EP-4740923-A2 - BRAKE ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR PATIENT HANDLING EQUIPMENT

EP4740923A2EP 4740923 A2EP4740923 A2EP 4740923A2EP-4740923-A2

Abstract

A brake assist system for mobile patient handling equipment is provided, the brake assist system comprising: at least one wheel; at least one brake operatively associated with the at least one wheel; at least one sensor for detecting a status of the mobile patient handling equipment; and a control unit operatively associated with the at least one sensor and the at least one brake; wherein the control unit is configured to engage the at least one brake in a partial braking mode when the mobile patient handling equipment at least one of: moves down a slope; exceeds a predetermined velocity; and exceeds a predetermined acceleration, wherein the control unit engages the partial braking mode based on a calculation of speed and applies an amount of braking to maintain speed and/or acceleration of the patient handling equipment within a predetermined range, and wherein the partial braking mode allows the mobile patient handling equipment to continue moving.

Inventors

JÖNSSON, Jörgen
ALIM, Musadjan
SMITH, DANNY
Holmberg, Ulf
PETERSSON, DANIEL

Assignees

Arjo IP Holding Aktiebolag

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20160629

Claims (13)

1. A brake assist system ( 1 ) for mobile patient handling equipment, the brake assist system comprising: at least one wheel (5); at least one brake operatively associated with the at least one wheel (5); at least one sensor (Y) for detecting a status of the mobile patient handling equipment; and a control unit (U) operatively associated with the at least one sensor (Y) and the at least one brake; wherein the control unit (U) is configured to engage the at least one brake in a partial braking mode when the mobile patient handling equipment at least one of: moves down a slope; exceeds a predetermined velocity (V1); and exceeds a predetermined acceleration (a), wherein the control unit (U) engages the partial braking mode based on a calculation of speed and applies an amount of braking to maintain speed and/or acceleration of the patient handling equipment within a predetermined range, and wherein the partial braking mode allows the mobile patient handling equipment to continue moving.
2. A brake assist system for mobile patient handling equipment, the brake assist system comprising: at least one wheel; at least one brake operatively associated with the at least one wheel; a control unit operatively associated with the brake; a tilt sensor operable to detect tilt of the mobile patient handling equipment, the tilt sensor being connected to the control unit; wherein the control unit is configured to engage the at least one brake in a partial braking mode when the tilt sensor senses the mobile patient handling equipment is on a downward slope, wherein the control unit engages the partial braking mode based on a calculation of acceleration attributable to a user of the mobile patient handling equipment and applies an amount of braking to maintain acceleration or deceleration of the patient handling equipment, based on the acceleration attributable to the user, within a predetermined range, and wherein the partial braking mode allows the mobile patient handling equipment to move down said slope.
3. The brake assist system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to engage the at least one brake in a cyclical manner to effect the partial braking mode.
4. The brake assist system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust a duty cycle of the partial braking mode so as to adjust the amount of braking force applied to the mobile patient handling equipment.
5. The brake assist system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust a duration of the partial braking mode so as to adjust the amount of braking force applied to the mobile patient handling equipment.
6. The brake assist system according to claim 1, including a speed sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the partial braking mode on the basis of rotation of a wheel of the mobile patient handling equipment.
7. The brake assist system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the partial braking mode so as to limit the speed of the mobile patient handling equipment.
8. The brake assist system according to claim 1, wherein the wheel includes a fixed angle steering or braking wheel.
11. The brake assist system according to claim 1, wherein the wheel includes a driven wheel.
12. The brake assist system according to claim 11, wherein the brake alters a driving function of the driven wheel.
13. The brake assist system according to claim 11, wherein the brake includes a switchable bypass circuit connected across a drive motor of the driven wheel, the control unit being operable to control switching of the bypass circuit, wherein the bypass circuit is operable to reduce current flow to the drive motor.
14. The brake assist system according to claim 13, wherein the switchable bypass circuit includes a low resistance bypass path.
15. A method for using the brake assist system of claim 1, the method comprising: detecting, via the at least one sensor, a change in an angle of inclination of a surface supporting the mobile patient handling equipment; and applying, via the control unit and the brake, an amount of braking sufficient to maintain speed and/or acceleration of the patient handling equipment within the predetermined range.

