Patents by Inventor James K. Galer

James K. Galer 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).

  • Patent number: 11958964
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a person support formed from an elastomeric composition. The elastomeric composition includes a polymer blend with the polymer blend consisting essentially of a first and second SEEPS copolymer. The first and second SEEPS copolymers are present in the polymer blend in an amount of from 75 to 95 percent by weight and 5 to 25 percent by weight, respectively, based on the total weight of the polymer blend. In addition, the sum of the first and second SEEPS copolymers in the polymer blend is 100 percent by weight. The first and second SEEPS copolymers have a weight average molecular weight of weight of at least 200,000 and 125,000 to 175,000, respectively. The disclosure also provides a patient support for supporting a patient with the patient support formed from the elastomeric composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Lafleche, James K. Galer, Matthew Ward
  • Patent number: 11938067
    Abstract: A patient containment system for securing a patient to a patient transport apparatus, comprising a first lower strap and a second lower strap. Each of the first lower strap and the second lower strap have a thigh region, a waist region, and a connection region arranged between the thigh region and the waist region. A first connector is coupled to the connection region of the first lower strap. A second connector is coupled to the connection region of the second lower strap, and is configured to releasably attach to the first connector to at least partially limit movement of the first lower strap relative to the second lower strap. The connection region defines a connection width, and the thigh region defines a thigh width larger than the connection width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel V. Brosnan, Melvin Gottschalk, Jr., Zachary Baker, Scott I. Biba, Erik P. Eagleman, Cory P. Herbst, Nathan W. Matheny, Trey Thomas Pfeiffer, Kelly Sandmeyer, Jeffrey R. Staszak, John Wallace, James K. Galer, James Robert Tumavich, Jr., Kevin M. Patmore, Scott Zufall
  • Publication number: 20240041673
    Abstract: A protective system for a patient transport apparatus includes the patient transport apparatus with a base arranged for movement along floor surfaces and an intermediate frame coupled to the base and supporting a patient support deck. A mattress is disposed on the patient support deck. The protective system further includes a keeper coupled to the intermediate frame and further includes a cover having a first side configured to absorb fluid and a second side configured to at least partially limit fluid from transferring through the cover towards the first side. The cover is movable by a caregiver between three positions: (i) a stowed position secured within the keeper, (ii) an environmental deployed position with the first side facing towards the mattress, and (iii) a patient deployed position with the first side facing away from the mattress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Mackenzie Van Loon, Hieu Phan, James K. Galer
  • Publication number: 20240033150
    Abstract: A patient support system comprises a patient support apparatus for patients. The patient support apparatus comprises a base and a patient support surface supported by the base. The patient support apparatus also comprises powered devices that perform one or more predetermined functions on the patient support apparatus. Multiple input devices are employed to control the powered devices. The input devices are designed to enable caregivers to cause operation of the powered devices, as needed, while freeing the caregivers to perform other tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Connor F. St. John, Brian J. Tessmer, Krishna S. Bhimavarapu, James K. Galer
  • Publication number: 20240024184
    Abstract: A patient support is provided in the form of a mattress for supporting a patient on a bed, such as a hospital bed, and a mattress cover. The mattress and mattress cover may be configured to expand and contract to accommodate larger patients, such as bariatric patients, and to return the mattress and its cover to their unexpanded configuration, or in some cases an intermediate configuration, without requiring user adjustments to the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Robyn Yukie Shimoda, Ryan Ariel Alvarez, James K. Galer, Brian Cheadle, David Scharich, III
  • Publication number: 20230329929
    Abstract: A patient turning device for a patient support apparatus. The patient turning device includes a first and second bladder assembly each including a plurality of layers and seals defining a bladder volume. The bladder volumes are selectively inflatable with fluid to expand the respective bladder assembly, and consequently move a patient support surface of the patient support apparatus. A portion of a lower layer of the first bladder assembly and a portion of an upper layer of the second bladder assembly define an overlapping region of the bladder volumes. The patient turning device is coupled to an underside of a carrier sheet and positioned between a crib assembly and a bottom cover. An augmenting feature is configured to resiliently expand as at least one of the first and second bladder assemblies receives the fluid to move at least a portion of the crib assembly away from a patient support deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Galer, Patrick Lafleche, Prachi Jain Slominski, Justin Jon Raymond
  • Publication number: 20230310237
