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`between a floor 69 of the hospital room and the portion of headwall unit 32 having
`
`central panels 60 associated therewith as shown in Fig. 8. A set of auxiliary medical
`
`service outlets 71 are coupled to lower portion 67. In addition, the portions of
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`headwall unit 32 in which cavities 34, 36 are defined overhang underlying portions of
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`5
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`floor 69 that are laterally outward of lower portion 67.
`
`As previously mentioned, columns 40, 42 carry patient-care
`
`equipment. Column 40 is configured to have patient-care equipment attached thereto
`
`and detached therefrom, whereas column 42 has patient-care equipment integrated
`
`therewith as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the illustrative example, column 40 has a
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`10
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`vertical arm 62 and an IV rack 64 coupled to vertical arm 62 by suitable couplers such
`
`as, for example, clamps, brackets, latches, grippers, or hooks. IV rack 64 has one or
`
`more hooks 66 to which IV bags 68 couple and one or more poles 70 to which
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`infusion pumps 72 couple. It is within the scope of this disclosure for any type of
`
`medical equipment capable of coupling to an IV pole to be coupled to IV rack. As
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`15
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`shown in Figs. 9 and 10, one or more medical service outlets 73 are mounted to arm
`
`62 of column 40. Services accessible via outlets 73 include electrical services, such
`
`as electrical power and data transfer, and pneumatic services, such as medical gases or
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`suction. Illustratively, electrical power is provided to infusion pump 72 from one of
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`outlets 73 as shown in Fig. 9.
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`20
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`In the illustrative example, column 42 has a vertical arm 74 and a
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`housing 76 coupled to arm 74. A display screen 78 is coupled to an upper portion of
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`housing 76 and a plurality of medical service outlets 80 are coupled to a lower portion
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`of housing 76. Services available via outlets 80 include similar electrical and/or
`
`pneumatic services as are available from outlets 73. Service-delivery lines 82 are
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`25
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`routed from each of outlets 80 through housing 76 and arm 74 of column 42 and
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`through ceiling unit 38 as shown in Figs. 5-7. In addition, service-delivery lines 84
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`are routed from each of outlets 73 through arm 62 of column 40 and through ceiling
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`unit 38 as shown in Fig. 7. In addition, lines 82, 84 are routed into ceiling 46 through
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`an opening 86 that is formed in ceiling above a central region of ceiling unit 38.
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`30
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`Column 40 has a carriage 88 to which arm 62 is coupled and column
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`42 has a carriage 90 to which arm 74 is coupled as shown in Fig. 2. In some
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`embodiments, arm 62 and IV rack 64 (or any other patient-care equipment coupled to
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`arm 62) are pivotable about a vertical axis relative to can-iage 88 in a first direction as
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`indicated by arrow 92, shown in Fig. 2, and in an opposite, second direction as
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`indicated by airow 94, shown in Fig. 4. In other embodiments, arm 62 is fixed
`
`relative to carriage 88 but the coupler to which IV rack 64 (or other patient-care
`
`equipment) couples is pivotable relative to arm 64 in directions 92, 94. Similarly, in
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`5
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`some embodiments, arm 74 and housing 76 are pivotable about a vertical axis relative
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`to carriage 90 in first and second directions and, in other embodiments, arm 7 4 is
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`fixed relative to carriage 90 and housing 76 is pivotable relative to arm 74 about a
`
`vertical axis in first and second directions. Various angular orientations of columns
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`40, 42 about their respective vertical axes are shovvn in Fig. 7. In illustrative
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`10
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`embodiments, the vertical axes about which IV rack 64 and housing 76 pivot extend
`
`through associated vertical arms 62, 74.
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`Ceiling unit 38 of system 30 has a central portion or canopy 96 and a
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`pair of side portions or tracks 98 as shown, for example, in Figs. 1 and 2. Canopy 96
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`generally overlies bed 48, whereas tracks 98 are situated laterally outward of canopy
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`15
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`96. Canopy 96 has a set of lights 100 integrated therein. Lights 100 include reading
`
`lights and/or examination lights. In some embodiments, reading lights comprise
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`standard incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, whereas examination lights comprise, for
`
`example, halogen bulbs and color-correction filters. All types of reading lights and
`
`examination lights are contemplated by this disclosure as being included in ceiling
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`20
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`unit 38. Illustrative canopy 96 also has a display screen 110 integrated therein. In
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`other embodiments, display screen 110 is omitted. Various images, such as family
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`photos and nature scenes may be displayed on screen 110.
