Patent ID: 11951055
Assignee: STRYKER CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A patient transport apparatus for supporting a patient, the patient transport apparatus comprising:
a litter comprising a patient support deck configured to support the patient;
a base configured to engage a floor surface; and
a lift mechanism extending between the litter and the base to effect relative movement between the litter and the base between a plurality of vertical configurations including a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration with the litter being arranged further away from the base in the extended configuration than in the collapsed configuration, the lift mechanism including a frame assembly pivotably coupled to each of the base and the litter, the frame assembly including:
an inner frame member defining an upper exterior surface and a lower exterior surface,
an outer frame member defining an opening in communication with an interior having an upper interior surface and a lower interior surface,
a first roller arranged for rolling contact with the lower interior surface of the outer frame member,
a second roller arranged extending through the opening for rolling contact with the upper exterior surface of the inner frame member,
a first slide member coupled to the inner frame member and arranged for sliding contact with the upper interior surface of the outer frame member,
a second slide member arranged for sliding contact with the lower exterior surface of the inner frame member, and
a cover extending over the second roller to create a tortious path for ingress of contaminants towards the inner frame member with the cover spaced from the litter in the extended configuration;

wherein the lift mechanism is operable in a transport mode where the base is disposed in engagement with the floor surface and supports the litter for movement relative to the base with the frame assembly loaded to transfer load from the litter to the base via the rolling contact of the first and second rollers, and
wherein movement from the collapsed configuration towards the extended configuration moves the first slide member towards the second slide member within the interior of the outer frame member.