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.

The present disclosure includes a wheelchair configured to reposition an occupant between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair can include a frame, a seat moveable relative to the frame, a drive wheel, one or more pairs of arm assemblies, and one or more sensors. The arm assembly includes a wheel configured to move from a first spatial location when the wheelchair is operating on flat, level ground to a second spatial location that is different than the first spatial location. Arm limiters can selectively engage the arm assembly based on at least one of a seat position, position of the arm assembly, and surface conditions of ground surface. The arm limiters can limit the range of motion of the arm assembly and sometimes other operational aspects of the chair.

A powered balancing mobility device that can provide the user the ability to safely navigate expected environments of daily living including the ability to maneuver in confined spaces and to climb curbs, stairs, and other obstacles, and to travel safely and comfortably in vehicles. The mobility device can provide elevated, balanced travel.

A ceiling lift tilt management system includes first and second motor units, which are attachable to a rail system of a medical care facility. Each motor unit includes a flexible strap, which can be coiled or uncoiled within the motor unit to raise or lower a spreader bar attached thereto. Coiling or uncoiling of the straps can cause raising or lowering of a sling attached to the spreader bars. The system also allows for tilting of the spreader bars by coiling or uncoiling a leading motor unit strap. The system includes a control system that measures the relative lengths of the two straps in order to ensure that relative tilt between the spreader bars does not exceed a threshold. Once a threshold tilt for height difference is reached, further user requests for additional tilting are prohibited. Patient comfort and safety are therefore ensured.

One embodiment of a monitoring system includes a sensing subsystem adapted to sense an external parameter within a region of interest relative to an occupant support or an occupant of the occupant support. The monitoring system also includes a processor. The processor is adapted to adapted to receive data representing the sensed external parameter and to execute machine readable instructions thereby causing the monitoring system to evaluate, based on the received data, a likelihood that the occupant will attempt an egress from the occupant support. The processor is also adapted to generate a notification of the likelihood of attempted egress.

A patient transport apparatus for use with a vehicle, comprising a lift mechanism between a base and a support frame to move between an extended configuration defining a first distance and a retracted configuration defining a second distance. An interface generates a user signal. A sensor generates a sensor signal corresponding to force acting on the base relative to the support frame. A controller determines if the user signal corresponds to an extend or retract command; determines if the force acting on the base has exceeded a predetermined threshold value based on the sensor signal; drives the lift mechanism toward the extended configuration where the user signal corresponds to the extend command and toward the retracted configuration where the user signal corresponds to the retract command; and interrupts driving the lift mechanism to stop motion of the lift mechanism in response to the sensor signal exceeding the predetermined threshold value.

A chair includes a control system for moving the chair between seated and standing configurations to thereby help facility an occupant's egress out of, or ingress into, the chair. One or more controls are provided on the chair that enable the occupant to control the timing of when the chair's movement between the configurations starts, what speed the chair moves at, and when the chair stops. A caregiver control panel provides the caregiver with multiple options for dictating what aspects of the chair's movement between the configurations the occupant is able to control. In some embodiments, a controller dynamically adjusts the speed of the chair based on shifts in the occupant's weight during the transition between the standing and seated configurations, as detected by one or more force sensors. The force sensors may be integrated into the armrests, the seat, the backrest, a combination of these, or elsewhere.

A hydraulic circuit for an operating table includes a hydraulic unit, a first hydraulic cylinder with a first chamber defined at least partially by a first leading active surface; and a second hydraulic cylinder with a second chamber defined at least partially by a second leading active surface; wherein: in a control operating mode of the hydraulic circuit, the first chamber is in fluid communication with only the second chamber, and in a maintenance operating mode of the hydraulic circuit, the first chamber and the second chamber are in fluid communication with the hydraulic unit.

A support structure for active noise control systems is provided. The support structure may be used with active noise control systems in enclosed spaces such as a neonatal incubator.

A patient lift orthosis system including an input controller and at least one orthosis. The at least one orthosis including an upper orthosis assembly and a lower orthosis assembly rotatably attached to the upper orthosis assembly via a joint. The at least one orthosis further including an output controller attached to at least one of the upper orthosis assembly, the lower orthosis assembly, and the joint, the output controller being in communication with the input controller. The at least one orthosis further including an actuator attached to at least one of the upper orthosis assembly, the lower orthosis assembly, and the joint, the actuator being in communication with the output controller. The output controller is configured to actuate the actuator to rotate one of the upper orthosis assembly and the lower orthosis assembly about the joint based upon an input communicated from the input controller.