HOSPITAL BED

• US 20110162141A1
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Paré, Richard, Morin, Marco, Lemire, Guy, Petitpas, Luc, Wan Fong, David Kim Soui, Castonguay, Pascal, Dionne, Jean-Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,701,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/510
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/16 Touchpads
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/32 for force
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/50 for radiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/005 tiltable around transverse horizontal axis, e.g. for Trendelenburg position rocking beds for physical therapy A61H1/003; hanging patient inclined downwardly for drawing him out A61H2203/0493
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0506 Head or foot boards head or foot boards for comfort or ergonomics A47C19/022
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0516 with height adjustability
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/052 characterised by safety means, e.g. to avoid injuries to patient or caregiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0527 : Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0528 : Steering or braking devices for castor wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 : Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1046 : Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 : Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 : Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/085 : by electrical means, e.g. travel, force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

A method of actuating a manually operable brake on a caster wheel of a patient support apparatus to stop motion of the apparatus includes electrically coupling the control system of the patient support to an actuator at the patient support, generating actuating signals with the control system based on input at the patient support apparatus, transmitting the actuating signals to the actuator to thereby actuate the actuator to output a driving force, and mechanically coupling the driving force of the actuator with the manually operable brake to thereby actuate the manually operable brake and thereby brake the caster wheels.

Claims

1. A method of actuating a brake on a caster wheel of a patient support apparatus to stop motion of the apparatus, the patient support apparatus including a support frame and a plurality of caster wheels supporting the frame, a patient support surface supported by the support frame, and at least one manually operable brake for manually braking the caster wheels, the patient support apparatus further including an actuator for selectively outputting a driving force and a control system, said method comprising:

electrically coupling the control system to the actuator;

generating actuating signals with said control system based on input at the patient support apparatus;

transmitting the actuating signals to the actuator to thereby actuate the actuator to output a driving force; and

mechanically coupling the driving force of the actuator with the manually operable brake to thereby actuate the manually operable brake and thereby brake the caster wheels.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a user actuatable device responsive to pressure and selectively applying pressure to the user actuatable device wherein said applying pressure to the user actuatable device initiates said generating actuating signals.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising positioning the user actuatable device at or near the patient support surface.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the patient support apparatus includes a headboard, a footboard, and siderails, said positioning the user actuatable device includes positioning the user actuatable device at or near the headboard, a footboard, and siderails.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising supporting the support frame on a forward pair of bearings and a rearward pair of bearings, and providing a brake for each pair of bearings.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising providing an actuator for each brake.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selectively drivingly decoupling the actuator from the brake to provide an override.

8. A method of actuating a brake for a caster wheel on a patient support apparatus, the patient support apparatus including a patient support surface, a frame supporting the patient support surface, the frame including a plurality of caster wheels, the patient support apparatus further including a headboard, a footboard, siderails, and a brake operatively associated with the patient support apparatus for braking one or more of the caster wheels, and an actuator, said method comprising:

providing a powered actuatable device at or near the headboard, footboard, or siderails;

generating an activation signal based on input to the actuatable device;

powering the actuator to generate an actuation force in response to the activation signal;

transmitting the actuation force from the actuator to the brake to thereby brake the at least one or more caster wheels; and

providing a lock mechanism selectively prohibiting the release of the actuation force.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said transmitting comprises releasably linking the actuator with the brake.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising selectively releasing the linking to thereby provide an override of the transmitting of the actuation force to the brake.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising monitoring the status of the brake, and displaying the status of the brake.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said displaying includes displaying the status of the brake at of near the headboard, footboard, or siderails.

13. A patient support apparatus comprising:

a patient support surface, said patient support surface being configured to move across a floor or ground surface;

a brake operatively associated with said patient support surface; and

an electrical control system, said electrical control system having a button or a touch screen, said brake being configured to be actuated upon actuation of said button or by said touch screen.

14. The patient support apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said patient support surface comprises a support frame system, and said button or by said touch screen located at said support frame system.

15. The patient support apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of bearing members for moving said patient support surface across the floor or ground surface, each of said bearing members including a brake operatively associated therewith, and one or more of said brakes being configured to be actuated upon actuation of said button or by said touch screen.

16. The patient support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said bearing members comprise castors.

17. The patient support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said electrical control system includes an actuator for each of said brakes.

18. The patient support apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a manual override mechanism for drivingly decoupling said actuator from said at least one brake.

19. A patient support apparatus comprising:

a patient support surface, said patient support surface mounted for movement across a ground or floor surface and including a brake operatively associated therewith;

at least one electrically powered actuator;

an electrical control system, said electrical control system selectively powering said actuator to actuate said brake; and

a locking mechanism selectively operable to prevent decoupling of said actuator and said brake, said locking mechanism controlled by said electrical control system.

20. The patient support according to claim 19, further comprising a mechanical link between said actuator and said brake and an override mechanism, said override mechanism configured to selectively drivingly decouple said actuator or said brake from said mechanical link.

21. The patient support according to claim 20, wherein said override mechanism comprises a manual override mechanism.

22. The patient support apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a visual brake status indicator, said indicator indicating a status of said brake as one chosen from braking, steering, or neutral.

23. The patient support apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said visual brake status is located at said manual override mechanism.