Abstract: A connector element having a body portion formed by a substantially planar first abutment surface, a substantially planar second abutment surface, and a corner surface, wherein the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface are formed at substantially 90° relative to one another; a first deck panel corner abutment surface extending substantially perpendicularly from a first terminating edge of the upper deck panel support surface; a second deck panel corner abutment surface extending substantially perpendicularly from a second terminating edge of the upper deck panel support surface; one or more protrusions extend perpendicular to the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface; and at least one deflectable flexible finger, wherein the at least one flexible finger comprises a tang that extends, proximate a tip of the at least one flexible finger, beyond the primary surface of the at least one flexible finger.

Abstract: An insertion device facilitates the insertion of a compressible pillow into a flexible pillowcase. A left edge of a resilient sheet includes a compression handle stem projecting away therefrom and terminating at a first compression handle. A right edge of the sheet includes a second compression handle projecting away therefrom. The sheet further includes a horizontal slot traversing therethrough, the slot sharing a common longitudinal axis with the compression handle stem. The resilient sheet when curved around itself, with the compression handle and the compression handle stem traversing the horizontal slot, form an enclosure into which the pillow is inserted. The compression handle is pulled away from the second compression handle to constrict the pillow, which, with the enclosure, is then easily inserted into the pillowcase.

Abstract: A method of positioning an occupant (98) of a bed includes identifying (204) the presence of a discrepancy between an existing occupant position and a target occupant position, and establishing (206) an elevation gradient having a direction, magnitude and position compatible with moving the occupant from the existing occupant position to the target position. In one variant of the method the step of establishing an elevation gradient is one substep of a preordained sequence of bladder inflations and deflations. In another variant, the method includes determining (210) if the discrepancy has been corrected and responding to any noncorrection of the discrepancy. An associated bed (20) includes a mattress (82) at least one layer (100) of repositioning bladders (102, 104, 106, 108) a sensor array (130) a controller (140) and a pump (142).

Abstract: A self-standing hammock frame has three spaced apart hammock suspension points. The hammock frame comprises first, second, and third leg assemblies. The first leg assembly has raised ends located at respective first and second hammock suspension points. The second leg assembly is joined to the first leg assembly, and has raised ends located at respective second and third hammock suspension points. The third leg assembly is joined to the first and second leg assemblies, and has raised ends located at respective first and third hammock suspension points. The first, second, and third leg assemblies cooperate to form a closed-end hammock support structure.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus is provided. The patient support apparatus may be used as an operating table apparatus for a neurosurgical intervention. The patient support apparatus includes a support couch and a transfer plate which may be moved relative to the support couch, wherein the transfer plate is designed to support a patient for the neurosurgical intervention, wherein the patient support apparatus includes a holding unit with a support shell, which is designed to support a head of the patient and/or a surgical head restraint unit, and a fastening unit for fastening the holding unit to the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A sitting device for prevention of spinal diseases comprises a padded member, a thin pad extended forwardly from the padded member, and a hard block fully inserted inside the padded member. The padded member has a generally hexagonal shape, and is made of resilient materials. The hypotenuse surface of the padded member is undulating economically. The hard block is made of a non-resilient material, and is able to tolerate, without rupturing, the gravity force on a mass of an adult's body with a shape and size similar to those of the adult's buttocks. The hard block is inserted completely inside the right angle area of the padded member. The height of the front side of the hard block is greater than the distance from the lowest point of the sitter's coccyx to the lowest point of his tuberosity of the sacrum. This will always keep the sacrum in a position higher than that of two seating areas keeping the pelvis upright and symmetric.

Abstract: Disclosed is a patient lift system having a sling bar with an inductively charged integrated scale. The lift system comprises a lift apparatus, a lift strap connected at a first end to the lift apparatus, a sling bar connected to a second free hanging end of the lift strap, the sling bar having a scale with a tension load cell integrally disposed therein for measuring forces applied thereto and a power source electrically connected to the scale to provide power to the scale and load cell. An accelerometer is disposed within the sling bar to determine a tilt angle of a lift axis of the load cell relative to a vertical direction of gravitational force. Programming stored in a processor of the integrated scale calculates an accurate weight of an active load suspended from the sling bar, based on the determined tilt angle and the measured force on the load cell.

Abstract: A patient positioning system for use with a patient on a bed includes a sheet having a bottom surface configured to be placed above the supporting surface of the bed and a top surface opposite the bottom surface, and a wedge having a base wall, a ramp surface, and a back wall, with the ramp surface joined to the base wall to form an apex. The wedge is positioned under the sheet such that the base wall confronts the supporting surface of the bed and the ramp surface confronts the bottom surface of the sheet. The bottom surface of the sheet and the ramp surface of the wedge have engagement members forming a selective gliding assembly that resists movement of the sheet with respect to the wedge in at least one direction and permits movement of the sheet with respect to the wedge in at least one other direction.

