EP3287111A1 - Bed, in particular hospital and/or care bed - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a bed, in particular hospital and / or nursing bed, with an electromotively operated functional component (2) and / or an operating state detecting sensor (3) and a communication unit (4) in the communication connection (5) with the functional component (5). 2) and / or the sensor (3), wherein the communication unit (4) has a radio interface (6), wherein the radio interface (6) provides a data channel, the radio transmission of data via a proprietary DECT radio protocol based on a specifiable layer protocol is used.

Description

The invention relates to a bed, in particular a hospital and / or nursing bed, with a motor-operated functional component and / or an operating conditions detecting sensor and a communication unit, which is in communication with the functional component and / or the sensor, wherein the communication unit is a radio interface having. The invention further relates to a system for remote inquiry and transmission of operating conditions of a bed and / or the remote control thereof, with a bedside communication unit, which communicates with an electromotively operated functional component and / or a sensor of the bed and in turn with a radio link a communication base standing radio interface has.

Beds of typical design have a bed frame that provides a lying surface element, for example in the design of a slatted frame. When used as intended, the lying surface element serves to accommodate a bed mattress.

Hospital and / or nursing beds have their particular application mostly on multi-part lying surface elements that are designed to be pivotable relative to each other. It is thus permissible for a person lying in bed to be able to assume a reclining and / or sitting position that meets individual requirements. Common to the market are lying surface elements, which consist of four or five parts, that is sections that can be pivoted relative to each other if necessary. The pivoting is preferably carried out by means of motor drives, which increases the ease of use.

Previously known hospital and / or nursing beds also typically have side rails. If necessary, these can be transferred from a use position to a non-use position and vice versa. In the use position, a side rail protects a person lying in bed from accidentally falling out of bed. In the non-use position, however, the side rail is moved in such a position that an unhindered entry into bed is allowed.

From the prior art, it is also known to equip hospital and / or nursing beds with sensors that can detect certain operating conditions of the bed. In the case of detection, a signal output can then take place, for example an acoustic alarm.

Furthermore, it is known from the prior art to remotely monitor operating conditions detected by bed sensors. For example, the WO 98/24577 A1 a generic bed that not only has sensors but also a communication unit that has a radio interface. According to a preferred embodiment of WO 98/24577 A1 is used for radio communication an in-house mobile radio system, preferably according to the DECT standard. There is thus a radio connection via the voice channel of the mobile system instead.

The above-described hospital and / or nursing beds have proven themselves in everyday practice. There is nevertheless room for improvement. It is particularly desirable on the user side to improve handling comfort and handling safety.

It is therefore the object of the invention to propose a novel bed that allows improved handling while increasing the safety of use.

To achieve this object, the invention proposes a bed of the type mentioned above, which is characterized in that the radio interface provides a data channel which serves for a radio transmission of data via a proprietary DECT radio protocol on the basis of a predefinable layer protocol.

The bed according to the invention allows a remote maintenance and a remote control. For this purpose, it is structurally provided that the bed is equipped with a communication unit which has a radio interface. This radio interface works according to the DECT standard, which serves operational safety. This is in departure from the prior art according to the WO 98/34577 A1 for a radio connection not a voice channel of an in-house mobile radio system. Rather, it is provided that the radio connection is handled via a data channel, which is why the radio interface of the bed according to the invention provides a data channel. This data channel is used for radio transmission of data via a proprietary DECT radio protocol based on a predefined layer protocol.

According to the embodiment of the invention, the usual voice channel according to the prior art is replaced by a secure data channel. A data transmission in a DECT mobile radio system according to the prior art is therefore just not wanted and not provided. Rather, in addition to a mobile radio system which may already be present on site, a radio network provided exclusively for communication with the bedside communication unit is made available on the basis of a data channel, via which data channel a radio transmission of data by means of a proprietary DECT radio protocol on the basis of a predefinable Layer protocol takes place.

