US 11,806,284 B2
Patient transport apparatus having powered drive system utilizing dual mode user input control
Kevin M. Patmore, Plainwell, MI (US); Krishna Sandeep Bhimavarapu, Kalamazoo, MI (US); Jeffrey S Dunfee, II, Kalamazoo, MI (US); Fanqi Meng, Bentonville, AR (US); Christopher J. Hopper, Kalamazoo, MI (US); Thomas A. Puvogel, Kalamazoo, MI (US); Gregory S. Taylor, Kalamazoo, MI (US); and Ryan Ross, New Carlisle, IN (US)
Assigned to Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/839,884.
Application 17/839,884 is a continuation of application No. 16/369,125, filed on Mar. 29, 2019, granted, now 11,389,348.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/649,790, filed on Mar. 29, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0304871 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. A61G 1/02 (2006.01); A61G 7/05 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 1/0275 (2013.01) [A61G 1/0243 (2013.01); A61G 1/0268 (2013.01); A61G 1/0281 (2013.01); A61G 7/0528 (2016.11); A61G 2203/14 (2013.01); A61G 2203/16 (2013.01); A61G 2203/22 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A patient transport apparatus moveable along a floor surface, the patient transport apparatus comprising:
a support structure comprising a base and a patient support surface supported by the base;
a plurality of support wheels coupled to the support structure;
a drive assembly comprising at least one drive member and a powered drive system coupled to the at least one drive member;
a driving assist device actuatable between at least one engaged state and a non-engaged state;
a sensor system to determine a current speed of the at least one drive member; and
a controller coupled to the powered drive system, the driving assist device, and the sensor system, the controller being configured to:
determine if the driving assist device is in the at least one engaged state or the non-engaged state,
compare the current speed relative to a first maximum speed and to a second maximum speed lower than the first maximum speed,
generate a first command to drive the at least one drive member to assist in propelling the patient transport apparatus along a floor surface in a longitudinal direction in response to:
the driving assist device being in the at least one engaged state; and
the current speed being higher than the second maximum speed, and
generate a second command to drive the at least one drive member to assist in propelling the patient transport apparatus in the longitudinal direction or in a second direction along the floor surface transverse to the longitudinal direction in response to:
the driving assist device being in the at least one engaged state; and
the current speed being lower than the second maximum speed.