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`Ceiling unit 38 has a first or proximal end coupled to or overlying
`
`portions of headwall unit 32 and an opposite, distal end that is spaced apart from
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`25
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`headwall unit 32. Thus, ceiling unit 38 extends from headwall unit 32 along ceiling
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`46 of the hospital room. Canopy 96 comprises a housing or frame 112 and a cosmetic
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`cover or panel 114 that couples to frame 112 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Frame 112
`
`includes portions (not shown) that couple to ceiling 46 and/or to headwall unit 32
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`with suitable couplers such as, for example, bolts, rivets, welds, clamps, tabs, and the
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`30
`
`like. The various pieces of equipment carried by ceiling unit 38, including lights 100
`
`and screen 110, are mounted to frame 112 and extend through appropriately sized
`openings formed in panel 114. In addition, portions oflines 82, 84 loosely drape over
`
`frame 112 and cover 114 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Lines 82, 84 are routed through
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`suitably sized slots or spaces 116 that are provided between frame 112 and ceiling 46,
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`or alternatively, between other portions of ceiling unit 38 through which lines 82, 84
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`are routed.
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`5
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`As columns 40, 42 move between the storage and various use
`positions, lines 82, 84 move relative to ceiling unit 38 in a somewhat random manner.
`However, frame 112 and cover 114 are situated beneath portions oflines 82, 84 to
`
`shield these portions of lines 82, 84 from view. Other portions of lines 82, 84 are
`
`shielded from view by columns 40, 42, respectively. In the illustrative embodiment,
`
`panel 114 has lateral side portions 118 that underlie portions of carriages 88, 90 as
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`10
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`shown in Fig. 5 with respect to carriage 90. Side portions 118 further shield lines 82,
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`84 from view. Lines 82, 84 have sufficient slack in the interior region of canopy 96 to
`
`permit columns 40, 42 to move from the respective storage positions to the respective
`
`farthest use positions adjacent the distal end of associated tracks 98. It is within the
`
`scope of this disclosure for one or more line management mechanisms, such as strain
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`reliefs, hoses, conduits, cables, cable ties, articulating segmented channels, and the
`
`like, to be coupled to lines 82, 84 either to guide or control the movement of lines 82,
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`84 or to restrain the movement of lines 82, 84 in a desired manner as columns 40, 42
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`move between the storage positions in cavities 34, 36, respectively, and the various
`
`positions outside of cavities 34, 36.
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`20
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`Each illustrative track 98 comprises a track member 120 and a
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`cosmetic cover or panel 122 coupled to the respective member 120 as shown in Fig. 5.
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`Suitable couplers, such as illustrative bolts 123, couple track member 120 to ceiling
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`46 or, in alternative embodiments, to portions of frame 112 that overlie tracks 98.
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`The proximal ends of track members 120 overlie respective cavities 34, 36 to permit
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`25
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`carriages 88, 90 to move along track members 120 into cavities 34, 36, respectively.
`
`Columns 40, 42 each comprise a plurality of rollers 124 some of which engage a first
`
`roller-engaging surface 126 of the associated member 120 and others of which engage
`
`a second roller-engaging surface 128 of the associated member 120 as also shown in
`
`Fig. 5. Surfaces 126, 128 are each elongated and extend generally perpendicularly
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`30
`
`relative to wall 44 of the hospital room. Thus, surfaces 126 are parallel with surfaces
`
`128. In addition, surfaces 126, 128 lie in a common horizontal plane. In some
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`alternative embodiments, track members 120 are curved and in other alternative
`
`embodiments, track members 120 are not parallel to each other.
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`Carriages 88, 90 are each somewhat U-shaped having central portions
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`130 that underlie track members 120 and having a pair of side portions 132 that
`
`extend upwardly from respective central portions 130 such that track members 120
`
`are situated between respective side portions 132. Rollers 124 each have shafts 134
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`5
`
`that are coupled to side portions 132 and that extend horizontally therefrom in a
`
`cantilevered manner toward associated track members 120. As columns 40, 42 move
`
`along tracks 98, such as, for example, in directions 136 away from respective cavities
`
`34, 36 as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 6-8, rollers 124 roll along corresponding surfaces
`
`126, 128. Of course, rollers 124 also roll along surfaces 126, 128 when columns 40,
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`10
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`42 move along tracks 98 in directions opposite to directions 136.
