Patient transport apparatus having powered drive system utilizing dual mode user input control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11389348-B2
Application number	US-201916369125-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2019
Priority date	Mar 29, 2018
Publication date	Jul 19, 2022
Grant date	Jul 19, 2022

Abstract

Systems for facilitating movement of a patient transport apparatus are provided and include user input control device that includes a mode switch selectable between a longitudinal transport mode and a multidirectional mode and a driving assist device actuatable between at least one engaged state and a non-engaged state. The mode switch generates signals based on the selected mode and the driving assist device generates engaged or non-engaged signals which are received by a controller. The controller is configured to generate an output signal sent to a lift actuator, swivel actuator, and/or a powered drive system to assist a user in propelling the apparatus in a desired manner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient transport apparatus moveable along a floor surface, said patient transport apparatus comprising:
a support structure comprising a base and a patient support surface supported by said base, said support structure having a head end, a foot end, a right side and a left side, said support structure defining a longitudinal direction extending from said head end to said foot end and a lateral direction normal to said longitudinal direction and extending from said right side to said left side;
a plurality of support wheels coupled to said support structure;
a drive wheel assembly comprising at least one drive wheel and a powered drive system coupled to said at least one drive wheel;
a mode switch operable between a longitudinal transport mode and a multidirectional mode;
a driving assist device actuatable between at least one engaged state and a non-engaged state; and
a controller coupled to said powered drive system, said controller configured to determine if said mode switch is in said longitudinal transport mode or said multidirectional mode and also configured to determine if said driving assist device is in said at least one engaged state or said non-engaged state;
wherein said controller generates a first command in response to said mode switch being in said longitudinal transport mode and said driving assist device being in said at least one engaged state to drive said at least one drive wheel to assist in propelling said patient transport apparatus along a floor surface in a first direction corresponding to said longitudinal direction, and
wherein said controller generates a second command in response to said mode switch being in said multidirectional mode and said driving assist device being in said at least one engaged state to drive said at least one drive wheel to assist in propelling said patient transport apparatus in said first direction or in a second direction along the floor surface transverse to said first direction.

2. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least one drive wheel comprises at least two drive wheels, and wherein said second command is configured to drive said at least two drive wheels in a counter-rotating manner or at different rotational speeds to assist in maneuvering said patient transport apparatus.

3. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said mode switch is also selectable to a neutral mode.

4. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said driving assist device comprises a pair of handle members and an engageable throttle control.

5. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said driving assist device comprises a pair of handle members and a load cell.

6. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said mode switch comprises a rotatable dial coupled to said support structure, said rotatable dial movable between a longitudinal transport mode dial position associated with said longitudinal transport mode and a multidirectional mode dial position associated with said multidirectional mode.

7. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said mode switch comprises a rotatable dial, said rotatable dial movable between a neutral dial position, a longitudinal transport mode dial position, and a multidirectional mode dial position.

8. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said mode switch comprises a touch sensor.

9. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said driving assist device comprises a T-bar handle, said T-bar handle including a first bar coupled to said support structure at a lower end and extending along its length from said lower end to an upper end, said T-bar handle further including a second bar coupled to said upper end of said first bar and extending transverse to said first bar between a first end and a second end, said length of said first bar from said lower end to said upper end defining a steering axis.

10. The patient transport apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said driving assist device comprises a load cell responsive to forces applied to said T-bar handle.

11. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said driving assist device comprises a joystick coupled to said support structure and movable in a plurality of directions relative to said support structure.

12. The patient transport apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said joystick is rotatable about a steering axis.

13. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said drive wheel assembly comprises a lift actuator coupled to said at least one drive wheel and configured to move said at least one drive wheel between a deployed position and a retracted position.

14. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said drive wheel assembly comprises a swivel actuator to swivel said at least one drive wheel about a swivel axis between a non-swiveled position and a swiveled position.

15. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to control a speed of the at least one drive wheel below a first maximum speed in said longitudinal transport mode and below a second maximum speed in said multidirectional mode, wherein said first maximum speed is higher than said second maximum speed.

16. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a sensor system coupled to said controller to indicate to said controller one or more of a current position of said at least one drive wheel, a current orientation of said at least one drive wheel, and a current rotational speed of said at least one drive wheel.

17. The patient transport apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a location device coupled to said controller to generate a location signal to be sent to said controller to identify a location of said patient transport apparatus relative to one or more of a building, room, or object, wherein said controller is configured to one or more of: automatically switch between said longitudinal transport mode and said multidirectional mode based on said location signal and limit switching between said longitudinal transport mode and said multidirectional mode, based on said location signal.

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Patmore Kevin M
• Bhimavarapu Krishna Sandeep
• Dunfee Ii Jeffrey S
• Meng Fanqi
• Hopper Christopher J
• Puvogel Thomas Alan
• Taylor Gregory S
• Ross Ryan

Classifications

• A61G7/0528 Primary

  Steering or braking devices for castor wheels · CPC title

• A61G1/0268

  having deployable or retractable wheels · CPC title

• A61G2203/14

  Joysticks · CPC title

• A61G1/0281

  having a steering device · CPC title

• A61G1/0243

  with lockable swivel action, e.g. fixing castor in certain direction (locking of castor swivel action in general B60B33/02) · CPC title