Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Load sensor configurations for caster assemblies of a patient support apparatus
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Application No.: US17406392Application Date: 2021-08-19
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Publication No.: US11642264B2Publication Date: 2023-05-09
- Inventor: Kurosh Nahavandi
- Applicant: Stryker Corporation
- Applicant Address: US MI Kalamazoo
- Assignee: Stryker Corporation
- Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
- Current Assignee Address: US MI Kalamazoo
- Agency: Howard & Howard Attorneys PLC
- Main IPC: A61G7/05
- IPC: A61G7/05 ; A61G7/08 ; B60B33/00 ; B60B33/04 ; G01D5/00 ; G01L1/22 ; G01L17/00 ; B60B9/00

Abstract:
A patient support apparatus comprises a base supported by caster assemblies with each caster assembly comprising a stem, a caster wheel, and a caster wheel axle. A patient support surface is coupled to the base and is configured to receive a load. One or more load sensors are integrated with at least one of the stem, the caster wheel, or the caster wheel axle for measuring the load. One or more of the caster assemblies can be coupled to a steering motor, which controls orientation of the caster assembly. A controller can control the steering motors based on analyzing the measurements of the load sensor. The load sensors can produce measurements indicative of both vertical load and non-vertical load applied to the caster assembly. The controller can also analyze the measurements of the load sensor to determine the load received by the patient support surface by negating the non-vertical load.
Public/Granted literature
- US20210378896A1 Load Sensor Configurations For Caster Assemblies Of A Patient Support Apparatus Public/Granted day:2021-12-09
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