PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH DRIVE SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A patient support apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
a plurality of wheels;
a patient support surface adapted to support a patient thereon;
a motor adapted to drive at least one of the wheels;
a power assist control positioned on the patient support apparatus and adapted to detect a force applied to the power assist control;
a sensor adapted to detect an angular orientation of the patient support apparatus with respect to a substantially horizontal plane; and
a controller in communication with the power assist control, the motor, and the sensor, the controller adapted to drive the motor at different levels for a particular force applied to the power assist control depending upon the angular orientation sensed by the sensor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A patient support apparatus includes a frame, wheels, a patient support surface, a motor, a power assist control, a sensor, and a controller. The power assist control detects a force applied to it. The sensor detects an angular orientation of the patient support apparatus with respect to a generally horizontal plane. The controller drives the motor at different levels for a particular force applied to the power assist control depending upon the angular orientation sensed by the sensor. The controller may control the motors such that the patient support apparatus accelerates at substantially the same rate, regardless of the angle of the patient support apparatus. The controller may also limit the driving of the motor to less than a maximum value based upon the angular orientation of the patient support apparatus.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a frame; a plurality of wheels; a patient support surface adapted to support a patient thereon; a motor adapted to drive at least one of the wheels; a power assist control positioned on the patient support apparatus and adapted to detect a force applied to the power assist control; a sensor adapted to detect an angular orientation of the patient support apparatus with respect to a substantially horizontal plane; and a controller in communication with the power assist control, the motor, and the sensor, the controller adapted to drive the motor at different levels for a particular force applied to the power assist control depending upon the angular orientation sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a frame; a plurality of wheels; a patient support surface adapted to support a patient thereon; a motor adapted to drive at least one of the wheels; a power assist control positioned on the patient support apparatus and adapted to detect a force applied to the patient support apparatus; a sensor adapted to detect an angular orientation of the patient support apparatus with respect to a substantially horizontal plane; and a controller in communication with the power assist control, the motor, and the sensor, the controller adapted to drive the motor such that the patient support apparatus accelerates at substantially the same rate, regardless of the angular orientation detected by the sensor, when a particular force is applied to the power assist control. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a frame; a plurality of wheels; a patient support surface adapted to support a patient thereon; a motor adapted to drive at least one of the wheels; a power assist control positioned on the patient support apparatus and adapted to detect a force applied to the patient support apparatus; a sensor adapted to detect an angular orientation of the patient support apparatus with respect to a substantially horizontal plane; and a controller in communication with the power assist control, the motor, and the sensor, the controller adapted to determine a maximum value used in driving the motor based upon the angular orientation sensed by the sensor and to drive the motor in response to the force applied to the power assist control in a manner such that the maximum value is not exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification