The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 22, 1992
Filed:
Jan. 02, 1992
Dennis J Hlavinka, Lakewood, CO (US);
Douglas S Harris, Scarborough, NY (US);
Burt L Swersey, Stephentown, NY (US);
Kinetic Concepts, Inc., San Antonio, TX (US);
Abstract
A fluidized bead bed having a scale integrated into the frame of the bed for providing a continuous readout of the weight of a patient supported on the upper surface of the bed. The bed includes a fluidized bead bed support mounted atop a frame such that a torque, corresponding to the supported, load is transmitted to the beam arms cantilevered from each end of the frame and extending to the longitudinal median of the bed along one side thereof. Springs oppose the torque and LVDT's are provided at the distal ends of the arms to produce an electrical signal with pulses of an amplitude related to the weight of the patient on the bed. The distal ends of both beam arms are protected and confined in their movements by a lower guard in the form of a single U-shaped channel, and the springs are mounted to the frame by means of upstanding supports on the top surface thereof. A control panel incorporates a signal processor for providing an accurate but readable output based on the LVDT signals. The processor includes a synchronous detector, an analog low-pass filter, an A/D converter, and a digital filter. The digital filter effectuates a highly weighted average characterized by a filter coefficient which is ordinarilly 128 but may be automatically or selectively decreased in order to quicken an accurate readout following a rapid weight change.