Powered Side Rail For A Patient Support Apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017172829-A1
Application number	US-201615380211-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 15, 2016
Priority date	Dec 22, 2015
Publication date	Jun 22, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A patient support system comprises a patient support apparatus for patients. The patient support apparatus comprises a base and a patient support surface supported by the base. The patient support apparatus also comprises side rails that move between raised and lowered positions. One or more actuators are coupled to each of the side rails. A controller communicates with the actuators to raise and lower the side rails, either without any manual assistance from the user, or with manual assistance from the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient, said patient support apparatus comprising:
a support structure; a side rail movable relative to said support structure between a raised position and a lowered position; a support arm assembly coupling said side rail to said support structure; an actuator configured to move said side rail between said raised position and said lowered position; an input device for generating an input signal; and a controller in communication with said actuator and said input device and configured to receive said input signal from said input device to control said actuator based on said input signal.

2 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said side rail comprises an interior and said actuator is at least partially disposed within said interior.

3 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator comprises one of an electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and a pneumatic actuator.

4 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said side rail comprises at least one sensor configured to detect an obstruction and said controller is configured to control said actuator in response to said sensor detecting said obstruction.

5 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator is configured to engage said side rail to restrict said side rail from moving between said raised and lowered positions, and said actuator comprises an electromechanical device configured to disengage said actuator from restricting movement of said side rail.

6 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said side rail comprises a locking system having a latch and a handle, and wherein said latch is configured to lock said side rail in said raised position and said lowered position.

7 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a powered device comprising a second actuator wherein said controller is configured to operate said powered device in response to receiving said input signal.

8 . The patient support apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said controller is configured to control said actuators simultaneously in response to receiving said input signal.

9 . The patient support apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said controller is configured to control said actuators sequentially in response to receiving said input signal.

10 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said input device comprises at least one sensor for generating said input signal.

11 . The patient support apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said at least one sensor comprises one or more optical sensors, infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, force sensors, force/torque sensors, or load cells.

12 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said input device is located remotely from said patient support apparatus.

13 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator is configured to at least assist a user with raising said side rail.

14 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a lockout device configured to prevent said actuator from moving said side rail.

15 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said controller is mounted to said side rail to move with said side rail.

16 . The patient support apparatus of claim 15 , comprising a power source coupled to said side rail to provide power to said actuator and said controller.

17 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said side rail is configured to be moved by said actuator in one configuration and to be manually moved by a user in another configuration.

18 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a second side rail movable relative to said support structure, a second support arm assembly coupling said second side rail to said support structure, and a second actuator configured to move said second side rail between positions, wherein said controller is configured to move both of said side rails in response to said input signal.

19 . The patient support apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said controller is configured to place said side rails in at least one of an ingress configuration or an egress configuration in response to receiving said input signal from said input device.

20 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator comprises a motor and wherein said controller is configured to receive an output signal from said motor and to control operation of said motor by:
determining an error value; applying the error value to at least one of a proportional (P), an integral (I), and a derivative (D) tuning parameter to generate a control signal designed to reduce the error value; and controlling said motor based on said control signal.

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Tessmer Brian J
• Sweeney Christopher Ryan
• Wright Ammon K

Classifications

• A61G2203/44

  for weight · CPC title

• A61G2203/30

  characterised by sensor means · CPC title

• A61G2203/32

  for force · CPC title

• A61G2203/10

  characterised by specific control means, e.g. for adjustment or steering · CPC title

• A61G7/0516 Primary

  with height adjustability · CPC title