Hill-rom Services, Inc.

James D Voll

Gavin Martin Monson

John D Christie

Dan R Tallent

Marwan E Nusair

Ryan S Severns

Bryan Weidman

Brett A Knittle

David Lance Ribble

Kirsten M Emmons

Neal Wiggermann

John V Harmeyer

Yongji Fu

Joseph T Canter

Frank E Sauser

Charles A Lachenbruch

Douglas A Seim

Eric David Benz

Edward J Koors

Steven Alan Dixon

Todd P O'Neal

Michael Scott Hood

Gregory Wiley

David C Newkirk

Joshua A Williams

Arpit Shah

Eric R Meyer

Rachel L Williamson

Philippe Kaikenger

Darrell L Borgman

Scott M Corbin

Brandon P Fisk

Nicholas C Batta

Michael M Frondorf

John G Byers

Douglas E Borgman

Gregory J Shannon

Catherine M Wagner

Brian S Guthrie

Jnanesha Ramegowda

Michael Churilla

Kathryn R Smith

Nicole Johannigman

John Goewert

Jason B Grace

Taylor Franklin

Victor Potter

Frederick Schultz

Nicholas Comparone

Kin Choi

Keith Moores

Michael R Montini

Sridhar Karimpuzha Seshadri

Thomas L Simpson

Jason M Gilreath

Wui Hsien Wong

Andrew R Wager

Gary R Gibbons

Faron L Blessing

Stephen S Amrhein

Herve Gautier

Jean-Francois Lellig

Matthieu Guetta

A method of manufacturing incontinence detection pads that have wireless communication capability includes readying an RFID tag applicator to place RFID tags on backsheet material fed between a pair of nip rollers. The backsheet material has a series of electrode traces thereon. The method also includes operating a nip roller motor to feed the backsheet material between the pair of nip rollers and toward the RFID tag applicator, operating the RFID tag applicator to place each RFID tag across regions of a respective electrode trace of the series of electrode traces, and operating RFID tag test equipment to energize each RFID tag a first time and a second time using wireless emissions and receiving return signals from each RFID tag in response to the wireless emissions.

Manufacturing method for incontinence detection pads having wireless communication capability

An incontinence detection system monitors an area for moisture events and wirelessly transmits moisture-related information to one or more notification devices. The system has a pad that includes a substrate and one or more sensors supported by the substrate. The sensor(s) emit wireless signals indicative of the moisture-related information. A sensor event communication system forwards the sensor signals to another device, such as a notification device. Portions of the system are included in a patient support apparatus, such as a bed.

Incontinence detection systems for hospital beds

An incontinence detection pad has an RFID tag in which an authentication code, such as an electronic product code (EPC), is stored. A reader in wireless communication with the RFID tag of the incontinence detection pad verifies that the incontinence detection pad is an authorized detection pad. Thus, unauthorized incontinence detection pads that do not have the proper authentication code are not able to be used in an incontinence detection system.

Incontinence detection method

An absorbent article has one or more fluid filter layers to inhibit electrode traces from being exposed to low volumes of fluid to reduce the number of false positives that are indicated by an RFID tag of the incontinence detection pad. An antenna inlay has a sacrificial trace portion to permit testing for proper operation of an RFID chip electrically coupled to the antenna inlay. After testing, the sacrificial trace portion is severed. A fluid barrier layer blocks fluid from reaching portions of electrode traces that are located on a backsheet outside a periphery of an absorbent core of an incontinence detection pad. The power at which an antenna transmits to wirelessly energize a passive RFID tag of an incontinence detection pad is controlled to reduce the number of false positives indicated by the RFID tag.

Method of manufacturing RFID tags

A patient support apparatus may include a support surface configured to conduct air along a top face of the support surface so that heat and moisture from a patient lying on the support surface are drawn away from the top face of the support surface. An opening may be formed in a side of the support surface. A cavity may extend from the opening into the support surface. An inlet port may be positioned within the cavity and fluidly coupled to the top face. A blower assembly may be configured to position within the cavity. The blower assembly may have an outlet port that couples to the inlet port when the blower assembly is positioned within the cavity. The blower assembly may conduct air through the inlet port to the top face of the support surface.

Patient support surface control, end of life indication, and x-ray cassette sleeve

Incontinence detection pad having redundant electrical paths to an RFID tag

Incontinence detection pad validation apparatus and method

An absorbent article has one or more fluid filter layers to inhibit electrode traces from being exposed to low volumes of fluid to reduce the number of false positives that are indicated by an RFID tag of the incontinence detection pad. An antenna inlay has a sacrificial trace portion to permit testing for proper operation of an RFID chip electrically coupled to the antenna inlay, After testing, the sacrificial trace portion is severed. A fluid barrier layer blocks fluid from reaching portions of electrode traces that are located on a backsheet outside a periphery of an absorbent core of an incontinence detection pad. The power at which an antenna transmits to wirelessly energize a passive RFID tag of an incontinence detection pad is controlled to reduce the number of false positives indicated by the RFID tag.

Incontinence detection pad with liquid filter layer

A method of determining information about a device includes the steps of 1) acquiring an image of at least a portion of the device, 2) comparing the information content of the image to the information content of at least one record of a library, and, 3) if the comparison is positive, reporting that the device is in the possible state represented by the library record. A method which depends on calculations based on the acquired image rather than on comparison of the information content of the image to the information content of one or more library records is also disclosed. A system for determining the state of the device is also disclosed.

Image based monitoring of the state of a device

A system for detecting an incontinence event includes a pad which is deployable on a mattress and which, as deployed, has a first conductor and a second conductor and in which the first conductor and the second conductor are not in electrical communication with each other. The system also incudes an RFID reader subsystem having a processor and an array of two or more spatially distributed antennas. The system is adapted to A) command transmission of energy from the antenna array at a variety of powers and at various frequencies, B) monitor the antenna array for a return signal resulting from the spatially and temporally varying transmission, and C) communicate a WET or DRY status to a destination. The WET or DRY status depends on a moisture status indicator of the return signal.

Incontinence detection system

An occupant support system includes a framework, a mattress supported by the framework and having at least one bladder, an electromagnetic signal source, and an electromagnetic signal receiver. The receiver is spaced from the occupant facing side of the mattress. The signal source is configured to direct an electromagnetic signal at a target. The signal receiver is configured to receive a return signal from the target in response to the directed signal. The system also includes a processor adapted to determine immersion of the target as a function of the information content of the return signal.

Occupant support and mattress with immersion sensing capability and methods of managing bladder pressure in the occupant support and mattress

RFID tag inlay for incontinence detection pad

Incontinence detection pad manufacturing method

Growing community of inventors

Columbus, IN, United States of America

James D Voll