Powered patient support apparatuses—such as beds, cots, stretchers, or the like—include a plurality of user controls that allow a caregiver to control the steering and/or driving of one or more powered wheels from multiple different locations around the patient support apparatus (e.g. head end, foot end, and/or the sides). The control is carried out by force sensors that detect both an orientation of the applied forces and a magnitude of the applied forces. Translational and/or rotational movement is effectuated, depending upon the magnitude and direction of the forces, as well as the physical location of the applied force relative to a reference point on the support apparatus, such as the center. One or more object sensors may also be included in the support apparatus to assist in steering and/or navigating.

The invention discloses a system for controlling the movement of a personal mobility vehicle. The system includes a processing unit that receives and processes a location data of one or more obstacles over a period of time and determines a change frequency of change of location of the obstacles during the period of time and further generates a movement state categorization of the obstacles categorizing them into either a dynamic obstacle or a static obstacle. The processing unit further determines a dynamic distance traveled by the dynamic obstacle during the period of time and also determines the velocity of the dynamic obstacle. Further, based on the change frequency of change of location, the processing unit determines the movement probability data that relates to the probability of movement of a static obstacle. And, based on the velocity of dynamic obstacles during various time intervals of the time period, the processing unit determines the velocity prediction data which relates to the prediction of the velocity of a dynamic obstacle.

A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, etc., for supporting a patient includes an exit detection system with multiple user-selectable modes of operation that each have different sensitivity levels for triggering an exit alert. The exit detection system also includes one or more non-user selectable modes of operation that are automatically implemented in response to a triggering action. For example, a transition mode may be automatically implemented when the user attempts to switch from a first user-selectable mode to a different user selectable mode, or a motion mode may be automatically implemented when movement of one or more components of the patient support apparatus occurs. In the transition mode, the exit detection system may use a least restrictive sensitivity level. In the motion mode, the exit detection system may inhibit exit alerts and/or change the criteria for issuing the exit alert.

A patient support apparatus comprising a patient support deck operatively attached to a base with a deck section arranged for movement between first and second positions determined by a deck sensor. A first user interface comprises a screen configured to display visual content including a content portion having first and second content states. A second user interface comprises an access panel including a panel portion with a light module having first and second illumination states. A controller is configured to display the content portion in the first content state and to control the light module in the first illumination state when the deck sensor determines the deck section is in the first section position, and to display the content portion on the screen in the second content state and to control the light module in the second illumination state when the deck section is in the second position.

A surgical robotic system that includes a surgical table that is configured to hold a patient and a magnetic latch. The magnetic latch has a ferromagnetic plate, a permanent magnet that produces a first magnetic field and that attracts the ferromagnetic plate to thereby couple a robotic arm to the surgical table, and a cancelling coil, which when energized, produces a second magnetic field that opposes the first magnetic field to thereby uncouple the robotic arm from the surgical table.

A system and method for a motorized mobile chair using a plurality of sensors having a plurality of sensor types to detect a plurality of objects and generate sensor data about the detected objects, each of the detected objects being a person, the sensor data about the objects comprising a plurality of range measurements to the people and a plurality of bearing measurements to the people. The system has at least one processor to receive the sensor data about the people, group the detected people into a plurality of zones, determine a closest person in each zone, and generate one or more control signals to cause the motorized mobile chair to match a speed and a direction of the closest person in the zone corresponding to a direction of travel of the motorized mobile chair while at least approximately maintaining a selected space to the closest person in the zone corresponding to the direction of travel of the motorized mobile chair.

A medical bed horizontal driving mechanism includes a bracket, a drum, an electric motor, and a position sensor. The bracket is configured to be fixedly connected to a bed frame of a medical bed. The drum is rotatably connected to the bracket. The drum is rotatable to drive a bed board of the medical bed to move relative to the bed frame. The electric motor is arranged in a cavity of the drum. A housing of the electric motor is fixedly connected to the bracket. An output shaft of the electric motor is connected to the drum to drive the drum to rotate relative to the bracket. The position sensor is arranged in the cavity of the drum. The position sensor can detect a rotational position of the drum and generate a position signal, which is used to control the electric motor.

A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, etc., for supporting a patient includes an exit detection system with multiple user-selectable modes of operation that each have different sensitivity levels for triggering an exit alert. The exit detection system also includes one or more non-user selectable modes of operation that are automatically implemented in response to a triggering action. For example, a transition mode may be automatically implemented when the user attempts to switch from a first user-selectable mode to a different user selectable mode, or a motion mode may be automatically implemented when movement of one or more components of the patient support apparatus occurs. In the transition mode, the exit detection system may use a least restrictive sensitivity level. In the motion mode, the exit detection system may inhibit exit alerts and/or change the criteria for issuing the exit alert.

According to one embodiment, a roll-in cot may include a support frame, a pair of front legs, a pair of back legs, and a cot actuation system. The pair of front legs may be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each front leg includes at least one front wheel. The pair of back legs may be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each back leg includes at least one back wheel. The cot actuation system includes a front actuator that moves the front legs and a back actuator that moves the back legs. The front actuator and the back actuator raises or lowers the support frame in tandem. The front actuator raises or lowers the front end of the support frame independently of the back actuator. The back actuator raises or lowers the back end of the support frame independently of the front actuator.

An ambulance stretcher, which comprises: a support frame for supporting a patient; a pair of front legs, each having a front wheel; a pair of rear legs, each having a rear wheel; an actuation arrangement provided with a front actuator, which moves the pair of front legs and a rear actuator, which moves the pair of rear legs; and a front coupling body connected to a front end of the support frame; a control unit of the coupling body provided at least a first sensor connected to the coupling body and configured to detect a correct positioning of the coupling body in a respective support coupling of an automatic loading/unloading apparatus of an ambulance, and at least a second sensor connected to the coupling body configured to detect a load bearing on the coupling body; at least one release arrangement arranged at the front end of the support frame and configured to operate a release between the coupling body and the support coupling; and an electronic control unit operatively connected to the actuation arrangement, to the release arrangement and to the control unit and configured to actuate one between the actuation arrangement and the release arrangement as a function of a signal received from at least one between the first sensor and the second sensor of the control unit.