Abstract: A patient transport apparatus comprises a base, a patient support deck, a wheel assembly, and a braking system. The wheel assembly includes a wheel and a braking mechanism. The braking system includes a linkage assembly, a manual actuator, and an electrical braking assembly. The linkage assembly is arranged to place the braking mechanism in a braked state and a released state. The manual actuator moves the linkage assembly manually to place the braking mechanism in the braked state and the released state. The electrical braking assembly includes a driving assembly that moves to a first position and to a second positing that causes the linkage assembly to place the braking mechanism in the braked state and the released state. The linkage assembly is movable relative to the driving assembly to enable the braking mechanism to be manually actuated with the manual actuator.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a base and a support frame. A lift system operates to lift and lower the support frame relative to the base. The lift system includes a first lift and a second lift. The first lift and the second lift are independently operable to place the support frame in one or more Trendelenburg positions. A plurality of load cells acts between the lifts and the support frame such that a load on the support frame is transmitted to the plurality of load cells to measure the load. The first lift includes a guided body arranged to move longitudinally relative to the base in response to operation of the second lift to move the support frame to the one or more Trendelenburg positions.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame supported relative to a floor, the frame configured to support a deck for supporting a patient thereon, and a lift assembly for raising or lowering the frame relative to the floor. The lift assembly includes lifting legs coupled to the frame and an actuator with a body and an extendible member. The actuator is mounted to one of the legs, rather than the frame, and mounted for linear movement with respect to the one leg, with the linear movement translated into rotational movement of the other leg by a link and crank arm arrangement.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a base and a support frame. A lift system operates to lift and lower the support frame relative to the base. The lift system includes a first lift and a second lift. The first lift and the second lift are independently operable to place the support frame in one or more Trendelenburg positions. A plurality of load cells acts between the lifts and the support frame such that a load on the support frame is transmitted to the plurality of load cells to measure the load. The first lift includes a guided body arranged to move longitudinally relative to the base in response to operation of the second lift to move the support frame to the one or more Trendelenburg positions.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame supported relative to a floor, the frame configured to support a deck for supporting a patient thereon, and a lift assembly for raising or lowering the frame relative to the floor. The lift assembly includes lifting legs coupled to the frame and an actuator with a body and an extendible member. The actuator is mounted to one of the legs, rather than the frame, and mounted for linear movement with respect to the one leg, with the linear movement translated into rotational movement of the other leg by a link and crank arm arrangement.

Abstract: A patient support system comprises a patient support apparatus for patients. The patient support apparatus comprises a base and a litter supported by the base via a lift system. The litter comprises a seat section and a foot section movable relative to the seat section. The lift system comprises lift members. The lift system moves the litter from a first configuration in which the seat and foot sections are generally horizontal relative to a floor surface to a second configuration where the foot section is below the seat section and between the lift members. The patient support apparatus also comprises a mattress assembly integrated with the foot section to move with the foot section between the first and second configurations.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient support apparatus includes a drive system with a drive member, a user interface arranged for selective user engagement by a user to operate the drive system, and a control system for operating the drive system. The control system includes a processor configured to determine that the patient transport apparatus is traveling on an inclined floor surface, monitor the user interface for changes in user engagement by a user, and operate the drive system to decelerate the drive member to one of a plurality of positions based on the changes in user engagement.

Abstract: A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient transport apparatus includes a throttle assembly, an auxiliary wheel assembly including an auxiliary wheel, an auxiliary wheel drive system, and a control system for operating the auxiliary wheel drive system based on user commands received from the throttle assembly. The control system includes a controller configured to detect a position of the throttle assembly, determine a desired rotational speed value associated with a current operating throttle position, determine a current rotational speed of the auxiliary wheel, select an acceleration rate based on the current rotational speed of the auxiliary wheel, generate an output signal based on the selected acceleration rate, and transmit the generated output signal to the motor control circuit to operate the motor to rotate the auxiliary wheel at the selected acceleration rate.

Abstract: A thermal control unit includes a supply circuit, a return circuit, a fluid channel, a drain coupled to the fluid channel, and at least one hose circuit connecting the supply circuit and the return circuit. A supply valve may be coupled to the supply circuit and a return valve may be coupled to the return circuit. When the drain is opened, the return valve can open to allow ambient air to enter the return column and to create a siphon to drain the fluid in the thermal control unit. The supply valve can open after the return valve and allow ambient air to enter the supply circuit. The supply valve may allow less air to enter the thermal control unit than the return valve to preserve the siphon through the draining process.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a load cell, disposed between a base and a litter, that is configured to generate an output representative of a load acting on the patient support surface. The load cell is associated with a calibration reference symbol assigned to the load cell to define a calibration value for a parameter of the load cell. A user interface is configured to receive user input of a virtual symbol corresponding to the calibration reference symbol. A controller is configured to store a plurality of calibration reference symbols and a plurality of representative calibration values each associated with one of the plurality of calibration reference symbols, initiate a calibration procedure, determine a representative calibration value for each calibration reference symbol, calibrate the parameter of the load cell based on the representative calibration value determined based on the virtual symbol, and determine weight acting on the litter.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient support apparatus includes a drive system with a drive member, a user interface for receiving user commands from a user to operate the drive system, and a control system for operating the drive system. The control system includes a memory device configured to store a plurality of transition profiles and a controller configured to sense a plurality of positions of the drive member relative to the support structure, calculate a distance traveled by the patient support apparatus over the floor surface, compare the plurality of positions of the drive member and the distance traveled by the patient support apparatus with the transition profiles, and determine that the patient support apparatus is traveling on an inclined floor surface.

Abstract: A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient transport apparatus includes a throttle assembly, an auxiliary wheel assembly including an auxiliary wheel, an auxiliary wheel drive system, and a control system for operating the auxiliary wheel drive system based on user commands received from the throttle assembly. The control system includes a controller configured to detect a position of the throttle assembly, determine a desired rotational speed value associated with a current operating throttle position, determine a current rotational speed of the auxiliary wheel, select an acceleration rate based on the current rotational speed of the auxiliary wheel, generate an output signal based on the selected acceleration rate, and transmit the generated output signal to the motor control circuit to operate the motor to rotate the auxiliary wheel at the selected acceleration rate.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a load cell, disposed between a base and a litter, that is configured to generate an output representative of a load acting on the patient support surface. The load cell is associated with a calibration reference symbol assigned to the load cell to define a calibration value for a parameter of the load cell. A user interface is configured to receive user input of a virtual symbol corresponding to the calibration reference symbol. A controller is configured to store a plurality of calibration reference symbols and a plurality of representative calibration values each associated with one of the plurality of calibration reference symbols, initiate a calibration procedure, determine a representative calibration value for each calibration reference symbol, calibrate the parameter of the load cell based on the representative calibration value determined based on the virtual symbol, and determine weight acting on the litter.

Abstract: A patient transport apparatus comprises a base, a patient support deck, a wheel assembly, and a braking system. The wheel assembly includes a wheel and a braking mechanism. The braking system includes a linkage assembly, a manual actuator, and an electrical braking assembly. The linkage assembly is arranged to place the braking mechanism in a braked state and a released state. The manual actuator moves the linkage assembly manually to place the braking mechanism in the braked state and the released state. The electrical braking assembly includes a driving assembly that moves to a first position and to a second positing that causes the linkage assembly to place the braking mechanism in the braked state and the released state. The linkage assembly is movable relative to the driving assembly to enable the braking mechanism to be manually actuated with the manual actuator.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient support apparatus includes a drive system with a drive member, a user interface arranged for selective user engagement by a user to operate the drive system, and a control system for operating the drive system. The control system includes a processor configured to determine that the patient transport apparatus is traveling on an inclined floor surface, monitor the user interface for changes in user engagement by a user, and operate the drive system to decelerate the drive member to one of a plurality of positions based on the changes in user engagement.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient support apparatus includes a drive system with a drive member, a user interface for receiving user commands from a user to operate the drive system, and a control system for operating the drive system. The control system includes a memory device configured to store a plurality of transition profiles and a controller configured to sense a plurality of positions of the drive member relative to the support structure, calculate a distance traveled by the patient support apparatus over the floor surface, compare the plurality of positions of the drive member and the distance traveled by the patient support apparatus with the transition profiles, and determine that the patient support apparatus is traveling on an inclined floor surface.

Abstract: A patient transport apparatus comprises a base, a patient support deck, a wheel assembly, and a braking system. The wheel assembly includes a wheel and a braking mechanism. The braking system includes a linkage assembly, a manual actuator, and an electrical braking assembly. The linkage assembly is arranged to place the braking mechanism in a braked state and a released state. The manual actuator moves the linkage assembly manually to place the braking mechanism in the braked state and the released state. The electrical braking assembly includes a driving assembly that moves to a first position and to a second positing that causes the linkage assembly to place the braking mechanism in the braked state and the released state. The linkage assembly is movable relative to the driving assembly to enable the braking mechanism to be manually actuated with the manual actuator.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient support apparatus includes a drive system with a drive member, a user interface arranged for selective user engagement by a user to operate the drive system, and a control system for operating the drive system. The control system includes a processor configured to determine that the patient transport apparatus is traveling on an inclined floor surface, monitor the user interface for changes in user engagement by a user, and operate the drive system to decelerate the drive member to one of a plurality of positions based on the changes in user engagement.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient support apparatus includes a drive system with a drive member, a user interface for receiving user commands from a user to operate the drive system, and a control system for operating the drive system. The control system includes a memory device configured to store a plurality of transition profiles and a controller configured to sense a plurality of positions of the drive member relative to the support structure, calculate a distance traveled by the patient support apparatus over the floor surface, compare the plurality of positions of the drive member and the distance traveled by the patient support apparatus with the transition profiles, and determine that the patient support apparatus is traveling on an inclined floor surface.

Abstract: A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support frame to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over a floor surface. The auxiliary wheel is movable to a deployed position with the auxiliary wheel engaging the floor surface and a stowed position with the auxiliary wheel spaced a distance from the floor surface. An actuator assembly coupled to the support frame and to the auxiliary wheel. The actuator assembly includes a lift actuator and a spring cartridge assembly. The lift actuator is operable to move the auxiliary wheel to the deployed position and to the stowed position. The spring cartridge assembly is configured to bias the auxiliary wheel towards the deployed position.