Abstract: An exemplary bed platform frame includes first and second support frame assemblies, each including a pair of spaced apart rails, a cross member extending between the pair of spaced apart rails, and an actuator support member coupled to the cross member. The spaced apart rails of the first support frame assembly are connected to the spaced apart rails of the second support frame assembly when the first support frame assembly is assembled with the second support frame assembly. The actuator support member of the first support frame assembly is coupled to the cross member of the second support frame assembly when the first support frame assembly is assembled with the second support frame assembly. The actuator support member of the second support frame assembly is coupled to the cross member of the first support frame assembly when the first support frame assembly is assembled with the second support frame assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to systems related to sleeping, playing and provision of non-toxic environments, components related to those systems, and methods involving the systems or components. It is more particularly directed to systems, components and methods that aid early infant cognitive development, improve ventilation inside a crib, promote fresh and/or odor free air, promote thermoregulation and homeostasis, protect the person using the systems, components and methods from biological toxins, and create healthy sleeping environments for infants, toddlers, children and adults. One sleep system according to the present invention includes a cover, a core, and a bottom. The cover includes at least two raised areas. The raised areas have one or more heights ranging from 0.125 inch to 5.0 inches and diameters ranging of 0.25 to 10.0 inches.

Abstract: A yoga mat comprising a folding hinge, said yoga mat designed to be folded and then rolled up while it is folded.

Abstract: A foldable frame assembly for a playpen includes a collapsible bottom frame which has a central support mount, a plurality of linking elements, a plurality of first linking rods and a plurality of second linking rods. The linking elements are pivoted between the central support mount and the lower end of the plurality of pillars respectively. Each of the linking elements is provided with a sliding part for moving along the linking elements. When the central support mount was lifted upward, the second linking rods are associated with the first linking rods through the sliding parts thereby incurring an inward torque to prevent the pillars from deflecting outward. By such of the inward torque, users can save their troublesome of stretching hands to hold and keep the pillars uprightly while converting the playpen into its folded configuration.

Abstract: An adjustable foundation includes a base frame and an articulating frame movably supported by the base frame for longitudinal movement with respect to the base frame. A mattress platform is positioned on the articulating frame. A concealing assembly is positioned below the mattress platform and at least partially conceals the base frame. The concealing assembly is attached to the articulating frame for simultaneous longitudinal movement therewith.

Abstract: A patient support system includes a patient support apparatus and a support surface mounted on the patient support apparatus. The patient support apparatus is reconfigurable among a plurality of different configurations for supporting a patient on the support surface in a plurality of positions. The support surface is mounted on the patient support apparatus to move in response to reconfiguration of the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A support apparatus (e.g., stretcher, back board, etc.) with double roller assembly. The apparatus includes a main frame, a first housing containing at least one wheel (e.g., gear, pulley, sprocket, roller) around which a first sheet and/or a second sheet is coiled. The opposite ends of the sheets are coupled to vertically- and horizontally-displaced lead and trail rollers in the double roller assembly, one sheet for each roller. The apparatus further includes a second housing containing at least one wheel around which a chain or belt is disposed. One or both ends of the chain/belt is coupled to the double roller assembly. In operation, a patient is positioned within the main frame, and the sheets extend underneath the patient. The belt/chain mechanism can also help urge extension of the sheets. When the sheets are fully extended underneath the patient, the patient is fully supported and can be transported.

Abstract: A support chair has a base with wheels, a support post with a translation mechanism, a power system with controls, an upper seat portion having a downward-extending post engaging the support post and engaging the translation mechanism such that the chair portion raises and lowers, a back-support portion hinged to the seat portion, a leg-support portion hinged to the seat portion, a plurality of attachment interfaces implemented to frame elements of the support chair, and at least one multiply-articulated peripheral support assembly having a padded surface at one end and a support interface at an opposite end, the support interface enabled to join to any one of the attachment interfaces implemented to the frame elements.

Abstract: A baby rocking bed includes a pivot unit, a lower frame connected with the pivot unit, a connecting unit connected with the lower frame, and an upper frame connected with the pivot unit and the connecting unit. Thus, when the movable member of the connecting unit is moved upward on the elbow pipe of the connecting unit, the upper frame is disposed at an inclined state so that the rocking bed is disposed at an inclined state to facilitate the user feeding the baby safely, and when the movable member is moved downward on the elbow pipe, the upper frame is disposed at a horizontal state so that the rocking bed is directly lowered and returned to the original position, without disturbing the sleeping baby.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient in a prone position during a surgical procedure is provided, including an open fixed frame suspended above a floor and a pair of spaced opposed radially sliding joints cooperating with the frame, each joint including a virtual pivot point and an arc of motion spaced from the virtual pivot point, the joints being movable along the arc providing a pivot ship mechanism for a pair of pelvic pads attached to the joints. A base for supporting and suspending a patient support structure above the floor, for supporting a patient during a surgical procedure, the base including a pair of spaced opposed vertical translation subassemblies reversibly attachable to a patient support structure, a cross-bar, and a rotation subassembly having two degrees of rotational freedom; wherein a location of each vertical translation subassembly is substantially constant during operation of the patient support structure.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that provides parasite, dust mite and allergen protection for an encasement used for a mattress or foundation. The device can be part of the original encasement or added as an after-market item to a conventional encasement to prevent the egress of parasites, dust mites and allergens from the gap between the zipper slide and the zipper stop and prevent movement of the zipper slide when the zipper is completely zipped up. The device includes a at least one compressible material that is used. The compressible material is compressed to seal the gap and prevent movement of the zipper slide. In one embodiment of the invention, the device allows the mattress or foundation within the encasement to breathe while blocking parasites, dust mites and allergens from escaping from within the encasement.

Abstract: A system and method for securing a patient's leg during a medical or diagnostic procedure having a rail assembly including a first rail pivotally coupled to a second rail, a slider block, a pivot arm, and a sole assembly with a boot to restrain and support the patient's foot.