Emily Newton, Editor-in-Chief, Revolutionized07.26.22
There are nearly a million staffed beds in hospitals across the United States, according to information collected in 2022 by the American Hospital Association. These beds range from options designed for standard care to intensive care, pediatrics, or other specialties.
Smart hospital beds are taking up a growing number of these bed spaces. They’re designed to use IoT technology to monitor patient health and transmit vital statistics to nurses and doctors in real-time, among other tasks. Smart hospital bed market growth is expected to climb at an 8.2% CAGR between 2021 and 2027. What goes into the creation of smart hospital beds? What industry standards do manufacturers need to be aware of?
Hospital beds as we know them today started emerging sometime between 1815 and 1825. Railings were adjusted using mechanical cranks to raise and lower the rails. By 1874, a mattress company in Cincinnati had a patent for an elevated frame, the foundation of the modern hospital bed.
In 1909, Willis D. Gatch invented the three-segment adjustable bed, allowing a patient’s head and feet to be elevated. General Electric released the first push-button hospital bed in 1945, which included a built-in toilet designed to reduce the reliance on bedpans. The next year, Howard Hughes was in an accident that required some time in the hospital. He was unhappy with the bed options and designed a six-section version with more than 30 motors to adjust it to his liking.
1961 introduced basic electric beds with controllers, and 1974 saw the addition of a control panel on the side rails. The 1980s shifted the focus to mattresses, including therapeutic kinds with sensors to detect if a patient had left their bed. The 1990s saw more advanced functions incorporated into hospital beds and additional industry-wide safety standards to protect patients against mechanical and electrical hazards.
The introduction of smart technology, also known as the Internet of Things (IoT), is beginning to make its way into the manufacture of hospital beds as well.
Electric beds are the basic model of modern hospital beds and can be automatically raised or lowered with a set of controls on the handrails. Patients can adjust the bed themselves, improving overall comfort levels.
Low beds are designed for patients at risk of falling. These models are set 8-24 inches above the ground.
Low air loss beds move air through the mattress to improve comfort for burn patients, those with skin grafts, or people prone to pressure ulcers or bed sores.
Circo-electric beds rotate inside of a circular framework and are designed for burn patients or others who need to be turned frequently but can’t otherwise be moved.
Clinitron beds combine the features of low air loss and circo-electric beds.
The bed frames are assembled for a weld inspection before moving through a welding system—often automated and robotic—for their final assembly. Another check ensures the welds are complete and the frame meets industry standards before adding the final touches. Motors, controls, and other components can be added. Mattresses and any associated sensors are also installed at this point.
The biggest challenge facing hospital bed manufacturers isn’t the bed itself but rather the incorporation of smart technology.
Modern versions of smart beds can monitor a patient’s movement and vital signs, such as heart rate and temperature, transmitting all this data to the team in charge of their care. This smart tech can also identify and clarify the information when paired with a machine learning system.
It keeps general vital signs separate from the indications of a sudden deterioration, such as a heart attack or stroke, while pinpointing things that could indicate these severe medical events. Such sensors could even automatically calculate the bed’s center of gravity, providing better stability for the structure and the patient it supports.
There is no foolproof method for mitigating these cybersecurity risks. However, creating a task force specializing in network security and cyberattack mitigation can ensure smart technology in hospital beds and throughout the facility can continue to support patient care without putting people at risk.
Emily Newton is the Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized. She’s always excited to learn how the latest industry trends will improve the world. She has over five years of experience covering stories in the science and tech sectors.
Smart hospital beds are taking up a growing number of these bed spaces. They’re designed to use IoT technology to monitor patient health and transmit vital statistics to nurses and doctors in real-time, among other tasks. Smart hospital bed market growth is expected to climb at an 8.2% CAGR between 2021 and 2027. What goes into the creation of smart hospital beds? What industry standards do manufacturers need to be aware of?
The History of Hospital Bed Manufacturing
The idea of the hospital bed used in facilities today dates back to the 1800s. Before that, medical professionals relied on a basic stretcher, which was often as simple as two poles with a section of cloth spread taut between them.Hospital beds as we know them today started emerging sometime between 1815 and 1825. Railings were adjusted using mechanical cranks to raise and lower the rails. By 1874, a mattress company in Cincinnati had a patent for an elevated frame, the foundation of the modern hospital bed.
