Modular patient support system

Abstract

A castor wheel assembly, alone or in combination with a patient support platform or mobile support cart, is provided. The mobile support cart includes a stop mode in which the castor wheels are prevented from rolling across the floor by a braking mechanism. The platform is capable of supporting devices that may be attached or associated with a patient throughout their stay at a healthcare facility. The castor wheel assembly can incorporate a braking mechanism operated by a cable that extends through a mounting plate.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A castor wheel assembly, comprising:
 a bracket;   a wheel mounted to the bracket;   a mounting plate, the mounting plate including a first hole;   a bearing, wherein the bracket is interconnected to the mounting plate by the bearing, wherein the bearing has a first axis of rotation, and wherein the bearing includes an open area through which the first axis of rotation passes;   a brake arm, the brake arm including a contact area;   a swivel interconnected to the brake arm, wherein the first axis of rotation passes through at least a portion of the swivel;   a pivot point between the contact area and the swivel, wherein the brake arm is interconnected to the bracket at the pivot point, and wherein the brake arm is operable to pivot between a position in which the contact area is engaged with a surface of the wheel and a position in which the contact area is disengaged from the surface of the wheel;   a biasing member interconnected to the brake arm, wherein the biasing member biases the brake arm such that the contact area is disengaged from the surface of the wheel.   
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a brake cable, wherein the swivel interconnects the brake cable to the brake arm, and wherein the brake cable extends through the first hole of the mounting plate.   
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the biasing member includes a spring. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the spring is a coil spring, and wherein at least a portion of the brake cable passes through the coil spring. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a ferrule, wherein a brake cable housing associated with the brake cable is centered in the first hole by the ferrule, and wherein the bracket is free to rotate 360 degrees about the first axis of rotation.   
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the brake cable includes an outer housing and an inner cable, wherein an end of the outer housing is fixed by the ferrule, and wherein an end of the inner cable is interconnected to the swivel. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a retention nut, wherein the ferrule is secured to the mounting plate by the retention nut.   
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a plurality of mounting points formed in the mounting plate, wherein the first hole in the mounting plate is within an area between the mounting points.   
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the mounting points are holes. 
     
     
         30 . An assembly, comprising:
 a first wheel and brake assembly, including:
 a mounting plate; 
 a central hole formed in the mounting plate; 
 a bracket; 
   a bearing interconnecting the mounting plate to the bracket, wherein the bracket can swivel relative to the mounting plate about a first axis of rotation, and wherein the first axis of rotation passes through the central hole formed in the mounting plate;   a wheel interconnected to the bracket;   a braking mechanism, wherein the braking mechanism includes:   a brake arm pivotally connected to the bracket, the brake arm having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted for engaging a surface of the wheel, the first end including a contact area;   a biasing member, wherein the biasing member biases the contact area of the brake arm away from the surface of the wheel;   a brake cable having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the second end of the brake arm, the first end having a first portion extending between at least the second end of the brake arm and the first hole in the plate member, the first portion of the brake cable being substantially aligned with the first axis of rotation.   
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein a tensioning of the brake cable causes the brake arm to pivot such that the contact area at the first end of the brake arm is brought into engagement with the surface of the wheel. 
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the plate member includes a plurality of mounting points, at least some of the plurality of mounting points defining an area through which the axis of rotation passes. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the mounting points are mounting holes. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the brake cable includes a hollow outer housing and a flexible inner cable, wherein the hollow outer housing is terminated at a ferrule, and wherein at the point of termination of the hollow outer housing the flexible inner cable is coincident with the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the biasing member is a coil spring, and wherein at least a portion of the flexible inner cable passes through the coil spring. 
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the contact area of the brake arm includes a brake pad. 
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the brake arm is rigid. 
     
     
         38 . The assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a second wheel and brake assembly;   a mobile platform, wherein the second wheel and brake assembly includes a brake cable, wherein the brake cables of the first and second wheel and brake assemblies are interconnected to a common control, wherein the common control is operable to tension the brake cables of the first and second wheel and brake assemblies simultaneously.   
     
     
         39 . A method for braking a caster wheel, comprising:
 providing a castor wheel, wherein the castor wheel is rotatably mounted to a bracket, and wherein the bracket is rotatably mounted to a mounting plate;   providing a brake arm, wherein the brake arm is interconnected to the bracket at a pivot point;   disposing at least a first portion of a brake cable in a substantially coaxial alignment with an axis of rotation of the bracket, wherein a first end of the brake arm is interconnected to the brake cable;   tensioning the brake cable, wherein the first end of the brake arm is drawn towards the mounting plate, and wherein at least one of a second end of the arm and a brake pad at the second end of the arm is placed into contact with a surface of the wheel.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 after tensioning the brake cable, releasing the tension from the brake cable, wherein a biasing member moves the at least one of a second end of the brake arm and a brake pad is moved out of contact with the surface of the wheel.