Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a bedding apparatus. In one embodiment, the bedding apparatus is configured to slip over a mattress such that the bedding apparatus substantially encloses the mattress except the front or head of the mattress. The bedding apparatus is configured such that, once installed over the mattress, there is sufficient space between the top of the mattress and the top panel of the bedding apparatus to enable a user to lay atop the mattress and under the top panel of the bedding apparatus. Additionally, once installed, the bottom panel of the bedding apparatus is positioned under the mattress such that the bedding apparatus is held in place by a combination of the weight of the mattress and the weight of the user (when the user is laying on the mattress).

Abstract: A bed lifting system is provided for lifting a bed above a surface. The system comprises a frame adapted for supporting the bed. The frame is arranged for interacting with a lifting mechanism capable of elevating the frame. A base that is adapted for inter-engaging with the frame whereby the base can support the frame over the surface independently of the lifting mechanism.

Abstract: A mattress comprising a foam base, a foam core, and a foam comfort layer. The foam core may be reinforced with firmer transverse members selectively placed along the length of the core. The core may also include air passages. The comfort layer may comprise interlocking upper and lower layers configured to form ventilation channels that operate in a bellows-like fashion moving moist, warm out and drawing fresh air in as the sleeping body moves and shifts through the sleep cycle. The ventilation channels in the core and the comfort layer provide for effective dissipation of heat and moisture even from the innermost regions of the mattress. A cooling gel top layer may be included, and the entire assembly may be covered with a fabric top panel and surround. The surround may be vented to facilitate air movement in and out of the mattress.

Abstract: An apparatus and procedure for disabled, impaired or handicapped persons in reaching or maintaining a standing or partially standing position. The apparatus includes a knee support and a movable torso support that is operatively connected to an actuator arrangement. The actuator arrangement moves the torso support in a vertical range of positions independently of the horizontal position of the torso support and in a horizontal range of positions independently of the vertical position of the torso support. The user engages the torso support during the raising movement during which the torso support moves simultaneously forward and upward until the person has reached a position in which he is substantially standing whilst leaning forward over the torso support (and vice versa for the lowering procedure). The torso support can also be rotated during the movement. The apparatus is provided with an identification system for identifying the person to be assisted.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a bedding apparatus. In one embodiment, the bedding apparatus is configured to slip over a mattress such that the bedding apparatus substantially encloses the mattress except the front or head of the mattress. The bedding apparatus is configured such that, once installed over the mattress, there is sufficient space between the top of the mattress and the top panel of the bedding apparatus to enable a user to lay atop the mattress and under the top panel of the bedding apparatus. Additionally, once installed, the bottom panel of the bedding apparatus is positioned under the mattress such that the bedding apparatus is held in place by a combination of the weight of the mattress and the weight of the user (when the user is laying on the mattress).

Abstract: A sleep surface insert system and method for positioning under, for example, an infant on a sleep surface. The sleep surface insert system includes an insert and a blower system. The insert includes a top liner and a bottom liner. The top liner and bottom liner define first and a second hollow spaces therebetween. Further, the top liner includes first and second pores such that the first pores extend through the top liner from the first hollow space and the second pores extend through the top liner from the second hollow space. In addition, the blower system is configured to provide air flow into the first and second hollow spaces defined in the insert such that the air flow is configured to flow into the insert and out of at least one of the first pores and the second pores.

Abstract: A patient lift connector for attaching and detaching a patient lifting bar to a load supporting member in a patient lifting system is described. The connector includes a connector body including a connecting block configured to be fixedly attached to the patient lifting bar. The connector also includes a pin holder coupled to the load supporting member and configured to be inserted through the connector body and into the connecting block, and an attachment latch secured to the connector body and configured to move between an open position and a closed position within the connector body. When the attachment latch moves from the closed position to the open position, the pin holder is allowed to be inserted into the connecting block and thereby allow the lifting bar to be attached to the load supporting member.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a bed frame having a head end and a foot end and control circuitry carried by the bed frame. The control circuitry receives information about conditions of the patient support apparatus. A light is coupled to the bed frame adjacent the foot end and is coupled to the control circuitry. The light is in a first state when the patient support apparatus is operating normally and the light is in a second state when the control circuitry detects an alert condition.

Abstract: A table adapter and joint assembly are configured for use with a table during a medical procedure, e.g. a medical imaging procedure or combined imaging and surgical procedure. The table adapter is connectable, directly or indirectly, to a portion of the table. The joint assembly connects with the table adapter about a shaft such that the joint assembly is rotatably adjustable. A head fixation device in the form of a skull clamp is attachable to the joint assembly. The joint assembly generally has a parallelogram shape that has four joints for adjustment where these four joints can be selectively locked or unlocked relative to each other using a single actuator.

