Huntleigh Technology Limited

Stephen Hollyoak

Stephen Hayes

Robert Hugh Jones

Apparatus for selectively supporting a section () of an articulated bed platform in a raised position relative to a frame of the bed includes a stay () having engagement member () which is able to reciprocate in a guide () provided on the frame. Locking means allow the engagement member () to be selectively engaged, such that the engagement member () either reciprocates in the guide (), or is prevented from doing so. When the engagement member () is engaged, the stay () can support the bed section () in the raised position.

Apparatus for selectively supporting a bed section

A first embodiment provides a manually operable castor assembly for a hospital bed, including a wheel unit fittable to a bed frame and provided with a lock actuator. A sensor unit is provided with a trigger element and a sensor element, the trigger element being located on the manually operable brake actuator and the sensor element being located on the wheel unit. Another embodiment provides a manually operable safety side panel assembly including a hinge assembly coupled to the panel element and attachable to a bed frame, and a sensor unit including a trigger element and a sensor element, the trigger element being located on the manually operable actuator and the sensor element being located on a part of the side panel or hinge assembly. Monitoring apparatus monitors the manually operable bed safety device and including a control unit coupled to the sensor unit and an indicator unit controllable by the control unit and operable to give an indication of the state of the device.

Hospital bed sensor system

A pedal () is formed from a single molding and includes first and second arms (), each provided with an over molded marker (). The pedal () has two fittings () for coupling with a brake actuator rod () and a coupling member () respectively. A castor () includes a wheel () which can rotate about a bushing () and a coupling shaft (). Within the shaft () there is provided a brake mechanism for locking the wheel (). A base frame () for a bed includes longitudinal and transverse struts () arranged in a rectangular form, with four castors () and four associated pedal assemblies (). Two actuator rods () are provided, one for each pair of opposing pedal assemblies (), while two connecting elements () are provided, one for each pair of side-by-side pedal assemblies (). All the pedals and thus all the brake mechanisms are coupled to one another through the two actuator rods () and two coupling elements (). When one pedal () is actuated all the castors will either be locked or will all be released by a single operation.

Bed castor and brake assembly

The patient monitoring system comprises at least one load cell element () mounted in relation to a support surface, the load cell element () determining movement of a person on a support surface. The movement is determined based on a reference () measured using the load cell element () when the person is positioned on the support surface in a reference position and the subsequent load changes determined using the load cell element in relation to the reference. If the load change exceeds a pre-defined threshold, an alarm () is activated. The user is able to set the threshold value of the alarm system according to the physical condition of the patient. For example, in some cases it is necessary to he notified about any movements and in others only major movements are of interest. The patient monitoring system is able to provide a flexible means of monitoring of a patient by a nurse or carer.

Patient monitoring system

A bed assembly includes a wheeled base, a sub-frame and mattress support frame. The sub-frame supports a plurality of electrically operated actuators which provide for raising and lowering of the bed. The bed can be lowered to a first low position in which the bed frame is around 38 to 45 centimeters above floor height and to a lower position in which the frame is around 30 centimeters above floor height. The bed is lowered to the first height upon receipt of a first command input and can only be lowered below that first height upon receipt of a second control input distinct from the first control input. Preferably, the bed is lowered at a slower speed from the first low height to its lowermost position.

Bed control procedure

A bed assembly () includes a frame () which supports four curved mattress support panels (-) which are able to move with pivoting of the various parts of the frame (). The curved panels (-) better conform to a patient's body shape and provide an effective lengthening of the mattress support (-), particularly when the back rest () is raised to a sitting position. The support panels (-) are located below the pivot points of the frame (), which further enhances the lengthening effect. The assembly also includes first and second patient retention panels () with complementary edges () which can slide over one another. A key pad unit () protrudes from the retention panel () at a convenient patient position and can be gripped by a patient's hand.

Bed assembly

A profiling bed or similar support surface having a back section, seat section, thigh and calf section convertible to a chair configuration. The back section is mounted on an angled slide to retract as it is rotated. The angle of the slide also provides upward lift of the back section as it is retracted and rotated. This combination of movements mimics the way a person's tissues stretch when they move to a sitting position, reducing pressure and shear. At the same time, the thigh section can be rotated to an incline and the calf section either raised into a horizontal configuration or lowered to a chair configuration during movement of the thigh section. In another embodiment the thigh section is also mounted on a slide to retract towards the foot end as it is rotated to an incline, providing reduction of abdominal strain and increased comfort.

Profiling bed

Hospital bed

A patient support comprising a frame supporting a translucent support surface elevated above the frame by frame members The members support an x-ray cassette tray for sliding movement along the length of the frame The x-ray cassette trays can be loaded onto the members from either or both the head and foot ends of the frame All of the patient support surface can be covered by the x-ray cassettes. In use, the x-ray cassette tray is pulled out from the members and loaded with an x-ray cassette The handle is pulled out from within the tray and locked into position against latch The tray is then slid back onto the members and the position of the cassette within the tray is indicated by the position of the indicator visible along the side of the frame

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Kingswinford, United Kingdom

Stephen Hollyoak