Height adjustable patient support platforms

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for height adjusting patient support platforms, such as, for example, of a bed (e.g., the mattress support platform of a standard hospital bed with side rails), gurney, couch, chair, or recliner, to which a patient may be confined. The systems and methods are designed to lower the height of a patient support platform at least closer (and essentially all the way) to floor level in a relatively quick and controlled manner to reduce fall distances. Lowering the height of a patient support platform corresponding reduces the likelihood and significance of patient injuries resulting from falls when a patient attempts to exit the patient support platform.

1 . A bed, comprising:
 a support platform;   a plurality of platform lifts, each platform lift including:
 a lift component configured to raise and lower in response to an appropriate signal; 
 a channel permitting external components attached to the lift component to raise and lower with the lift component; 
   a corresponding plurality of connecting brackets affixed to the support platform, each connecting bracket including a connection plate, each connection plate extending into a channel of a platform lift and attached to a lift component of a corresponding platform lift; and   a conduit connected to each of the platform lifts, the conduit for transferring a substance at each platform lift used to regulate the height of each of the plurality of lift components respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , each platform lift further comprising:
 a spring configured to lower the rate of deceleration of the corresponding lift component when the lift component is rapidly lowered to essentially floor level.   
     
     
         3 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an emergency stopping mechanism to stop lowering of the support platform; and   one or more sensors, each sensor configured to:
 sense objects beneath the support platform that would collide with the support platform during descent; and 
 and signal the emergency stopping mechanism to stop lowering the platform in response to detecting an object that would collide with the support platform. 
   
     
     
         4 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mechanical latch that locks the support platform at a current height.   
     
     
         5 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mattress that rests on top of the support platform.   
     
     
         6 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pivoting lift arm attached to the support platform, the pivoting lift arm pivotable to extend past the edges of the support platform; and   a flexible lift cradle coupled to the pivoting lift arm, the flexible lift cradle configured to secure a patient for transferring the patient to and from the support platform.   
     
     
         7 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each platform lift comprises a pneumatic lift component configured raise and lower, including rapidly lowering to essentially floor level in response to compressed air being evacuated from the pneumatic lift component. 
     
     
         8 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each platform lift comprises a hydraulic lift component configured raise and lower, including rapidly lowering to essentially floor level in response to fluid being evacuated from the hydraulic lift component. 
     
     
         9 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each platform lift comprises a mechanical lift component configured raise and lower, including rapidly lowering to essentially floor level in response to an electrical signal. 
     
     
         10 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each platform lift comprises a lift component configured raise and lower, including rapidly lowering the support platform to between zero and three inches above floor level in two seconds or less. 
     
     
         11 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a conduit for receiving compressed air at each platform lift used to regulate the height of each of the plurality of lift components respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a conduit for receiving fluid at each platform lift used to regulate the height each of the plurality of lift components respectively. 
     
     
         13 . The bed as recited in  claim 11  or  12 , further comprising:
 an pressure gauge for measuring the pressure in the conduit.   
     
     
         14 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a compressed air source coupled to the conduit for supplying compressed air to the lift components; and   a release valve coupled to the conduit for releasing compressed air from the lift components.   
     
     
         15 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each lift component is configured to rapidly lower to essentially floor level in response to a signal indicating a potential bed exiting event. 
     
     
         16 . A system for responding to a bed exiting event, the system comprising
 a bed, comprising:
 a support platform; 
 a plurality of platform lifts, each platform lift including:
 a pneumatic lift component configured to raise and lower in response to changes in compressed air supplied to the pneumatic lift, including rapidly lowering to essentially floor level in response to a signal indicating a potential bed exiting event; 
 a spring configured to lower the rate of deceleration of the corresponding lift component when the lift component is rapidly lowered to essentially floor level; and 
 a channel permitting external components attached to the lift component to raise and lower with the lift component; 
 
 a corresponding plurality of connecting brackets affixed to the support platform, each connecting bracket including a connection plate, each connection plate extending into a channel of a platform lift and attached to a pneumatic lift component of a corresponding platform lift; 
 a conduit connected to each of the platform lifts, the conduit for transferring compressed air at each platform lift used to regulate the height each of the plurality of lift components respectively; 
   a compressed air source coupled to the conduit for supplying compressed air to the lift components;   a release valve couple to the conduit for releasing compressed air from the lift components; and   one or more sensors connected to the release valve, the sensors configured to:
 sense inputs to monitor a patient resting on the support platform; and 
 provide a combination of sensed inputs indicative of the patient attempting to exit the support platform. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the sensors are further configured to send a signal to the release valve to release the compressed air from the pneumatic lift components in response to a combination of sensed inputs indicating that the patient is attempting to exit the support platform. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein each pneumatic lift component is configured to rapidly lower the support platform to between zero and three inches above floor level in two seconds or less when compressed air is released from the conduit. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a computer system, the computer system connected to the one or more sensors and the release valve, the computer system including:
 system memory;   one or more processors;   one or more physical storage media having stored thereon an event detection module, the event detection model configured to:
 receive provided sensed inputs from the one or more sensors; and 
 detect when a combination of provided sensed inputs is indicative of the patient attempting to exit the support platform. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the event detection module is further configured to send a signal to a central station indicating that the patient is attempting to exit the support platform. 
     
     
         21 . The system as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the event detection module is further configured to:
 receive a second signal from the central station the second signal indicating that the support platform is to be rapidly lowered to essentially floor level; and   send a third signal to the release valve to release the compressed air from the pneumatic lift components in response to receiving the second signal.   
     
     
         22 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the event detection module is further configured to send a signal to the release valve to release the compressed air from the pneumatic lift components in response to detecting that the combination of provided sensed inputs indicate that the patient is attempting to exit the support platform.
 send a signal to a central station indicating that the patient is attempting to exit the support platform
 to a combination of sensed inputs indicating that the patient is attempting to exit the support platform. 
   
     
     
         23 . A bed, comprising:
 a support platform;   a plurality of platform lifts, each platform lift including:
 a lift component configured to raise and lower in response to an appropriate signal, including rapidly lowering to essentially floor level in response to a signal indicating a potential bed exiting event; and 
 a channel permitting external components attached to the lift component to raise and lower with the lift component; 
   a corresponding plurality of connecting brackets affixed to the support platform, each connecting bracket including a connection plate, each connection plate extending into a channel of a platform lift and attached to a lift component of a corresponding lift component; and   one or more driver motors, each drive motor configured to regulate the height of one or more of the plurality of lift components respectively, each drive motor configured with an electrical connection to receive electrical power for raising and lowering its respective lift components.