IP Library Granted Patent US 12,329,717
Granted Patent B2
US 12,329,717 · App. 16/829,576 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Control system for a patient therapy device

Inventors: Eric D. Benz (Batesville, IN); John G. Byers (Batesville, IN); Scott M. Corbin (Sunman, IN); Kenneth L. Lilly (West Chester, OH); Joseph T. Canter (Harrison, OH); James L. Walke (Batesville, IN); Richard J. Schuman (Cary, NC); Richard H. Heimbrock (Cary, NC); Bradley T. Smith (Raleigh, NC); John V. Harmeyer (Cleves, OH); Lori Ann Zapfe (Milroy, IN); Mekashia Chenault (Batesville, IN); Kimberly Tuinstra (Bryon Center, MI); Michael A. Knecht (Batesville, IN); Robert M. Zerhusen (Batesville, IN)
Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
A61H9/0092A61G7/0506A61H2201/1642A61H2201/5007A61H2201/5043A61H2201/5048A61H2201/5071A61H2201/5097A61H2203/0437A61H2203/0456
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,329,717
App. No.
16/829,576
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A therapy system includes a patient support apparatus and a pneumatic therapy device that is coupleable to the patient support apparatus. The therapy device may receive power and air flow from the patient support apparatus.

Claims (35)

1. A therapy system comprising

a pneumatic therapy device, and

a patient support apparatus, the patient support apparatus including a removable component, the removable component including a mounting pin operable to engage a mounting hole on a frame of the patient support apparatus, the engagement of the mounting pin to the mounting hole providing an electrical connection such that direct current is transferred from the frame to the component,

wherein the removable component includes an air system operable to a flow of air to the pneumatic therapy device and a port in the patient support apparatus operable to be engaged by a conduit of the pneumatic therapy device to provide a flow path from the air system to a compression sleeve of the pneumatic therapy device, and

wherein the therapy system further comprises

a user interface supported on the frame, and

a controller including a processor and a memory device, the memory device including instructions that are executable by the processor to control a source of pressurized air, an air distribution system, and user interface, the instructions causing the controller to be operable to detect that an end of the conduit of the pneumatic therapy device has been connected to the outlet of the distribution system and provide an interface screen on the user interface to allow a user to control of the source of pressurized air to operate the pneumatic therapy device to provide therapy to an occupant of the patient support apparatus,

wherein the memory device includes further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to monitor for the presence of a pneumatic therapy device, and, if a pneumatic therapy device is detected, initiate a timer to monitor for the initiation of a pneumatic therapy by a caregiver, and if the caregiver does not initiate a pneumatic therapy in the predetermined time, initiate the pneumatic therapy automatically.

2. The therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the air system is contained within the removable component.

3. The therapy system of claim 2 , wherein the air system is powered by isolated DC power.

4. The therapy system of claim 3 , wherein the power is provided by a battery on the patient support apparatus.

5. The therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the air system is coupled to a port on the removable component and receives power through a coupling to the port.

6. The therapy system of claim 5 , wherein the power is isolated DC power.

7. The therapy system of claim 6 , wherein the power is provided by a battery on the patient support apparatus.

8. The therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the memory device includes further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to fill a compression sleeve of the pneumatic therapy device with air, monitor the pressure in the sleeve, determine whether the pressure in the sleeve has changed, and, if the pressure has changed, compute a therapeutic pressure for the particular patient, and apply the therapeutic pressure to the patient during the pneumatic therapy.

9. The therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the memory device includes further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to monitor a sensor to determine if the pneumatic therapy device has been removed by a patient, and, if the pneumatic therapy device has been removed by the patient, issue an alarm.

10. The therapy system of claim 9 , wherein the memory device includes further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to issue an audible verbal prompt regarding the patient therapy device.

11. The therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the therapy system further comprises

a user interface supported on the frame, and

a controller including a processor and a memory device, the memory device including instructions that are executable by the processor to control the source of pressurized air, the distribution system, and the user interface, the instructions cause the controller to be operable to detect that an end of the conduit of the pneumatic therapy device has been connected to the outlet of the distribution system and provide an interface screen on the user interface to allow a user to control of the source of pressurized air to operate the pneumatic therapy device to provide therapy to an occupant of the patient support apparatus.