`
`According to this disclosure, housing 7 6 carries electrical circuitry to
`
`control the operation of display screen 78. In some embodiments, housing also
`
`carries electrical circuitry to control the operation of display screen 110 and lights
`
`100. In other embodiments, some or all of the circuitry that controls the operation of
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`15
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`screens 78, 110 and lights 100 are housed in portions of head wall unit 32. Such
`
`circuitry includes for example, one or more of a microprocessor or microcontroller,
`
`input/output circuitry, signal conditioning circuitry, signal conversion (analog-to(cid:173)
`
`digital and/or digital-to-analog) circuitry, power conditioning circuitry, memory
`
`circuitry, and the like. In addition, a user interface is provided on column 42 to
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`20
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`permit a user to enter commands and retrieve data for display on screen 78. In the
`
`illustrative embodiment, screen 78 is a touch screen and the user input on column 42
`
`comprises user input buttons 138 displayed on screen 78 as shown, for example, in
`
`Fig. 8.
`
`In some embodiments, the electrical circuitry that controls the
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`25
`
`operation of display screen 78 is coupled to the hospital's computer network or
`
`ethemet. In such embodiments, any of the information available on the network is
`
`viewable on display screen 78. For example, a caregiver is able to retrieve a patient's
`
`medical records (e.g., laboratory test results, medical diagnosis, patient charts, x-rays,
`
`and so on) from the network for viewing on screen 78. In addition, patient point-of-
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`30
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`care data, such as vital signs data (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, neurological
`
`activity, respiration rate, patient temperature, pulse oximetry) and data associated with
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`the operation of patient-care equipment (e.g., data from one or more ventilators,
`
`infusion pumps, electrocardiographs, electroencephalographs), may be displayed on
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`screen 78. Thus, the circuitry associated with screen 78 is programmed and/or
`
`configured to receive and process various types of data signals indicative of the
`
`infonnation to be displayed on screen 78. It is within the scope of this disclosure for
`
`all types of data associated with the care of a patient to be displayed on screen 78. In
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`5
`
`addition, it is within the scope of this disclosure for screen 78 to display multiple
`
`types of data simultaneously, such as in a split screen format. Furthermore, in those
`
`embodiments in which the hospital computer network is coupled to the Internet, then
`
`information accessible via the Internet is also able to be displayed on screen 78.
`
`An alternative IV rack 164 that is attachable to and detachable from
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`10
`
`vertical arm 62 is shown in Figs. 8-10. IV rack 164 is similar to IV rack 64 and
`
`therefore, where appropriate, like reference numerals are used to denote components
`
`of IV rack 164 that are substantially similar to like components of IV rack 64. As was
`
`the case with IV rack 64, IV rack 164 couples to arm 62 with suitable couplers such
`
`as, for example, clamps, brackets, latches, grippers, hooks, or the like. The main
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`15
`
`difference between IV rack 164 and IV rack 64 is that IV rack 164 has a horizontal
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`plate 140 coupled to the lower ends of poles 70. Plate 140 has one or more openings
`
`or sockets 142 as shown in Fig. 8.
`
`An arm assembly 144 for carrying IV rack 164 includes an arm 146
`
`coupled to bed 48 for pivoting movement about a vertical axis, a horizontal plate 148
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`20
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`coupled to arm 144, and a pair of posts 150 extending vertically upwardly from plate
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`146. Arm 146 is movable to a first position extending laterally outwardly from bed
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`48 to support plate 148 and posts 150 at a location which permits coupling of IV rack
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`164 to arm assembly 144 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Vertical arm 62 and carriage 88
`
`are movable along track 98 to position IV rack over plate 148 and posts 150. In
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`25
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`addition, IV rack 164, or the combination of arm 62 and IV rack 164, is rotatable
`
`about the vertical axis extending through arm 62 to orient IV rack 164 such that
`
`sockets 142 are aligned with posts 150. After IV rack 164 is properly oriented over
`ann assembly 144, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, IV rack 164 is lowered in the direction
`
`of arrow 152, shown in Fig. 8, so that posts 150 are received in sockets 142 and so
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`30
`
`that plate 140 rests upon plate 148, thereby to couple IV rack 164 to arm assembly
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`144.
