PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS WITH BRAKING SYSTEM

摘要

A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface, a manually operable brake operatively associated with the patient support surface, a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake, and an electrically powered actuator. The actuator is mechanically coupled to the manually operable brake and to the manual brake activation handle or pedal, and actuates the manually operable brake and moves the manual brake activation handle or pedal from a first position to a second portion in response to a signal at the patient support apparatus.

主权项

1. A method of actuating a brake on a caster wheel of a patient support apparatus to stop motion of the apparatus, the patient support apparatus including a support frame and a plurality of caster wheels supporting the frame, a patient support surface supported by the support frame, a manually operable brake for manually braking one or more of the caster wheels, and a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake, the patient support apparatus further including an actuator for selectively outputting a driving force and a control system, said method comprising:
electrically coupling the control system to the actuator; generating an actuating signal with said control system; transmitting the actuating signal to the actuator to thereby actuate the actuator to generate a driving force; mechanically coupling the actuator with the manually operable brake wherein the driving force generated by the actuator actuates the manually operable brake to thereby brake the caster wheel; and mechanically coupling the actuator with the manual brake activation handle or pedal wherein the driving force of the actuator moves the manual brake activation handle or pedal between a first position and a second position when the actuator actuates the manually operable brake to brake the caster wheel.