Ferrand Specialty Hospital Bed
Patent Stack and Computer Code.
100s of Claims
Robert Ferrand invented the “Patient Support System” in 1987 and founded
A Short History
Cardiac chair
With pen and ink drawings and a dream Ferrand built the “Original” Alfa Bed. Early Stage support from General Electric Plastics was significant.
1990 Ferrand Secured $4,500,000 from Allstate Insurance Venture Fund
Hambrecht and Quist
Montgomery Medical
Human Hospitals
Vencor Hospitals
General Electric provided 6 of our Key Engineering Team
ALST secured $20,000,000 thru multiple rounds
Ferrand Left the Company to build a spinoff “Saddletech”, 3 years before any trouble
At one-point Hill Rom offered $50,000,000 for the company.
The competitor Kinetic Concepts offer $75,000,000 to License the Patents.
A few years later Hillenbrand Industries (Hill Rom) invested $10,000,000 in Kingsbury Capital Kingsbury Capital invested $750,000 in ALST and received an ALST Board Seat. Hillenbrand was, defacto, on the ALST Board without Ferrand’s Knowledge
Ferrand tried to get the Justice Dept to Invoke the Clayton Act to protect the Patents.
The new board member Immediate brought on a CFO that took a $1,000,000 loan collateralized by Ferrand Patents. Without Ferrand’s Knowledge.
The ALST was put in voluntary bankruptcy, just as it was shipping the first 100 beds.
Ferrand tried to get the Justice Dept to Invoke the Clayton Act to protect the Patents. (Attached) The first thing sold in Bankruptcy were Ferrand’s Patents for $650,000 to Hillenbrand (Hill Rom)
The Justice Dept with Ferrand as Plaintiff representing his investors sued Hillenbrand. Thereby all documents were put under numbered document control……including the original code.
Ferrand was tasked by Attorneys to go through all the documents to find anything relevant. Ferrand found the original computer code in the boxes and no one asked about these tapes.
When all the lawsuits were finished, Ferrand petitioned the court for the documents.
Ferrand was awarded the documents and the source code by court order.
That is why Ferrand has not only the Patents, but the computer code to build the bed, as well. Because the code is available, provides a unique opportunity to use NX manufacturing software
To design the factory in concert with the Redesign the Specially Bed.
And build the most advanced Specialty Bed Ever Built, Bar none Built it! Baxter will Buy It! The Exit Strategy is only a matter of Price and When.
Robert Ferrand
2995 Woodside Rd. Ste 400
Woodside, Ca 94062
415-851-4048
Justice Department - Antitrust Division 7 / 14 / 95
Mr. Mike Scott
450 Golden Gate Ave Suite 10 - 0101
San Francisco, Ca 94102 - 3478
Dear Mr. Scott,
I am writing on behalf of a group who developed a revolutionary hospital bed for the treatment of bedsores and respiratory complications called the Airlogic Bed. The manufacturing company, Lectus Inc.(formerly American Life Support Technology) is currently in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The original team that built the company is currently organizing a financing package to purchase the company. We understand that SSI, Support Systems International and KCI, Kinetic Concepts Inc. are also making offers for the assets of our company.
Under the Clayton Act we are requesting an Injunction preventing either SSI, Support Systems International or KCI, Kinetic Concepts from purchasing Lectus' patents and assets. These two companies form a $600,000,000 per year hospital bed rental oligopoly. These companies teeter on either side of a 50% market share and despite their financial strength they have not made any major innovations in this technology. Considering that over $20,000,000 has been invested into the design of the Airlogic Bed - if either SSI or KCI purchases Lectus' patents it would make it impossible for any other company to compete in this medical bed market for many years to come, if ever.
To put the magnitude of this issue in perspective, on any given day in the U.S. about 2,000,000 people suffer with some form of bedsore. Yearly, one in four or 500,000 people die in the U.S. with bedsores on their bodies. An estimated 60,000 people die each year from infection from the bedsore itself. By comparision the AIDS epidemic has stricken 500,000 to date and about 50,000 die each year. At the height of the Polio epidemic about 57,000 people were stricken. Despite the staggering number of people affected by bedsores, the media has not focused on this serious epidemic that is costing the nation over $7,000,000,000 per year to treat.
