US4769584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic controller for therapeutic table
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-06-18
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Granted: 1988-09-06
•
Expires: 2005-06-18
Abstract
Abstract An electronic controller for a therapeutic table with a shaft encoder for sensing the angular position of a movably mounted patient support and means for controlling the movement in accordance with a comparison between the sensed angular position and an angular limit reference. The left and right preselected tilt angles are alternately automatically selected as the reference. Fault conditions, such as a jam condition, occurs when the drive mechanism to briefly reverse to automatically correct the condition prior to power termination. In the event of excessive tilt, actuation of limit switches results in reversal and movement of the patient support to a horizontal position before power termination. The jam condition is sensed by a strain gauge for detecting the work required for movement of the patient support and comparing it to a preselected work reference. In the event of drive clutch disengagement, power to the motor is terminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Mario J. Irigoyen
- 👤 Michael J. Skubic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:20
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/19; G05B19/21; G05B19/23; A; A61; A61G; A61G13/00; A61G13/02; A61G7/00; A61G7/002; A61G7/018; G05B9/00; G05B9/02; A61G2203/00; A61G2203/30; A61G2203/42; A61G2203/70; A61G2203/72; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/45; G05B2219/45022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support movably mounted to the frame and a drive mechanism for powering angular movement of the patient support to a plurality of positions relative to the frame, an improved controller for electronically controlling the relative movement, comprising: means for electronically sensing a plurality of said successive relative positions of the patient support during relative movement thereof; means for electronically encoding first and second preselected angular positional references; means for successively comparing the sensed relative positions with the angular preselected positional references during said relative movement; and means for controlling the drive mechanism in accordance with said successive comparisons to periodically reciprocally move said patient support between said first and second positioned references.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support movably mounted to the frame and a drive mechanism for powering angular movement of the patient support to a plurality of positions relative to the frame, an improved controller for electronically controlling the relative movement, comprising: means for electronically sensing a plurality of said successive relative positions of the patient support during relative movement thereof; means for electronically encoding first and second preselected angular positional references; means for successively comparing the sensed relative positions with the angular preselected positional references during said relative movement; and means for controlling the drive mechanism in accordance with said successive comparisons to periodically reciprocally move said patient support between said first and second positioned references.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The controller of claim 1 in which said patient support is rotatably mounted for periodic tilting movement; said sensing means senses the angle of tilt of the patient support; and said encoding means encodes an angular tilt as the positional reference.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The controller of claim 2 in which said patient support is rotatably mounted for periodic tilting movement in at least one direction away from horizontal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The controller of claim 1 including means for alternately selecting the one and the other encoded positional reference for comparison with the sensed position during reciprocal movement of the patient support therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The controller of claim 1 in which said sensing means includes a synchronous shaft encoder for sensing said plurality of successive positions, a detector for detecting when the patient support is in a preselected marking position; and means responsive to both the shaft encoder and the marking position detector to encode the sensed position for comparison with the preselected positional reference.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support mounted to the frame for substantially continuous relative rotary, reciprocal movement with respect thereto between limits on opposite sides of a horizontal position and a drive mechanism for powering said relative movement to impart motion therapy to a patient, said relative movement requiring mechanical work, an improved controller for controlling said relative rotary, reciprocal movement, comprising: means for measuring the mechanical work required for said relative rotary, reciprocal movement; means for establishing a preselected rotary mechanical work reference; means for comparing the measured mechanical work with the mechanical work reference to sense a jam condition; and means for controlling the drive mechanism in accordance with said comparison to terminate the relative reciprocal movement substantially immediately in response to sensing of said jam condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support mounted to the frame for substantially continuous relative rotary, reciprocal movement with respect thereto between limits on opposite sides of a horizontal position and a drive mechanism for powering said relative movement to impart motion therapy to a patient, said relative movement requiring mechanical work, an improved controller for controlling said relative rotary, reciprocal movement, comprising: means for measuring the mechanical work required for said relative rotary, reciprocal movement; means for establishing a preselected rotary mechanical work reference; means for comparing the measured mechanical work with the mechanical work reference to sense a jam condition; and means for controlling the drive mechanism in accordance with said comparison to terminate the relative reciprocal movement substantially immediately in response to sensing of said jam condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The controller of claim 6 in which said mechanical work measuring means includes a strain gage for measuring strain on a member which varies with variations of the mechanical work required to move the patient support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The controller of claim 6 in which said mechanical work measuring means includes means for measuring torque.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The controller of claim 6 in which said comparing means includes a differential amplifier with a pair of inputs; means for connecting one of the inputs to the work measuring means to receive a work representative signal therefrom; and means for connecting the other input to a preselected reference potential representative of said work reference.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