On the bed side, the communication unit communicates with electric motor-operated functional components of the bed and / or with sensors which are intended to detect operating conditions of the bed. As an electric motor operated functional components of the bed are in particular in their position adjustable lying surface elements, side rails and / or the like and a device for height adjustment of the bed in question. Operating conditions detecting sensors are in particular sensors for detecting the position of the bed in the room, for detecting the height position of a bed, for detecting the position of the side rails, for detecting the position of the lying surface element and / or the like. As further sensors, sensors may be provided which, as pressure sensors, detect a document state of the bed which, as temperature and / or moisture sensors, detects the ambient atmosphere and / or the like. Essential to the invention is that all functional components and / or sensors are connected to a central communication unit of the bed, via which communication unit access to the individual functional components and / or sensors is permitted.

The communication unit itself has a radio interface in the manner already described above. This makes it possible to access the communication unit of the bed and thus the functional components and / or sensors connected thereto from a bed-remote control or operating unit. So it is particularly permitted to be able to check from the bed remote control and operating unit operating conditions of the bed, for example, whether a side rails in accordance with regulations Use or non-use position is locked, whether the lying surface element has taken the desired position and / or whether the bed is positionally secured in its position in space. Furthermore, it can be checked whether the room temperature and / or the temperature of a person lying in bed lies within specifiable parameters. The same applies to other detectable by corresponding sensors parameters such as pressure, humidity and / or the like.

The design of the communication unit with a radio interface offers the advantage that the bed can be positioned independently of position of any wiring in the room or a part thereof. In this case, the particular aspect of the invention is that the radio interface works according to the DECT standard, in contrast to the prior art, not the DECT voice channel but a data channel is used for communication, the radio transmission of data via a proprietary DECT Radio protocol is used. On the one hand, a trouble-free frequency range is used, on the other hand bidirectional communication is possible, which makes it possible, on the one hand, to interrogate operating parameters of the bed and, on the other hand, to enable remote control of the bed. In contrast to other radio standards, such as WLAN or Bluetooth, the DECT standard offers manipulation security and, in particular, functional reliability. In particular, the superposition with other radio signals does not lead to an overload or even a failure of the radio link. It is thus allowed a secure data access from a distance to the communication unit of the bed.

The radio interface of the communication unit is preferably in radio communication with a communication base. This communication base is formed close to the bed. "Close to the bed" in the sense of the invention means such a distance to the bed, which still allows a secure radio link between the communication unit on the one hand and the communication base on the other.

According to a first alternative of the invention, the communication base may be a mobile terminal, such as a tablet. In the intended use case, the communication base is in direct communication connection with the communication unit of the bed, which makes it possible to make a remote control and / or a remote query of the bed. For safety reasons, it is preferably provided that the radio link between communication base and communication unit allows such a spatial distance between the communication base and bed, in particular in a remote control of the bed visual contact between a communication base using the user on the one hand and a possibly in bed person on the other.

Alternatively it can be provided that the communication base is formed by a server and / or a gateway. Such a communication base is preferably itself in communication-technical connection with a communication module, for example a computer. In particular, a radio connection, for example via WLAN or a cable connection, for example via LAN, is considered as the communication technology connection. Without the installation of further technical components, communication between the communication module and the communication base is permitted, and thus remote from the bed. The communication module in turn is in communication-related connection with a control and operating unit. This can be done by radio, but also wired. In the intended use case, the control and operating unit thus communicates via the communication module via radio or cable with the communication base, which in turn is in radio communication with the radio interface of the communication unit of the bed.

For safety reasons, it is preferred that no access to bed-side functional components is permitted by means of the control and operating unit communicating with the communication module in communication-technical connection. By means of the control and operating unit only a selection and / or query of the bedside sensors is possible. It is thus ensured that it is not possible to remotely control the bed from a control and operating unit which, in the event of use, requires that the bed being used be out of sight of the user. A remote control of the bed, however, is only possible by means of a standing in direct radio communication with the bed communication base, such as a tablet. For this purpose, the tablet is to connect directly to the bed by radio. As long as this direct connection exists, the communication connection to any other communication bases, such as a server or a gateway is interrupted. In this respect, the direct connection between a communication base and the bedside communication unit is necessary for a

Remote control of the bed by means of the communication base, because only there field strength measurements can be performed.