To address the bedsore problem: SSI and KCI have basically used a 20-year-old British patent for an air mattress and placed it on a standard American hospital bed. What is more serious is that this $600,000,000 per year hospital bed rental market is based on a premise that a 32mmgh skin interface pressure is capillary closure pressure - the pressure that causes the blood flow to the tissues to stop. Both of these companies maintain that these low air loss beds can provide skin interface pressures at about 32mmgh, allowing adequate blood flow. However! There is no scientific evidence to support this theory that both these companies use to justify the high cost of their product.
The fact is that blood pressure on the arteriole side of the capillary bed is about 32mmgh, however the pressure drops throughout the capillary bed to about 10mmgh on the venous side. Radioactive isotope studies conducted by Dr. Holloway in 1976 and later by Dr. Holstein in 1977 proved that 70% of the blood flow occurs below 10mmgh.
What is equally significant is that the internal tissue pressure is higher closer to the bones because the surface area of the bone is smaller. Dr. Vistnes in 1979 proved that even if one were to attain a 10mmgh interface pressure, the pressure at the bone where the bedsore is formed is 3 to 5 times higher. The point of these findings is that both SSI and KCI are maintaining a "scientific" myth to rent beds at the expense of hundreds of thousand of patients.
With this understanding the Founders of Lectus developed the revolutionary new Airlogic Bed which was designed to respond to a variety of physiological issues with a number of proprietary designs that are covered by an array of 22 patents. A brief list of features will reveal that this is important technology that addresses some of the most serious healthcare issues this nation has faced.
1. LATERAL ROTATION - this feature allows the patient to be tilted from one side to the other under computer control to reduce the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. It is estimated that 50% of the post operative deaths are due to pneumonia compounded by artificial respirators. When one considers that about 45,000 people are on respiratory support on any given day this is an important feature. In addition, tens of thousands of spinal cord injury patients are facing similar issues daily
2. TRIANGULAR MATTRESS CELLS - this unique feature allows one mattress cell to be deflated while adjacent cells support the other cells from falling in to even the pressure. This allows the bed to alternate the interface pressure on the patient's skin to near "zero" pressure, thereby allowing blood to flow more freely.
No other Air Bed System has this feature.
3. ARTICULATING HIP - this unique feature allows the head and torso of the patient to be raised without forcing the hips of the patient down the mattress. All other beds force the patients down toward the foot of the bed, causing severe shear. This forces the hip bones to scrape against the skin which causes many bedsores. By articulating the hip section away from the patient's hips as the head of the be d is raised - tissue trauma is reduced.
Standard hospital beds also force the nurse to continually lift the patients back up towards the head of the bed. Considering that 40% of the nurses have back injuries from this type of activity this articulating hip feature is a significant invention for nurses as well as patients.
No other Air Bed System has this feature.
4. STAND UP FEATURE - this feature allows the patients to be lifted into the standing position from the resting position. This is a significant feature for heart and hip surgery as well as use in long term rehabilitation. This feature has obvious significance in reducing nurses' back injuries.
No other Air Bed System has this feature.
These features are the more significant capabilities of the Airlogic Bed that differentiate it from the competitors’ beds. There are more features detailed in the enclosed brochure and video tape. In addition, we do have plans for additional products which will permit some of the relevant features of this bed to be available at a lower cost to nursing homes and for in home care. In time, there are even plans for a non-invasive respirator which could be integrated into the system.
Lectus Inc. was mismanaged into insolvency due to the Board of Directors' failure to supervise senior management. The President and CFO entered a proven $600,000,000 rental market with a sales only strategy, although Lectus entered into a sales and marketing contract with the Sunrise Medical BIOCLINIC Div. in 1993, with a caveat to place 400 rental beds in 18 months. BIOCLINIC informed management that a sales only strategy would not work. Lectus' President and CFO ignored their advice and pursued the hospital market with a sales only paradigm - selling only 40 beds. Despite this failed strategy the Venture Capital Board of Directors funded the company in excess of $20,000,000, maintaining this sales only strategy to the end. While the founders had an extensive information rights agreement and repletely requested information about the status of the company, this sales only strategy was withheld from the Founders who would have taken action to protect their interests if they had been privy to full disclosure.
