Transport apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018177650-A1
Application number	US-201815932271-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2018
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Jun 28, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A first transport apparatus includes a deck for supporting a patient thereon and a lift mechanism supporting the deck. The deck is removable from the lift mechanism for use as a second transport apparatus or part of a second transport apparatus. The first transport apparatus further includes an electrically powered device at the first transport apparatus, and a user input device for wireless control of the electrically powered device, which is operable at or near the first transport apparatus and the second transport apparatus.

First claim

1 . A first transport apparatus comprising:
a deck for supporting a patient thereon; a lift mechanism supporting said deck, said deck being removable from said lift mechanism for use as a second transport apparatus or part of a second transport apparatus; an electrically powered device at said first transport apparatus; and a user input device for wireless control of said electrically powered device and operable to provide said wireless control from or near said first transport apparatus and from or near said second transport apparatus when said second apparatus is in proximity to said first transport apparatus.

2 . The first transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said electrically powered device comprises a drive mechanism operable to raise or lower said lift mechanism.

3 . The first transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said deck includes a track, wherein said electrically powered device comprises a drive mechanism to drive said track.

4 . The first transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said deck includes a seat section, a head section articulatable relative to said seat section, and a foot section articulatable relative to said seat section, wherein said electrically powered device comprises a drive mechanism operable to move said head section or said foot section relative to said seat section.

5 . The first transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said deck includes a seat section, a head section articulatable relative to said seat section, and a foot section articulatable relative to said seat section, wherein said user input device is mounted to said head section.

6 . The first transport apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said head section includes a patient facing side and an underside opposed from said patient facing side, said user input device being mounted to said underside of said head section.

7 . The first transport apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said user input device comprises a handheld device and is removably mounted to said underside of head section.

8 . The first transport apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said user input device comprises a touchscreen.

10 . The first transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said user input device comprises a first user input device, said first transport apparatus further comprising a second user input device operable to control said electrically powered device, one of said first and second user input devices configured to override another of said first and second user input devices.

11 . The first transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said user input device includes a controller operable to that forward data associated with (1) a patient or (2) said first transport apparatus or (3) said second transport apparatus.

12 . The first transport apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to forward data relative to a patient supported on said deck or forward data relative to said first transport apparatus to a location remote from said first transport apparatus for external storage.

13 . A patient transport system comprising:
a first patient transport apparatus, said first patient transport apparatus including a base and a deck for supporting a patient thereon, said deck supported relative to said base to form said first patient transport apparatus and being removable therefrom to form a second patient transport apparatus for said patient transport system; and a controller configured to forward data relative to a patient supported on said deck or relative to said patient transport system to a location remote from said patient transport system for external storage.

14 . The patient transport system according to claim 13 , wherein said controller is configured to form an association between one of said patient transport apparatuses and a device.

15 . The patient transport system according to claim 14 , wherein said data includes data indicative of the location of said one of said patient transport apparatuses and/or said device.

16 . The patient transport system according to claim 14 , wherein said controller is further be configured to determine an identity of said device by communicating with said through a near field communication transceiver or a far field communication transceiver.

17 . The patient transport system according to claim 16 , further comprising a display, said display displaying (1) said identity of said device or (2) said association between said device and said one of said patient transport apparatuses.

18 . The patient transport system according to claim 17 , further comprising a computer that is configured to act a thin client for at least one network service thereby enabling upgrades, modifications, improvements, or customizations of one or more functions performed by said one of said patient transport apparatuses.

19 . The patient transport system according to claim 17 , wherein one of said patient transport apparatuses is configured to act as a wireless hotspot for providing Internet access to one more devices or other patient support apparatuses wherein said patient transport system is operable as a WiFi hub.

20 . The patient transport system according to claim 13 , further comprising:
an electrically powered device at said first transport apparatus or said second transport apparatus; and
a removable user input device removably mounted to said first transport apparatus for wireless control of said electrically powered device and operable to provide said wireless control when mounted or removed from said first transport.

Assignees

• Stryker Corp

Inventors

• Lambarth Clifford Edwin
• Wroblewski Jason James
• Naber Brandon David
• Dacey Iv Alfred James
• Lucas Ross Timothy

Classifications

• A61G1/0212

  2 pairs having wheels within a pair on the same position in longitudinal direction, e.g. on the same axis · CPC title

• A61G1/02

  with wheels · CPC title

• A61G1/0567

  folding in x-shape · CPC title

• A61G1/0262

  having loading wheels situated in the front during loading · CPC title

• A61G5/104

  Devices for lifting or tilting the whole wheelchair (transfer lifts A61G3/06; arrangements for adjusting the seat height A61G5/1059) · CPC title