US 12,285,374 B2
Patient support apparatus with hold mode
Richard A. Derenne, Portage, MI (US); Gary L. Bartley, Kalamazoo, MI (US); and Scott A. Kuebler, Delton, MI (US)
Assigned to Stryker Corporation, Portage, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 4, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/733,748.
Application 18/733,748 is a continuation of application No. 17/849,908, filed on Jun. 27, 2022, granted, now 12,029,694.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/281,302, filed on Nov. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0325223 A1, Oct. 3, 2024
Int. Cl. A61G 7/08 (2006.01); A61G 7/05 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 7/0528 (2016.11) [A61G 7/08 (2013.01); A61G 2203/10 (2013.01); A61G 2203/42 (2013.01); A61G 2203/72 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A patient transport apparatus comprising:
a support structure;
a support wheel coupled to the support structure; and
a drive system including a drive member driven by a motor and coupled to the support structure to influence motion over a floor surface, the drive member being positionable between:
a deployed position with the drive member engaging the floor surface, and
a retracted position with the drive member spaced a distance from the floor surface;
a user interface arranged for selective user engagement by a user to operate the drive system; and
a control system coupled to the user interface and the drive system for operating the drive system, the control system including a processor programmed to operate the drive system between:
a hold mode to inhibit motion of the patient transport apparatus positioned on an inclined floor surface in response to changes in user engagement indicating that the user has at least partially maintained engagement with the user interface, and
a drag mode to permit limited motion of the patient transport apparatus along the inclined floor surface in response to changes in user engagement indicating that the user has disengaged the user interface.