Patient bed system

• US 7,757,316 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2009
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maquet GmbH & Company KG (Universal Robot Systems GmbH & Co KG)
• Original Assignee: Maquet GmbH & Company KG (Universal Robot Systems GmbH & Co KG)
• Inventors: Koch, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos; Robert G
• Application Number:
  US12/355,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20090119842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 560/0, 5 8/61, 5 8/11.R, 5 8/31, 561/1, 5 1/1, 403/326
• US Class Current: 5/600
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/00 Operating tables; Auxiliary appliances therefor illumination of operating tables F21L, F21S or F21V ; adjustability of tables in general A47B9/00; tables for radiation diagnosis A61B6/04, drainage or irrigation pans, bags, or attachments A61G7/02, A61G7/0503
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/40 for distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/80 for connecting a trolley to a device, e.g. bed or column table
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1019 Vertical extending columns or mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1046 Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1057 Supported platforms, frames or sheets for patient in lying position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1065 with electronic monitoring

Abstract

In a patient bed system, comprising a patient bed, a support column for supporting the bed and a trolley for transporting the bed, the bed having arranged on it first coupling elements (22) which are intended for selective connection to second or third coupling elements (24, 26) on the support column and on the trolley respectively, at least one of the coupling elements (24) located on the support-column side has provided on it at least one sensor (102) for sensing the position of a first coupling element (22) connected to the bed (18) in relation to the column-side coupling element (24), the sensor (102) taking effect when the bed is located on the trolley and the latter assumes in relation to the support column a specific position for transferring the bed onto the latter.

Claims

1. A patient bed system comprising a patient bed, a support column for supporting the bed and a trolley for transporting the bed, the bed having first coupling elements for selective connection to second or third coupling elements on the support column and on the trolley, respectively, wherein at least one second coupling element located on the support column has at least one sensor for sensing misalignment of a first coupling element connected to the bed in relation to the at least one column coupling element, the at least one sensor generating a signal incrementally dependent on a degree of misalignment between the coupling elements when the bed is located on the trolley and the trolley assumes in relation to the support column a specific position for transferring the bed onto the support column.

2. The patient bed system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one column coupling element is arranged on a column head adjustable via at least one actuating drive, and the at least one sensor is connected to a control controlling the at least one actuating drive of the column head.

3. A patient bed system comprising:

a patient bed having a first coupling element;

a support column for supporting the patient bed, the support column having a second coupling element;

a trolley for transporting the patient bed, the trolley having a third coupling element; and

a sensor attached to the second coupling element for sensing misalignment between the second coupling element and one of the first coupling element and the third coupling element, the sensor generating a signal incrementally dependent on a degree of misalignment between the coupling elements.

4. The patient bed system of claim 3, wherein the sensor senses misalignment between the second coupling element and both the first coupling element and the third coupling element.

5. The patient bed system of claim 3, wherein the first coupling element is operable to selectively connect to the second coupling element and the third coupling element.

6. The patient bed system of claim 3, wherein the patient bed is located on the trolley, the trolley assumes a specific position in relation to the support column, and the sensor senses misalignment when transferring the patient bed from the trolley onto the support column.

7. A patient bed system comprising:

a patient bed;

a support column for supporting the bed; and

a trolley for transporting the bed, the bed having first coupling elements for selective connection to second or third coupling elements on the support column and on the trolley, respectively,

wherein at least one of the second coupling elements located on the support column has at least one sensor for sensing an incremental degree of misalignment of at least one of the first coupling elements in relation to the at least one second coupling element prior to complete engagement of the bed with the column during a transfer of the bed from the trolley to the column.