	US 11,984,221 B2
	Patient support apparatus and medical device networks
Alexander Josef Bodurka, Portage, MI (US); and Krishna Sandeep Bhimavarapu, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Assigned to Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/559,339.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/245,279, filed on Sep. 17, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/245,245, filed on Sep. 17, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/245,289, filed on Sep. 17, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/193,777, filed on May 27, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/161,175, filed on Mar. 15, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/154,677, filed on Feb. 27, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/132,514, filed on Dec. 31, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0208372 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. G16H 40/67 (2018.01); G16H 40/40 (2018.01); H04W 4/029 (2018.01); H04W 4/33 (2018.01); H04W 4/80 (2018.01)

CPC G16H 40/67 (2018.01) [G16H 40/40 (2018.01); H04W 4/029 (2018.02); H04W 4/33 (2018.02); H04W 4/80 (2018.02)]

20 Claims

1. A system for automatically detecting medical devices positioned within a room of a healthcare facility, the system comprising:

a patient support apparatus, a headwall unit positioned at a fixed location within the room of a healthcare facility, and a controller, wherein the patient support apparatus comprises:

(a) a support surface adapted to support a person;

(b) a first transceiver adapted to establish a first wireless communication link with the headwall unit positioned at a fixed location in a room; and

(c) a second transceiver adapted to communicate a first set of wireless signals to and from a medical device separate from the patient support apparatus and the headwall unit, the first set of wireless signals adapted to provide a first estimate of distance between the second transceiver and the medical device;

wherein the headwall unit comprises:

(i) a third transceiver adapted to establish the first wireless communication link with the first transceiver of the patient support apparatus; and

(ii) a fourth transceiver adapted to communicate a second set of wireless signals to and from the medical device, the second set of wireless signals adapted to provide a second estimate of distance between the fourth transceiver and the medical device;

and wherein the controller is adapted to process the first and second estimates to determine how far away the medical device is from at least one of the patient support apparatus or a volume of space defined within the room.