Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8191909?dq=6760745
Timestamp: 2017-08-18 13:40:40
Document Index: 591187370

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art 100', 'art\n2', 'Application No. 130231', 'Application No. 130231', 'Application No. 134450']

Patent US8191909 - Modular patient support system - Google Patents
A patient support platform or mobile support cart is provided. The mobile support cart includes a transmission system that allows the patient and/or medical staff member to choose a stop, walk or roll mode. In the stop mode, the castor wheels are prevented from rolling across the floor by a braking mechanism....http://www.google.com/patents/US8191909?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8191909 - Modular patient support system
Publication number US8191909 B2
Application number US 12/244,623
Also published as US20090085317, US20120246869
Publication number 12244623, 244623, US 8191909 B2, US 8191909B2, US-B2-8191909, US8191909 B2, US8191909B2
Inventors Joseph C. Livengood, Heather N. Bean, Amy L. Livengood, Philip A. Livengood, Joseph D. LoBue, Barry T. Phillips
Patent Citations (91), Non-Patent Citations (17), Referenced by (11), Classifications (17), Legal Events (2)
US 8191909 B2
A patient support platform or mobile support cart is provided. The mobile support cart includes a transmission system that allows the patient and/or medical staff member to choose a stop, walk or roll mode. In the stop mode, the castor wheels are prevented from rolling across the floor by a braking mechanism. In the walking mode, the transmission causes a tracking wheel to engage the floor for providing tracked or guided motion to the mobile support cart. In a roll mode, the tracking wheel is raised and is disengaged from the floor, and the castor wheels are free to rotate. The platform is capable of supporting devices that may be attached or associated with a patient throughout their stay at a healthcare facility. The braking mechanism can include a cable and an associated brake arm, with the cable positioned to allow braking without inhibiting the ability of the castor wheel to swivel with respect to a castor mounting plate.
setting the control arm in the first, second and third positions using at least one of a first handle included in the control arm at a rear portion of said frame and a second handle included in the control arm at a front portion of said frame.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/976,965 filed Oct. 2, 2007. The present application is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/329,860 filed Jan. 10, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/642,836 filed Jan. 10, 2005. The entire content of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The present invention is generally directed to support platforms and/or carts that provide enhanced patient mobility.
The present invention is directed to solving these and other problems and disadvantages or the prior art. Embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile support cart or platform that is structurally stable and can thereby provide weight bearing assistance to a patient without being predisposed to tipping over. A mobile support cart in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes upper and lower platforms interconnected by first and second support members. The first and second support members and the upper and lower platforms may define a plurality of storage spaces operable to store one or more medical devices that may be needed by a user of the mobile support cart. In addition, the first and second support members and the upper and lower platform may provide a plurality of attachment points. The upper platform may include an ergonomic handle for safe and comfortable user by a patient or other user of the cart.
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a transmission system is provided that controls the operation of the braking mechanism associated with the castors and the tracking wheel. The transmission system may define a number of modes that establish various degrees of mobility for the cart. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, three specific modes are defined. In particular, “stop”, “walk” and “roll” modes are defined. In the “stop” mode, the castor brakes or braking mechanisms are engaged. In the “walk” mode, the castor brakes are released and the tracking wheel is lowered to its engaged position. In the “roll” mode, the castor brakes are released and the tracking wheel is raised to its disengaged position. In the “stop” mode, the mobile support cart is maintained in a stationary position. In the “walk” mode, the tracking wheel provides guidance or tracking to the movement of the cart. In the “roll” mode, the mobile support cart has its greatest range of motion. In particular, the wheels can rotate or swivel through the 360 degree movement of the castor's bracket or fork.
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the control mechanism includes a control arm provided on the underside of the top platform. The arm may include first and second handles that are disposed on the front and rear portions of the top platform. The control arm may include a tracking wheel provided in association with a curved guidance member having a plurality of detents. In particular, pivoting the control arm about a pivot point moves the tracking wheel along an edge of the curved guidance member. Each detent defines a set position for the control arm. These set positions may control the castor wheel brakes and tracking wheel to establish the above described “stop”, “walk” and “roll” modes.
a mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate is secured to the lower platform;
a bracket, wherein the bracket is rotatably mounted to the mounting plate such that the bracket is free to swivel relative to the mounting plate;
a wheel mounted to the bracket;
a plurality of braking mechanisms, wherein one of the plurality of braking mechanisms is associated with each castor wheel assembly included in the plurality of castor wheel assemblies;
a tracking wheel arm, pivotally mounted to the lower platform at a first end;
a tracking wheel rotatably mounted to a second end of the tracking wheel arm, wherein the tracking wheel can be placed in either of a lowered position to engage a support surface or a raised position such that the tracking wheel does not engage the support surface;
a transmission system operable to control the plurality of bracking mechanisms and a position of the tracking wheel, wherein the transmission system can be placed in a selected mode, including:
a walk mode, in which the wheels of the castor wheel assemblies are free to rotate and in which the tracking wheel is in the lowered position to engage the support surface;
a roll mode, in which the wheels of the castor wheel assemblies are free to rotate and in which the tracking wheel is in the raised position;
a stop mode, in which the braking mechanisms are engaged such that the wheels of the castor wheel assemblies are inhibited from rotating and in which the tracking wheel is in the lowered position.
