PATIENT SUPPORT BACKREST RELEASE AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20130145550A1
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Roussy, Richard B., Connell, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,295,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/617
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/723 Impact absorbing means, e.g. bumpers or airbags
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/726 for automatic deactivation, e.g. deactivation of actuators or motors
• 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 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/07 for the head or torso, e.g. special back-rests pillows in general A47G9/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18056 Rotary to or from reciprocating or oscillating

Abstract

A backrest of a bed is pivotable with respect to a bed frame. A backrest actuator assembly connects the backrest to the bed frame. The backrest actuator assembly is configured to raise and lower the backrest with respect to the bed frame by way of an actuator. The backrest actuator assembly is further configured with a lockable damper to release the backrest to lower due to gravity over a damped range of motion. The backrest can be so lowered during an emergency, such as an emergency that requires administration of CPR to the bed'"'"'s occupant. The lockable damper can stop the lowering of the backrest at any position along the damped range of motion. After an emergency lowering, the backrest actuator assembly can automatically reset to a normal operation state.

Claims

1. A bed comprising:

a bed frame;

a backrest pivotable with respect to the bed frame;

a backrest actuator assembly connecting the backrest to the bed frame, the backrest actuator assembly configured to raise and lower the backrest with respect to the bed frame, the backrest actuator assembly having,

an actuator, and

a lockable damper connected in series with the actuator, the lockable damper configured to provide damping over a range of motion when unlocked and configured to lock at a position on the range of motion; and

a release connected to the lockable damper, the release configured to unlock the lockable damper when the release is in an unlock position.

2. The bed of claim 1, wherein the lockable damper is configured to lock at any position along the range of motion.

3. The bed of claim 1, wherein the release comprises a lever positioned to engage an unlocking mechanism of the lockable damper.

4. The bed of claim 3, wherein the lever is configured to engage the unlocking mechanism of the lockable damper when the release is in the unlock position.

5. The bed of claim 4, wherein the lever has a cam surface that engages a pin connected to the backrest.

6. The bed of claim 5, wherein the lever is pivot-connected to the backrest actuator assembly, and the cam surface is shaped to contact the pin to move the lever into engagement with the unlocking mechanism of the damper in response to the actuator being retracted.

7. The bed of claim 1, wherein the release comprises a manually actuated handle.

8. The bed of claim 1, wherein the release is further configured to lock the lockable damper when the release is in a lock position.

9. The bed of claim 1, further comprising:

a backrest sensor positioned to determine when the backrest is in a prone position; and

a controller coupled to the backrest sensor and the actuator, the controller configured to retract the actuator to a position corresponding to the prone position of the backrest after the release has unlocked the lockable damper and when the backrest sensor determines that the backrest is in the prone position.

10. The bed of claim 9, wherein the backrest sensor comprises a backrest tilt sensor comprising an accelerometer or an inclinometer.

11. A bed comprising:

a bed frame;

a backrest pivotable with respect to the bed frame; and

a backrest actuator assembly connecting the backrest to the bed frame, the backrest actuator assembly configured to raise and lower the backrest with respect to the bed frame, the backrest actuator assembly further configured to release the backrest to lower due to gravity over a damped range of motion, the backrest actuator assembly further configured to stop the lowering of the backrest at any position along the damped range of motion.

12. The bed of claim 11, wherein the backrest actuator assembly comprises an actuator and a lockable damper connected in series.

13. The bed of claim 12, wherein the actuator is an electric actuator.

14. The bed of claim 12, wherein the lockable damper is a locking hydraulic damper or a locking gas spring.

15. The bed of claim 12, wherein the lockable damper is configured to be unlocked by manual actuation of a release handle and is configured to be unlocked by retraction of the actuator.

16. The bed of claim 11, further comprising:

a backrest sensor positioned to determine when the backrest is in a prone position; and

a controller coupled to the backrest sensor and the backrest actuator assembly, the controller configured to reset the backrest actuator assembly to a position corresponding to the prone position after the backrest sensor determines that the backrest has lowered due to gravity into the prone position.

17. An actuator assembly for controlling relative motion of a first component and a second component attached at opposite ends of the actuator assembly, the actuator assembly comprising:

an actuator configured to be connected to the first component and configured to provide relative movement between the first component and the second component;

a damper connected in series with the actuator and connected to the second component, the apparatus comprising locking structure configured to permit damping over a range of motion when unlocked and configured to lock at a position on the range of motion; and

a release connected to the locking structure, the release configured to unlock the locking structure when the release is actuated.

18. The actuator assembly of claim 17, wherein the actuator assembly is mountable to a patient support device.

19. The actuator assembly of claim 18, wherein the actuator assembly is a backrest actuator assembly for control of a backrest of the patient support device.

20. The actuator assembly of claim 19, further comprising:

a controller configured to be attached to the patient support, the controller configured to retract the actuator to a position corresponding to a prone position of the backrest after the release has unlocked the locking structure and when a backrest sensor determines that the backrest is in the prone position.

21. The actuator assembly of claim 17, wherein the locking structure comprises a lockable damper.

22. The actuator assembly of claim 21, wherein the lockable damper is a locking hydraulic damper or a locking gas spring.

23. The actuator assembly of claim 17, wherein the damper is configured to provide damping over a range of motion when the locking structure is unlocked and wherein the locking structure is configured to lock at any position on the range of motion.

24. The actuator assembly of claim 17, wherein the release is configured to unlock the locking structure in response to manual actuation of a release handle and is configured to unlock the locking structure in response to retraction of the actuator.