A braking system for a patient support apparatus includes a caster wheel assembly. The caster wheel assembly includes a caster wheel and manually operable brake operable to brake the caster wheel. The caster wheel assembly further includes a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake to move between three positions, wherein said three positions include a braking position, an un-braked position, and a steer lock position. The braking system further includes an electrically powered actuator mechanically coupled to the manual brake activation handle or pedal and to the manually operable brake. When powered, the electrically powered actuator is operable to move the manually operable brake and to move the manual brake activation handle or pedal between two or more of the three positions to thereby manually operate the caster wheel in a braking mode, an un-braked mode, or a steer lock mode. And, when the actuator is unpowered, the manual brake activation handle or pedal is operable to be manually moved between two or more of the three positions to thereby manually operate the caster wheel in the braking mode, the un-braked mode, or the steer lock mode.

A braking system for a patient support apparatus includes a caster wheel assembly. The caster wheel assembly includes a caster wheel and manually operable brake operable to brake the caster wheel. The caster wheel assembly further includes a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake to move between three positions, wherein said three positions include a braking position, an un-braked position, and a steer lock position. The braking system further includes an electrically powered actuator mechanically coupled to the manual brake activation handle or pedal and to the manually operable brake. When powered, the electrically powered actuator is operable to move the manually operable brake and to move the manual brake activation handle or pedal between two or more of the three positions to thereby manually operate the caster wheel in a braking mode, an un-braked mode, or a steer lock mode. And, when the actuator is unpowered, the manual brake activation handle or pedal is operable to be manually moved between two or more of the three positions to thereby manually operate the caster wheel in the braking mode, the un-braked mode, or the steer lock mode.

The invention discloses a measuring device for measuring the mass of a weight, comprising: a main frame; a main beam supported on main frame; a balancing system loaded on one end of the main beam; a weighting system, loaded on the other end of the main beam; a weight transportation system capable of transporting and loading a standard weight or a test weight into the weighting system and capable of unloading and transporting them away from the weighting system; and a control system comprising an optical sensor mounted in the main frame, a laser displacement sensor mounted on the main beam, a monitor, and a control unit connected electrically to the optical sensor, the laser displacement sensor and the monitor. The control system is adapted to compare a main beam first displacement data obtained by the optical sensor and a main beam second displacement data obtained by the laser displacement sensor to accurately measure the actual displacement of the main beam.

The invention discloses a measuring device for measuring the mass of a weight, comprising: a main frame; a main beam supported on main frame; a balancing system loaded on one end of the main beam; a weighting system, loaded on the other end of the main beam; a weight transportation system capable of transporting and loading a standard weight or a test weight into the weighting system and capable of unloading and transporting them away from the weighting system; and a control system comprising an optical sensor mounted in the main frame, a laser displacement sensor mounted on the main beam, a monitor, and a control unit connected electrically to the optical sensor, the laser displacement sensor and the monitor. The control system is adapted to compare a main beam first displacement data obtained by the optical sensor and a main beam second displacement data obtained by the laser displacement sensor to accurately measure the actual displacement of the main beam.

Extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus with reservoir status lights and methods of monitoring reservoir status using the same are described. The extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus include a plurality of reservoir scales (30), each of which is configured to weigh a reservoir (32) used in connection with the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus. A plurality of reservoir status lights (40) are provided, with one or more of the reservoir status lights (40) associated with one of the reservoir scales (30). The one or more reservoir status lights (40) associated with one of the reservoir scales (30) emit light from a location that is closer to their associated reservoir scale than to any other reservoir scale of the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus.

Extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus with reservoir status lights and methods of monitoring reservoir status using the same are described. The extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus include a plurality of reservoir scales (30), each of which is configured to weigh a reservoir (32) used in connection with the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus. A plurality of reservoir status lights (40) are provided, with one or more of the reservoir status lights (40) associated with one of the reservoir scales (30). The one or more reservoir status lights (40) associated with one of the reservoir scales (30) emit light from a location that is closer to their associated reservoir scale than to any other reservoir scale of the extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus.

An automated fish culling system which includes a base station which includes a processor and base station display for displaying information corresponding to a plurality of cull tags, the base station display being communicably coupled to the processor. Each of the plurality of cull tags are configured to be associated with a fish and includes cull tag display for identifying the cull tag. The system further includes a memory for storing data that includes information associated with the fish, the information comprising a fish weight, wherein the processor determines which fish to cull based on at least the fish weight associated with each fish, and indicates which fish to cull via at least the base station display.

An automated fish culling system which includes a base station which includes a processor and base station display for displaying information corresponding to a plurality of cull tags, the base station display being communicably coupled to the processor. Each of the plurality of cull tags are configured to be associated with a fish and includes cull tag display for identifying the cull tag. The system further includes a memory for storing data that includes information associated with the fish, the information comprising a fish weight, wherein the processor determines which fish to cull based on at least the fish weight associated with each fish, and indicates which fish to cull via at least the base station display.

A patient support includes a frame, a patient support surface supported at the frame, a display incorporated into the frame, and a user interface incorporated into the frame. The patient support frame includes a controller incorporated into the frame, which has a plurality of prompts stored therein. The user interface is in communication with the controller and may be used to select a selected prompt from the plurality of prompts stored in the controller. When a prompt is selected, the controller generates a display image or text associated with the selected prompt at the display in response to a passage of time or an input to provide a visual prompt to the user.

A load sensor and load detector for detecting the weight of tiny substances such as viruses or bacteria and includes a resonance generator causing a vibrating unit to resonate, a load sensor, and a voltage detector that detects change in induced electromotive force in a pick-up. The load sensor includes the vibrating unit, pick-up, and a substance adsorbent. The vibrating unit includes a magnetostrictive element capable of resonating. The pick-up generates an induced current using inverse magnetostrictive effect of the magnetostrictive element resulting from the vibrating unit vibrations. The substance adsorbent is provided at the vibrating unit, is composed of an antibody to viruses or bacteria and at least partially covers the vibrating unit. The pick-up is composed of a coil with the vibrating unit arranged inside the coil. The vibrating unit is formed by bonding the magnetostrictive element and a soft magnetic body to each other.