In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, a castor with a braking mechanism is provided that includes:
a first end including a control member attachment point, the first end having a location adjacent the open area formed in an area corresponding to an axis of rotation of the bearing;
a biasing member operable to bias the brake arm in a first direction;
a contact area, wherein the control member one of: 1) allows the biasing member to pivot the brake arm in the first direction such that the contact area engages the wheel, or 2) acts against the biasing member to pivot the brake arm in a second direction opposition the first direction such that the contact area is disengaged from the wheel.
These and other features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is perspective view of an exemplary mobile cart in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;
The present invention is generally directed to a mobile support cart or platform for use in increasing the mobility of a patient. The present invention is suited for use in a hospital, clinic or other patient care facility. In addition to these environments, the present invention may also be used in other settings such as, for example, a disaster recovery area. A mobile support cart or platform in accordance with embodiments of the present invention provides structure for accommodating a number of medical devices which may be associated with a patient. A mobile support cart, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, may include a number of selectable modes that define various degrees of mobility for the mobile support cart. In a first mode, an onboard braking system may be engaged that places the mobile support cart in a stopped or braked position by preventing rotation of the castor wheels. In a second mode, the braking system may be disengaged and a tracking wheel may be lowered. In the second mode, the mobile support cart may be guided by the tracking wheel along a user defined path. In a third mode, the braking system is disengaged and the tracking wheel is raised. In this third mode, the patient support platform has its greatest range of motion. More particularly, the castor wheels provided on the base of the mobile support cart are allowed to freely rotate and swivel, thereby providing forward, backward and lateral motion for the mobile support cart.
In embodiments of the present invention that include a tracking wheel 308, the mobile support cart 100 may include three modes. In a “stop” mode, the mobile support cart 100 is prevented from moving freely. In a “walk” mode, the mobile support cart 100 is allowed to move, but the tracking wheel 308 prevents or inhibits lateral movement, to provide guided or tracked movement. In a “roll” mode, the mobile support cart 100 is allowed to move freely. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, first, second and third detents 504 a-c may be associated with the curved guidance member 444 to provide three set points for the control arm 408 that set the mobile support cart 100 in the three modes. These three modes are described in connection with FIGS. 5-7, which each show one of the three positions of the transmission system 404.
In FIG. 5, the control arm 408 has been moved into a position that engages the short lever 412 such that the short lever 412 has been moved from the short lever's first position to the short lever's second position and leaves the long lever 416 in the long lever's first position. Here, the cart is in a “stop” mode. In particular, as the short lever 412 rotates, it retracts and applies a tensile force to the inner cable of the brake cables 420. This causes a braking mechanism associated with each castor 304 to engage. Additionally, in the “stop” mode the tracking wheel 308 is not retracted. In the “stop” mode the guidance wheel 440 is located in the first detent 504 a.
In FIG. 6, the control arm 408 is moved into a neutral position that leaves both the short lever 412 and the long lever 416 unaffected such that they are in the first or vertical positions to which they are normally biased. Here, the cart is in a “walk” mode. In particular, the braking mechanisms associated with the castors 304 are not engaged and the tracking wheel 308 is not retracted. Accordingly, the tracking wheel 308 is engaged with the floor or underlying surface under the action of the spring 232. In this position, the tracking wheel 308 operates to provide tracked movement of the mobile support cart 100. In the “walk” mode the guidance wheel 440 is located in the second detent 504 b.
In FIG. 7, the control arm 408 is moved into a position that engages the long lever 416 such that the long lever is moved to a second position of that lever and leaves the short lever 412 in the first position of that lever. Here, the cart is in a “roll” mode. In particular, as the long lever 416 rotates, it applies tension to and retracts the lift cable 424. This causes the tracking wheel 308 to be retracted against the action of the spring 232 such that the tracking wheel is lifted and is disengaged from the support surface or floor. With the tracking wheel 308 disengaged from the floor, the mobile support cart 100 is allowed to roll freely. In the “roll” mode the guidance wheel 440 is located in the third detent 504 c.
