Integrated patient bed system

Abstract

The present invention includes an integrated system and methods for patient treatment, the system includes a hospital bed; a plurality of patient diagnostic and treatment devices connected to a network, wherein each of the devices can communicate to a network and exchange information with the network about the care of a patient; and a processor accessible adjacent to the bed and connected to the network to integrate information obtained from the devices through the network with one or more additional sources of information databases, wherein the processor can communicate to one or more patient treatment devices either directly or via the network and the processor directs the one or more patient treatment devices to change the treatment of the patient.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 433,597, filed Apr. 30, 2009, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 049,243, filed Apr. 30, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 146,223, filed Jan. 21, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates in general to the field of patient diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, and more particularly, to an integrated patient system that interfaces with existing technology to improve patient care.STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH[0003]None.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with devices that aid in patient diagnosis, care and treatment.[0005]Modern day decubitus ulcer prevention involves inexact nursing protocols and a variety of questionabl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a system that improves patient monitoring and treatment. It includes an Integrated Patient Bed System (IPBS) that can execute treatment protocols automatically with minimal human intervention. The system can communicate with existing patient care equipment to deliver specific treatments. The invention also includes a patient imaging system that uses x-ray detector panels to capture images of the patient while providing minimal physical involvement of x-ray procedures. The system can store the patient's imaging information and use the weight to determine the amount of x-rays needed. The system can also communicate with various devices connected to the patient, such as ventilators, oximeters, blood pressure measuring devices, and more.

Problems solved by technology

Currently, no standardized care protocol has been accepted for ulcer prevention, and nurses are largely left with the physical burden of moving the patient every two hours while visually observing the skin for signs of obvious breakdown.

However, the problem with every existing approach lies in the reliance on the nurse to observe signs associated with dead tissue.

By the time that the visual degeneration is noticed, substantial tissue death below the skin surface has already occurred.

This delayed detection results in decubitus ulcers that, once treated, may take two years to return to original tissue health.

As a high-cost and high-volume problem in hospitals today, care protocols must move away from efficient treatment towards automated and effective prevention of decubitus ulcers.

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