A shopping cart wheel includes a braking apparatus, clutch mechanism and electronics that control the braking apparatus in response to wireless signals. The wireless signals include low frequency electromagnetic signals within a low frequency band and high frequency signals within a high frequency band.

A walking aid device includes a support body inclusive of a plurality of support elements extending toward the ground. Each support element is coupled to a caster and a brake unit. Each brake unit has a clutching surface. The clutching surface controllably clutches a wheel of the caster or the ground to thereby generate friction for stopping the walking aid device.

A support arrangement having an activation mechanism to control the movement of wheels is provided. The support arrangement includes a platform, a chassis attached to the platform, a pair of wheel assemblies movably coupled to the chassis, and the activation mechanism. The pair of wheel assemblies are operable between a first state and a second state. The activation mechanism includes a track having a first stable position and a second stable position spaced along a length of the track, and a pin configured to travel along the track. Wheels are in the first state when the pin is in the first stable position and are in the second state when the pin is in the second stable position.

The present disclosure relates to an electronic caster system for use with a furniture component. The system may have a caster with a body portion, a wheel supported for rolling movement relative to the body portion, and a neck portion. The neck portion may be adapted to be operably coupled to the furniture component to enable swiveling movement of the body portion. A processor may be provided which is supported on the caster. A sensing component may also be included which is carried on the caster for sensing a condition affecting the caster, and generating an output signal in accordance with the sensed condition to the processor.

Various methods and systems are provided for patient transfer using a patient table with lockable casters. In one example, a method includes adjusting locking of the lockable casters sequentially in response to an indication of reversing of the patient table. The sequential caster locking may be based on acceleration, velocity changes, or user interface forces. In another example, the system may include sensors to detect operator input and a controller to adjust caster locking accordingly.

Systems and methods for an improved walker are provided. The inventive walker allows for greater control over the speed of the walker. More specifically, wheels having specific characteristics may be used to control the speed of rotation of the wheels. For instance, the wheel may include an inner wheel assembly including a coil or coils, and an outer wheel assembly including a magnet or magnets. A magnetic field may be created using current through the coils, which in turn limits the speed with which the outer wheel assembly can be rotated relative to the inner wheel assembly. The present invention also includes a control system used to control the speed and other characteristics of the walker. The present invention may also collect associated data and display of the same which can help determine future activities associated with the walker.

Provided is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including a plurality of casters allowing the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus to be moved according to a control signal, a detection sensor configured to detect a motion of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, an input configured to receive a control command of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus from a user, and a controller configured to determine whether a user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus on the basis of at least one of the detected motion or the received control command, and upon determining that the user desires to use the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, transmit a control signal for locking at least one of the plurality of casters.