Patient Transport Apparatus Having Powered Drive System Utilizing Coordinated User Input Devices

• US 20190328594A1
• Filed: 04/29/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Meng, Fanqi, Dunfee, II, Jeffrey S., Derenne, Richard A., Paul, Anish
• Granted Patent: US 11,957,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/16 Touchpads
• 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 7/0506 Head or foot boards head or foot boards for comfort or ergonomics A47C19/022
• 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 7/0528 Steering or braking devices for castor wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1048 having auxiliary drive means

Abstract

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus includes a support structure and a drive wheel assembly having at least one drive wheel, a powered drive system coupled to the at least one drive wheel, and at least two user input devices. The apparatus also includes a controller coupled to the powered drive system and user input devices configured to determine which one of the user input devices is active and operable to cause the powered drive system to rotate the drive wheel and to maintain the other user input device as inactive, or passive.

Claims

1. A patient transport apparatus comprising:

a support structure;

a drive wheel assembly comprising;

a drive wheel; and

a powered drive system coupled to said drive wheel;

at least two user input devices, each of said at least two user input devices being selectable for operation by a user to cause said powered drive system to rotate said drive wheel; and

a controller coupled to said powered drive system and said at least two user input devices, with said controller configured to determine which one of said at least two user input devices is selected by the user as an active user input device operable to cause said powered drive system to rotate said drive wheel, said controller further configured to maintain the other of said at least two user input devices as inactive.

2. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1, comprising a selector coupled to said controller, said selector operable by the user to select said active user input device.

3. The patient transport apparatus of claim 2, wherein said selector comprises one or more touch sensors.

4. The patient transport apparatus of claim 2, wherein said selector comprises one or more switches.

5. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1, comprising one or more indicators associated with each of said at least two user input devices to differentiate said active user input device from inactive user input devices.

6. The patient transport apparatus of claim 5, wherein said one or more indicators comprises one or more of a visual indicator, audible indicator, and tactile indicator.

7. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least two user input devices comprise at least two rotatable throttles.

8. A patient transport apparatus comprising:

a support structure;

a drive wheel assembly comprising;

a drive wheel; and

a powered drive system coupled to said drive wheel;

at least two user input devices, wherein movement of one of said at least two user input devices is operable to cause said powered drive system to rotate said drive wheel; and

a linkage operatively coupling said at least two user input devices in a coordinated manner such that the movement of said one of said at least two user input devices causes a corresponding movement of the other of said at least two user input devices.

9. The patient transport apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a pair of handles, wherein said at least two user input devices comprise a pair of rotatable throttles, each one of said pair of handles coupled to a respective one of said pair of rotatable throttles.

10. The patient transport apparatus of claim 9, wherein said pair of handles are each positioned along one of a head end, a foot end, a right side or a left side of said support structure.

11. The patient transport apparatus of claim 9, wherein said linkage comprises a servo motor coupled to each respective one of said pair of rotatable throttles, said servo motors being configured to coordinate the rotational movement of said pair of rotatable throttles.

12. The patient transport apparatus of claim 9, wherein said linkage comprises one or more cables coupled to said pair of rotatable throttles.

13. The patient transport apparatus of claim 9, wherein said linkage comprises one or more shafts coupled to said pair of rotatable throttles.

14. The patient transport apparatus of claim 9, comprising a hollow shaft interconnecting each one of said pair of handles, wherein said linkage extends through said hollow shaft to each one of said pair of rotatable throttles to coordinate rotational movement of said pair of rotatable throttles.

15. A patient transport apparatus comprising:

a support structure having a head end, a foot end opposite said head end, a right side extending between said head end and said foot end, and a left side extending between said head end and said foot end, opposite said right side;

a drive wheel assembly comprising;

a drive wheel; and

a powered drive system coupled to said drive wheel;

a pair of handles each having a first end coupled to one of said head end or said foot end of said support structure, said pair of handles also having a second end opposite said first end; and

a rotatable throttle coupled between said second ends of said pair of handles, wherein a length of said rotatable throttle, defined lengthwise between said second ends of said pair of handles, is sufficiently long such that a user may operate said rotatable throttle from a position along said right side or said left side of said support structure.

16. The patient transport apparatus of claim 15, wherein said length of said rotatable throttle is greater than half of a width of said support structure, said width being defined between said right side and said left side.