Systems And Methods For Facilitating Movement Of A Patient Transport Apparatus

摘要

Systems and methods for facilitating movement of a patient transport apparatus. The patient transport apparatus has a support structure and a patient support surface. Caster assemblies are coupled to the support structure to roll about a roll axis and swivel about a swivel axis. A control system is configured to control brake mechanisms, steer-lock mechanisms, and pre-swivel mechanisms of the caster assemblies based on one or more inputs.

主权项

1. A patient transport apparatus comprising:
a base; a patient support surface supported by said base; a wheel coupled to said base, said wheel having a swivel axis and configured to assume a trailing orientation and a non-trailing orientation; a pre-swivel mechanism coupled to said wheel; an input device configured to generate an input signal; and a controller configured to actuate said pre-swivel mechanism based on said input signal received from said input device, wherein said pre-swivel mechanism is configured to swivel said wheel about said swivel axis from said non-trailing orientation toward said trailing orientation relative to a direction of desired movement of said patient transport apparatus.