Sensor unit, bed for a patient and method of modifying a patient's bed

Abstract

The present invention allows on demand retrofit of a bed ( 2 ) with the sensing units ( 9 ) of a new monitoring system, which allows mechanical sensing of the presence of patients, movements of patients, breathing and heart rate.

1 . A sensor unit ( 9 ) for measuring at least one force component acting in a first direction ( 12 ), comprising a number of mechanical fasteners ( 50 , . . . ), said fasteners ( 50 , . . . ) being adapted for establishing a mechanical connection to a bed ( 2 ) in a way that the sensor unit ( 9 ) is in a clearly defined position relative to the bed ( 2 ), said fasteners ( 50 , . . . ) being detachable in said first direction ( 12 ). 
   
   
       2 . A bed ( 2 ) for a patient, comprising a system ( 61 ) for manipulating the position of the patient in a first direction ( 12 ), and further comprising a number of mechanical fasteners ( 50 ,  52 , . . . ), wherein
 said number of fasteners ( 50 ,  52 , . . . ) attach a number of sensor units ( 9 ,  9 ′) to the bed ( 2 ) in such a manner that each sensor unit ( 9 ,  9 ′) is in a clearly defined position relative to the bed ( 2 ),   said number of fasteners ( 50 ,  52 , . . . ) are adapted in such a way that each sensor unit ( 9 ,  9 ′) is replaceable by another sensor unit ( 9 ,  9 ′), and said fasteners ( 50 ,  52 , . . . ) being detachable in the first direction ( 12 ), and   said replacing being achievable using the manipulating system ( 61 ) of the bed ( 2 ).   
   
   
       3 . The bed ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the sensor unit is a working sensor unit ( 9 ) or a sensor unit dummy ( 9 ′). 
   
   
       4 . The bed ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the working sensor unit ( 9 ) is adapted to measure a first force component acting in the first direction ( 12 ), and a second force component acting in a second direction ( 13 ,  14 ), said second direction ( 13 ,  14 ) being different from said first direction ( 12 ), said first force component corresponding to a number of first parameters of the patient, e.g. the patient's weight, and said second force component corresponding to a number of second parameters of the patient, e.g. the patient's movements. 
   
   
       5 . The bed ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the sensor units ( 9 ,  9 ′) comprise a number of spline shafts ( 50 ) and the bed ( 2 ) comprises a number of receptacles ( 52 ) for said spline shafts ( 50 ) or vice versa. 
   
   
       6 . The bed ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the manipulating system ( 61 ) is adapted to lower the patient support ( 4 ) in the first direction ( 12 ) into a displacement position, in which the sensor units ( 9 ,  9 ′) can be partly detached from the bed ( 2 ) and the replacement of the sensor units ( 9 .  9 ′) can be carried out, while the patient support ( 4 ) is supported from below by a number of displacement rods ( 60 ). 
   
   
       7 . The bed ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a number of fasteners ( 50 ,  52 , . . . ) are attached to or part of the base frame ( 3 ) and the patient support ( 4 ), and a number of sensor units ( 9 ,  9 ′) are attached by means of the fasteners ( 50 ,  52 , . . . ) between the base frame ( 3 ) and the patient support ( 4 ). 
   
   
       8 . The bed ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a number of fasteners ( 50 ,  52 , . . . ) comprises a quick opening device ( 55 ). 
   
   
       9 . The bed ( 2 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized by a hydraulic manipulating system ( 61 ). 
   
   
       10 . A method of modifying a patient's bed ( 2 ), the bed ( 2 ) comprising a system ( 61 ) for manipulating the position of the patient in a first direction ( 12 ), and further comprising a number of mechanical fasteners ( 50 ,  52 , . . . ), said fasteners ( 50 ,  52 , . . . ) being detachable in the first direction ( 12 ), said method comprising the steps of
 operating the manipulating system ( 61 ) in such a manner that the patient moves from a first position to a second position,   replacing a number of first sensor units ( 9 ,  9 ′), which are attached to the bed ( 2 ) by means of the fasteners ( 50 ,  52 , . . . ) in such a manner that each sensor unit ( 9 ,  9 ′) is in a clearly defined position relative to the bed ( 2 ), by second sensor units ( 9 ,  9 ′), and   operating the manipulating system ( 61 ) in such a manner that the patient moves from the second position to the first position.