Patient support apparatus with deck section actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11771607-B2
Application number	US-202117546166-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2021
Priority date	Dec 21, 2017
Publication date	Oct 3, 2023
Grant date	Oct 3, 2023

Abstract

A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient comprising a support frame and a support deck coupled to the support frame. The support deck has a deck section arranged to articulate relative to said support frame between a first position and a second position. An actuator is interposed in force-translating relation between the support frame and the deck section to articulate the deck section. The actuator comprises a biasing device configured to store mechanical energy and having an interface. The actuator further comprises a torque multiplier coupled to the deck section and engaged with the interface to translate mechanical energy stored in the biasing device into force acting on the deck section to urge the deck section toward the first position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient, the patient support apparatus comprising:
a support frame;
a support deck coupled to the support frame and having a deck section arranged to articulate relative to the support frame between a first position and a second position with the deck section being arranged closer to the support frame in the second position than in the first position; and
an actuator interposed in force-translating relation between the support frame and the deck section, the actuator comprising;
a biasing device configured to store mechanical energy and having an interface, and
a torque multiplier coupled to the deck section and engaged with the interface to translate potential energy stored in the biasing device into kinetic energy via an articulation force to effect active movement of the deck section urging the deck section from the second position toward the first position.

2. The patient support apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured such that mechanical energy is stored in the biasing device in response to articulation of the deck section toward the second position, and such that mechanical energy stored in the biasing device is translated into force acting toward the deck section to urge the deck section toward the first position.

3. The patient support apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the interface comprises a pinion gear; and
wherein the torque multiplier comprises a drive gear disposed in rotational communication with the pinion gear.

4. The patient support apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the drive gear has a drive gear size, the pinion gear has a pinion gear size, and a ratio of the drive gear size to the pinion gear size is greater than 1:1.

5. The patient support apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the torque multiplier further comprises a link to transmit force between the drive gear and the deck section, the link having a first link end and a second link end with the first link end rotatably coupled to the deck section and with the second link end rotatably coupled to the drive gear.

6. The patient support apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a latch mechanism coupled to the actuator and arranged for selective engagement with the torque multiplier to restrict articulation of the deck section.

7. The patient support apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the drive gear comprises gear teeth, and
wherein the latch mechanism comprises a pawl selectively engageable with the gear teeth of the drive gear to prevent rotation of the drive gear.

8. The patient support apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the interface comprises a sun gear; and
wherein the torque multiplier comprises a ring gear and planet gears, wherein the planet gears are arranged between and engaged with the ring gear and the sun gear such that the sun gear, the planet gears, and the ring gear define a planetary gearset to translate mechanical energy stored in the biasing device into force acting on the deck section to urge the deck section toward the first position.

9. The patient support apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the torque multiplier further comprises a link to transmit force between the planetary gearset and the deck section, the link having a first link end and a second link end with the first link end rotatably coupled to the deck section and with the second link end rotatably coupled to the planetary gearset.

10. The patient support apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a latch mechanism coupled to the actuator and arranged for selective engagement with the torque multiplier to restrict articulation of the deck section.

11. The patient support apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the biasing device further comprises a resiliently flexible biasing element coupled to the interface.

12. The patient support apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the actuator further comprises a housing coupled to the support frame with the housing rotatably supporting the torque multiplier.

13. The patient support apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the biasing element of the biasing device comprises a torsion spring having a first spring end and a second spring end with the first spring end coupled to the housing and with the second spring end coupled to the interface.

14. The patient support apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the deck section is arranged for articulation between the first position and the second position about an articulation axis.

15. The patient support apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the deck section comprises a deck coupler rotatably fixed to the support frame and supporting the deck section for rotation about the articulation axis.

16. The patient support apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the deck section is arranged to pivot about the articulation axis through an arc of at least 30 degrees between the first position and the second position.

17. The patient support apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the torque multiplier further comprises a link to transmit force between the biasing device and the deck section, the link having a first link end and a second link end with the first link end rotatably coupled to the deck section and with the second link end operably coupled to the interface such that the first link end is spaced from the second link end.

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Trimble Shawn
• Hough Christopher S
• Garfoot Bryan E
• Lucas Ross Timothy

Classifications

• A61G7/018 Primary

  Control or drive mechanisms · CPC title

• A61G1/04

  Parts, details or accessories, e.g. head-, foot-, or like rests specially adapted for stretchers · CPC title

• A61G7/0506

  Head or foot boards (head or foot boards for comfort or ergonomics A47C19/022) · CPC title

• A61G7/07

  for the head or torso, e.g. special back-rests {(pillows in general A47G9/10)} · CPC title

• A61G7/08

  Apparatus for transporting beds · CPC title