Motorized traction device for a patient support

• US 7,828,092 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2008
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Lubbers, David P., Kummer, Joseph A., Ruschke, Jeffrey A., Stratman, Terry J., Vogel, John David, Wilson, Bradley T., Vodzak, John, Smith, Doug K., Frondorf, Michael M., Kappeler, Ronald P., Oberhaus, Eric W., Metz, Darrell L., Crandall, Craig, Hanson, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boehler; Anne Marie M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arce; Marlon A
• Application Number:
  US12/185,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20080283329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 180/19.3, 180/19.1, 180/19.2, 180/15, 180/16, 180/11, 180/12, 180/13, 180/199, 180/200, 180/201, 180/202, 180/203
• US Class Current: 180/19.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/72 for collision prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/00 Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons stretchers with facilities for picking up patients or disabled persons A61G1/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0513 covering particular sections of the bed, e.g. one or more partial side-rail sections along the bed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0528 Steering or braking devices for castor wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 Apparatus for transporting beds

Abstract

A patient support including a traction device for powered movement of the patient support. The traction device includes a storage position and a use position.

Claims

1. A moveable patient support, comprising:

a frame configured to support a person in at least a horizontal position,

a motor,

a propulsion device coupled to the motor and coupled to the frame to move the patient support from one location to another in response to output from the motor,

a first user input device, the first user input device being operable to receive a first input from a user and provide a first signal based on the first input,

a second user input device, the second user input device being operable to receive a second input from a user and provide a second signal based on the second input, and

a controller coupled to the first user input device to receive the first signal therefrom and coupled to the second user input device to receive the second signal therefrom, the controller being operable to provide a control signal based on the first signal and the second signal and command the motor to operate at a specific output based on the control signal, and

wherein at least the first user input device includes a first elastic force sensing element and

wherein the first elastic force sensing element includes a load cell.

2. A moveable patient support, comprising:

a frame configured to support a person in at least a horizontal position,

a motor,

a propulsion device coupled to the motor and coupled to the frame to move the patient support from one location to another in response to output from the motor,

a first user input device, the first user input device being operable to receive a first input from a user and provide a first signal based on the first input,

a second user input device, the second user input device being operable to receive a second input from a user and provide a second signal based on the second input, wherein the first user input device is spaced from the second user input device,

a controller coupled to the first user input device to receive the first signal therefrom and coupled to the second user input device to receive the second signal therefrom, the controller being operable to provide a control signal based on the first signal and the second signal and command the motor to operate at a specific output based on the control signal,

at least one handle, wherein the first and second user input devices are positioned to couple the at least one handle to the patient support, and

a first handle member coupled to the first user input device and a second handle member coupled to the second user input device, wherein the first handle member is positioned in spaced relation to the second handle member.

3. The patient support of claim 2, wherein the first and second user input devices include strain gauges supported on the first and second handle members for detecting strain therein.

4. A moveable patient support, comprising:

a frame configured to support a person in at least a horizontal position,

a motor,

a propulsion device coupled to the motor and coupled to the frame to move the patient support from one location to another in response to output from the motor,

a first user input device, the first user input device being operable to receive a first input from a user and provide a first signal based on the first input,

a second user input device, the second user input device being operable to receive a second input from a user and provide a second signal based on the second input,

a controller coupled to the first user input device to receive the first signal therefrom and coupled to the second user input device to receive the second signal therefrom, the controller being operable to provide a control signal based on the first signal and the second signal and command the motor to operate at a specific output based on the control signal, and

a power reservoir for storing energy for use by the motor;

a charge detector in communication with the power reservoir for detecting the amount of energy stored in the power reservoir and providing a signal indicative thereof; and

a shut down relay coupled intermediate the power reservoir and the motor and configured to receive the signal, wherein the relay disconnects the power reservoir from the motor when the signal indicates that the energy stored within the power reservoir is less than a predetermined amount.

5. A moveable patient support, comprising:

a frame configured to support a person in at least a horizontal position,

a motor,

a propulsion device coupled to the motor and coupled to the frame to move the patient support from one location to another in response to output from the motor, wherein the propulsion device includes a rolling support having a rotating member configured to rotate about an axis of rotation and provide mobility to the patient support, and a rolling support lifter is configured to move the rolling support between a first position spaced apart from a floor and a second position in contact with the floor,

a first user input device, the first user input device being operable to receive a first input from a user and provide a first signal based on the first input,

a second user input device, the second user input device being operable to receive a second input from a user and provide a second signal based on the second input,

a controller coupled to the first user input device to receive the first signal therefrom and coupled to the second user input device to receive the second signal therefrom, the controller being operable to provide a control signal based on the first signal and the second signal and command the motor to operate at a specific output based on the control signal, and

a plurality of casters supporting the patient support;

an external power detector, the external power detector being operable to determine if external power is supplied to the control system and provide a power indication signal in response thereto;

a caster mode detector, the caster mode detector being operable to detect a mode of operation of the casters and provide a caster indication signal in response thereto; and

a controller coupled to the external power detector to receive the power indication signal therefrom and coupled to the caster mode detector to receive the caster indication signal therefrom, the controller being operable to provide a control signal to the rolling support lifter in response to the power indication signal and the caster indication signal.

6. A moveable patient support, comprising:

a frame configured to support a person in at least a horizontal position,

a motor,

a propulsion device coupled to the motor and coupled to the frame to move the patient support from one location to another in response to output from the motor,

a first user input device, the first user input device being operable to receive a first input from a user and provide a first signal based on the first input,

a second user input device, the second user input device being operable to receive a second input from a user and provide a second signal based on the second input, and

a controller coupled to the first user input device to receive the first signal therefrom and coupled to the second user input device to receive the second signal therefrom, the controller being operable to provide a control signal based on the first signal and the second signal and command the motor to operate at a specific output based on the control signal, and

wherein the at least the first user input device is operable to (i) receive a user force corresponding to a desired speed of the motor, (ii) receive a feedback force corresponding to an actual speed of the motor, and (iii) generate a signal based on a difference between the first user force and the first feedback force.

7. The patient support of claim 6, wherein the control signal is based on the sum of the first and second signals.

8. A patient support comprising:

a bedframe,

a plurality of casters supporting the bedframe,

a wheel spaced from the casters and coupled to the bedframe,

a motor operably coupled to the wheel to drive the bedframe,

at least one handle operable to receive an input from a user and provide a signal based on the user input,

a controller operably coupled to the at least one handle to receive the signal therefrom and provide a control signal to the motor to control propulsion of the bedframe in response to the signal received from the handle,

a first handle and a second handle spaced from the first handle, wherein each handle is operable to receive user input and provide a signal to the controller based on the user input, and each handle is supported for selective pivotal movement such that the first handle and the second handle are foldable toward each other, and

at least one battery for storing energy for use by the motor, a detector in communication with the at least one battery for detecting the amount of energy stored in the at least one battery and providing an energy signal indicative thereof, and a relay coupled intermediate the at least one battery and the motor to receive the energy signal, wherein the relay disconnects the at least one battery from the motor when the energy signal indicates that the energy stored within the at least one battery is less than a predetermined amount.

9. A patient support comprising:

a bedframe,

a plurality of casters supporting the bedframe,

a wheel spaced from the casters and coupled to the bedframe,

a motor operably coupled to the wheel to drive the bedframe,

at least one handle operable to receive an input from a user and provide a signal based on the user input,

a controller operably coupled to the at least one handle to receive the signal therefrom and provide a control signal to the motor to control propulsion of the bedframe in response to the signal received from the handle,

a first handle and a second handle spaced from the first handle, wherein each handle is operable to receive user input and provide a signal to the controller based on the user input, and each handle is supported for selective pivotal movement such that the first handle and the second handle are foldable toward each other, and

at least one battery configured to provide power to the motor, and a braking system coupled to the at least one battery and configured to detect the power available to drive the motor and to provide braking based upon the power detected.

10. A patient support comprising:

a bedframe,

a plurality of casters supporting the bedframe,

at least one elastic force sensing element coupled to the bedframe and operable to receive a force and provide a signal based on the force,

a motor operably coupled to the at least one elastic force sensing element, the motor having a shaft, the motor being operable to drive the shaft in response to the signal, and

a wheel configured to receive power from the shaft and propel the bedframe,

a user enable device configured to generate an enable signal, wherein the motor is operable in response to the enable signal and the at least one elastic force sensing element provides the signal in response to a first state in which a first received force is applied relative to the bedframe and the at least one elastic force sensing element provides the signal in response to a second state in which a second received force is applied relative to the support frame, and

wherein in the first state, the signal causes the bedframe to move in a forward direction and in the second state, the signal causes the bedframe to move in a reverse direction.

11. The patient support of claim 10, wherein in the first state, the signal causes the motor to rotate the shaft at a first speed and in the second state, the signal causes the motor to rotate the shaft at a second speed different than the first speed.