US 12,029,694 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, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/849,908.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/281,302, filed on Nov. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0157913 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. A61G 7/00 (2006.01); A61G 7/05 (2006.01); A61G 7/08 (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)] 18 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 coupled to the support structure to influence motion over a floor surface, the drive member being positionable to a deployed position with the drive member engaging the floor surface and to a retracted position with the drive member spaced a distance from the floor surface, a motor coupled to the drive member to operate the drive member at a speed, and a motor control circuit for transmitting power signals from a power source to the motor;
a throttle assembly including a handle coupled to the support structure and configured to be gripped by a user, and a throttle rotatable relative to the handle between a neutral throttle position and one or more operating throttle positions to operate the drive system; and
a control system coupled to the throttle assembly and the drive system for operating the drive system based on signals received via the throttle assembly, the control system including a processor programmed to:
determine that the patient transport apparatus is traveling on an inclined floor surface;
monitor the throttle assembly for changes in user engagement by a user; and
operate the drive system to decelerate the drive member and at least partially limit motion along the inclined floor surface based on the changes in user engagement with the throttle assembly by operating the motor control circuit between:
a hold mode to inhibit motion of the patient transport apparatus positioned on the inclined floor surface in response to changes in user engagement indicating that the user has disengaged the throttle but has maintained engagement with the handle, 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 with both the throttle and the handle.