12. The therapy system of claim 11 , wherein the memory device includes further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to fill a compression sleeve of the pneumatic therapy device with air, monitor the pressure in the sleeve, determine whether the pressure in the sleeve has changed, and, if the pressure has changed, compute a therapeutic pressure for the particular patient, and apply the therapeutic pressure to the patient during the pneumatic therapy.

13. The therapy system of claim 11 , wherein the memory device includes further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to monitor for the presence of a pneumatic therapy device, and, if a pneumatic therapy device is detected, initiate a timer to monitor for the initiation of a pneumatic therapy by a caregiver, and if the caregiver does not initiate a pneumatic therapy in a predetermined time, initiate the pneumatic therapy automatically.

14. The therapy system of claim 11 , wherein the memory device includes further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to monitor a sensor to determine if the pneumatic therapy device has been removed by a patient, and, if the pneumatic therapy device has been removed by the patient, issue an alarm and issue an audible verbal prompt regarding the patient therapy device.

15. The therapy system of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic therapy device comprises a compression sleeve that is adjustable to vary the size of the compression sleeve when applying the compression sleeve to a particular patient.

16. A therapy system comprising

a pneumatic therapy device a including a compression sleeve and a conduit having a first end coupled to the compressions sleeve and a second end,

a patient support apparatus, the patient support apparatus including

a frame,

a source of pressurized air supported by the frame, wherein, the source of pressurized air is located outside an air system connected to the pneumatic therapy device, the source of pressurized air providing pressurized air to both the patient support apparatus and the pneumatic therapy device,

a distribution assembly including a distribution manifold located on a mattress positioned on the patient support apparatus, the distribution manifold including a valve and a sensor to adjust pressure of the air before the air enters the removable component when the pneumatic therapy device is engaged at the port, a conduit for directing a flow of pressurized air from the source of pressurized air, and an outlet-a user interface supported on the frame,

a controller including a processor and a memory device, the memory device including instructions that are executable by the processor to control the source of pressurized air, distribution system, and user interface, the instructions operable to detect that the second end of the conduit of the pneumatic therapy device has been connected to the outlet of the distribution assembly, and if the conduit has been connected, initiate a timer to monitor for the initiation of a pneumatic therapy by a caregiver, and if the caregiver does not initiate a pneumatic therapy in a predetermined time, initiate the pneumatic therapy automatically.

17. The therapy system of claim 16 , wherein the memory device includes further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to monitor for the presence of a pneumatic therapy device, and, if a pneumatic therapy device is detected, determine whether the pressure in the sleeve has changed, and, if the pressure has changed, compute a therapeutic pressure for a particular patient, and apply the therapeutic pressure to the patient during the pneumatic therapy.

18. The therapy system of claim 16 , wherein the memory device includes further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to monitor a sensor to determine if the pneumatic therapy device has been removed by a patient, and, if the pneumatic therapy device has been removed by the patient, issue an alarm.

19. The therapy system of claim 18 , wherein the memory device includes further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to issue an audible verbal prompt regarding the patient therapy device.

20. The therapy system of claim 19 , wherein the pneumatic therapy device comprises a compression sleeve that is adjustable to vary the size of the compression sleeve when applying the compression sleeve to a particular patient.

Assignments (2)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 050260/0644 Recorded Dec 14, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: BREATHE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; HILL-ROM SERVICES, INC.; ALLEN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; WELCH ALLYN, INC.; HILL-ROM, INC.; VOALTE, INC.; BARDY DIAGNOSTICS, INC.; HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058517/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2020
From: BENZ, ERIC D.; BYERS, JOHN G.; CORBIN, SCOTT M.; LILLY, KENNETH L.; CANTER, JOSEPH T.; WALKE, JAMES L.; SCHUMAN, RICHARD J.; HEIMBROCK, RICHARD H.; SMITH, BRADLEY T.; HARMEYER, JOHN V.; ZAPFE, LORI ANN; CHENAULT, MEKASHIA; TUINSTRA, KIMBERLY; KNECHT, MICHAEL A.; ZERHUSEN, ROBERT M.
To: HILL-ROM SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 054191/0165 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62826744 · Mar 29, 2019
Related Publication 20200306130A1 · Oct 1, 2020
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