Description

Field of the Disclosure This disclosure relates to a brake assistance system for a patient handling equipment (powered or not) such as a medical bed, trolley/stretcher, patient lift, surgical table and other medical equipment incorporating a brake assistance system. In one embodiment the brake assistance system is incorporated into and/or operatively associated with a wheel system of the patient handling equipment. Background of the Disclosure Mobile patient handling equipment relies on castors having low rolling resistance, both in their direction of movement and in their ability to change direction, that is to swivel. This gives the patient handling equipment favorable abilities such as lowering the force it takes to move the patient handling equipment and its payload from one location to another. When operating such equipment along non-flat surfaces, such as down or up slopes, the user has to be prepared for the eventuality of slipping, tripping or otherwise losing control of the equipment and the potential consequences. The low rolling resistance favorable while travelling along horizontal surfaces may be a disadvantage on any downward slope as the equipment may accelerate to a fairly high speed. Power assisted propulsion and braking systems for patient handling equipment such as beds or stretchers, such as that of US 6,752,224have manual braking systems and/or electronic systems that prevent movement of the bed when a brake position sensor is turned on. While such motorized propulsion systems can provide user assistance in moving a bed up slopes or over uneven surfaces, the user has no means for decelerating or slowing the movement of a bed or stretcher other than by manually applying the brake pedals and/or forcibly pulling/pushing on the bed or stretcher in a direction opposite of its trajectory/velocity. Summary of the Present Disclosure The present disclosure seeks to provide improved mobile equipment, primarily for medical uses, and an improved brake assistance system for patient handling equipment such as a medical bed or trolley. The exemplary embodiments described herein seek to provide a system which is simple to use and which preferably works in the background and automatically assists the user on slopes. The exemplary embodiments can provide a system that can be applied to all wheeled equipment regardless of whether they are powered or not. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a mobile equipment including a brake assist apparatus. The brake assist apparatus may include at least one wheel unit, at least one brake element associated with the at least one wheel unit, a control unit coupled to the brake element, and a tilt sensor connected to the control unit and operable to detect tilt of the mobile equipment. The control unit may be configured to engage the at least one brake element in a partial braking mode when the tilt sensor senses the mobile equipment is on a slope, wherein the partial braking mode allows the mobile equipment to move down the slope. In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a brake assist system for mobile patient handling equipment may include at least one wheel, at least one brake operatively associated with the wheel, at least one sensor for detecting a status of the mobile patient handling equipment and a control unit operatively associated with the sensor and the brake. The control unit may be configured to engage the at least one brake in a partial braking mode when the patient handling equipment: is moving down a slope, exceeds a predetermined velocity, and/or exceeds a predetermined acceleration. The partial braking mode allows the mobile patient handling equipment to continue moving. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method for using a brake assist system that involves detecting via sensors of the patient handling equipment a change in an angle of inclination of a surface supporting the patient handling equipment. In accordance with another embodiment, another method for using a brake assist system of a patient handling equipment may involve automatically applying a braking force via a control system of the patient handling equipment when the patient handling equipment detects it is traveling down an incline and when: a change in acceleration or deceleration of the patient handling equipment is within or exceeds a predetermined range and/or a detected velocity of the patient handling equipment is within or exceeds a predetermined range. The exemplary embodiments described herein are able to provide brake assistance to, for example, a patient trolley or bed, which operates only when it is detected that the equipment is located on a slope and travelling down said slope. The system thus allows the equipment to move down the slope but at a controlled speed. The controlled and reduced speed of the bed when moving down slope facilitates movement and equipment control and e