`
`In some embodiments, the coupler that couples IV rack 164 to arm 62
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`is movable vertically relative to arm 62 to permit raising and lowering of IV rack 164
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`and, in other embodiments, arm 62 comprises telescoping segments that permit
`
`raising and lowering ofIV rack 164. Alternatively, IV rack 164 is decoupled from
`
`arm 62 and is lowered manually onto arm assembly 144. It is also within the scope of
`
`this disclosure for an upper frame 154 of bed 48 to be lifted relative to a base 156 of
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`5
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`bed 48 so that posts 150 enter into openings 142 and so that plate 148 moves into
`
`engagement with plate 140. In some embodiments, additional mechanisms (not
`
`shown), such as latches on plate 142 or plate 150, pins that extend through posts 150,
`
`caps that snap or thread onto posts, clamps that grip plates 140, 148, and the like, are
`
`provided to lock IV rack 164 to arm assembly 144. After IV rack 164 is coupled to
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`10
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`arm assembly 144 and decoupled from arm 62, arm 146 is pivotable relative to bed 48
`to a second position having N rack 164 supported alongside bed 48 as shown in Fig.
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`10. Thus, bed 48 and IV rack 164 coupled to bed 48 are transportable through the
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`hospital without needing to disconnect N lines from the patient carried by bed 48.
`
`Referring now to Figs. 11-14, an alternative architectural system 230
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`15
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`has a headwall unit 232 and a ceiling unit 238 that are substantially similar to
`
`headwall unit 32 and ceiling unit 38, respectively, of system 30. Therefore, where
`
`applicable, like reference numerals are used to denote components of system 230 that
`
`are substantially similar to like components of system 30. One of the differences
`
`between system 230 and system 30 is that headwall unit 232 of system 230 has a pair
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`20
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`of auxiliary cavities 234, 236 (see Figs. 12 and 14) that are laterally outboard of
`
`cavities 34, 36, respectively. A pair of doors 235, 237 are each independently
`
`movable bet\veen a closed position, shown in Fig. 11, in which the respective cavity
`
`234, 236 and any items or equipment stored therein are inaccessible and an opened
`
`position in which the respective cavity 234, 236 and any items or equipment stored
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`25
`
`therein are accessible. In the illustrative embodiment, doors 235, 237 pivot about
`
`respective vertical axes when moving between the opened and closed positions.
`
`Suitable locking mechanisms are provided in some embodiments for locking doors
`
`235, 237 in the closed positions. As was the case with system 30, doors 58 of system
`
`230 are movable to open and close cavities 34, 36.
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`30
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`Headwall unit 232 has additional medical service outlets 216 mounted
`
`on a pair of lower vertical panels 218 which are situated beneath the lowermost pair
`
`of doors 58 as shown in Figs. 11, 14, and 14. Headwall unit 232 also has a pair of
`
`lower doors 220 that are movable between respective first positions in which doors
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`220 cover the associated outlets 216 and respective opened positions in which outlets
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`216 are uncovered for use. It is within the scope of this disclosure for system 30 to
`
`also have outlets 216, panels 218, and doors 220. In some embodiments, auxiliary
`
`outlets 71 and outlets 216 are included in the headwall unit and, in other
`
`5
`
`embodiments, only one or the other set of outlets 71, 216 are included in the headwall
`
`unit.
`
`Another of the differences between system 230 and system 30 is that
`
`ceiling unit 238 of system 230 has tracks 198 which are wider than tracks 98 of
`
`system 30. Thus, tracks 198 extend laterally outward from canopy 96 of ceiling unit
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`10
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`238 by a greater amount than tracks 98 extend laterally outward from canopy 96 of
`
`ceiling unit 38. Each of tracks 198 has a cosmetic cover or panel 210. Each panel
`
`210 has a first elongated slot 212 and a second elongated slot 214. In the illustrative
`
`embodiment, slots 212 are parallel with slots 214. Each slot 212 receives a respective
`
`side portion 132 of the associated carriage 88, 90 of the respective column 40, 42.
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`15
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`Thus, provision of slots 212 in covers 210 allows columns 40, 42 of system 230 to
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`move without interference from panels 210 between the respective storage positions
`
`within cavities 34, 36 and the various positions outside of cavities 34, 36.
