POWERED PATIENT SUPPORT AND FASTENING SYSTEM WITH INDUCTIVE BASED POWER SYSTEM

• US 20090015027A1
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Lambarth, Cliff, Souke, Chad
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0212 2 pairs having wheels within a pair on the same position in longitudinal direction, e.g. on the same axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0225 other configuration, e.g. odd number of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0237 having at least one swivelling wheel, e.g. castors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0262 having loading wheels situated in the front during loading
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0275 having driven wheels, e.g. motorised
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0293 stretcher supports with wheels, e.g. used for stretchers without wheels stretcher supports without wheels A61G1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0567 folding in x-shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0245 by translating the support
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0272 by support protruding from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/029 by powered support
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0816 Accommodating or securing stretchers support for stretchers independent from vehicle A61G1/06; loading stretchers A61G3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0891 by preventing longitudinal movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A patient support includes a base, a patient support surface supported by the base, an electrically powered device, and a rechargeable power storage device for powering the electrically powered device. Further, the patient support includes a receiving coil that is electrically coupled to the rechargeable power supply for inductive coupling with a transmitting coil, the receiving coil for recharging the rechargeable power supply when the receiving coil is inductively coupled to the transmitting coil.

Claims

1. A patient support comprising:

a base;

a patient support surface supported by said base;

an electrically powered device;

a rechargeable power storage device for powering said electrically powered device; and

a receiving coil electrically coupled to said rechargeable power supply for inductive coupling with a transmitting coil, said receiving coil for recharging said rechargeable power supply when said receiving coil is inductively coupled to the transmitting coil.

2. The patient support according to claim 1, wherein said electrically powered device comprises a driver.

3. The patient support according to claim 2, wherein said driver comprises an elevation mechanism for moving said base relative to patient support surface.

4. The patient support according to claim 1, further in combination with a transmitting coil, said transmitting coil electrically coupled to an external power supply external of said patient support and inductively coupling with said receiving coil, said transmitting coil transmitting power wirelessly to said receiving coil when said receiving coil is in close proximity to said transmitting coil and said transmitting coil is powered by said external power supply.

5. The patient support according to claim 4, wherein said transmitting coil and said external power supply are mounted in a vehicle.

6. The patient support according to claim 1, wherein said patient support comprises a cot.

7. The patient support according to claim 6, wherein said vehicle comprises an ambulance.

8. An emergency vehicle comprising:

a deck;

a power supply;

a transmitting circuit electrically coupled to said power supply and including a transmitting coil;

a loading device supported at said deck, said loading device having a rechargeable power supply and a receiving circuit coupled to said rechargeable power supply, said receiving circuit including a receiving coil wherein said receiving coil is electrically coupled to said rechargeable power supply for recharging said rechargeable power supply, and said receiving coil inductively coupling with said transmitting coil when said loading device is in a predetermined configuration wherein said transmitting coil wirelessly transmits power to said receiving coil to thereby recharge said rechargeable power supply of said loading device when said loading device is in said predetermined configuration.

9. The emergency vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said emergency vehicle comprises an ambulance.

10. The emergency vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising a cot, wherein said loading device includes a movable arm movable between a retracted position within said emergency vehicle and an extended position wherein at least a portion of said arm is extended from the vehicle for receiving and engaging said cot, said movable arm including said receiving coil, said rechargeable power supply, and a driver, and said transmitting coil inductively coupling with said receiving coil when said arm is retracted into said vehicle wherein said receiving coil recharges said rechargeable power supply when said arm is retracted into said vehicle.

11. The emergency vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said movable arm includes a pivotal arm portion, said driver selectively raising or lowering said pivotal arm portion to engage or disengage from said cot.

12. The emergency vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said deck includes a track, said movable arm being movably mounted along said track.

13. The emergency vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said driver selectively moves said movable arm along said track.

14. An emergency vehicle comprising:

a cot, said cot having an onboard rechargeable power supply and a recharging circuit electrically coupled to said rechargeable power supply;

a deck;

a cot latch for securing said cot in the vehicle; and

a power supply system, said power supply system inductively coupling to said recharging circuit for recharging said rechargeable power supply when said cot is loaded onto said deck.