In 1909, Willis D. Gatch invented the three-segment adjustable bed, allowing a patient’s head and feet to be elevated. General Electric released the first push-button hospital bed in 1945, which included a built-in toilet designed to reduce the reliance on bedpans. The next year, Howard Hughes was in an accident that required some time in the hospital. He was unhappy with the bed options and designed a six-section version with more than 30 motors to adjust it to his liking.
1961 introduced basic electric beds with controllers, and 1974 saw the addition of a control panel on the side rails. The 1980s shifted the focus to mattresses, including therapeutic kinds with sensors to detect if a patient had left their bed. The 1990s saw more advanced functions incorporated into hospital beds and additional industry-wide safety standards to protect patients against mechanical and electrical hazards.
The introduction of smart technology, also known as the Internet of Things (IoT), is beginning to make its way into the manufacture of hospital beds as well.
Types of Hospital Beds
Gatch beds are the most common type of low-tech hospital bed still in use. They’re identified by a set of three cranks at the foot of the bed. They control the height of the bed, the head, and the foot, respectively. They’re still most often used in rural areas or parts of the developing world because they don’t require electricity.Electric beds are the basic model of modern hospital beds and can be automatically raised or lowered with a set of controls on the handrails. Patients can adjust the bed themselves, improving overall comfort levels.
Low beds are designed for patients at risk of falling. These models are set 8-24 inches above the ground.
Low air loss beds move air through the mattress to improve comfort for burn patients, those with skin grafts, or people prone to pressure ulcers or bed sores.
Circo-electric beds rotate inside of a circular framework and are designed for burn patients or others who need to be turned frequently but can’t otherwise be moved.
Clinitron beds combine the features of low air loss and circo-electric beds.
Hospital Bed Manufacturing
Basic hospital bed manufacturing starts with acquiring raw materials such as steel or aluminum. The next step involves various manufacturing processes, such as laser cutting, CNC stamping, punching, and bending to create the pieces necessary for the final frame assembly. The parts are sprayed with antimicrobial and anticorrosive materials to protect them throughout their life spans.The bed frames are assembled for a weld inspection before moving through a welding system—often automated and robotic—for their final assembly. Another check ensures the welds are complete and the frame meets industry standards before adding the final touches. Motors, controls, and other components can be added. Mattresses and any associated sensors are also installed at this point.
The biggest challenge facing hospital bed manufacturers isn’t the bed itself but rather the incorporation of smart technology.
Incorporating Smart Technology
Hospital beds are no stranger to smart technology in its earliest forms. Incorporating sensors to detect when a patient leaves their bed—especially if they are considered a fall risk—is one of the earliest examples of this technology.Modern versions of smart beds can monitor a patient’s movement and vital signs, such as heart rate and temperature, transmitting all this data to the team in charge of their care. This smart tech can also identify and clarify the information when paired with a machine learning system.
It keeps general vital signs separate from the indications of a sudden deterioration, such as a heart attack or stroke, while pinpointing things that could indicate these severe medical events. Such sensors could even automatically calculate the bed’s center of gravity, providing better stability for the structure and the patient it supports.
Protecting Patient Data
Smart hospital beds have numerous applications and can help improve patient care, but they have downsides. Incorporating sensors requires a network to support them, and any networked system could be vulnerable to hacking. A malicious actor making their way into a hospital IoT network could potentially steal protected patient information or even put lives at risk.There is no foolproof method for mitigating these cybersecurity risks. However, creating a task force specializing in network security and cyberattack mitigation can ensure smart technology in hospital beds and throughout the facility can continue to support patient care without putting people at risk.
Incorporating Smart Technology in Hospital Beds
The idea of a hospital bed might date back centuries, but the concept has evolved. Adding smart technology is merely the next step in developing the perfect bed to keep patients comfortable while ensuring they get the best care possible.Emily Newton is the Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized. She’s always excited to learn how the latest industry trends will improve the world. She has over five years of experience covering stories in the science and tech sectors.