US 12,465,535 B2
Load cell assembly for a patient support apparatus
Sujay Sukumaran, Portage, MI (US); Mehmet Ilker Koç, Kayseri (TR); Berkay Güncan, Kayseri (TR); and Michael John Olson, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Assigned to Stryker Corporation, Portage, MI (US)
Appl. No. 18/572,492
Filed by Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 13, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/046506
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 20, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/064430, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 20, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/255,127, filed on Oct. 13, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0299225 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. A61G 7/05 (2006.01); A61G 7/012 (2006.01); A61G 7/018 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 7/0527 (2016.11) [A61G 7/012 (2013.01); A61G 7/018 (2013.01); A61G 2203/44 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A patient support apparatus comprising:
a support structure including:
a base arranged for movement about floor surfaces,
an intermediate frame, and
a patient support deck operatively attached to the intermediate frame and defining a patient support surface;
a lift mechanism configured to move the patient support deck between a plurality of vertical configurations relative to the base; and
a plurality of load cell assemblies interposed between the support structure and the lift mechanism to measure load about the patient support surface, the plurality of load cell assemblies each respectively including:
a body operatively attached to one of the support structure and the lift mechanism and defining a bushing bore,
a bushing arranged in the bushing bore and defining opposing tapered regions and a central region disposed between the tapered regions, and
a shaft operatively attached to the other of the support structure and the lift mechanism, the shaft being configured to be received by the bushing and defining a reduced diameter region arranged to engage the central region of the bushing to urge the reduced diameter region of the shaft into alignment with the central region of the bushing and to permit limited pivoting and translational movement between the shaft and the bushing in response to load shifting between the plurality of load cell assemblies.