Patents by Inventor Christopher S. Hough
Christopher S. Hough has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230404826Abstract: A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient comprising a support frame and a support deck coupled to the support frame. The support deck has a deck section arranged to articulate relative to said support frame between a first position and a second position. An actuator is interposed in force-translating relation between the support frame and the deck section to articulate the deck section. The actuator comprises a biasing device configured to store mechanical energy and having an interface. The actuator further comprises a torque multiplier coupled to the deck section and engaged with the interface to translate mechanical energy stored in the biasing device into force acting on the deck section to urge the deck section toward the first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Stryker CorporationInventors: Shawn Trimble, Christopher S. Hough, Bryan E. Garfoot, Ross T. Lucas
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Patent number: 11771607Abstract: A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient comprising a support frame and a support deck coupled to the support frame. The support deck has a deck section arranged to articulate relative to said support frame between a first position and a second position. An actuator is interposed in force-translating relation between the support frame and the deck section to articulate the deck section. The actuator comprises a biasing device configured to store mechanical energy and having an interface. The actuator further comprises a torque multiplier coupled to the deck section and engaged with the interface to translate mechanical energy stored in the biasing device into force acting on the deck section to urge the deck section toward the first position.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Shawn Trimble, Christopher S. Hough, Bryan E. Garfoot, Ross Timothy Lucas
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Publication number: 20220241123Abstract: A patient transfer apparatus is provided and includes a frame, a seat assembly coupled to the frame, and a track assembly coupled to the frame. The track assembly includes a moveable track for traversing stairs and a motor configured to drive the track. The apparatus further includes a control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Applicant: Stryker CorporationInventors: Aaron Furman, Janani Gopalkrishnan, Daniel V. Brosnan, Darren G. Schaaf, Brandon David Naber, Ross Lucas, William Ross Heneveld, JR., Chad Conway Souke, Christopher S. Hough, Christopher Gentile, Joshua Alan Mansfield
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Patent number: 11369531Abstract: A patient transfer apparatus is provided and includes a frame, a seat assembly coupled to the frame, and a track assembly coupled to the frame. The track assembly includes a moveable track for traversing stairs and a motor configured to drive the track. The apparatus further includes a control system. The control system includes a controller configured to control the motor and to adjust a speed of the apparatus based on an occupancy of the seat assembly upon traversing the stairs based on a current to the motor upon traversing stairs.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Aaron Furman, Janani Gopalkrishnan, Daniel V. Brosnan, Darren G. Schaaf, Brandon David Naber, Ross Lucas, William Ross Heneveld, Jr., Chad Conway Souke, Christopher S. Hough, Christopher Gentile, Joshua Alan Mansfield
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Patent number: 11331230Abstract: A patient transfer apparatus is provided and includes a frame, a seat assembly coupled to the frame, and a track assembly coupled to the frame. The track assembly includes a moveable track for traversing stairs and a motor configured to drive the track. The apparatus further includes a control system. The control system includes a controller configured to control the motor and to adjust a speed of the apparatus based on an occupancy of the seat assembly upon traversing the stairs based on a current to the motor upon traversing stairs.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Aaron Furman, Janani Gopalkrishnan, Daniel V. Brosnan, Darren G. Schaaf, Brandon David Naber, Ross Lucas, William Ross Heneveld, Jr., Chad Conway Souke, Christopher S. Hough, Christopher Gentile, Joshua Alan Mansfield
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Publication number: 20220096298Abstract: A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient comprising a support frame and a support deck coupled to the support frame. The support deck has a deck section arranged to articulate relative to said support frame between a first position and a second position. An actuator is interposed in force-translating relation between the support frame and the deck section to articulate the deck section. The actuator comprises a biasing device configured to store mechanical energy and having an interface. The actuator further comprises a torque multiplier coupled to the deck section and engaged with the interface to translate mechanical energy stored in the biasing device into force acting on the deck section to urge the deck section toward the first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicant: Stryker CorporationInventors: Shawn Trimble, Christopher S. Hough, Bryan E. Garfoot, Ross Timothy Lucas
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Patent number: 11224549Abstract: A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient comprising a support frame and a support deck coupled to the support frame. The support deck has a deck section arranged to articulate relative to said support frame between a first position and a second position. An actuator is interposed in force-translating relation between the support frame and the deck section to articulate the deck section. The actuator comprises a biasing device configured to store mechanical energy and having an interface. The actuator further comprises a torque multiplier coupled to the deck section and engaged with the interface to translate mechanical energy stored in the biasing device into force acting on the deck section to urge the deck section toward the first position.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Shawn Trimble, Bryan E. Garfoot, Christopher S. Hough, Ross T. Lucas
