Patent ID: 8502663

Claim:
A patient support apparatus comprising: a base frame comprising a longitudinally-extending side member, the longitudinally-extending side member having an upper surface; an elevating frame disposed in spaced relation to said base frame; a lifting device configured to move said elevating frame relative to said base frame; and a sensor extending in substantially parallel relation to the longitudinally-extending side member and mounted to the upper surface of the longitudinally extending side member, the sensor configured to generate an electrical interference detection signal in response to detecting an object in contact with the sensor, wherein the sensor comprises an electrically conductive upper contact, a base disposed in spaced relation to the upper contact, the upper contact being configured to deflect downwardly toward the base in response to a downwardly acting vertical force applied to the upper contact, and an electrically conductive lower contact in spaced relation to the upper contact, wherein the lower contact is supported by the base of the sensor and the sensor is configured to generate the electrical interference detection signal in response to at least a portion of the upper contact engaging the lower contact.