    Abstract: A mattress cover for a mattress providing movement therapy to a patient. A patient support portion covers the upper surface of the mattress, and a bottom portion is coupled to the patient support portion. The mattress cover may substantially encase the mattress. An augmenting feature is associated with a peripheral portion with the augmenting feature adapted to move between a stored configuration, and a deployed configuration in response to increasing thickness of the mattress during the movement therapy. The augmenting feature may include concertinaed material, such as thermoformed plastic, and/or a fold of material coupled to the peripheral portion. The patient support portion and the bottom portion may at least partially overlap and be moveable relative to one another. The mattress cover may be included on a mattress overlay having a patient turning device, or on the mattress supported on a patient support apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Galer, Carrie Klain, Patrick Lafleche, Justin Raymond, Kevin M. Patmore, Alexey Titov, Henry Kuhnen, Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 11730649
    Abstract: A patient turning device for a patient support apparatus. The patient turning device includes a first and second bladder assembly each including a plurality of layers and seals defining a bladder volume. The bladder volumes are selectively inflatable with fluid to expand the respective bladder assembly, and consequently move a patient support surface of the patient support apparatus. A portion of a lower layer of the first bladder assembly and a portion of an upper layer of the second bladder assembly define an overlapping region of the bladder volumes. The patient turning device is coupled to an underside of a carrier sheet and positioned between a crib assembly and a bottom cover. An augmenting feature is configured to resiliently expand as at least one of the first and second bladder assemblies receives the fluid to move at least a portion of the crib assembly away from a patient support deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Galer, Patrick Lafleche, Prachi Jain Slominski, Justin Jon Raymond
  • Publication number: 20230248599
    Abstract: A patient support system is provided for use on a litter of a patient support apparatus. The patient support system includes an expandable patient support and a control assembly connectable to the expandable patient support. The control assembly includes an inflator and a controller configured to provide pressure in one or more inner bladders at a first value when the expandable patient support is at a first width and reduce the pressure in the one or more inner bladders to a second value, lower than the first value, in response to inflating one or more outer bladders to expand the expandable patient support to a second width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Ross, Robert Gregory Cox, Adam Robert Hoke, Krista Lynn Fox-Valsh, Justin Jon Raymond, James K. Galer
  • Patent number: 11712383
    Abstract: A mattress cover for a mattress providing movement therapy to a patient. A patient support portion covers the upper surface of the mattress, and a bottom portion is coupled to the patient support portion. The mattress cover may substantially encase the mattress. An augmenting feature is associated with a peripheral portion with the augmenting feature adapted to move between a stored configuration, and a deployed configuration in response to increasing thickness of the mattress during the movement therapy. The augmenting feature may include concertinaed material, such as thermoformed plastic, and/or a fold of material coupled to the peripheral portion. The patient support portion and the bottom portion may at least partially overlap and be moveable relative to one another. The mattress cover may be included on a mattress overlay having a patient turning device, or on the mattress supported on a patient support apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Galer, Carrie Klain, Patrick Lafleche, Justin Jon Raymond, Kevin M. Patmore, Alexey Titov, Henry Kuhnen, Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20230225915
    Abstract: A cover for covering a patient support apparatus cushion includes a top cover layer, a lower cover layer configured to join with the top cover layer for enclosing a cushion there between, and an ePTFE membrane between the top cover layer and the lower cover layer to form a liquid barrier between the top cover layer and the cushion. In one form, the ePTFE membrane is attached to the top cover layer. In another form, the ePTFE membrane is unattached to the top cover layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Justin Raymond, Patrick Lafleche, James K. Galer, Maria del Mar Davila
  • Patent number: 11684526
    Abstract: Patient support apparatuses, such as beds, cots, stretchers, recliners, or the like, include control systems with one or more image, radar, and/or laser sensors to detect objects and determine if a likelihood of collision exists. If so, the control system controls the speed and steering of the patient support apparatus in order to reduce the likelihood of collision. The control system may be adapted to autonomously drive the patient support apparatus, to transmit a message to a remote device indicating whether it is occupied by a patient or not, and/or to transmit its route to the remote device. The remote device may determine an estimate of a time of arrival of the patient support apparatus at a particular destination and/or determine a distance of the patient support apparatus from the particular destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Hayes, Krishna Sandeep Bhimavarapu, Daniel Vincent Brosnan, Aaron Douglas Furman, Jonathan David Campbell, Thomas Alan Puvogel, James K. Galer, Jason A. Vanderplas