`
`In some embodiments, slots 214 are situated beneath respective track
`
`members (not shown) that are configured to support auxiliary equipment which is
`
`20 moved out of auxiliary cavities 234, 236 and, in other embodiments, auxiliary
`
`equipment is situated above slots 214. In the example shown in Fig. 12, a privacy
`
`curtain 240 is movable from a storage position in which curtain 240 is situated within
`
`cavity 236 to a use position in which a majority of curtain 240 is drawn out of cavity
`
`236. In the use position, curtain 240 hangs downwardly from substantially the entire
`
`25
`
`length of the track member situated above the respective slot 214. Illustrative curtain
`
`240 has a flexible curtain panel 242, a plurality of sliders 244, and a plurality of
`
`strands 246. Each strand 246 extends between panel 242 and a respective slider 244.
`
`Sliders 244 are movable along the track member situated above slot 214. Thus, when
`
`curtain 240 is in the storage position, all of sliders 244 are grouped together within
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`30
`
`cavity 236 and when curtain 240 is in the use position, sliders 244 are spaced apart
`
`along the length of slot 214.
`
`In the example shown in Fig. 13, a privacy curtain 250 is extendable
`
`downwardly out of the associated slot 214 to a use position and is retractable
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`upwardly through slot 214 to a storage position. Curtain 250 has a flexible curtain
`
`panel 252 and a bottom member 254 coupled to a bottom portion of panel 252.
`
`Member 254 adds weight to curtain 250 to prevent excessive movement of curtain
`
`250 away from a vertical hanging configuration as shown in Fig. 13. A rotatable shaft
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`5
`
`(not shown) on which panel 252 winds when retracting and unwinds when extending
`
`is situated above slot 214. In some embodiments, a motor (not shown) is coupled to
`
`shaft and is operated to rotate the shaft in the appropriate directions to wind and
`
`unwind panel 252. In such embodiments, a user input, such as one or more switches,
`
`buttons, levers, or the like, is accessible on headwall unit 232 to control the motor. In
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`10
`
`alternative embodiments, curtain 250 is extended and retracted manually, similar to
`
`the manner in which conventional window shades are pulled down to cover a window
`
`and are manipulated so that a spring causes an associated shaft to wind up the window
`
`shade.
`
`In the example shown in Fig. 14, an auxiliary IV pole 160 hangs
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`15
`
`downwardly from a carriage 162 that is slideable along a track member (not shown)
`
`which is situated above the respective slot 214. Pole 160 and carriage 162 are
`
`movable between a storage position in cavity 234 and a number of use positions
`
`outside of cavity 234. One or more hooks 166 are coupled to pole 160 for holding IV
`
`bags 68. In the illustrative embodiment, a dedicated infusion pump 172 is mounted to
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`20
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`a bottom end of pole 160. In alternative embodiments, infusion pumps 72 are
`
`attachable to and detachable from other portions of pole 160. It is within the scope of
`
`this disclosure for any type of patient-care equipment that is capable of coupling to an
`
`IV pole to be coupled to pole 160.
`
`Although curtain 240 is shown in Fig. 12 has being associated with
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`25
`
`cavity 236 and although pole 160 is shown in Fig. 14 as being associated with cavity
`
`234, it is within the scope of this disclosure for curtains, N poles, and any other type
`
`of track-mounted auxiliary equipment, such as exam lights, water hoses, suction
`
`hoses, traction devices, and the like, to be associated with either of cavities 234, 236.
`
`In addition, it is within the scope of this disclosure for the various walls of headwall
`
`30
`
`unit 232 that bound cavities 234, 236, such as back wall 259, side wall 261, and
`
`bottom wall 263 (see Fig. 14), to be appropriately sized and configured so that
`
`cavities 234, 236 are large enough to receive the track mounted equipment to be
`
`stored therein. In addition, in those embodiments having auxiliary equipment, such as
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`curtain 250 that extends and retracts out of slots 214, then cavities 234, 236 may have
`
`storage shelves therein.
`
`Referring now to Figs. 15 and 16, an alternative architectural system
`
`330 includes a headwall unit 232, that is substantially similar to headwall unit 232 of
`
`5
`
`system 230, and a ceiling unit 338 :from which a set of air curtains 270 are directed
`
`downwardly around three sides of hospital bed 48. In the illustrative embodiment, the
`
`set of air curtains are adjacent foot end 52 and sides 54, 56 of bed 48. A suitable
`
`amount of space is provided between air curtains 270 and bed 48 to permit a caregiver
`
`to stand therebetween. Air curtains 270 provide a modicum of environmental
`
`10
`
`isolation for the patient on bed 48. Thus, air borne contaminants outside the patient
`
`space bounded by air curtains 270 are prevented from entering the patient space. In
`
`some embodiments, air curtains 270 are heated and/or humidified to control the
`
`temperature and humidity of the patient space. In such embodiments, heating
`
`equipment (not shown) and/or humidifying equipment (not shown) is housed in either
`
`15
`
`ceiling unit 338 or headwall unit 232 or both.