While the venture investors and management made many mistakes, the Founders of Lectus continue to view the introduction of their Airlogic hospital bed into this market as a significant opportunity to improve patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs. The original team that built the company has reorganized to purchase the company from the venture investors to whom they sold it in 1990.
The Founders are receiving conflicting information about the liabilities of the company. No independent audit has been provided since 1993. Because of the lack of reliable information it is difficult to assess the value of the company. Therefore, our final offer to the Bankruptcy court has not been submitted. We will provide you the details of our offer under a separate cover.
We are concerned that either SSI or KCI, in an effort to maintain the oligopoly, has sufficient cash to over bid us during the Bankruptcy process. We are concerned that this technology may well be lost to the nation if SSI or KCI obtains Lectus because:
1. The cost of goods is too high for their distribution channel;
2. this technology will obsolete their existing rental fleet;
3. neither SSI or KCI can afford to develop the triangular mattress "Zero" pressure technology without admitting to their "scientific myth" about capillary closure pressure, which would expose them to significant product liability claims.
Once again, American innovation is in danger of being lost and competition destroyed unless the Justice Department intercedes. Last year my father had a heart attack; four days later he contracted a bedsore. Despite the fact that I invented the Airlogic Bed System, this technology was unavailable to my own family. In the interest of American healthcare and the well being of millions we request protection from the Justice Department.
Sincerely,
Robert Ferrand Founder/Invent
Robert J. Ferrand Patents Assigned to Hill-Rom
Source Code Available
• Patient care system
Patent number: 6941598
Abstract: A bed comprises a mattress supported on a support surface. The mattress has first and second inflatable cells for supporting a patient.
Type: Grant
Filed: December 8, 2003
Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
Inventors: Robert J. Ferrand, Marc M. Thomas, Lincoln J. Alvord, Stephen D. Smith, Steven N. Roe, Richard W. O'Connor, William A. Gilmartin, William Loh, William R. Fish, Jonathan Salsado, Charles W. Neder, William Silva, Wesley E. Grass
• Patient care system
Publication number: 20040139546
Abstract: A bed comprises a mattress supported on a support surface. The mattress has first and second inflatable cells for supporting a patient.
Type: Application
Filed: December 8, 2003
Publication date: July 22, 2004
Inventors: Robert J. Ferrand, Marc M. Thomas, Lincoln J. Alvord, Stephen D. Smith, Steven N. Roe, Richard W. O'Connor, William A. Gilmartin, William Loh, William R. Fish, Jonathan Salsado, Charles W. Neder, William Silva, Wesley E. Grass
• Patient care system
Patent number: 6668408
Abstract: A bed comprises a mattress supported on a support surface. The mattress has first and second inflatable cells for supporting a patient.
Type: Grant
Filed: August 26, 2002
Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
Inventors: Robert J. Ferrand, Marc M. Thomas, Lincoln J. Alvord, Stephen D. Smith, Steven N. Roe, Richard W. O'Connor, William A. Gilmartin, William Loh, William R. Fish, Jonathan Salsado, Charles W. Neder, William Silva, Wesley E. Grass
• Patient care system
Publication number: 20030051292
Abstract: A bed comprises a mattress supported on a support surface. The mattress has first and second inflatable cells for supporting a patient.
Type: Application
Filed: August 26, 2002
Publication date: March 20, 2003
Inventors: Robert J. Ferrand, Marc M. Thomas, Lincoln J. Alvord, Stephen D. Smith, Steven N. Roe, Richard W. O'Connor, William A. Gilmartin, William Loh, William R. Fish, Jonathan Salsado, Charles W. Neder, William Silva, Wesley E. Grass
• Patient care system
Patent number: 6438776
Abstract: A bed configured to support a patient having a weight comprises a frame, a patient support, and a plurality of sensors coupled between the frame and the patient support. Each of the plurality of sensors is configured to generate an analog signal in response to a portion of the weight of the patient on the patient support. The bed also comprises a circuit coupled to the plurality of sensors to receive the analog signals therefrom. The circuit includes a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, each analog-todigital converter being coupled to one of the sensors to generate a separate digital signal for each of the plurality of sensors, and a processor coupled to the plurality of analog-to-digital converters to determine the weight of the patient on the patient support.
