Patient Transport Apparatus User Interface

A patient transport apparatus operable by a user for transporting a patient along stairs, the patient transport apparatus comprising:

• a support structure;
• a seat section coupled to the support structure for supporting the patient;
• a track assembly extending from the support structure and having a belt for traversing stairs;
• a motor coupled to the track assembly to selectively generate torque to drive the belt;
• a user interface arranged for engagement by the user, the user interface having a direction input control for selecting a drive direction of the motor, and an activation input control for operating the motor to drive the belt;
• and
• a controller in communication with the motor and the user interface, the controller being configured to limit operation of the motor in response to user engagement of the activation input control preceding user engagement of the direction input control to prevent driving the belt, and to permit operation of the motor in response to user engagement of the activation input control following user engagement of the direction input control to drive the belt in a selected drive direction.