Patient support system control using radar
US11253411B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 2020 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S2013/0245
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A patient immersion sensor includes a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) apparatus to determine a time of flight (TOF) of a RADAR pulse and a reflected signal that is reflected by a patient or by a portion of a patient support surface supporting the patient. The TOF is indicative of an immersion depth or a distance toward bottoming out of a patient supported on the patient support surface, such as a mattress or a pad. The RADAR apparatus emits pulses of very short duration so as to be able to detect objects, such as a patient or a portion of a mattress or pad, at very close distances. The RADAR apparatus may use time-of-flight (TOF) between transmission of the pulse and receipt of a reflected signal to determine a distance toward bottoming out by the patient, thereby to determine if the patient is properly immersed into the patient support surface. Adjustments to inflation or deflation of one or more bladders are made to achieve a desired immersion amount within a tolerance range between upper and lower TOF thresholds.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.