A mobile support such as a stretcher includes a left rear rolling element and a right rear rolling element. The support also includes a sensor system adapted to sense displacement force applied to the support, and a deceleration system. Provided the bed is moving in a forward direction, machine readable instructions executed by a processor cause the deceleration system to apply a decelerating influence to selected members of the set of rolling elements in response to the sensed displacement force in order to assist braking and steering maneuvers.

An occupant support includes a framework which includes a frame, an orientation adjustable deck section supported by the frame, and a lockable gas spring whose components include a piston assembly coupled to one of the frame and the deck section and a cylinder coupled to the other of the frame and the deck section. The piston assembly includes a piston and a connecting rod. The piston divides the interior of the cylinder into an isolated compartment and a non-isolated compartment. The non-isolated compartment has an inlet and an outlet. An outflow check valve resists fluid flow out of the non-isolated compartment and admits ambient fluid into the non-isolated compartment. An inflow check valve resists fluid flow into the non-isolated compartment and enables fluid flow out of the non-isolated compartment. A turbine receives fluid which flows out of the non-isolated compartment. An electrical generator is coupled to the turbine.

A brake assist system for patient handling equipment such as a patient bed includes a drive wheel. The wheel includes a brake assist system operated by control of a controlled unit which is operable to sense tilt of the handling equipment and to apply partial breaking to the wheel when it is detected that the equipment is on a slope. The control unit controls a maximum speed of the equipment down the slope, in order to protect the patient and to assist a care worker. The control unit disengages the brake assist mechanism when it is detected that the equipment is on a horizontal surface.

A patient support apparatus includes a frame, wheels, a patient support surface, a motor, a power assist control, a sensor, and a controller. The power assist control detects a force applied to it. The sensor detects an angular orientation of the patient support apparatus with respect to a generally horizontal plane. The controller drives the motor at different levels for a particular force applied to the power assist control depending upon the angular orientation sensed by the sensor. The controller may control the motors such that the patient support apparatus accelerates at substantially the same rate, regardless of the angle of the patient support apparatus. The controller may also limit the driving of the motor to less than a maximum value based upon the angular orientation of the patient support apparatus.

A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient transport apparatus includes an auxiliary wheel assembly including an auxiliary wheel, an auxiliary wheel drive system, and a control system for operating the auxiliary wheel drive system based on user commands. The control system includes a processor that is programmed to receive a user command to operate the auxiliary wheel drive system in a drive mode and responsively operate a motor control circuit to transmit power signals to a motor to rotate the auxiliary wheel. The processor is also programmed to receive a user command to operate the auxiliary wheel drive system in a free wheel mode and responsively operate the motor control circuit to enable the auxiliary wheel to rotate relatively freely with the auxiliary wheel in a deployed position.

Powered patient support apparatusessuch as beds, cots, stretchers, or the likeinclude a plurality of user controls that allow a caregiver to control the steering and/or driving of one or more powered wheels from multiple different locations around the patient support apparatus (e.g. head end, foot end, and/or the sides). The control is carried out by force sensors that detect both an orientation of the applied forces and a magnitude of the applied forces. Translational and/or rotational movement is effectuated, depending upon the magnitude and direction of the forces, as well as the physical location of the applied force relative to a reference point on the support apparatus, such as the center. One or more object sensors may also be included in the support apparatus to assist in steering and/or navigating.

An automated system and methods are provided for coordinating a transfer of a patient between patient support apparatuses. The system includes first and second patient support apparatuses having a patient support surface supported by an adjustable frame. A controller is provided and is configured to communicate with at least one of the first and second patient support apparatuses. The controller includes programmable instructions to coordinate automated movements of at least one of the patient support apparatuses in order to couple the support apparatuses at a preferential transfer position, engage or monitor at least one safety feature, and provide an indication that it is safe to transfer the patient between the first and second patient support apparatuses.

Systems and methods for facilitating movement of a patient transport apparatus. The patient transport apparatus has a support structure and a patient support surface. Caster assemblies are coupled to the support structure to roll about a roll axis and swivel about a swivel axis. A control system is configured to control brake mechanisms, steer-lock mechanisms, and pre-swivel mechanisms of the caster assemblies based on one or more inputs.

Surgical table comprising: a base comprising a chassis and rotatably connected to the chassis a plurality of wheels for supporting the surgical table on a floor, a first of the wheels being drivable and comprised in a swivel castor rotatably connected to the chassis; a column extending from the chassis; a tabletop coupled to the column and providing a patient support surface; and a drive system for causing rotation of the first wheel relative to the chassis thereby to drive the surgical table along the floor. Also disclosed are surgical tables with a drive system for causing rotation of a wheel of the table in dependence on one or more of a state of a dead man's switch of the table, a height of a column of the table, a state of a brake of the table, and a state of a power supply of the table.

A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient over a surface. The patient transport apparatus has support wheels coupled to a base and swivelable about swivel axes. An auxiliary wheel assembly is coupled to the base and includes an auxiliary wheel configured to move between a plurality of wheel positions, and an actuator operably coupled to the auxiliary wheel to move the auxiliary wheel between the plurality of wheel positions. A sensing system with a sensor is provided to detect a motion condition of the patient transport apparatus. A controller is coupled to the sensing system and to the actuator, and is configured to drive the actuator to move the auxiliary wheel between the plurality of wheel positions based on the motion condition of the patient transport apparatus.