A patient support apparatus comprises a base and a patient support deck. The patient support deck comprises a back section capable of articulating relative to a seat section. A lift system lifts or lowers the patient support deck relative to the base. An articulation system articulates the back section relative to the seat section. Head end side rails are mounted to the back section to articulate with the back section. A controller controls operation of the lift system and/or the articulation system to prevent the head end side rails from colliding with obstacles, such as the floor surface.

A patient support apparatus comprises a base and a patient support deck. The patient support deck comprises a back section capable of articulating relative to a seat section. A lift system lifts or lowers the patient support deck relative to the base. An articulation system articulates the back section relative to the seat section. Head end side rails are mounted to the back section to articulate with the back section. A controller controls operation of the lift system and/or the articulation system to prevent the head end side rails from colliding with obstacles, such as the floor surface.

Several solutions are described for making it easier to move a surgical robotics patient table, either from rest or to turn it. The table has a base, a support, and a table top on which the patient is supported. A number of casters are mounted to a body of the base. In one case, controllable jacks lift the body to release the casters thereby allowing them to swivel to a desired orientation. In another case, a drive assembly is rotatably coupled to the body of the base and includes an electric drive motor and a drive wheel to drive the table across the floor. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Systems and methods for facilitating movement of a patient transport apparatus. The patient transport apparatus has a support structure comprising a patient support surface. A wheel assembly comprises a base wheel having an outer periphery rotatably coupled to the support structure about a base rotational axis. The wheel assembly also comprises a plurality of peripheral wheels disposed about the outer periphery to rotate about a plurality of peripheral rotational axes. The wheel assembly comprises a motion control device configured to selectively control rotation of the peripheral wheels independent of rotation of the base wheel about the base rotational axis.

Systems and methods for facilitating movement of a patient transport apparatus. The patient transport apparatus has a support structure comprising a patient support surface. A wheel assembly comprises a base wheel having an outer periphery rotatably coupled to the support structure about a base rotational axis. The wheel assembly also comprises a plurality of peripheral wheels disposed about the outer periphery to rotate about a plurality of peripheral rotational axes. The wheel assembly comprises a motion control device configured to selectively control rotation of the peripheral wheels independent of rotation of the base wheel about the base rotational axis.

A base module is for a mobile medical system, designed to cover distances autonomously or semi-autonomously. The base module includes a chassis having a plurality of rolling bodies. The rolling bodies are mounted to rotate about axes of rotation and, via adjusting devices, are adjustable in the vertical direction such that each respective rolling body is movable between a first position, in which the respective rolling body is in contact with a floor area, and a second position, in which the respective rolling body is spaced apart from the floor area. A medical system includes a base module of an embodiment. A method for operation of the medical system is also disclosed.

A base module is for a mobile medical system, designed to cover distances autonomously or semi-autonomously. The base module includes a chassis having a plurality of rolling bodies. The rolling bodies are mounted to rotate about axes of rotation and, via adjusting devices, are adjustable in the vertical direction such that each respective rolling body is movable between a first position, in which the respective rolling body is in contact with a floor area, and a second position, in which the respective rolling body is spaced apart from the floor area. A medical system includes a base module of an embodiment. A method for operation of the medical system is also disclosed.

A lift system includes a support configured to maintain a bed frame thereon. The support is defined by a first swing arm opposing a second swing arm and a pivoting plate opposing an end plate. First ends of the swing arms are configured to swing outward about ends of the pivoting plate. Second ends of the swing arms removably attach to the end plate to form a rectangular structure for securely receiving a bed frame. The lift system also includes a storage unit defined by a lift gate configured within an interior of the storage unit. The lift gate includes a linear actuator for converting the support between a folded and an unfolded position by manipulating the pivoting plate coupled to the linear actuator. A controller is provided for controlling the lift gate.

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.

A patient transport apparatus with a base, a litter comprising a support surface, and a lift mechanism to facilitate arranging the litter at different heights relative to the base between a plurality of lift configurations including a fully-retracted configuration and a fully-extended configuration. The lift mechanism includes an actuator including a cylinder, fluid reservoir, and a pump driven by a motor to direct hydraulic fluid from the fluid reservoir to the cylinder. A sensor outputs a signal indicative of a magnitude of pressure in the cylinder. A user interface with an input control is provided. A controller determines a target parameter for the motor and, in response to user engagement with the input control, drives the motor at the target parameter to effect movement of the litter relative to the base at a predetermined rate irrespective of a weight of a patient supported on the litter.