Type: Grant
Filed: May 22, 2001
Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
Inventors: Robert J. Ferrand, Marc M. Thomas, Lincoln J. Alvord, Stephen D. Smith, Steven N. Roe, Richard W. O'Connor, William A. Gilmartin, William Loh, William R. Fish, Jonathan Salsado, Charles W. Neder, William Silva, Wesley E. Grass
• Gauge and method for measuring animal backs and saddles
Patent number: 6334262
Abstract: This invention is a simple device and method of measurement that employs a mechanical device having articulated transverse linkages comprising a parallelogram assembly having the first arm as one link, an opposing link, and further comprising a hub member, with transverse opposing wings each of the wings being pivotingly joined to the hub member for defining shape and indicia to determine a series of angles, and thereby be able to describe angles and arcs in order to determine the convex and concave portions of polyform shapes in this preferred embodiment relating to animal backs and their corresponding saddles. A method and formula to adjust the shape of such a device to compensate for the weight of the rider relative to the weight of the animal as well as additional factors is also provided by this process. Additional calibration can also be refined by employing interface pressure measurement.
Type: Grant
Filed: July 31, 2000
Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
Inventor: Robert J. Ferrand
• Patient care system
Publication number: 20010029628
Abstract: A bed configured to support a patient having a weight comprises a frame, a patient support, and a plurality of sensors coupled between the frame and the patient support. Each of the plurality of sensors is configured to generate an analog signal in response to a portion of the weight of the patient on the patient support. The bed also comprises a circuit coupled to the plurality of sensors to receive the analog signals therefrom. The circuit includes a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, each analog-todigital converter being coupled to one of the sensors to generate a separate digital signal for each of the plurality of sensors, and a processor coupled to the plurality of analog-to-digital converters to determine the weight of the patient on the patient support.
Type: Application
Filed: May 22, 2001
Publication date: October 18, 2001
Applicant: Hill-Rom, Inc.
Inventors: Robert J. Ferrand, Marc M. Thomas, Lincoln J. Alvord, Stephen D. Smith, Steven N. Roe, Richard W. O'Connor, William A. Gilmartin, William Loh, William R. Fish, Jonathan Salsado, Charles W. Neder, William Silva, Wesley E. Grass
• Patient care system
Patent number: 5906017
Abstract: A bed for supporting a patient having a seat panel and a back panel coupled together by a joint assembly that allows the panels to rotate about an axis coincident with the patient's hip joint.
Type: Grant
Filed: April 3, 1997
Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
Inventors: Robert J. Ferrand, Marc M. Thomas, Lincoln J. Alvord, Stephen D. Smith, Steven N. Roe, Richard W. O'Connor, William A. Gilmartin, William Loh, William R. Fish, Jonathan Salzedo, Charles W. Neder, Wesley E. Grass, John E. Looper, Dean I. Miller, Celia Oakley
• Patient care system
Patent number: 5906016
Abstract: A patient care bed with a patient weighing system having a first frame having a series of support units attached at designated locations and a second frame supported by the support units. The support units each having a load cell which senses a part of the weight supported by a second frame.
