Patents by Inventor William D. Childs

William D. Childs 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).

  • 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
  • Patent number: 11883333
    Abstract: A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient over a surface. The patient transport apparatus has support wheels coupled to a base and swivelable about swivel axes. An auxiliary wheel assembly is coupled to the base and includes an auxiliary wheel configured to move between a plurality of wheel positions, and an actuator operably coupled to the auxiliary wheel to move the auxiliary wheel between the plurality of wheel positions. A sensing system with a sensor is provided to detect a motion condition of the patient transport apparatus. A controller is coupled to the sensing system and to the actuator, and is configured to drive the actuator to move the auxiliary wheel between the plurality of wheel positions based on the motion condition of the patient transport apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Kevin M. Patmore, Marco Constant, Brian Tessmer
  • Publication number: 20240016681
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a support structure having a patient support deck and a side rail coupled to the support structure. The side rail is movable relative to the support structure. A lock releasably locks the side rail in one or more side rail positions, such as in a raised position and an intermediate position. A manual release is coupled to the side rail and operable to unlock the side rail. A bypass lever is provided to allow a user to raise the side rail from a lowered position to the raised position without locking in the intermediate position. A damper is located inside the side rail to counterbalance the weight of the side rail and assist the user in raising the side rail, bi-directionally. The side rail is formed of first and second walls that are heat staked together to form a lightweight side rail of suitable strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Christopher Ryan Sweeney
  • Patent number: 11806294
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a support structure having a patient support deck and a side rail coupled to the support structure. The side rail is movable relative to the support structure. A lock releasably locks the side rail in one or more side rail positions, such as in a raised position and an intermediate position. A manual release is coupled to the side rail and operable to unlock the side rail. A bypass lever is provided to allow a user to raise the side rail from a lowered position to the raised position without locking in the intermediate position. A damper is located inside the side rail to counterbalance the weight of the side rail and assist the user in raising the side rail, bi-directionally. The side rail is formed of first and second walls that are heat staked together to form a lightweight side rail of suitable strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Christopher Ryan Sweeney
  • Patent number: 11801179
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Connor F. St. John, Brian J. Tessmer, Krishna S. Bhimavarapu
  • Publication number: 20230338213
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Bartley, William D. Childs, Connor F. St. John, Anish Paul, Brian J. Tessmer
  • Patent number: 11723820
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus including a base frame arranged for movement about a floor surface. The base frame defines a foot end and a head end, and includes first and second longitudinal rails extending between the foot end and the head end with a plurality of lateral receivers formed in each of the first and second longitudinal rails. A patient support deck provides support to a patient, and includes a fowler deck section and a base deck section. The fowler deck section is coupled to the base frame for pivoting movement relative to the first and second longitudinal rails. The base deck section is attached to the first and second longitudinal rails, and includes a plurality of lateral braces having notched ends shaped to be inserted into a respective one the plurality of lateral receivers formed in the first and second longitudinal rails to assemble the patient support apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Anish Paul, Mehmet Zihni Gürlek, Mustafa Karasu, William D. Childs, Steven L. Birman, Murat Serkan Kantarci, Berkay Güncan
  • Publication number: 20230210705
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a support structure having a patient support deck and a side rail coupled to the support structure. The side rail is movable relative to the support structure. A lock releasably locks the side rail in one or more side rail positions, such as in a raised position and an intermediate position. A manual release is coupled to the side rail and operable to unlock the side rail. A bypass lever is provided to allow a user to raise the side rail from a lowered position to the raised position without locking in the intermediate position. A damper is located inside the side rail to counterbalance the weight of the side rail and assist the user in raising the side rail, bi-directionally. The side rail is formed of first and second walls that are heat staked together to form a lightweight side rail of suitable strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Christopher Ryan Sweeney
  • Publication number: 20230142871
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus and a removable battery usable with the patient support apparatus. The patient support apparatus may include a support frame with a patient support deck disposed on the support frame and a lift assembly having a powered lift actuator to adjust the support frame. The patient support apparatus may further include a battery retention system coupled to the support frame. The battery retention system may include a mount base and a battery receiver pivotably coupled to the mount base for movement between a locked state and an unlocked state for permitting removal of the battery from the battery retention system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Connor F. St. John, William D. Childs
  • Publication number: 20230122267
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Anish Paul, Krishna Sandeep Bhimavarapu, William D. Childs, Connor F. St. John, Gary L. Bartley
  • Patent number: 11622897