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Patent number: 11044996Abstract: A chair includes a seat, a backrest, and a leg rest. A tilt actuator and lift actuator tilt and lift the seat, respectively. A leg rest actuator extends and retracts the leg rest. A backrest actuator pivots the backrest with respect to the seat. A controller simultaneously controls the actuators such that they move sequentially between multiple predefined states. A control panel enables a user to automatically move the chair to any of the predefined states. A controller controls the actuators such that they simultaneously arrive at each state. One or more functions on a control panel may also be automatically disabled and/or automatically enabled as the chair moves into or out of certain ones of the predefined states. When transitioning between some states, all of the actuators are activated, and when transitioning between other states, only a subset of the actuators is activated.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Anish Paul, Christopher S. Hough
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Patent number: 10987262Abstract: A medical chair includes a base, a seat, and a leg rest pivotally mounted relative to the seat and adapted to move between an extended position and a retracted position. The chair further includes a first actuator for tilting the seat with respect to the base, a second actuator for lifting the seat with respect to the base, and a leg rest actuator adapted to move the leg rest. The chair also includes a controller adapted to control the first and second actuators to move the seat between a first position and a second position such that the seat is both lifted and tilted at the same time as the seat moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the controller is adapted to control the leg rest actuator such that the leg rest maintains a substantially constant orientation with respect to the floor.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Joseph Adam Upchurch, Christopher S. Hough, Richard A. Derenne, Cory Patrick Herbst
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Patent number: 10959894Abstract: A patient support apparatus—such as a bed, chair, cot, stretcher, or the like—includes a frame, support surface, movable component, an actuator, and a controller. The actuator includes a motor, an encoder, a spindle, an extendable arm, multiple power switches, and a position switch. The controller estimates a position of the extendable arm based on motor encoder signals and updates the position estimate when the arm triggers the position switch. The power switches cut power to the motor without intervention by the controller when the extendable arm triggers either of the power switches. In some embodiments, the motor is a brushless DC motor. In still other embodiments, multiple position switches are adapted to be open in different ranges of position, and the controller determines which range the extendable arm is located in based on the state of the position switches.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2017Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Aaron Douglas Furman, Anish Paul, Daniel Vincent Brosnan, Christopher S. Hough, Janani Gopalkrishnan
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Publication number: 20210045946Abstract: A patient transfer apparatus is provided and includes a frame, a seat assembly coupled to the frame, and a track assembly coupled to the frame. The track assembly includes a moveable track for traversing stairs and a motor configured to drive the track. The apparatus further includes a control system. The control system includes a controller configured to control the motor and to adjust a speed of the apparatus based on an occupancy of the seat assembly upon traversing the stairs based on a current to the motor upon traversing stairs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: Stryker CorporationInventors: Aaron Furman, Janani Gopalkrishnan, Daniel V. Brosnan, Darren G. Schaaf, Brandon David Naber, Ross Lucas, William Ross Heneveld, JR., Chad Conway Souke, Christopher S. Hough, Christopher Gentile, Joshua Alan Mansfield
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Patent number: 10857047Abstract: A patient transfer apparatus is provided and includes a frame, a seat assembly coupled to the frame, and a track assembly coupled to the frame. The track assembly includes a moveable track for traversing stairs and a motor configured to drive the track. The apparatus further includes a control system. The control system includes a controller configured to control the motor and to adjust a speed of the apparatus based on at least one of an occupancy of the seat assembly upon traversing the stairs and a condition of the stairs.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2017Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Aaron Furman, Janani Gopalkrishnan, Daniel V. Brosnan, Darren G. Schaaf, Brandon David Naber, Ross Lucas, William Ross Heneveld, Jr., Chad Conway Souke, Christopher S. Hough, Christopher Gentile, Joshua Alan Mansfield
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Publication number: 20200214449Abstract: A chair includes a seat, a backrest, and a leg rest. A tilt actuator and lift actuator tilt and lift the seat, respectively. A leg rest actuator extends and retracts the leg rest. A backrest actuator pivots the backrest with respect to the seat. A controller simultaneously controls the actuators such that they move sequentially between multiple predefined states. A control panel enables a user to automatically move the chair to any of the predefined states. A controller controls the actuators such that they simultaneously arrive at each state. One or more functions on a control panel may also be automatically disabled and/or automatically enabled as the chair moves into or out of certain ones of the predefined states. When transitioning between some states, all of the actuators are activated, and when transitioning between other states, only a subset of the actuators is activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Anish Paul, Christopher S. Hough
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Patent number: 10595637Abstract: A chair includes a seat, a backrest, and a leg rest. A tilt actuator and lift actuator tilt and lift the seat, respectively. A leg rest actuator extends and retracts the leg rest. A backrest actuator pivots the backrest with respect to the seat. A controller simultaneously controls the actuators such that they move sequentially between multiple predefined states. A control panel enables a user to automatically move the chair to any of the predefined states. A controller controls the actuators such that they simultaneously arrive at each state. One or more functions on a control panel may also be automatically disabled and/or automatically enabled as the chair moves into or out of certain ones of the predefined states. When transitioning between some states, all of the actuators are activated, and when transitioning between other states, only a subset of the actuators is activated.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Anish Paul, Christopher S. Hough