The controller of claim 6 including means for generating an immediate jam signal immediately in response to the comparing means detecting a preselected difference between the measured work and the work reference and said controlling means includes means to stop movement of the patient support in the direction it was moving upon generation of said immediate jam signal immediately in response to said immediate jam signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The controller of claim 10 including means for generating a delayed jam signal a preselected time period after said immediate jam signal, and in which said controlling means includes means responsive to the delayed jam signal for removing power from the drive mechanism at the end of the preselected time period.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The controller of claim 10 in which said controlling means includes means responsive to the immediate jam signal for reversing the direction of power applied to the drive mechanism during the preselected time period.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support movably mounted to the frame and a drive mechanism for powering periodic relative movement of the patient support, an improved controller, comprising: means for automatically controlling the drive mechanism to cause periodic reversal of the relative movement of the patient support; means for sensing a fault condition; and means responsive to said sensing means to reverse the relative movement of the patient support intermediate the automatic periodic reversals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support movably mounted to the frame and a drive mechanism for powering periodic relative movement of the patient support, an improved controller, comprising: means for automatically controlling the drive mechanism to cause periodic reversal of the relative movement of the patient support; means for sensing a fault condition; and means responsive to said sensing means to reverse the relative movement of the patient support intermediate the automatic periodic reversals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The controller of claim 13 in which said fault condition includes a jam condition in which movement of patient support is resisted by a preselected amount.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The controller of claim 13 in which said patient support includes a head support movable to a relatively elevated position with respect to the patient support; and means responsive to the condition of the head support being in said relatively elevated position to prevent movement of the patient support.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The controller of claim 13 in which said fault condition sensing means includes means for sensing relative movement of a patient support beyond a preselected limit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The controller of claim 16 in which said fault condition sensing means includes means for sensing relative movement of the patient support beyond another limit which is selected separately from the one preselected limit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The controller of claim 13 including a time delay circuit for generating a fault signal a preselected time period after sensing of a fault condition; and means for stopping reverse relative movement of the patient support at the end of said time period.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The controller of claim 13 including means for stopping relative movement in response to sensing of a fault condition.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The controller of claim 13 including means for stopping the patient support in a horizontal position in response to sensing of a fault condition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support mounted to the frame for relative rotary reciprocal movement between limits on opposite sides of a horizontal position, an improved automatic controller, comprising: means for sensing the angular position of the patient support relative the horizontal position on either side thereof; means for preselecting a first angular reference position on one side of the horizontal position; means for preselecting a second angular reference position on the other side of the horizontal position opposite the one side independently of the preselection of the first angular position; means for causing the patient support to automatically rotate in one direction until it reaches said first angular reference position; and means for causing the patient support to automatically rotate in another direction opposite to said one direction when it reaches said second angular reference position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a therapeutic table having a frame, a patient support mounted to the frame for relative rotary reciprocal movement between limits on opposite sides of a horizontal position, an improved automatic controller, comprising: means for sensing the angular position of the patient support relative the horizontal position on either side thereof; means for preselecting a first angular reference position on one side of the horizontal position; means for preselecting a second angular reference position on the other side of the horizontal position opposite the one side independently of the preselection of the first angular position; means for causing the patient support to automatically rotate in one direction until it reaches said first angular reference position; and means for causing the patient support to automatically rotate in another direction opposite to said one direction when it reaches said second angular reference position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The controller of claim 21 including means for causing the patient support to momentarily pause when it reaches either of said preselected angular reference positions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The controller of claim 21 including means for manually preselecting each of the preselected reference angles, and means associated with the preselecting means for displaying a numerical indication of the preselections.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The controller of claim 21 including means for visually displaying the actual angle of the patient support relative to the frame during relative movement therebetween.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
The controller of claim 21 including a pair of limit switches respectively associated with said limit positions of the preselected reference angles, and means responsive to actuation of either of said limit switches to cause reversal of actuation of relative movement of the patient support until a horizontal position is reached.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The controller of claim 21 including means responsive to selection of an angular position beyond a preselected limit position to inhibit movement of the patient support.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The controller of claim 26 including means responsive to selection of an angular position beyond the preselected maximum limit position to provide an indication of an invalid input selection.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-06 | 1992-03-07 | 1992-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-06 | 1996-03-07 | 1996-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-06 | 2000-03-07 | 2000-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |