US 12,377,004 B2
Patient support systems with a chair configuration and a stowable foot section
Christopher Ryan Sweeney, Portage, MI (US); James K. Galer, Byron Center, MI (US); Gary L. Bartley, Kalamazoo, MI (US); William Dwight Childs, Plainwell, MI (US); and Connor Feldpausch St. John, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Assigned to Stryker Corporation, Portage, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/691,457.
Application 17/691,457 is a continuation of application No. 15/693,714, filed on Sep. 1, 2017, granted, now 11,304,864.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/382,871, filed on Sep. 2, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0192905 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. A61G 7/015 (2006.01); A47C 27/12 (2006.01); A47C 27/14 (2006.01); A47C 27/15 (2006.01); A47C 27/16 (2006.01); A61G 5/00 (2006.01); A61G 5/14 (2006.01); A61G 7/008 (2006.01); A61G 7/012 (2006.01); A61G 7/018 (2006.01); A61G 7/05 (2006.01); A61G 7/057 (2006.01); A61G 7/075 (2006.01); A61G 7/16 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 7/015 (2013.01) [A61G 5/006 (2013.01); A61G 5/14 (2013.01); A61G 7/008 (2013.01); A61G 7/012 (2013.01); A61G 7/0514 (2016.11); A61G 7/0524 (2016.11); A61G 7/05769 (2013.01); A61G 7/0755 (2013.01); A61G 7/16 (2013.01); A47C 27/12 (2013.01); A47C 27/14 (2013.01); A47C 27/15 (2013.01); A47C 27/16 (2013.01); A61G 7/018 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient above a floor surface, the patient support apparatus comprising:
a base;
a litter including a first section, a second section arranged for pivoting movement relative to the first section about a first joint, and a third section arranged for pivoting movement relative to the first section about a second joint, the litter being operable between:
a first configuration in which the first section, the second section, and the third section are aligned generally horizontally above the floor surface for supporting the patient, and
a second configuration in which the third section is pivoted about the second joint into a stowed position disposed beneath the first section out of support of the patient;
a lift system to move the litter relative to the base; and
a mattress assembly including a first mattress segment operatively attached to the first section of the litter, a second mattress segment operatively attached to the second section of the litter, a third mattress segment operatively attached the third section of the litter, a first connecting segment interconnecting the second mattress segment and the first mattress segment, and a second connecting segment interconnecting the first mattress segment and the third mattress segment, wherein the first and second connecting segments are configured to stretch about the first and second joints, respectively, such that the first, second, and third mattress segments remain in a constant position relative to their associated first, second, and third sections as the litter moves from the first configuration to the second configuration;
wherein at least one of the first section, the second section, and the third section includes a section support frame;
wherein at least one of the first mattress segment, the second mattress segment, and the third mattress segment includes an upper conformable layer and a lower suspension layer carried by the section support frame; and
further comprising:
a sensor to determine a current tension of the suspension layer, and
a controller in communication with the sensor to determine a weight of at least a portion of the patient based on feedback from the sensor.