In the embodiment of the communication base as a server and / or gateway, a multiplicity of communication units, that is to say beds, can be connected in terms of communication technology in an advantageous manner. The communication base or the communications module connected thereto communication module can be used insofar as a central communication device that can optionally connect to the communication units connected thereto, that is beds in combination. By means of the communication module can thus be monitored a variety of beds. In the case of operation, a remote control of the bed takes place in the previously described manner via a communication base, which is in direct radio communication with the respective bed, in which case, in particular, a mobile terminal is used as the communication basis.

It is provided according to a special feature of the invention that the data channel 10 frequency bands each with 12 channels, so a total of 120 channels uses. The communication is synchronous and bidirectional. In the proprietary broadcast mode up to 250 users can be addressed.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the layer protocol comprises four layers, wherein the first three layers are handled via a proprietary DECT protocol, namely for radio transmission to a communication base, which according to the first alternative either a Server and / or a gateway or according to the second alternative to a mobile terminal can act.

It is provided according to a further feature of the invention that over the first three layers is a transport control protocol that maps the fourth layer. This allows the transmission of several messages in one frame, the protection of transmission errors by CRC and the secure transport by Acknowledge.

It is provided according to a further feature of the invention that in the transport control protocol messages with 29-bit identifiers and checksums and Acknowledge algorithms are embedded. This allows the assignment of messages to a function group as well as routing without having to evaluate or know the message.

The invention further proposes a system for the remote inquiry and transmission of operating conditions of a bed and / or the remote control thereof, with a bed-side communication unit, which is in communication with an electric motor-operated functional component and / or a sensor of the bed and in turn a in Radio communication with a communication base standing radio interface, wherein the radio interface provides a data channel that serves a radio transmission of data via a proprietary DECT radio protocol based on a predetermined layer protocol.

In an emergency, control of the motor-operated functional components of the bed can be initiated via the bed-remote control and operating unit, virtually as an emergency measure. However, since there is no visual contact with the bed to be remotely controlled by the user of the bed-remote control and operating unit, it can be provided for safety reasons that a remote control of the bed by means of the control and operating unit is only possible if a video surveillance of the bed is installed, so that a visual inspection of the bed by the user of the control and operating unit is allowed prior to actuation thereof.

The system described above can be used in particular in home care application. Spatially separated beds can be monitored, controlled and optionally operated by means of the system according to the invention from a central location. This makes it possible, in particular from a central location, to see whether a bed connected to it in terms of communication technology is ready for use and in perfect condition. In particular, it can be ascertained whether the bed side rails are in the position of use when the bed is occupied or not. It can also be detected whether a person lying in bed may need help, in which case the central control and operating unit issues a corresponding notification to the responsible body, authority or person.

According to another feature of the invention, the bed may have communication units, such as emergency call transmitters or the like, which, in the case of operation, provide an immediate alarm indication to the central control and the like Guide the control unit.

Consequently, the system according to the invention gives a sick and / or dependent person the possibility of being able to stay in a domestic environment, but not having to forego the control and / or test systems that are available to a hospital and / or nursing home, in particular for monitoring one's own health , Auxiliary personnel can be notified after appropriate sensing by means of the central control and operating unit.

The communication unit of the bed according to the invention preferably provides a plurality of freely switchable functions. These can be either freely switched or locked depending on the user's request. Depending on the user-desired handling and / or safety comfort, functionalities that are possible according to the embodiment according to the invention can thus be enabled by activation or restricted by blocking.

