Patient support, communication, and computing apparatus
View Patent ↗A patient support apparatus includes an electronic control system with client browser software running on a general purpose operating system that connects with a remote server via a high speed network connection. The browser and operating system allows the patient support apparatus to access and run programs not designed exclusively for patient support apparatus electronics systems. A general purpose microprocessor along with network converter circuitry allows the patient support to deliver messages in frames having intended recipient addresses. The microprocessor communicates with one or more graphical user interfaces and with a control system that controls actuators of the patient support. The control system may comprise networked nodes, such as CAN nodes for example. Isolation circuitry isolates the patient support from a network of a care facility with which it communicates.
1. A person support apparatus, comprising
a frame configured to support a person,
an actuator operable to impart movement to at least a portion of the frame, and
an electronics system coupled to the person support apparatus and configured to control the movable actuator, wherein the electronics system comprises a processor, a memory, a user interface configured to display information as directed by the processor, a network connector configured to connect to a hospital network via hardwired connection, a network interface, wherein the network interface is configured to allow for data communication with a hospital network via the network connector, a general purpose operating system executable by the processor, wherein the general purpose operating system is configured to run a plurality of computer software applications not designed for person support apparatuses, browser software executable by the processor and configured to allow the electronics to act as a client computer by sending a request to a remote server to perform a task, receiving data defining a screen to be displayed on the user interface in response to the request, receiving input from a user at a portion of the screen, and sending the input to the remote server, control software configured to control the movable actuator through at least one input from a user, and an electrical isolator configured to provide electrical isolation of the network connector from at least a portion of the electronics system.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electrical isolator has at least one of an air clearance distance and a creepage distance of greater than 2.0 mm.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electrical isolator is configured to provide isolation through at least one of optical, inductive, magnetic, and capacitive coupling.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the isolator comprises a digital isolator.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a converter circuit configured to convert a network signal to a signal corresponding to the protocol of output on the processor.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the isolator is in communication with the converter circuit.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronics system includes a magnetic interface configured to provide signals to and from the network connector.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronics system is configured to receive an identification of the room in which the patient support is located and to send the identification via the network connector.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronics system is configured to cause a location identification signal to be communicated to the remote server, such that the remote server can associate the data from the electronics system to a physical location in a hospital.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a built-in network communication circuit.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein the network communication circuit comprises an Ethernet communication circuit.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the browser software and the control software are executed by the processor.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor communicates with a controller executing the control software.
14. The apparatus as recite in claim 13 , wherein the controller comprises a controller area network (CAN) module.
15. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor includes at least two of an integrated Ethernet interface, an integrated CAN interface, an integrated image processing unit, and a USB interface.
16. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising at least one USB port provided on the person support apparatus and coupled to the electronics system.