An auxiliary drive device for a wheelchair has at least one electrically driven drive wheel and a coupling mechanism for coupling the auxiliary drive device to the wheelchair. The coupling mechanism includes a movable locking element which is movably supported in the coupling mechanism. The movable locking element can be in a locking position in which it causes locking in a positive-locking manner so that the auxiliary drive device is coupled to the wheelchair and, by operation of a handle, the locking element can be moved in a release position in which uncoupling of the auxiliary drive device from the wheelchair is possible.

A patient support apparatus includes a frame. A vertical transport structure may be coupled with the frame. A grip is coupled with the vertical transport structure and at least one grip sensor is coupled to the grip on the vertical transport structure. A controller determines a vertical position of a user applied force applied to the at least one grip sensor and the controller activates a power drive mode upon determining that the push force has reached a threshold value corresponding to the vertical position of the user applied force and propel patient support apparatus.

An advanced manually propelled wheelchair (100) is described. The wheelchair (100) has a chassis (110). In certain examples this may be a single piece design. The wheelchair (100) may further have one or more of a load adjustment mechanism (150) and a power-assist mechanism. The load adjustment mechanism (150) is configured to adjust a position of a set of rear wheels (120) for the wheelchair (100) relative to a loading of the wheelchair (100). Load adjustment may be performed based on a sensed loading. The power-assist mechanism provides a powered torque to a set of front wheels (130) to help a user propel the wheelchair (100) or to stabilise the wheelchair (100) during use. The power-assist mechanism may be provided as a set of modular front wheel units.

A patient support apparatus that is adaptable to multiple modes of transport includes a variable length base and a drive system that includes two independently drivable wheels that are responsive to inputs from a user to steer the patient support apparatus.

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 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 invention relates to a stand device (1) for arranging in an operating room and for locally moving a medical device (20), comprising a braking device (50) having at least one brake (51) that is configured to adjust a degree of freedom of movement of the medical device (20) or a support system (10) holding the device, wherein the stand device (1) further comprises a control device (30) connected to the braking device (50) that is configured to evaluate an external force acting on the stand device (1) or a movement caused by the external force and configured to control the braking device (50) and to adjust the degree of freedom of movement. As a result, the medical device can be moved without operating a switch/pushbutton. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding control device and a method for positioning the medical device.

An auxiliary drive device for a wheelchair has at least one freely pivotable electrically driven drive wheel and a coupling mechanism for coupling the auxiliary drive device to the wheelchair. The coupling mechanism includes a movable locking element which is movably supported in the coupling mechanism. The movable locking element can be in a locking position in which it causes locking in a positive-locking manner so that the auxiliary drive device is coupled to the wheelchair and, by operation of a handle, the locking element can be moved in a release position in which uncoupling of the auxiliary drive device from the wheelchair is possible.

A ramp system includes: a ramp main body provided in a door opening and configured to be able to advance from a vehicle floor toward a road surface; a ramp-state detection device configured to detect an advancing-retracting state of the ramp main body; a display device configured to display an image in a display area observable from an operator seat; and a UI controller configured to control display on the display device. The UI controller causes the display device to display a state image including an image indicative of the advancing-retracting state.

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.