FIGS. 8-10 illustrate an exemplary castor wheel 304 assembly 812 that includes a braking mechanism 804 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The braking mechanism 804 is used to brake an associated castor wheel 812 in such a way that the castor 812 maintains the freedom to swivel 360 degrees. The castor wheel assembly 812 includes a wheel 306 mounted to a bracket or fork 816. The wheel 304 together with the bracket 816 is interconnected to a mounting plate 820 by a swivel or bearing to allow the wheel 304 and bracket 316 to swivel. The braking mechanism 804 features a brake cable 420 operatively associated with a brake arm 824. The brake cable 420 may comprise a Bowden cable having a flexible inner cable within a hollow outer housing. The brake cable 420 passes through a central hole located in the mounting plate 820 and through an open area formed in an area corresponding to and encompassing an axis of rotation of the bearing. The mounting plate 820 may include a plurality of mounting points 822 (see FIG. 10), and an area generally between at least some of the plurality of mounting points 822 defines an area through which the axis of rotation R passes. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the mounting points 822 comprise holes through which fasteners may be received or passed through the mounting plate 820. The brake arm 824 is pivotally mounted to the bracket 816. A biasing member such as a spring 828 normally biases the brake arm 824 to a position disengaged from the castor wheel 304. A user may engage the braking mechanism 804 by actuating an associated control mechanism, such as the transmission system 404, which is disclosed herein. Alternatively, the braking mechanism 804 may be controlled by other control mechanisms or actuators, such as a handgrip lever brake. An actuation of the associated control mechanism places the inner cable of the brake cable in tension and causes the inner cable of the brake cable 420 to retract such that the end of the brake arm 824 to which the inner cable is attached is drawn towards the mounting plate 820. The inner cable acts against the bias of the spring 828 causing the end of the brake arm 824 opposite the end attached to the inner cable to pivot into engagement with the wheel 306. The inner cable of the brake cable 420 passes through the mounting plate 820 along an axis R, about which the wheel 306 and bracket 816 swivels. This orientation of the brake cable 420 allows the braking mechanism 804 to engage at any point in the 360-degree swivel motion of the wheel 306 and bracket 816 around the axis R. In addition, the freedom of the wheel 308 and the bracket 816 to swivel relative to the mounting plate 820 is not inhibited or limited by the braking mechanism 804.
FIG. 13 is a state diagram depicting the different states in which a mobile support cart 100 having a transmission system 404 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can be placed. When the transmission system 404 is placed in a “stop” position 1304, the mobile support cart 100 is in the “stop” mode 1308, with the castor brake mechanisms or braking mechanisms 804 applied, and with the support surface or floor engaged by the tracking wheel 308. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the transmission system 404 is placed in the “stop” position by moving a handle 432 or 436 of the control arm 408 into a position marked on the upper surface of the upper platform 104 as corresponding to the stop mode.
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the transmission system 404 can be moved from the “stop” mode 1308 to a “walk” mode 1316 by moving the control arm 408 from the “stop” position to the “walk” position. In the “walk” mode 1316, the castor brake mechanisms 804 are released, and the support surface or floor is engaged by the tracking wheel 306.
From the “walk” mode 1316, the transmission system 404 can be placed in a roll position 1320. Placing the transmission system 404 in the “roll” position 1320 can include moving a handle 432 or 436 of the control arm 408 to a position marked on the top surface of the upper platform 104 as corresponding to the “roll” mode 1324. In the “roll” mode 1324, the braking mechanisms 804 are released, and the tracking wheel 306 is disengaged from the support surface.
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, from the “roll” mode 1324, the transmission system 404 can be placed back into the “walk” position 1312 b, to place the mobile support cart 100 in the “walk” mode 1316. Therefore, it can be appreciated that at least some embodiments of a mobile support cart 100 in accordance with the present invention require that the “walk” mode 1316 be entered, at least momentarily, when switching from any of the other modes 1308 or 1324. However, other embodiments of the present invention are not limited in this way.
Although particular examples and embodiments of a mobile support cart 100 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, variations of the mobile support cart 100 are possible, and are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the transmission system 404 is not necessarily limited to an arrangement comprising short and long arms 412, 416 and cable actuated control of the braking mechanisms 804 and of the tracking wheel 308. For example, push rods and/or screw type members may be used to transfer control inputs from a control arm 408 to the braking mechanisms 804 and/or the tracking wheel 308. In addition, although certain exemplary embodiments have featured braking assemblies 804 that are biased towards a disengaged position, other embodiments of the present invention may incorporate braking mechanisms 804 that are biased towards an engaged position. According to such embodiments, in a “walk” 1316 or “roll” 1324 mode, the transmission system 404 would be operated to act against the bias, while in the “stop” mode 1308 the transmission system 404 would be operated to release the braking mechanisms 804 such that the biasing member was free to place the contact area or brake pad into contact with the castor wheels 304. The position of the tracking wheel 308 may, according to embodiments of the present invention, be biased towards a raised position, although biasing the tracking wheel 308 towards a lowered or engaged position can be advantageous where the support surface is uneven. As yet another variation, embodiments of the present invention may feature a control arm 408 that is turned or rotated by a user to select the desired mode 1308, 1316 or 1324. According to such embodiments, the control arm 408 may be associated with cams or lifters to control the positions of the braking mechanisms 804 and the tracking wheel 306.
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U.S. Classification 280/47.34, 280/87.01, 188/19
Cooperative Classification A61M5/1415, A61B50/13, A61B50/10, A61G2203/80, Y10T29/49863, Y10T16/1847, A61G12/001, A61H3/04, A61H2003/046, A61H2003/043
European Classification A61H3/04, A61M5/14R2, A61B19/02F
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LIVENGOOD, JOSEPH C.;BEAN, HEATHER N.;LIVENGOOD, AMY L.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:021967/0250;SIGNING DATES FROM 20081113 TO 20081120
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LIVENGOOD, JOSEPH C.;BEAN, HEATHER N.;LIVENGOOD, AMY L.;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20081113 TO 20081120;REEL/FRAME:021967/0250