboard. (end of abstract) Agent: Bose Mckinney & Evans LLP James Coles - Indianapolis, IN, US Inventors: David C. Newkirk, Brian T. Wiggins, James L. Walke, Jack B. Wilker, Carl William Riley, Robert Mark Zerhusen USPTO Applicaton #: 20070180616 - Class: 5425 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070180616. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/771,318 (Attorney Docket No. N1-17625), filed Feb. 8, 2006, which is incorporated herein by this reference. [0002]This application is related to Patent Cooperation Treaty Patent Application No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 8266-1595), entitled USER MODULE FOR A PATIENT SUPPORT, filed on the same date herewith, which is incorporated herein by this reference. BACKGROUND [0003]Patient supports, such as hospital beds, stretchers, operating room tables, and the like, are commonly used in a variety of care environments to facilitate patient care and transport. [0004]User modules are often provided to enable a user to perform a variety of automated functions relating to a patient support. Examples of such automated functions include raising or lowering one or more sections of the patient support, adjusting the configuration of a bed frame or mattress or portion thereof, and activating or deactivating selected therapies, alarms, communications, and other automated features of the patient support. As such, user modules may be operably coupled to a bed or mattress controller or control system, a remote computer, an air supply or other like service supply. [0005]Many conventional user modules are either fixed in a siderail of the patient support, or are provided as pendants that may be stored in the siderail and removed from the siderail for use. However, many conventional patient support user modules are cumbersome for a caregiver, patient, or technician to use due to poor ergonomic positioning or design. [0006]Particularly with graphic displays, such as touchscreen displays, poor ergonomic positioning or design can result in an undesirable angle between the user and the user module, which makes the controls on the user interface difficult to see and operate. [0007]Poor ergonomic design or positioning of the user module can also make the user module itself difficult or cumbersome to use. For example, two hands may be required, with one hand being used to steady the module while the other hand operates the user interface. [0008]In addition, the method of attachment of the user module to the patient support (i.e., by linkages, arms, wires, cords and the like) and location of such attachments may require the user to bend down, reach across the body, or assume some other uncomfortable position in order to access and use the module. SUMMARY [0009]In one embodiment of the present invention, a patient support apparatus including a siderail is provided. The siderail has a first end, a second end spaced from the first end, a top edge and a bottom edge defining a periphery of the siderail, a vertical axis extending substantially perpendicular to the top edge of the siderail, and a first user module positioned within the periphery of the siderail at an angle in the range of about 5-30 degrees from the vertical axis. [0010]The first user module may include a touchscreen display. The touchscreen display may be positioned at an angle in the range of about 10-15 degrees from the vertical axis. The patient support apparatus may include a second user module located adjacent the first user module within the periphery of the siderail. The second user module may include at least one hardpanel control. The second user module may be positioned at an angle of about 0 degrees from the vertical axis. [0011]In another embodiment of the present invention, a patient support apparatus is provided, including at least one siderail. The siderail may include a top portion, a bottom portion spaced from the top portion, a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, a recessed area defined by a back panel and at least two indented sides, and a non-recessed area, a vertical axis extending substantially perpendicular to the top portion of the siderail, and a touchscreen user interface positionable within the recessed area at an angle greater than 0 degrees with respect to the vertical axis. [0012]The patent support apparatus may include a non-touchscreen user interface provided on the non-recessed area. The touchscreen user interface may be pivotably coupled in the recessed area. The patient support apparatus may include at least one bumper located adjacent the recessed area. A touchscreen user interface may be provided in a housing having a top portion, a bottom portion spaced from the top portion, a first side and a second side spaced from the first side. A pivot coupler pivotably coupling the top portion of the housing in the recessed area of the siderail may be provided. A bottom portion of the user interface housing may include a concavely shaped edge. [0013]In another embodiment of the present invention, a patient support apparatus including at least one siderail is provided. The siderail includes a first end, a second end spaced from the first end, and a docking region located between the first and second ends. At least one guide track is located in the docking region. A user module including a touchscreen display is also provided. The user module includes a guide bar configured to be slidably received by the guide track. [0014]The docking region may be a recessed area defined by a back panel and two opposing sides, and the guide track may be located on one of the sides. The guide track may include an angled portion sized to receive the guide bar to position the user module at an acute angle with respect to a vertical axis of the siderail. [0015]In another embodiment of the present invention, a patient support apparatus is provided. The patient support apparatus includes a base, a frame supported by the base, the frame having first and second spaced longitudinal sides and first and second spaced ends, a first barrier positionable along one of a side and an end, a second barrier positionable along one of a side and an end, a first user module docking region located in the first barrier, and a second user module docking region located in the second barrier. [0016]The first and second barriers may be siderails positionable along the first and second sides of the frame. The first barrier may be a siderail and the second barrier may be a footboard. The first docking region may be configured to receive a first user module including a touchscreen user interface and the second docking region may be configured to receive a second user module including a non-touchscreen user interface. At least one of the first and second user modules may be detachable from a docking region. At least one of the docking regions may be a recessed area including a back panel. A mating connector including electrical contacts may be coupled to the back panel. [0017]In another embodiment of the present invention, a user module for a patient support is provided. The user module includes a housing having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first user interface located on the first side, and a second user interface located on the second side. [0018]The first user interface may include a touchscreen and the second user interface may include at least one hardpanel control. The user module may include a coupling region to pivotably couple the housing to a siderail. [0019]In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a patient support apparatus is provided. The patient support apparatus includes an adjustable-length arm assembly, a user module including a user interface, the user module being pivotably coupled to a first end of the arm assembly, and a pivot coupler to pivotably couple a second end of the arm assembly to a bed frame. [0020]The second end of the arm assembly may be coupled to a footboard. The arm assembly may include a first arm portion and a second adjustable-length arm portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading... 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