15. The emergency vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising an antler fastening system including said cot latch.

16. The emergency vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said antler fastening system includes an onboard rechargeable power supply and a recharging circuit electrically coupled to said rechargeable power supply of said antler fastening system, and said power supply system inductively coupling to said recharging circuit of said antler fastening system for recharging said rechargeable power supply of said antler fastening system.

17. The emergency vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising a loading and unloading device supported at said deck, said loading and unloading device including said cot latch.

18. The emergency vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said loading and unloading device includes an onboard rechargeable power supply and a recharging circuit electrically coupled to said rechargeable power supply of said loading and unloading device, and said power supply system inductively coupling to said recharging circuit of said loading and unloading device for recharging said rechargeable power supply of said loading and unloading device.

19. The emergency vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said cot includes an electrically driven device, said onboard rechargeable power supply of said cot selectively powering said electrically driven device.

20. The emergency vehicle according to claim 19, wherein said cot includes a base and a patient support surface supported by said base, said electrically driven device comprising a driver for selectively raising said base relative to said patient support surface.

21. The emergency vehicle according to claim 18, wherein said loading and unloading device includes an electrically driven device, said onboard rechargeable power supply of said loading and unloading device selectively powering said electrically driven device.

22. The emergency vehicle according to claim 21, wherein said loading and unloading device includes a carriage with a pivotal arm portion, and said electrically driven device comprising a driver for moving said pivotal arm portion.

23. The emergency vehicle according to claim 22, wherein said driver comprises an actuator for pivoting said arm.

24. A method of powering a patient support comprising:

providing a patient support;

mounting a rechargeable power supply at the patient support;

providing a recharging circuit;

electrically coupling the recharging circuit to the rechargeable power supply; and

wirelessly transmitting power to the recharging circuit to thereby recharge the rechargeable power supply at the patient support.

25. The method of powering a patient support according to claim 24, further comprising providing a vehicle with a power supply, loading the patient support in the vehicle, and wirelessly transmitting power to the recharging circuit from the power supply of the vehicle when the patient support is loaded in the vehicle to thereby recharge the rechargeable power supply at the patient support.

26. The method of powering a patient support according to claim 25, further comprising loading the patient support in the vehicle with a loading and unloading device, the loading and unloading device having a rechargeable power supply electrically coupled to a recharging circuit, and further wirelessly transmitting power to the recharging circuit of the loading and unloading device from the power supply of the vehicle when the loading and unloading device is in a preselected configuration to thereby recharge the rechargeable power supply at the loading and unloading device.

27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising generating data at the patient support, and inductively transmitting the data off the patient support.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said inductively transmitting the data includes inductively transmitting the data to a handheld device.

29. The method according to claim 26, further comprising generating data at the patient support, and inductively transmitting the data off the patient support.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said inductively transmitting the data includes inductively transmitting the data to the vehicle.

31. A method of powering a patient support fastening system, said method comprising:

providing a patient support fastening system;

providing a rechargeable power supply at the patient support fastening system;

providing a recharging circuit;

electrically coupling the recharging circuit to the rechargeable power supply; and

wirelessly transmitting power to the recharging circuit to thereby recharge the rechargeable power supply at the patient support fastening system.

32. The method of powering a patient support fastening system according to claim 31, further comprising providing a vehicle with a power supply, locating the patient support fastening system in the vehicle, and wirelessly transmitting power to the recharging circuit from the power supply of the vehicle when the patient support fastening system is in a selected configuration in the vehicle to thereby recharge the rechargeable power supply at the patient support fastening system.

33. The method of powering a patient support fastening system according to claim 32, further comprising selectively securing a cot in the vehicle with the patient support fastening system.

34. The method of powering a patient support fastening system according to claim 33, further comprising selectively loading or unloading the cot with the patient support fastening system.

35. The method of powering a patient support fastening system according to claim 33, further comprising providing the cot with a rechargeable power supply and a recharging circuit, electrically coupling the rechargeable power supply to the recharging circuit, and further wirelessly transmitting power to the recharging circuit of the cot from the power supply of the vehicle when the cot is in a preselected location in the vehicle.