Fig. 1

in rein schematischer Darstellung der prinzipielle Aufbau des erfindungsgemäßen Systems;

Fig. 2

in rein schematischer Darstellung eine Mehrzahl von Betten in der Ausgestaltung nach der Erfindung als Teil eines erfindungsgemäßen Systems;

Fig. 3

in schematischer Darstellung der Einsatz einer Kommunikationsbasis gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 4

in schematischer Darstellung der Einsatz einer Kommunikationsbasis gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform als sogenannte kleine Lösung und

Fig. 5

in schematischer Darstellung der Einsatz einer Kommunikationsbasis gemäß der zweiten Ausführungsform als sogenannte große Lösung.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to FIGS. Showing:

Fig. 1

in a purely schematic representation of the basic structure of the system according to the invention;

Fig. 2

in a purely schematic representation, a plurality of beds in the embodiment according to the invention as part of a system according to the invention;

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of the use of a communication base according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of the use of a communication base according to a second embodiment as a so-called small solution and

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of the use of a communication base according to the second embodiment as a so-called great solution.

Fig. 1 shows in a purely schematic representation in the form of a block diagram a bed 1. This has function components 2 and sensors 3, not shown in greater detail. Examples of functional components 2 include a lifting device intended for height adjustment of the bed, a lying surface element or its sections, a side rail arrangement and / or the like. Sensors 3 may be, for example, pressure sensors, humidity sensors, temperature sensors and / or the like.

The bed 1 furthermore has a communication unit 4. The bed-side functional components 2 and sensors 3 are in communication-technical connection 5 with the communication unit 4. This communication-technical connection 5 can be designed, for example, cable-supported. By means of the communication unit 4 is a data access to the connected functional components 2 and sensors 3, wherein either a state or parameter query in the sense of a downlink or a remote control in the sense of an uplink are possible.

The communication unit 4 in turn has a radio interface 6. According to the invention, this is a radio interface 6 which operates according to the DECT standard, that is to say in the frequency range between 1.88 GHz and 1.93 GHz.

The radio interface 6 provides a data channel which serves for a radio transmission of data via a proprietary DECT radio protocol on the basis of a predefinable layer protocol. The layer protocol preferably has four layers, of which the first three layers are mapped via a proprietary DECT protocol. Over these first three layers is laid a transport control protocol that maps the fourth layer.

The radio interface 6 is in wireless connection 7 with a communication base 8. This is formed close to the bed, which means in the sense of the invention that the spatial proximity of communication base 8 and bed 1 is selected such that a permanently secure radio connection between communication unit 4 and communication base 8 ensures is.

The communication base 8 is connected via a communication connection 10 with a communication module 9 in connection, which in turn is in communication with a connection to a control and operating unit 12, which communication connection can be a radio link 11.

In the intended use, a remote query and transmission of operating conditions of the bed 1 and / or a remote control of the bed 1 can be done via the above-described communication route on the control and operating unit 12. The system 13 thus provided makes it possible to access the bed 1 from outside for communication purposes. In addition, it is permitted to provide a central control and operating unit 12 to which a plurality of beds 1 are connected, as shown FIG. 2 exemplifies.

Fig. 2 can be seen from the embodiment shown that four beds 1 are connected to a common, central control and operating unit 12 communication technology. Each of the individual beds 1 can be queried remotely or remotely with regard to its operating state. Consequently, the system according to the invention makes it possible to use beds 1 in a decentralized manner as intended, but nevertheless to ensure a central control, monitoring and operating function. Thus, the system according to the invention is particularly suitable in the field of home care.

For security reasons in particular it can be provided that a remote control of the bed 1 is only possible if the user is a communication base 8 in sight of the bed 1. This is exemplary in Fig. 3 represented, according to which a tablet is used as the communication base 8. This is in direct radio contact with the communication unit 4 of the bed. 1

As an alternative to a mobile terminal as the communication base 8, a server 15 and / or a gateway 14 can be used as the communication base 8, like the FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically represent. It concerns Fig. 4 the so-called small solution, whereas Fig. 5 the so-called big solution shows.

A "server" in the sense of the invention is to be understood as a component which takes over both data backup in the form of a database and also makes available a service / service in which parts of the database are visualized (Web server, web visualization). The data storage can be constructed redundantly. In addition, the server provides remote access for (remote) maintenance. The configuration level depends on the number of beds 1, the degree of data security (redundancy) and the number of devices (web access).

