Electronic controller for therapeutic table
First Claim
1. In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support movably mounted to the frame and a drive mechanism for powering angular movement of the patient support to a plurality of positions relative to the frame, an improved controller for electronically controlling the relative movement, comprising:
- means for electronically sensing a plurality of said successive relative positions of the patient support during relative movement thereof;
means for electronically encoding first and second preselected angular positional references;
means for successively comparing the sensed relative positions with the angular preselected positional references during said relative movement; and
means for controlling the drive mechanism in accordance with said successive comparisons to periodically reciprocally move said patient support between said first and second positioned references.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic controller for a therapeutic table with a shaft encoder for sensing the angular position of a movably mounted patient support and means for controlling the movement in accordance with a comparison between the sensed angular position and an angular limit reference. The left and right preselected tilt angles are alternately automatically selected as the reference. Fault conditions, such as a jam condition, occurs when the drive mechanism to briefly reverse to automatically correct the condition prior to power termination. In the event of excessive tilt, actuation of limit switches results in reversal and movement of the patient support to a horizontal position before power termination. The jam condition is sensed by a strain gauge for detecting the work required for movement of the patient support and comparing it to a preselected work reference. In the event of drive clutch disengagement, power to the motor is terminated.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support movably mounted to the frame and a drive mechanism for powering angular movement of the patient support to a plurality of positions relative to the frame, an improved controller for electronically controlling the relative movement, comprising:
-
means for electronically sensing a plurality of said successive relative positions of the patient support during relative movement thereof; means for electronically encoding first and second preselected angular positional references; means for successively comparing the sensed relative positions with the angular preselected positional references during said relative movement; and means for controlling the drive mechanism in accordance with said successive comparisons to periodically reciprocally move said patient support between said first and second positioned references. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support mounted to the frame for substantially continuous relative rotary, reciprocal movement with respect thereto between limits on opposite sides of a horizontal position and a drive mechanism for powering said relative movement to impart motion therapy to a patient, said relative movement requiring mechanical work, an improved controller for controlling said relative rotary, reciprocal movement, comprising:
-
means for measuring the mechanical work required for said relative rotary, reciprocal movement; means for establishing a preselected rotary mechanical work reference; means for comparing the measured mechanical work with the mechanical work reference to sense a jam condition; and means for controlling the drive mechanism in accordance with said comparison to terminate the relative reciprocal movement substantially immediately in response to sensing of said jam condition. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support movably mounted to the frame and a drive mechanism for powering periodic relative movement of the patient support, an improved controller, comprising:
-
means for automatically controlling the drive mechanism to cause periodic reversal of the relative movement of the patient support; means for sensing a fault condition; and means responsive to said sensing means to reverse the relative movement of the patient support intermediate the automatic periodic reversals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support mounted to the frame for relative rotary reciprocal movement between limits on opposite sides of a horizontal position, an improved automatic controller, comprising:
-
means for sensing the angular position of the patient support relative the horizontal position on either side thereof; means for preselecting a first angular reference position on one side of the horizontal position; means for preselecting a second angular reference position on the other side of the horizontal position opposite the one side independently of the preselection of the first angular position; means for causing the patient support to automatically rotate in one direction until it reaches said first angular reference position; and means for causing the patient support to automatically rotate in another direction opposite to said one direction when it reaches said second angular reference position. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification