Patient support apparatus with adaptive user interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11304865-B2
Application number	US-201816019994-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2018
Priority date	Jun 27, 2017
Publication date	Apr 19, 2022
Grant date	Apr 19, 2022

Abstract

A patient support apparatus for patients. The patient support apparatus comprises a base and a litter supported by the base. The patient support apparatus also comprises powered devices that perform one or more predetermined functions on the patient support apparatus. A user interface is employed to control the powered devices. The user interface is designed to enable caregivers to cause operation of the powered devices with fewer buttons, while retaining functionality in using powered devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient, said patient support apparatus comprising:
a base comprising a lift device;
a litter comprising a patient support surface to support the patient and configured for use with the base, which is configured to support said litter in a docked mode,;
a track driving device coupled to said litter to provide mobility to said litter when said litter is removed from the base in an undocked mobility mode, said track driving device comprising a continuous track configured to engage stairs and supported by a frame member, and a wheel coupled to said frame member and configured to rotationally engage a floor surface, wherein said track driving device is configured to articulate relative to the litter into position for operation of said patient support apparatus between said docked mode and said undocked mobility mode; and
a state detection device adapted to generate a state signal defining operation of said litter between said docked mode and said undocked mobility mode;
a user interface positioned on said litter to generate an input signal in response to actuation by a user;
one or more powered devices selectively operable to perform a first function associated with said litter in said docked mode, and a second function associated with said litter in said undocked mobility mode; and
a controller coupled to said state detection device, said user interface, and said one or more powered devices, with said controller configured to receive said input signal and said state signal and to generate an output signal based on said input signal and said state signal such that said user interface has a first functionality to operate said one or more powered devices to perform said first function upon actuation of said user interface by the user when said litter is in said docked mode and a second functionality to operate said one or more powered devices to perform said second function upon actuation of said user interface by the user when said litter is in said undocked mobility mode.

2. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said one or more powered devices comprises a first powered device selectively operable to perform the first function, and a second powered device selectively operable to perform the second function.

3. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said first powered device comprises a first actuator and said second powered device comprises a second actuator.

4. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:
the base comprises a base lift device;
said litter comprises a litter lift device, separate from the base lift device, to raise and lower said patient support surface relative to a floor surface when said litter is separated from the base; and
said first powered device comprises one of the base lift device, said litter lift device, and said track driving device and said second powered device comprises a different one of the base lift device, said litter lift device, and said track driving device.

5. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:
the base comprises a base lift device;
wherein said litter comprises a litter lift device, separate from the base lift device, to raise and lower said patient support surface relative to a floor surface when said litter is separated from the base,
said litter further comprising a seat section, a fowler section, and a fowler section adjustment device arranged to move said fowler section relative to said seat section,
wherein said first powered device comprises one of the base lift device, said litter lift device, said track driving device, and said fowler section adjustment device and said second powered device comprises a different one of the base lift device, said litter lift device, said track driving device, and said fowler section adjustment device.

6. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising the base configured to receive and support said litter in said docked mode and wherein said litter is separate from the base in said undocked mobility mode, with said first powered device comprising a base lift device having a base lift actuator to raise and lower said litter relative to a floor surface, and said first functionality of said user interface comprises raising and lowering said litter when said litter is supported on the base in said docked mode.

7. The patient support apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a load detection device configured to detect a load on the base, and wherein the base lift actuator is configured to move said litter at a first rate when said controller determines that said load is less than a load threshold and at a second rate slower than said first rate when said controller determines that said load is at or above said load threshold.

8. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said first powered device comprises said track driving device to move said litter relative to a floor surface in said undocked mobility mode, wherein said track driving device comprises a track actuator coupled to said controller and a continuous track driven by said track actuator for ascending and descending stairs and said first functionality of said user interface comprises moving said litter along the stairs in said undocked mobility mode.

9. The patient support apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a sensor coupled to said user interface and said controller, with said sensor configured to generate a signal responsive to hand placement of the user adjacent said user interface, and said controller is configured to operate said track actuator of said track driving device responsive to said signal from said sensor to prevent movement of said continuous track such that said litter is prevented from ascending and descending stairs via said continuous track when the user's hand is not detected adjacent said user interface, and said controller is configured to operate said track actuator of said track driving device responsive to said signal from said sensor to permit movement of said continuous track such that said litter is permitted to ascend and descend stairs via said continuous track when the user's hand is detected adjacent said user interface.

10. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said litter comprises a seat section and a fowler section, and said first powered device comprises a fowler section adjustment device having a fowler actuator coupled to said fowler section and said controller to move said fowler section relative to said seat section.

11. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said first powered device comprises a litter lift device coupled to said controller, wherein said litter lift device comprises a litter lift actuator configured to raise and lower said patient support surface relative to a floor surface in said docked mode.

12. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said state detection device comprises a sensor.

13. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a state input device selectable between a first input state and a second input state.

14. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said user interface comprises one of a load cell, a push button, a touch screen, a joystick, a twistable control handle, a dial, a knob, and a gesture sensor.

15. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a progress indicator coupled to said litter to display one of said modes of said litter and said functionalities of said user interface.

16. The patient support apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said powered device compr

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Furman Aaron Douglas
• Brosnan Daniel
• Gopalkrishnan Janani
• Schaaf Darren G
• Gentile Christopher
• Lucas Ross T

Classifications

• A61G1/017 Primary

  convertible into chairs · CPC title

• A61G7/16

  converting a lying surface into a chair · CPC title

• A61G2203/32

  for force · CPC title

• A61G2203/40

  for distance · CPC title

• A61G5/066

  with endless belts · CPC title