How Medical Devices Wirelessly Pair with Wall Units Using Time
This patent describes a system for wirelessly connecting a medical device, like a patient bed, to a wall unit in a hospital room by comparing internal timers when the device is plugged into power.
Original patent title: “Time-based wireless pairing between a medical device and a wall unit”
This patent describes a system for wirelessly connecting a medical device, like a patient bed, to a wall unit in a hospital room by comparing internal timers when the device is plugged into power. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent outlines a method for a medical device, such as a patient bed, to wirelessly connect with a wall module in a patient room. This connection process starts when the medical device's power plug is inserted into a power outlet on the wall module. Both the medical device and the wall module have internal timers. When the plug is connected, these timers are checked. The system compares the times from both devices to make sure that the wireless connection, or pairing, only happens between the specific medical device that was just plugged in and that particular wall module. The wall module can use different ways to detect the plug connection, including optical sensors, mechanical switches, or current sensors.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover wireless pairing methods that do not rely on a power plug connection to initiate the process.
- Does not cover pairing systems that use manual input, QR codes, or NFC instead of time-based comparison.
- Does not cover non-medical devices, as the patent specifically mentions 'medical device' and 'patient bed'.
- Does not cover wired connections, as the patent focuses on 'wireless pairing' between devices.
- Does not cover systems where the time comparison is not used to confirm the correct device for pairing.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is using the simple act of plugging a device into power as the trigger for a time-based comparison. This ensures that only the device physically connected to a specific wall module can wirelessly pair with it, preventing incorrect connections in a crowded wireless environment.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Hospital patient beds wirelessly sending data to a central system.
Infusion pumps automatically connecting to a room's monitoring station.
Medical diagnostic equipment pairing with a wall-mounted display.
Any medical device needing to establish a secure, localized wireless link.
Why it matters
The bigger picture
In busy hospital environments, it is crucial to ensure that medical devices connect to the correct wall units to prevent errors in patient data or device control. This patent addresses the problem of accidental pairing with the wrong device, which could lead to significant patient safety issues or operational inefficiencies. By automating and securing the pairing process, it helps maintain accurate connections.
Filed
November 26, 2024
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies specializing in medical technology and hospital infrastructure, such as Philips, GE Healthcare, and Siemens Healthineers, are likely to be interested in or developing similar solutions. These companies continuously work on improving the connectivity and safety of medical devices in clinical settings. Startups focused on smart hospital solutions could also integrate such pairing mechanisms.
Market impact
This technology could streamline the setup and management of medical devices in hospitals, reducing the time healthcare staff spend on manual pairing. By minimizing the risk of incorrect device connections, it enhances patient safety and data integrity. This could lead to more robust and error-resistant wireless ecosystems within healthcare facilities, potentially influencing future standards for medical device interoperability.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent outlines a method for a medical device, such as a patient bed, to wirelessly connect with a wall module in a patient room. This connection process starts when the medical device's power plug is inserted into a power outlet on the wall module. Both the medical device and the wall module have internal timers. When the plug is connected, these timers are checked. The system compares the times from both devices to make sure that the wireless connection, or pairing, only happens between the specific medical device that was just plugged in and that particular wall module. The wall module can use different ways to detect the plug connection, including optical sensors, mechanical switches, or current sensors.
The clever bit
The clever part is using the simple act of plugging a device into power as the trigger for a time-based comparison. This ensures that only the device physically connected to a specific wall module can wirelessly pair with it, preventing incorrect connections in a crowded wireless environment.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover wireless pairing methods that do not rely on a power plug connection to initiate the process.
- Does not cover pairing systems that use manual input, QR codes, or NFC instead of time-based comparison.
- Does not cover non-medical devices, as the patent specifically mentions 'medical device' and 'patient bed'.
- Does not cover wired connections, as the patent focuses on 'wireless pairing' between devices.
- Does not cover systems where the time comparison is not used to confirm the correct device for pairing.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 18.1 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How Medical Devices Wirelessly Pair with Wall Units Using Time (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,090). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734090/time-based-wireless-pairing-between-a-medical-device-and-a-wall-unit
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Medical Devices Wirelessly Pair with Wall Units Using Time cover?
This patent describes a system for wirelessly connecting a medical device, like a patient bed, to a wall unit in a hospital room by comparing internal timers when the device is plugged into power.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
In busy hospital environments, it is crucial to ensure that medical devices connect to the correct wall units to prevent errors in patient data or device control. This patent addresses the problem of accidental pairing with the wrong device, which could lead to significant patient safety issues or operational inefficiencies. By automating and securing the pairing process, it helps maintain accurate connections.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover wireless pairing methods that do not rely on a power plug connection to initiate the process.
Patent monitoring