US 12,453,663 B2
Techniques for detecting a force acting on a base of a patient transport apparatus
Joshua Alan Mansfield, Lawton, MI (US); and Chad Conway Souke, Vicksburg, MI (US)
Assigned to Stryker Corporation, Portage, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 11, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/739,400.
Application 18/739,400 is a continuation of application No. 18/141,635, filed on May 1, 2023, granted, now 12,042,435.
Application 18/141,635 is a continuation of application No. 17/522,259, filed on Nov. 9, 2021, granted, now 11,672,711, issued on Jun. 13, 2023.
Application 17/522,259 is a continuation of application No. 16/671,552, filed on Nov. 1, 2019, granted, now 11,197,790, issued on Dec. 14, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/754,757, filed on Nov. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0325218 A1, Oct. 3, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61G 1/003 (2006.01); A61G 1/02 (2006.01); A61G 7/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 1/003 (2013.01) [A61G 1/02 (2013.01); A61G 7/1046 (2013.01); A61G 7/1048 (2013.01); A61G 2203/10 (2013.01); A61G 2203/32 (2013.01); A61G 2220/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A patient transport apparatus comprising:
a base;
a support frame comprising a patient support surface configured to support a patient;
a lift mechanism interposed between the base and the support frame and being configured to move between a plurality of vertical configurations;
a sensor configured to generate a sensor input signal corresponding to a force acting on the base relative to the support frame; and
a controller coupled to the lift mechanism and the sensor, the controller being configured to determine if the force acting on the base has exceeded a predetermined threshold value based on the sensor input signal, and interrupt operation of the lift mechanism in response to the sensor input signal exceeding the predetermined threshold value.