Type: Grant
Filed: April 1, 1997
Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
Assignee: Hill-Rom
Inventors: Robert J. Ferrand, Marc M. Thomas, Lincoln J. Alvord, Stephen D. Smith, Steven N. Roe, Richard W. O'Connor, William A. Gilmartin, William Loh, William R. Fish, Jonathan Salsado, Charles W. Neder, William Silva, Wesley E. Grass
• Patient care system
Patent number: 5802640
Abstract: A bed comprises an inflatable mattress supported on a platform of articulable links by a support system mounted on a weigh frame. The weigh frame is supported on a base frame supported
relative to a floor. A pneumatic system includes a platform-mounted blower directing air through passageways in the articulable links. An exhaust passageway parallels the pressure passageway for exhausting opposite the blower. Air flow into and out of air cells in the mattress are controlled by valves coupling the pressurized air chamber and exhaust chamber to cell ports. A connector assembly is used to couple the cells to the platform, to adjacent cells, and to tubes connected to other cells. An alternative pneumatic system includes fans distributed on the platform in association with sets of mattress cells. A footboard assembly is formed as two gates that swing out from the foot of the bed. Each gate has a storable tray that is positionable on either side of the gate.
Type: Grant
Filed: December 3, 1993
Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
Inventors: Robert J. Ferrand, Marc M. Thomas, Lincoln J. Alvord, Stephen D. Smith, Steven N. Roe, Richard W. O'Connor, William A. Gilmartin, William Loh, William R. Fish, Jonathan Salzedo, Charles W. Neder, Wesley E. Grass, John E. Looper, Dean T. Miller, Celia Oakley
• Curve-conforming sensor array pad and method of measuring saddle pressures on a horse
Patent number: 5375397
Abstract: A sensor array pad for sensing the pressure distribution under a saddle on the back of a horse includes a membrane made of first and second, identical substantially non-stretchable, flexible membrane portions. The membrane portions have adjacent facing edges that are joined at two spacedapart tabs. A plurality of sensors are distributed substantially uniformly on the membrane, with each sensor occupying a predetermined surface area. Conductors are mounted on the membrane to extend between the sensors and a position along the perimeter of the associated membrane portion to provide for external connection with monitoring equipment. The membrane portions further each have a pair of slits extending from a mid-region spaced from the respective facing edge outwardly in diverging directions along lines passing outside the predetermined areas of the membrane occupied by the sensors.
Type: Grant
Filed: February 15, 1994
Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
Inventors: Robert J. Ferrand, Joseph A. Sember, III
• Cushions for a bed
Patent number: 5323500
Abstract: A bed comprises an inflatable mattress supported on a platform of articulable links by a support system mounted on a base frame. A connector assembly is used to couple the cells to the platform, to adjacent cells, and to tubes connected to other cells. The mattress includes lateral cushions or cells that have a general triangular shape with larger upper cells forming a patient support surface and smaller base cells laterally supporting the upper cells. The upper cells may be elevated at the ends to form a broad U or V shape. Alternative embodiments include shorter base and upper cells with a boxshaped restraining cell on each end that extends above the upper cells. Modified upper cells have end pouches that store separate restraint cells when deflated, and provide inflation pressure when removed by a fixed connecting tube. The restraint cells are positionable along the host upper cell and anchor to catches mounted on the adjacent base cells.
Type: Grant
Filed: August 26, 1992
Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
Assignee: American Life Support Technology
Inventors: Steven N. Roe, Robert J. Ferrand, Marc M. Thomas
Patent number: 5279010
Abstract: A patient support system comprises an inflatable mattress supported on a platform of articulable links by a support system mounted on a weigh frame. The weigh frame is supported on a base frame supported relative to a floor. A pneumatic system includes a platform-mounted blower directing air through passageways in the articulable links. An exhaust passageway parallels the pressure passageway for exhausting opposite the blower. Air flow into and out of air cells in the mattress are controlled by valves coupling the pressurized air chamber and exhaust chamber to cell ports. A connector assembly is used to couple the cells to the platform, to adjacent cells, and to tubes connected to other cells. A footboard assembly is formed as two gates that swing out from the foot of the bed. Each gate has a storable tray that is positionable on either side of the gate. A headboard has a removable central panel for providing emergency patient access.
Type: Grant
Filed: April 3, 1992
Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
Assignee: American Life Support Technology, Inc.
Inventors: Robert J. Ferrand, Marc M. Thomas, Lincoln J. Alvord, Stephen D. Smith, Steven N. Roe, Richard W. O'Connor, William A. Gilmartin, William Loh, William R. Fish, Jonathan Salsado, Charles W. Neder, William Silva, Wesley E. Grass
