Abstract: A location detection system for a facility including a patient handling device for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility, a locator fixed relative to the patient handling device for transmitting a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of the patient handling device, and a processing station remote from the patient handling device and the locator for receiving the unique location identifier such that the location of the patient handling device can be determined and monitored remotely from the patient handling device.

Abstract: Location detection systems are provided for determining the location of patient handling devices in a healthcare facility. In one embodiment, the location detection system comprises a locator fixed in each zone of each room in the facility. The locator includes at least one infrared transmitter for transmitting a unique location identifier to a receiver mounted on the patient handling device. A communication module transmits the unique location identifier from the patient handling device to a network utilized by the healthcare facility for the management of patient, personnel, and equipment information. A processing station located on the network processes the unique location identifier to ultimately determine the room and zone location of the patient handling device. The processing station may include a graphical user interface on a touch-screen display for reviewing and manipulating the location information.

Abstract: A retractor assembly for engaging a sheet on which a patient is disposed includes a transverse member and a pair of tethers coupled to the transverse member and extending from the transverse member for coupling to a winding assembly. A pair of sheet clamps are mounted to the transverse member, which are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the transverse member in a fixed spaced relationship for engaging a sheet at two points spaced along the longitudinal axis. The transverse member maintains the sheet clamps in their fixed spaced relationship whereby the sheet clamps resist inward migration toward each other when being used to handle a patient on a sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for the prevention of decubitus ulcers includes an overlay and a plurality of stimulation segments disposed throughout the overlay, wherein the stimulation segments provide stimulation. At least one sensor is disposed within at least one of the plurality of stimulation segments. A controller is electrically connected to the at least one sensor, wherein the controller gathers data from the sensor, processes the data, and transmits instructions to the stimulation segments.

Abstract: A drug delivery system including a chamber, which is configured for enclosing or covering at least a surface of a patient, a source of a drug and a pressure source, which selectively pressurizes the chamber. In addition, the system includes a controller for controlling the transfer of the drug to the chamber wherein the drug is administered to the surface of the patient under pressure.

Abstract: A bed siderail has a vertical siderail extension, a horizontal siderail extension, or both. A bed siderail has dual vertical siderail extensions. A bed has gap fillers pivotally mounted to the headboard and/or footboard, either in the manner of a hinge, or by means of a dual axis pivot, to fill gaps between the headboard/footboard and a siderail. A bed siderail has pivotally mounted gap fillers directed toward the headboard, footboard, or an adjacent siderail. A bed has slidably mounted gap fillers. A bed siderail has pivotally mounted gap fillers, to fill a gap between the siderail and a mattress, the gap fillers being either gravity- or cam-activated, or being integrally formed in the siderail support arms. A bed siderail is rotatable from a deployed to a stowed position, and is simultaneously stowed close-into or underneath the bed frame.

Abstract: A low profile roller includes a wheel mounted on a hollow hub and having a roller ball mounted within the hollow hub. The roller is configured to function in a first, low profile operating mode when the roller ball is in contact with a support surface and in a second, high profile mode when the wheel is in contact with the support surface. A base for a movable support platform includes a base frame and a pivot sleeve rotatably mounted to the base frame and non-rotatably mounted to an arm connected to the hub. The pivot sleeve is configured to rotate the low profile roller from between the first mode and the second mode. A butterfly foot pedal is operably connected to the pivot sleeve.

Abstract: A bed siderail has a vertical siderail extension, a horizontal siderail extension, or both. A bed siderail has dual vertical siderail extensions. A bed has gap fillers pivotally mounted to the headboard and/or footboard, either in the manner of a hinge, or by means of a dual axis pivot, to fill gaps between the headboard/footboard and a siderail. A bed siderail has pivotally mounted gap fillers directed toward the headboard, footboard, or an adjacent siderail. A bed has slidably mounted gap fillers. A bed siderail has pivotally mounted gap fillers, to fill a gap between the siderail and a mattress, the gap fillers being either gravity- or cam-activated, or being integrally formed in the siderail support arms. A bed siderail is rotatable from a deployed to a stowed position, and is simultaneously stowed close-into or underneath the bed frame.

Abstract: A retractor assembly for engaging a sheet on which a patient is disposed includes a transverse member and a pair of tethers coupled to the transverse member and extending from the transverse member for coupling to a winding assembly. A pair of sheet clamps are mounted to the transverse member, which are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the transverse member in a fixed spaced relationship for engaging a sheet at two points spaced along the longitudinal axis. The transverse member maintains the sheet clamps in their fixed spaced relationship whereby the sheet clamps resist inward migration toward each other when being used to handle a patient on a sheet.