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Publication number: 20190343699Abstract: A medical chair includes a base, a seat, and a leg rest pivotally mounted relative to the seat and adapted to move between an extended position and a retracted position. The chair further includes a first actuator for tilting the seat with respect to the base, a second actuator for lifting the seat with respect to the base, and a leg rest actuator adapted to move the leg rest. The chair also includes a controller adapted to control the first and second actuators to move the seat between a first position and a second position such that the seat is both lifted and tilted at the same time as the seat moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the controller is adapted to control the leg rest actuator such that the leg rest maintains a substantially constant orientation with respect to the floor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Joseph Adam Upchurch, Christopher S. Hough, Richard A. Derenne, Cory Patrick Herbst
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Publication number: 20190192365Abstract: A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient comprising a support frame and a support deck coupled to the support frame. The support deck has a deck section arranged to articulate relative to said support frame between a first position and a second position. An actuator is interposed in force-translating relation between the support frame and the deck section to articulate the deck section. The actuator comprises a biasing device configured to store mechanical energy and having an interface. The actuator further comprises a torque multiplier coupled to the deck section and engaged with the interface to translate mechanical energy stored in the biasing device into force acting on the deck section to urge the deck section toward the first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: Stryker CorporationInventors: Shawn Trimble, Bryan E. Garfoot, Christopher S. Hough, Ross T. Lucas
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Patent number: 10322044Abstract: A medical chair includes a base, a seat, and a leg rest pivotally mounted relative to the seat and adapted to move between an extended position and a retracted position. The chair further includes a first actuator for tilting the seat with respect to the base, a second actuator for lifting the seat with respect to the base, and a leg rest actuator adapted to move the leg rest. The chair also includes a controller adapted to control the first and second actuators to move the seat between a first position and a second position such that the seat is both lifted and tilted at the same time as the seat moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the controller is adapted to control the leg rest actuator such that the leg rest maintains a substantially constant orientation with respect to the floor.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Joseph Adam Upchurch, Christopher S. Hough, Richard A. Derenne, Cory Patrick Herbst
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Publication number: 20180042799Abstract: A medical chair includes a base, a seat, and a leg rest pivotally mounted relative to the seat and adapted to move between an extended position and a retracted position. The chair further includes a first actuator for tilting the seat with respect to the base, a second actuator for lifting the seat with respect to the base, and a leg rest actuator adapted to move the leg rest. The chair also includes a controller adapted to control the first and second actuators to move the seat between a first position and a second position such that the seat is both lifted and tilted at the same time as the seat moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the controller is adapted to control the leg rest actuator such that the leg rest maintains a substantially constant orientation with respect to the floor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Joseph Adam Upchurch, Christopher S. Hough, Richard A. Derenne, Cory Patrick Herbst
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Publication number: 20170340116Abstract: A chair includes a seat, a backrest, and a leg rest. A tilt actuator and lift actuator tilt and lift the seat, respectively. A leg rest actuator extends and retracts the leg rest. A backrest actuator pivots the backrest with respect to the seat. A controller simultaneously controls the actuators such that they move sequentially between multiple predefined states. A control panel enables a user to automatically move the chair to any of the predefined states. A controller controls the actuators such that they simultaneously arrive at each state. One or more functions on a control panel may also be automatically disabled and/or automatically enabled as the chair moves into or out of certain ones of the predefined states. When transitioning between some states, all of the actuators are activated, and when transitioning between other states, only a subset of the actuators is activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2017Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Anish Paul, Christopher S. Hough
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Publication number: 20170252241Abstract: A patient support apparatus—such as a bed, chair, cot, stretcher, or the like—includes a frame, support surface, movable component, an actuator, and a controller. The actuator includes a motor, an encoder, a spindle, an extendable arm, multiple power switches, and a position switch. The controller estimates a position of the extendable arm based on motor encoder signals and updates the position estimate when the arm triggers the position switch. The power switches cut power to the motor without intervention by the controller when the extendable arm triggers either of the power switches. In some embodiments, the motor is a brushless DC motor. In still other embodiments, multiple position switches are adapted to be open in different ranges of position, and the controller determines which range the extendable arm is located in based on the state of the position switches.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Aaron Douglas Furman, Anish Paul, Daniel Vincent Brosnan, Christopher S. Hough, Janani Gopalkrishnan