  • Publication number: 20230190575
    Abstract: A patient care system for treating a patient is provided. The patient care system includes a patient transport apparatus, a chest compression system configured to provide automatic chest compressions to a patient, and a retainer for securing the chest compression system to the patient. The patient transport apparatus includes a base, an intermediate frame arranged for movement relative to the base, and a patient support deck which defines a patient support surface. The chest compression system includes a driver having a driver body movably supporting a plunger, and a driver frame to support the driver adjacent to the chest of the patient. The retainer includes a collar releasably engageable with the chest compression system, and a brace including a shoulder support and a retainer frame. The shoulder support is arranged to abut a shoulder of the patient and to brace the chest compression system relative to the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Cory P. Herbst, Michael J. Hernandez, Alison Adams Zdan Shields, James K. Galer, Kevin M. Patmore, Brandon David Naber
  • Publication number: 20230130792
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a person support formed from an elastomeric composition. The elastomeric composition includes a polymer blend with the polymer blend consisting essentially of a first and second SEEPS copolymer. The first and second SEEPS copolymers are present in the polymer blend in an amount of from 75 to 95 percent by weight and 5 to 25 percent by weight, respectively, based on the total weight of the polymer blend. In addition, the sum of the first and second SEEPS copolymers in the polymer blend is 100 percent by weight. The first and second SEEPS copolymers have a weight average molecular weight of weight of at least 200,000 and 125,000 to 175,000, respectively. The disclosure also provides a patient support for supporting a patient with the patient support formed from the elastomeric composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Lafleche, James K. Galer, Matthew Ward
  • Publication number: 20230033197
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a patient support for supporting a patient. The patient support comprises a lattice of cells each having a base, a top disposed opposite the base, and one or more buckling elements having a thickness and extending from the base to the top to form a column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Lafleche, Justin Jon Raymond, James K. Galer, Ross Jones
  • Patent number: 11560471
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a person support formed from an elastomeric composition. The elastomeric composition includes a polymer blend with the polymer blend consisting essentially of a first and second SEEPS copolymer. The first and second SEEPS copolymers are present in the polymer blend in an amount of from 75 to 95 percent by weight and 5 to 25 percent by weight, respectively, based on the total weight of the polymer blend. In addition, the sum of the first and second SEEPS copolymers in the polymer blend is 100 percent by weight. The first and second SEEPS copolymers have a weight average molecular weight of weight of at least 200,000 and 125,000 to 175,000, respectively. The disclosure also provides a patient support for supporting a patient with the patient support formed from the elastomeric composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Lafleche, James K. Galer, Matthew Ward
  • Publication number: 20230016294
    Abstract: A cover assembly for a patient support including a top portion with the top portion defining a patient support surface and a sealing surface opposite the patient support surface. The cover assembly further includes a bottom portion defining a plurality of open face chambers with each open face chamber including a floor and a plurality of walls extending from the floor towards the top portion. Each open face chamber is connected to, and integral with, at least one additional open face chamber by a hinge. The sealing surface of the top portion covers the open face chambers and is coupled to the bottom portion at each hinge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Galer, Patrick Lafleche, Justin Jon Raymond, Spencer Baird
  • Patent number: 11547621
    Abstract: A cover assembly for a patient support including a top portion with the top portion defining a patient support surface and a sealing surface opposite the patient support surface. The cover assembly further includes a bottom portion defining a plurality of open face chambers with each open face chamber including a floor and a plurality of walls extending from the floor towards the top portion. Each open face chamber is connected to, and integral with, at least one additional open face chamber by a hinge. The sealing surface of the top portion covers the open face chambers and is coupled to the bottom portion at each hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Galer, Patrick Lafleche, Justin Jon Raymond, Spencer Baird
  • Patent number: 11491064
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a patient support for supporting a patient. The patient support comprises a lattice of cells each having a base, a top disposed opposite the base, and one or more buckling elements having a thickness and extending from the base to the top to form a column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Lafleche, Justin Jon Raymond, James K. Galer, Ross Jones
  • Publication number: 20220192905
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Strker Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Ryan Sweeney, Jame K. Galer, Gary L. Bartley, William Dwight Childs, Connor Feldpausch St. John