A "gateway" in the sense of the invention is to be understood as a hardware component which enables conversion from DECT (communication with the bed 1) to an IP connection (LAN / WLAN). The gateway can be both a stand-alone device and part of another component. A gateway preferably supports up to sixteen beds. In the intended use case, it always requires a communication connection to a server.

According to the so-called small solution according to Fig. 4 For the central management of a plurality of beds 1, a server 15 is used, which serves as the basis and to the alls communication base 8 to sixteen beds 1 are connected by communication technology. The server 15 is connected via LAN and / or WLAN with a plurality of gateways 14 in communication connection, to each of which up to sixteen beds 1 are connected by communication technology. The total system can be scaled by the total number of gateways 14 provided.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, an overall device consisting of communication module 9 and control and operating unit 12 is connected to the server 15 in the form of, for example, a PC, a tablet or another mobile terminal, preferably via LAN and / or WLAN.

The so-called big solution according to Fig. 5 provides a server system, wherein a plurality of gateways 14 are connected to a server 15, wherein each gateway 14 is in communication connection with a maximum of sixteen beds 1. Connected in parallel to the server 15, a computer or a tablet is provided, each uniting a communication module 9 and a control and operating unit 12 in itself.

It is generally preferred that a remote control of a bed 1 takes place by means of a communication base 8 in the form of a mobile terminal, as in FIG Fig. 3 shown. This is possible if the communication base 8 in direct Radio communication with the associated bed 1 is.

If such a direct radio connection does not exist, then the bed 1 is in communication connection with a server 15 or a gateway 14, as in Fig. 4 respectively Fig. 5 shown. When connecting the bed 1 with a server 15 or a gateway 14, an exclusive control or parameter monitoring of a bed 1 takes place. As soon as a remote control of the bed 1 is to be made, the bed 1 is to be brought into direct radio communication with a mobile terminal serving as the communication base 8, in which case the communications connection of this bed 1 to the server 15 or gateway 14 is canceled. This radio connection is only rebuilt when there is no direct radio connection to the mobile terminal.

reference numeral

1

bed

2

functional component

3

sensor

4

communication unit

5

communication connection

6

Radio interface

7

radio link

8th

communication base

9

communication module

10

WLAN / LAN

11

radio link

12

Control and operating unit

13

system

14

gateway

15

server

Claims (9)

Bed, in particular hospital and / or nursing bed, with an electromotively operated functional component (2) and / or an operating state detecting sensor (3) and a communication unit (4) in communication connection (5) with the functional component (2) and / or the sensor (3), wherein the communication unit (4) has a radio interface (6),
characterized,
in that the radio interface (6) provides a data channel which serves for a radio transmission of data via a proprietary DECT radio protocol on the basis of a predefinable layer protocol. System for the remote inquiry and transmission of operating states of a bed (1) and / or the remote control of the same, with a bedside communication unit (4) in communication-technical connection (5) with an electromotive operated function component (2) and / or a sensor (3 ) of the bed (1) and in turn has a radio interface (6) in radio communication (7) with a communication base (8), characterized in that the radio interface (6) provides a data channel which is a radio transmission of data via a proprietary DECT Radio protocol based on a predictable layer protocol. A bed according to claim 1 or a system according to claim 2, characterized in that the data channel comprises ten frequency bands each having twelve channels. Bed according to claim 1 or system according to claim 2, characterized in that the layer protocol comprises four layers, wherein the first three layers are mapped via a proprietary DECT protocol. Bed or system according to claim 4, characterized in that over the first three layers is a transport control protocol that maps the fourth layer. Bed according to claim 5 or system according to claim 5, characterized in that in the transport control protocol messages with twenty-nine bit identifiern and checksums and acknowledge algorithms are embedded. System according to claim 2, characterized by a bed-remote control and operating unit (12), which by means of a communication unit (9) with the communication base (8) in communication connection (10). System according to claim 7, characterized in that the communication-technical connection (10) is cable-supported. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the communication-technical connection (10) is radio-supported.

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