`
`An air curtain generator 272, such as a fan, blower, pump, or the like,
`
`is housed in canopy 96 of ceiling unit 338 as shown in Figs. 15 and 16. An air-intake
`
`opening 274 is formed in cover 114 of canopy 96 and an air filter 276 covers opening
`
`27 4 to filter contaminants :from the ambient environment. Air curtain generator 272 is
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`20
`
`situated in a central chamber 278 of canopy 96 and an air-inlet duct 280 extends from
`
`opening 274 to chamber 278. A network of air-outlet ducts 282 extend from chamber
`
`278 throughout ceiling unit 338, including along the outer regions oflateral side
`
`portions 198 and including along the :front distal regions of canopy 96 and portions
`
`198. Duct 280 overlies some of ducts 282 as shown in Fig. 16. In the illustrative
`
`25
`
`embodiment of system 330, a plurality of air-exit openings or slots 284 are formed
`
`along the side and front peripheral regions of the underside of ceiling unit 338.
`
`Operation of air curtain generator 272 moves air from the ambient environment
`
`through each of filter 276, duct 280, chamber 278, ducts 282, and openings 284 to
`
`form air curtains 270.
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`30
`
`A controller (not shown) housed in ceiling unit 338 or headwall unit
`
`232 or both operates to control air curtain generator 272, the heating equipment (if
`
`any), and the humidification equipment (if any). A user interface is provided on one
`
`or both of columns 40, 42 or on headwall unit 232. A user inputs operational
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`parameters, such as, for example, fan speed (high, medium, low), air temperature, and
`
`air humidity, to the controller via the user interface. In addition, system 330 has
`
`various sensors, such as, for example, a fan speed sensor, a temperature sensor, and a
`
`humidity sensor that provides feedback to the controller so that appropriate
`
`5
`
`commands from the controller can be provided to air curtain generator 272, the
`
`heating system, and the humidification system to adjust the operation of these
`
`devices, if appropriate.
`
`According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a patient rests on a
`
`hospital bed 534 in an environmentally-controlled hospital room 532 as shown in Fig.
`
`10
`
`17. Covering the patient is a disposable heating/cooling blanket 536. Blanket 536 is
`
`coupled via a pair of heating/cooling hoses 540 to a heating/cooling unit 538 housed
`
`in a headwall 542 of room 532. When the patient is to be cooled, unit 538 operates to
`
`provide a cooling medium, such as cool air or cool liquid, through one of hoses 540 to
`
`blanket 536 and the other of hoses 540 provides the cooling medium back to unit 538
`
`15
`
`after circulation of the cooling medium through blanket 536. When the patient is to
`
`be heated, unit 538 operates to provide a heating medium, such as heated air or heated
`
`liquid, through one of hoses 540 to blanket 536 and the other of hoses 540 provides
`
`the cooling medium back to unit 538 after circulation of the heating medium through
`
`blanket 536. In those embodiments having heated air or cooled air circulated through
`
`20
`
`blanket 536, perforations are formed in the surface of blanket 536 facing the patient
`
`so that a portion of the heated or cooled air being circulated through blanket 536 is
`
`able to escape from blanket 536 through the perforations and convectively heat or
`
`cool, as the case may be, the patient.
`
`Bed 534 includes a pendant controller 544 that a patient uses to control
`
`25
`
`heating/cooling unit 538 in a desired manner when pendant controller 544 is not
`
`locked out. fu some embodiments, pendant controller 544 also is used to control
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`other bed functions, such as articulation, raising, and lowering of the bed deck, and to
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`control room entertainment and communication functions, such as television, radio,
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`and nurse call. Bed 534 includes a footboard 546 having a control panel 548 that is
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`used by a caregiver to control operation of unit 538, to control operation of various
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`bed functions, and to control various entertainment and communication functions.
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`Control panel 548 is also used by the caregiver to lock out one or more functions of
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`pendant controller 544. For example, the caregiver can lock out the ability of pendant
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`controller 544 to operate unit 538.