Abstract: Improved patient-support apparatuses and methods for rapid mattress inflation and pressure-compensation for changes in patient position.

Abstract: An infant supporting apparatus includes a leg frame, a support frame portion connected with the leg frame via a rotary joint, a reversible infant resting support suspended from the support frame portion and having a first and a second bearing surface, an offset frame portion, and a side panel connected with the support frame portion and the offset frame portion. The support frame portion can rotate relative to the leg frame to position the first or second bearing surface upward for placement of a child thereon. The infant resting support is adjustable relative to the side panel between a first and a second state. The first bearing surface faces upward and the side panel expands above the infant resting support in the first state, and the second bearing surface faces upward and the side panel is in a collapsed position relative to the infant resting support in the second state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a household linen for a double bed with two elongated panels (2.3) that: are linked in at least one region, called the foot, (Rp) intended to be located at the foot end of the bed, are free relative to each other on the major portion of their length up to a head edge (Bt) located opposite the foot region (Rp) and partly overlap at a central longitudinal region (Rm) of the linen, so that the width (Il) of the linen is less than the sum of the width (Ip) of the two panels (2,3), the middle region extending between the foot region (Rp) and the head edges (Bt), characterized in that each overlapping region (Rc) of each panel (2,3) is separated from the foot region by a cut-out (15) substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the household linen (M).

Abstract: Method to manufacture a personalized mattress (1) from a basic part (2) with a recess (2) and inserts (3, 4, 5), which comprises the following steps: determination of the anthropometric data of a person; determination of the optimum distances over which the mattress (1) has to be deformed in a number of positions so that the spine of the person in this position has the same shape, insofar possible, as when the person is standing upright; determination of the deformation characteristics that a mattress (1) must have at these positions; selection of inserts (3, 4, 5); fitting of the inserts (3, 4, 5) in the basic part (2).

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a wallhugger bed with a plurality of mattress retaining brackets secured to one or more corners of the mattress platform to keep the mattress from shifting on the mattress platform during operation of the actuator.

Abstract: A bed comprises a fixed width deck section, a wing movably coupled to the fixed width section, a leadscrew having a rotational axis, a leadscrew driver coupled to the leadscrew for rotating the leadscrew about its axis, and a release unit. The release unit is coupled to the wing and configured to move between a) an engaged position in which the release unit engages the lead screw and moves therealong as the leadscrew rotates about the rotational axis thereby causing the wing to translate relative to the fixed width section; and b) a disengaged position in which the release unit is disengaged from the leadscrew.

Abstract: A hand positional travel pillow that includes a medial protuberance disposed upon a first side of a pillow member, said medial protuberance disposed to accommodate a user's thumb and thenar when each of a respective first soft surface and a second soft surface are contacted to either of a user's hands, whereby a strap member, disposed to secure the pillow member to the user's respective hand, is reversible by transition over the medial protuberance and thereby positional tensioned across each of the first and alternately the second soft surfaces, as desired, for use with the pillow member engaged against each side of a user's head as comfort dictates.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns an adjustable bed with a deck-on-deck appearance. A concealing assembly is attached to the center frame of an articulating bed, wherein the concealing assembly is situated below the mattress platform and conceals the base frame as the center frame moves along the base frame when the bed articulates. In other embodiments, such as for non-wall hugger beds where the center frame is stationary, a concealing assembly may still be used but will also be stationary.

Abstract: A mattress comprising asymmetrical coil springs with nonlinear spring rates provides comfort to users with different weights. The lower portion of the spring is cylindrical and the upper portion is conical or frustoconical. This arrangement causes the spring to undergo linear compression before undergoing nonlinear compression. The result is a mattress that is sufficiently soft for lighter users and sufficiently firm for heavier users.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a surgical table and a limb support unit coupled to the surgical table. The limb support unit includes a support platform coupled to the surgical table in a fixed position, a first limb holder coupled to the support platform in a fixed position relative to the support platform, and a second limb holder coupled to the support platform and spaced apart from the first limb holder. The first limb holder includes a multi-axis joint coupled to the support platform in a fixed position and a spar coupled to the multi-axis joint to move relative to the support platform while supporting a patient's limb that has been coupled to the spar.

Abstract: A folding playpen has a frame assembly including a plurality of parallel uprights arranged in a geometric configuration and a plurality of upper rails pivotally affixed to and extending between a top portion of adjacent ones of the uprights. A co-planar grid of braces extends between said the uprights and includes a central support block at a center of geometrically configured uprights. The braces being pivotally attached to the central support block and to a respective one of the uprights. A flexible covering extends about a periphery of the frame assembly and a pad is supported by the co-planar grid. The frame assembly is selectively collapsible from a usable configuration to a storage configuration by vertically translating the central support block from a lower position to a position proximate to a top of the uprights.