This disclosure concerns a communication system adapted to communicate between a handheld remote control and a first adjustable bed controller of a first adjustable bed facility, and a second communication system adapted to communicate between the first adjustable bed controller of the first adjustable bed facility and a second adjustable bed controller of a second adjustable bed facility.

A bed device includes: an operation section that receives an operation input; a controller that controls a movement of the bed in accordance with the operation input; a detector that detects a position of a patient on the bed; and, a limitation table that stores a limitation area set on the bed in association with a limitation content, wherein when the position of the patient detected by the detector is included in the limitation area, the limitation content is read out from the limitation table so as to control the controller in accordance with the limitation content. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a higher safety bed device which can not only notify the danger based on the bed movement but also limit the movement of the bed in accordance with the status of the patient or the bed device.

Systems, methods, and techniques for operating a patient support apparatus are disclosed. The patient support apparatus includes moveable components and actuators to actuate the components. A user interface receives a user input to manipulate the actuatable components and produces an input signal in response to receiving the user input. A behavior controller receives the input signal from the user interface, generates a motion command signal based on the input signal, and transmits the motion command signal. A motion controller receives the motion command signal from the behavior controller and receives feedback signals from one or more of the actuators. The feedback signals are provided solely to the motion controller. The motion controller controls one or more of the actuators to actuate one or more of the actuatable components based on the motion command signal and the feedback signals.

The invention relates to a support arm system (10) for movably holding at least one medical device, including at least one movably supported support arm (18, 20, 22, 24) which is configured to hold the at least one medical device, having at least one load detection device (26) which is configured to detect the respective load data of the support arm system (10) during usage thereof; in particular configured by moving the support arm (18, 20, 22, 24), and which is formed with at least one storage device (46) which is configured to store the detected load data. Further, the invention relates to a method for operating a support arm system (10) and method for designing a support arm system (10).

Systems and methods of wheelchair systems enabling fine manual motion control are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wheelchair system includes a wheelchair. The wheelchair includes one or more wheels, at least one actuator coupled to the one or more wheels, a processing device, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium in communication with the processing device. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium includes one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to determine a wheel torque on the one or more wheels, determine a compensation value, and actuate the at least one actuator applying the compensation value to the one or more wheels to remove at least a portion of the wheel torque such that less external force is required to physically move the powered wheelchair than when the compensation value is not applied.

A system, method, and apparatus to provide mobility assistance to disabled persons. The invention includes a self-driving electric cart for transporting a blind or other disabled person along a pre-defined route defined by a path of magnetic markers. The magnetic markers interact through radio waves with a control mechanism on the cart. Utilizing the present invention, the blind person could touch a button on a pre-programmed control screen and ride safely in self-driving carts to any of several specific destinations, such as a job site, grocery store, relative's home, etc.

A surgical table comprises a base, components, and a controller. The controller is configured to store a geometric collision model including object model datasets of the components, of the base, and of a supporting surface and motion compute datasets of the base and of the components. The controller is configured to execute an anti-collision algorithm defining ranges of motion of the base and of the components based on a specific geometric collision model, and to control a drive to move the base and the components within the defined ranges of motion such that a collision is prevented. The controller is configured to store a defined initial geometric collision model of a configuration and to adapt the initial geometric collision model to an actual geometric collision model according to an actual configuration.

Systems and methods for detecting a pinch event or obstruction to a movable component of a patient support. In some embodiments, the patient support apparatus may include a control system capable of controlling one or more actuator systems coupled to one or more movable components of the patient support apparatus. The control system may operate according to one or more modes of operation in controlling the actuator system to move a component from a first position to a second position. In one embodiment, the control system may receive sensor feedback indicative of one or more operating characteristics of an actuator system, and analyze the sensor feedback differently in one mode than in another. In one embodiment, the controller may receive sensor feedback indicative of both a speed of a component coupled to the movable component and a current of power supplied to an electric motor of the actuator system.

A processing system for a motorized mobile system includes at least one sensor to measure one or more kinematic states of an object and at least one processor to use at least one state estimation filter and at least one object kinematic model to predict a first kinematic state estimate of the object and output the first predicted kinematic state estimate for use by at least one other process of the motorized mobile system. The processor uses the first predicted kinematic state estimate and the one or more measured kinematic states to determine a second kinematic state estimate of the object and uses the second kinematic state estimate as an input to the state estimation filter to predict another kinematic state estimate of the object.

A proximity alert system for a vehicle having a mobility access device that is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position may include a control system, a sensor system, and an annunciator system. The control system operates the sensor system to detect a presence of an object within a defined sensing region exterior to the vehicle when the mobility access device is in the stowed position. The control system operates the annunciator system when the sensor system detects the presence of the object within the defined sensing region.