Patent ID: 11896531
Assignee: STRYKER CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  F | IPC A  F

Claim 6:
7. A patient handling apparatus comprising:
a patient support surface;
a base; and
a hydraulic circuit including a pump, a fluid reservoir, and a hydraulic cylinder operable to selectively raise or lower the patient support surface or the base relative to the other of the patient support surface or the base, and the hydraulic circuit being operable to control the flow of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic cylinder and the fluid reservoir, wherein the hydraulic circuit includes an accumulator separate from and in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder and the fluid reservoir to maintain pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit,
wherein the accumulator maintains an inlet of the pump submerged in hydraulic fluid, and wherein the accumulator is pre-charged to pressurize hydraulic fluid in at least one of the accumulator and the reservoir.