Abstract: Devices for the discharge of bodily waste, in particular for the soiling-free discharge of bodily waste from a person situated on a bed or a seat. A bed's mattress (2) is provided with a slot (4) that may be opened and closed, and which extends continuously through the thickness of the mattress (2). The slot is controllably openable and closable via an actuated mechanism. Hygienic elimination of bodily waste while lying down or sitting may be achieved with little effort.

Abstract: Disclosed is a patient transfer system for transferring a user between a bed and a purposefully designed mobile sitting device that is aligned and berthed alongside the bed, wherein, the bed is adaptable to a seated arrangement and includes an interleaf structure of cushions and platforms, the platform including: a padding, a rail, restricted path, or track, and means for transferring the padding in a direction parallel to the ground away or towards the bed; the bed further includes means to raise or lower the top of the cushions or the padding; and the mobile sitting device includes a receiving rail, restricted path or track to receive the padding.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame. A vertical transport structure may be coupled with the frame. A grip is coupled with the vertical transport structure and at least one grip sensor is coupled to the grip on the vertical transport structure. A controller determines a vertical position of a user applied force applied to the at least one grip sensor and the controller activates a power drive mode upon determining that the push force has reached a threshold value corresponding to the vertical position of the user applied force and propel patient support apparatus.

Abstract: Devices for the discharge of bodily waste, in particular for the soiling-free discharge of bodily waste from a person situated on a bed or a seat. A bed's mattress (2) is provided with a slot (4) that may be opened and closed, and which extends continuously through the thickness of the mattress (2). The slot is controllably openable and closable via an actuated mechanism that may be power driven. Hygienic elimination of bodily waste while lying down or sitting may be achieved with little effort.

Abstract: A bed bug protective encasement for encasing an item includes: a fabric cover surrounding the item, an opening formed in the fabric cover to receive the item in the fabric cover; and a slide fastening mechanism disposed in the opening to open and close the opening. End stops of zipper tracks of the slide fastening mechanism extend beyond a bottom stop such that when a zipper head of slide fastening mechanism is at an end location in which the encasement is in a closed state, the zipper head has passed over and above the bottom stop from which the zipper head originated in a start location to define an overlapping region of the slide fastening mechanism. In the closed state, the overlapped slide fastening mechanism and attached upper and lower barrier wings together form a bed bug impervious obstruction to the escape of bed bugs from the item.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a patient support for supporting a patient. The patient support comprises a lattice of cells each having a base, a top disposed opposite the base, and one or more buckling elements having a thickness and extending from the base to the top to form a column.

Abstract: A swivel rocker having a swivel rocker frame that in turn includes a rocker frame portion and a swivel frame portion that can induce the three types of motion of swivel or roll, rock or pitch, and spin or yaw. The swivel frame portion can be quickly engaged to and disengaged from the rocker frame portion. Each of the swivel frame portion and rocker frame portion is foldable to a compact form. Each of the swivel frame portion and rocker frame portion includes a hub portion, which hub portions are rotatable relative to each other and lockable relative to each other.

Abstract: A subject support apparatus includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes a vest having a first end and a second end, a closure mechanism configured to couple the first end of the vest to the second end of the vest from a bottom end of the vest to a top end of the vest to form a closed loop, and a pair of shoulder straps extending from the vest. The lower portion includes a seat piece having a first end and a second end, and a pair of loop straps extending from the first end and the second end of the seat piece. Subject support systems including the subject support apparatus and methods of lifting a subject using the subject support apparatus are also described.

Abstract: There is provided a bed system for turning a patient, which system is simple to install on existing beds and which does not require any modification of the existing bed. The bed system has a base frame with attachment means for attachment of the bed system to an existing frame of a hospital bed. First and second sections with bed elements ensure proper support for the patient, and these sections are pivotally movable around an axis parallel with the length of the patient.

Abstract: An inflatable transfer mattress includes a top panel, a bottom panel having a perimeter sealingly coupled to a perimeter of the top panel to define an internal volume therebetween, and a rotational positioning device coupled to the top panel. The internal volume is configured to receive an air flow therein. The rotational positioning device is positioned outside of the internal volume and includes at least one inflatable bladder configured to be inflated from a deflated state to an inflated state. The bladder portion is configured to rotate a patient to a predetermined angle with respect to the top panel in the inflated state.

Abstract: An inflatable transfer mattress includes a top panel, a bottom panel having a perimeter sealingly coupled to a perimeter of the top panel to define an internal volume therebetween, and a rotational positioning device coupled to the top panel. The internal volume is configured to receive an air flow therein. The rotational positioning device is positioned outside of the internal volume and includes at least one inflatable bladder configured to be inflated from a deflated state to an inflated state. The bladder portion is configured to rotate a patient to a predetermined angle with respect to the top panel in the inflated state.

