A patient support facility including at least one patient support plate and at least two supports for the patient support plate. Each of the supports are configured to be mobile has an autonomous drive module with a chassis permitting movements and rotations in all horizontal directions, a drive facility, and a control unit. The patient support facility includes a control facility that is configured to operate the drive modules in a coordinated and individual manner.

The present invention relates to patient routing. In order to provide a more efficient patient flow for autonomous image acquisition, a method is provided for controlling a patient transfer apparatus within a healthcare facility. The method comprises the following steps: providing a routing information for transferring the patient transfer apparatus to a required location; controlling the patient transfer apparatus to move on a first guided path according to the provided routing information; detecting at least one of a vital sign and an abnormal movement of the patient during a transit of the patient transfer apparatus; evaluating a patient condition based on at least one of the detected vital sign and the detected abnormal movement of the patient; updating the routing information in response to the evaluated patient condition, if the evaluated patient condition meets a predefined criterion; and controlling the patient transfer apparatus to move on a second guided path according to the updated routing information during the transit of the patient transfer apparatus.

The present invention relates to patient routing. In order to provide a more efficient patient flow for autonomous image acquisition, a method is provided for controlling a patient transfer apparatus within a healthcare facility. The method comprises the following steps: providing a routing information for transferring the patient transfer apparatus to a required location; controlling the patient transfer apparatus to move on a first guided path according to the provided routing information; detecting at least one of a vital sign and an abnormal movement of the patient during a transit of the patient transfer apparatus; evaluating a patient condition based on at least one of the detected vital sign and the detected abnormal movement of the patient; updating the routing information in response to the evaluated patient condition, if the evaluated patient condition meets a predefined criterion; and controlling the patient transfer apparatus to move on a second guided path according to the updated routing information during the transit of the patient transfer apparatus.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a base and support wheels coupled to the base. An auxiliary wheel assembly is coupled to the base and comprises one or more auxiliary wheels that influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the surface to assist caregivers. An actuator system is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheels to move the auxiliary wheels relative to the base from a stowed position to a first deployed position, and further to a second deployed position.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a base and support wheels coupled to the base. An auxiliary wheel assembly is coupled to the base and comprises one or more auxiliary wheels that influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the surface to assist caregivers. An actuator system is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheels to move the auxiliary wheels relative to the base from a stowed position to a first deployed position, and further to a second deployed position.

A patient support apparatus comprises a base supported by caster assemblies with each caster assembly comprising a stem, a caster wheel, and a caster wheel axle. A patient support surface is coupled to the base and is configured to receive a load. One or more load sensors are integrated with at least one of the stem, the caster wheel, or the caster wheel axle for measuring the load. One or more of the caster assemblies can be coupled to a steering motor, which controls orientation of the caster assembly. A controller can control the steering motors based on analyzing the measurements of the load sensor. The load sensors can produce measurements indicative of both vertical load and non-vertical load applied to the caster assembly. The controller can also analyze the measurements of the load sensor to determine the load received by the patient support surface by negating the non-vertical load.

A patient support apparatus comprises a base supported by caster assemblies with each caster assembly comprising a stem, a caster wheel, and a caster wheel axle. A patient support surface is coupled to the base and is configured to receive a load. One or more load sensors are integrated with at least one of the stem, the caster wheel, or the caster wheel axle for measuring the load. One or more of the caster assemblies can be coupled to a steering motor, which controls orientation of the caster assembly. A controller can control the steering motors based on analyzing the measurements of the load sensor. The load sensors can produce measurements indicative of both vertical load and non-vertical load applied to the caster assembly. The controller can also analyze the measurements of the load sensor to determine the load received by the patient support surface by negating the non-vertical load.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a base and support wheels coupled to the base. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the base to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the floor surface to assist users. A wheel drive system is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheel to rotate the auxiliary wheel relative to the base at a rotational speed. A throttle assembly having a throttle operably coupled to the actuator. The throttle is movable in a first position, a second position, and intermediate positions between the first and second positions. The rotational speed of the auxiliary wheel changes in a non-linear manner with respect to movement of the throttle.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a base and support wheels coupled to the base. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the base to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the floor surface to assist users. A wheel drive system is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheel to rotate the auxiliary wheel relative to the base at a rotational speed. A throttle assembly having a throttle operably coupled to the actuator. The throttle is movable in a first position, a second position, and intermediate positions between the first and second positions. The rotational speed of the auxiliary wheel changes in a non-linear manner with respect to movement of the throttle.

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.