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`An ceiling unit or overhead canopy 550 is coupled to a ceiling 552 of
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`hospital room 532 above bed 534 as shown in Fig. 17. Canopy 550 includes various
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`5
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`systems that control the environment of room 532. For example, canopy 532 includes
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`an overhead temperature sensor (not shown), an overhead air quality sensor (not
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`shown), an overhead air purifier (not shown), aroma therapy equipment (not shown),
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`motion or proximity sensors 554 for detecting the presence of other people in the
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`hospital room, examination lights 556, reading lights (not shown), and a video screen
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`558 for displaying one or more preselected images. Such images may include a scene
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`from nature or other restful scenes. Such images may also include images that
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`transition at the appropriate times during a 24-hour period from day images, such as
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`clouds and sun, to night images, such as moon and stars. Images of the patients
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`family may also be displayed on screen 558.
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`In some embodiments of room 532, the room lights are controlled to
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`dim slowly as the daytime turns to evening. In addition, a recording of evening
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`sounds, such as owls, night birds, crickets, and wind in the trees is played by audio
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`equipment housed in overhead canopy 550. Eventually, the room lights are turned
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`completely off and the night sounds fade away. In other embodiments of room 532, a
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`video screen similar to or larger than video screen 558 is mounted to a room wall,
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`preferably a wall that confronts the foot end of bed 534. In such alternative hospital
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`rooms, television images, internet images, educational information, patient schedule,
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`imagery to promote relaxation, and video conferencing images are selectively
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`displayed on the video screen.
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`Bed 534, unit 538, and ceiling unit 550 each have their own controllers
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`for monitoring and controlling the various functions associated with these devices.
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`Each of such controllers include, for example, one or more microprocessors,
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`microcontrollers, memory circuitry, input/output circuitry, signal conditioning
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`circuitry, signal conversion circuitry, power conditioning circuitry, and the like. It is
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`30 within the scope of this disclosure for each of the controllers of bed 534, unit 538, and
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`canopy 550 to be coupled to the hospital computer network to exchange data with the
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`network. In some embodiments, parameters for controlling bed 534, unit 538, and
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`canopy 550 are entered by computers that are located remotely from room 532. Thus,
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`for example, if a patient places a nurse call requesting the heating/cooling function of
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`unit 538 and blanket 536 be adjusted or discontinued, the nurse receiving the call is
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`able to adjust the amount of heating/cooling provided to the patient via blanket 536.
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`Referring now to Figs. 18-20, a mobile cart 560 includes a somewhat
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`rectangular upstanding pedestal 562, four horizontally extending support legs 564
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`coupled to the bottom of pedestal 562, and a set of wheels or casters 566 coupled to
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`distal ends of corresponding support legs 564. Pedestal 562 has a fairly small depth
`dimension between a front face 568 thereof, shown best in Fig. 18, and a rear face 570
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`thereof, shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Each support leg 564 is pivotable relative to
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`pedestal 562 about a respective vertical axis between a first position extending
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`outwardly from beneath pedestal 562 as shown in Fig. 18 and a second position
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`tucked beneath pedestal 562 as shown in Figs. 18-20.
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`When legs 564 are in the second positions, legs 564 and casters 566
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`are positioned to lie completely under and within the foot print of pedestal 562. In
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`addition, when legs 564 are in the second positions, legs 564 extend in substantially
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`parallel relation with front and rear faces 568, 570 of pedestal 562. When legs 564
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`are in the first positions, a majority oflegs 564 are positioned to lie outside the foot
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`print of pedestal 562 and legs 564 extend in substantially perpendicular relation to
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`front and rear-faces 568, 570 of pedestal 562. Suitable locking or retention
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`20 mechanisms are provided either on legs 564 or pedestal 562 to lock or retain legs 564
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`in the respective first and second positions. The stability of cart 560 on a floor is
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`greater when legs 564 are in the first positions than when legs 564 are in their second
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`positions.
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`Mobile cart 560 is couplable to and transportable with a wheeled
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`hospital bed or stretcher 572 from an operating room 574, shown in Fig. 19, to an
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`intensive care unit room (not shown), and then to a regular hospital room 578, shown
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`in Fig. 20. Of course, rooms 574, 578 are shown merely as examples of hospital
`rooms and therefore, cart 560 may be transported with stretcher 572 to any location in
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`a hospital that stretcher 572 is capable of going. Cart 560 may also be transported by
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`itself throughout a hospital when legs 564 are in their first positions h