Patent ID: 11938068
Assignee: STRYKER CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A patient transport apparatus operable by a user for transporting a patient along stairs, the patient transport apparatus comprising:
a support structure;
a seat section coupled to the support structure for supporting the patient;
a track assembly having a movable belt, the track assembly being operatively attached to the support structure and arranged for selective operation between a retracted position disposed adjacent to the support structure and a deployed position extending to engage stairs;
a drive system comprising a motor disposed in rotational communication with the belt of the track assembly to control movement of the patient transport apparatus along stairs when the track assembly operates in the deployed position;
a user interface arranged for engagement by the user to selectively adjust operation of the drive system between an active state for controlling movement of the belt with the motor, and an inactive state; and
a braking controller disposed in communication with the motor and configured to sense movement of the belt when the drive system operates in the inactive state, and to control the motor to limit movement of the belt when the drive system operates in the inactive state to effect corresponding limited movement of the patient transport apparatus along stairs;
wherein the drive system is further configured to operate in a drive mode of the active state for controlling a direction of movement of the belt and wherein the drive system is further configured to operate in a hold mode of the active state to limit movement of the belt.