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a support structure having a patient support deck and a side rail coupled to the support structure. The side rail is movable relative to the support structure. A lock releasably locks the side rail in one or more side rail positions, such as in a raised position and an intermediate position. A manual release is coupled to the side rail and operable to unlock the side rail. A bypass lever is provided to allow a user to raise the side rail from a lowered position to the raised position without locking in the intermediate position. A damper is located inside the side rail to counterbalance the weight of the side rail and assist the user in raising the side rail, bi-directionally. The side rail is formed of first and second walls that are heat staked together to form a lightweight side rail of suitable strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Christopher Ryan Sweeney
  • Publication number: 20230094664
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a coupling system for coupling a medical accessory to an accessory support is provided. The present disclosure also provides a system for powering a medical accessory with an accessory support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Brian J. Tessmer, Cory P. Herbst, William D. Childs, Connor F. St. John, William V. Bleeker, John P. Zerbel, Richard L. McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20230017679
    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: September 26, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Connor F. St. John, Brian J. Tessmer, Krishna S. Bhimavarapu
  • Patent number: 11554064
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus comprising a base, an intermediate frame arranged for movement relative to the base, a support deck disposed on the intermediate frame to provide support for a patient, and a telescoping assembly operatively attached to the intermediate frame. The telescoping assembly comprises a support movable between a collapsed position and an extended position, a lock operable to releasably hold the support in the extended position, and an accessory manually movable by a user relative to the support between a stowed position and a use position. The accessory comprises a deactivator operable to deactivate the lock remotely from the user in response to the user manually moving the accessory relative to the support toward the stowed position thereby enabling movement of the support from the extended position to the collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Michael William Graves, Richard A. Derenne, William D. Childs, Bryan E. Garfoot
  • Patent number: 11540891
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a coupling system for coupling a medical accessory to an accessory support is provided. The present disclosure also provides a system for powering a medical accessory with an accessory support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Brian J. Tessmer, Connor F. St. John, Krishna Sandeep Bhimavarapu, Isaac A. Schaberg, Zachary J. Sadler, Kirby M. Neihouser
  • Patent number: 11484452
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Connor F. St. John, Brian J. Tessmer, Krishna S. Bhimavarapu
  • Publication number: 20220313508
    Abstract: A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient over a surface. The patient transport apparatus has support wheels coupled to a base and swivelable about swivel axes. An auxiliary wheel assembly is coupled to the base and includes an auxiliary wheel configured to move between a plurality of wheel positions, and an actuator operably coupled to the auxiliary wheel to move the auxiliary wheel between the plurality of wheel positions. A sensing system with a sensor is provided to detect a motion condition of the patient transport apparatus. A controller is coupled to the sensing system and to the actuator, and is configured to drive the actuator to move the auxiliary wheel between the plurality of wheel positions based on the motion condition of the patient transport apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Kevin M. Patmore, Marco Constant, Brian Tessmer
  • Patent number: 11395777
    Abstract: A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient over a surface. The patient transport apparatus has support wheels coupled to a base and swivelable about swivel axes. An auxiliary wheel assembly is coupled to the base and includes an auxiliary wheel configured to move between a plurality of wheel positions, and an actuator operably coupled to the auxiliary wheel to move the auxiliary wheel between the plurality of wheel positions. A sensing system with a sensor is provided to detect a motion condition of the patient transport apparatus. A controller is coupled to the sensing system and to the actuator, and is configured to drive the actuator to move the auxiliary wheel between the plurality of wheel positions based on the motion condition of the patient transport apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Kevin M. Patmore, Brian Tessmer, Marco Constant
  • Publication number: 20210338504
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a support structure having a patient support deck and a side rail coupled to the support structure. The side rail is movable relative to the support structure. A lock releasably locks the side rail in one or more side rail positions, such as in a raised position and an intermediate position. A manual release is coupled to the side rail and operable to unlock the side rail. A bypass lever is provided to allow a user to raise the side rail from a lowered position to the raised position without locking in the intermediate position. A damper is located inside the side rail to counterbalance the weight of the side rail and assist the user in raising the side rail, bi-directionally. The side rail is formed of first and second walls that are heat staked together to form a lightweight side rail of suitable strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Christopher Ryan Sweeney
  • Publication number: 20210298971
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus including a base frame arranged for movement about a floor surface. The base frame defines a foot end and a head end, and includes first and second longitudinal rails extending between the foot end and the head end with a plurality of lateral receivers formed in each of the first and second longitudinal rails. A patient support deck provides support to a patient, and includes a fowler deck section and a base deck section. The fowler deck section is coupled to the base frame for pivoting movement relative to the first and second longitudinal rails. The base deck section is attached to the first and second longitudinal rails, and includes a plurality of lateral braces having notched ends shaped to be inserted into a respective one the plurality of lateral receivers formed in the first and second longitudinal rails to assemble the patient support apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Anish Paul, Mehmet Zihni Gürlek, Mustafa Karasu, William D. Childs, Steven L. Birman, Murat Serkan Kantarci, Berkay Güncan