Abstract: An apparatus that is configured to assist a helper to move a seated person from a first, seated position to a second, standing position, includes a lifting/assisting device, the lifting/assisting device being comprised of: a rigid elongated member, the elongated member having a longitudinal axis, a first proximal end and a second distal end, the first proximal end being adapted for being positioned on a floor; an offset section, the offset section being offset from the longitudinal axis a distance X and being located along the elongated member between the first proximal end and the second distal end; and, a lateral grasping member for the person, the grasping member being positioned distally of the offset section; a second offset member, the second offset member being of a dimension to approximately match the first offset section; and, a grab member positioned distally of the second offset member for use by the helper.

Abstract: A smart sling device includes a body; a support rod installed at the body; and a sling member installed at the support rod and inserted under a patient to support the patient therebelow, and the sling member includes an expanding unit having an accommodation space for accommodating air therein, the expanding unit expanding due to a pneumatic pressure generated by the accommodated air to support the patient therebelow; and an expansion limiting unit installed at the expanding unit to limit expansion of the expanding unit in one direction.

Abstract: The invention may telescopically connect the first support member and the second support member together or pivotally connect the first support member to the pivot hub on the bassinet, such that the bassinet can be adjusted to various heights for a given situation. Furthermore, the bassinet may be adjusted to a desired height and then placed in a play yard without requiring additional components. Since the bassinet of the invention can be used alone and can also be used with the play yard, the bassinet of the invention is more flexible in use than a conventional bassinet.

Abstract: A child care apparatus includes a standing frame including a mounting portion, and a child support frame held on the standing frame via at least one hanging bar that has an end portion pivotally connected with the mounting portion, the hanging bar being rotatable for swinging the child support frame, wherein the end portion of the hanging bar is pivotally connected with the mounting portion at a position that is adjustable on the mounting portion.

Abstract: A lift-lip bed structure comprising: a fixed frame (2); a pivoting frame (5) capable of supporting bedding, mounted pivoting about a transverse pivot axis (6) such that the pivoting frame can pivot between a horizontal position extending forwards and a rear vertical raised position; and a movable support (23) capable of supporting a seat, mounted movable on the fixed frame (2) such that the movable support (23) can be moved between a high advanced position and a low retracted position in which it is lower than in the high advanced position; the movable support (23), in the advanced position, extending at least partially forward of the pivoting frame (5), in the raised position, and the movable support (23), in the retracted position, extending at least partially below and at a distance from the pivoting frame (5), in the extended position.

Abstract: A mobility device that includes support assemblies that may be secured to feet, legs, thighs, and torso of a user. An exemplary mobility device may further include an actuator that may be coupled with the exemplary support assemblies and may actuate rotational movements of the exemplary support assemblies with respect to each other. Such movement of support assemblies may accordingly move respective limbs of a disabled user. An exemplary mobility device may allow for a user to change position from a lying position to a standing position or from a standing position to a sitting position, which may significantly increase mobility of a disabled user. An exemplary mobility device may further include an exemplary wheeled base that may allow a disabled user to further move around.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flat-fold fitted sheet with elastic around the entire perimeter, allowing it to fit snugly to the mattress yet fold easily in its open form. The flat fold fitted sheet includes a string attached to the elastic, which provides a means for releasing the elastic into the casing to achieve the flat form and a means of pulling the elastic out of the casing to resume the fitted form. In the fitted form, the elastic is tethered at the corners and excess string is wound around a spindle, which may be contained in a pocket when the sheet is in use. Zippers on each corner provide traditional pockets that fit snugly to the mattress when in the fitted form but enable the sheet to lay flat when in the open position. When both zippers and elastic are in the open position, the sheet lays completely flat and is therefore easy to fold and store.

Abstract: The present pull up push down bed rail includes first and second bases that engage a bed, upper and lower cross supports extending between the bases to be adjacent to a near side of the bed to close off any gap between the near side of the bed and the bed rail, and a U-shaped support member having end members that engage the bases. The bases include through openings for the end members that extend into and through the through openings such that the U-shaped support member is pushable down, after which the U-shaped support member is pullable up. Sheeting is engaged to the U-shaped support member.

Abstract: A blanket system for covering a user positioned on a user base platform having a mounting element, the blanket including a first layer a first length (l1) and a first width (w1); a second layer having a second length (l2) and a second width (w2), the second length being greater than the first length and the second width being greater than the first width; and the blanket adapted to have an operative hanging mode, wherein the first and second layers are attached to one another around a perimeter of the blanket and along at least one internal elongate stretch of the blanket, so as to define at least two pockets formed the first and second layers, wherein, in the operative hanging mode, the at least two pockets each have a depth (D) between the first layer and the second layer, the depth being in the range of 10 cm-30 cm.