Abstract: A patient transfer device includes a base assembly movable in forward and lateral directions. A power train is mounted within the base assembly, and is connected to a clamping and strap assembly. A power and switching system is in electrical communication with the power train. A retractor bar carries one or more clamping devices that are releasably attachable to a sheet. The clamping devices include a clamp handle pivotally connected to a clamp base and a clamp arm eccentrically pivotally connected to the clamp handle. The clamping and strap assembly is supported on the base assembly by a vertical adjustment assembly that includes a positioning mechanism for releasably locking the clamping and strap assembly at one of a plurality of vertical positions. An attendant can stand on the base assembly to act as a counterbalance to a patient's weight.

Abstract: A bed having a base, a pedestal mounted on the base and a patient supporting member mounted on the pedestal. The pedestal is generally centrally oriented relative to the base and to the patient supporting member and includes a mechanism for effecting an elevating of the patient supporting member relative to the base. A stabilizing mechanism is provided for enabling the pedestal to accommodate differing elevations between the base and the patient supporting member and yet facilitate a maintaining of longitudinal axis congruency between the relatively movable components of the pedestal so that an orientation of the patient supporting member will remain relatively fixed with respect to the base independent of a height of the patient supporting member relative to the base.

Abstract: The wheel brake includes a crank arm mounted on the patient support. An elongate first link is pivotally connected at one end to a first pivot pin provided on the distal end of the aforesaid crank arm. An elongate second link is pivotally secured to the patient support for movement about a second axis of rotation and is pivotally secured on one side of the second axis of rotation to the first link by a second pivot pin. A wheel engaging brake member is swingably suspended from the bed frame and above an outer periphery of a wheel rotatably and swivelably supported on the bed frame and for movement into and out of engagement with the aforesaid outer periphery. An elastically yieldable resilient member and an elongate third link are interconnected between the wheel engaging brake and the second link.

Abstract: A patient support stretcher which includes a base and a main frame portion coupled to the base through at least one pair of crossbars forming an X-shaped configuration. The crossbars are pivotally connected to one another and are pivotally connected to the base and the main frame portion. A back support or a fowler section is hinged to the main frame portion and a strut interconnects the back support to the main frame to provide the requisite balanced leverage for effecting the simultaneous lift of the main frame and the fowler section.

Abstract: A stretcher includes a patient support portion vertically movably supported on a wheeled base by a lift arrangement. Two pivot members are supported on the support portion for pivotal movement about respective vertical axes, and each support a respective arm for pivotal movement about a respective horizontal axis between a position in which the arms lie in a common horizontal plane and a position in which an outer end of each arm is offset from the plane. The outer end of each arm is movably coupled to a transfer board. A link arrangement effects synchronous movement of the arms about the horizontal axes without movement about the vertical axes and about the vertical axes without movement about the horizontal axes. In a retracted position, the entire transfer mechanism is disposed physically within and has an overall vertical height less than that of the patient support portion.

Abstract: A hospital bed has a transfer board which can be moved between a retracted position and an operational position. In the operational position, the board extends outwardly from an edge portion of the bed mattress and has an upwardly facing surface level with the top surface of the mattress. A board support mechanism includes a support lever pivotally supported on the bed for 180.degree. movement from a retracted position through a support position to a further retracted position. In the support position, an outer upper end of the support lever engages the underside of an outer edge portion of the support member in order to firmly support the outer edge portion.

Abstract: A hospital bed has a horizontally extending edge portion on a frame, the frame supporting a mattress with an upwardly facing patient support surface. A collapsible side rail has an elongate top rail and a plurality of arms each supported at one end on the frame for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and supported at the opposite end on the elongated member for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis, the first and second pivot axes each extending at an acute angle with respect to each of a horizontal reference plane, a vertical reference plane perpendicular to the edge portion, and a vertical reference plane parallel to the edge portion. In a retracted position, the entire side rail is disposed lower than and laterally inwardly of the edge portion. In a variation, a member such as an IV pole is supported on the bed frame for pivotal movement about a pivot axis which extends at an acute angle to each of the three reference planes.

Abstract: A mobile hospital bed has a recess and has an IV pole supported for movement from an upright position to a storage position in which a hook on the pole is disposed in the recess in order to prevent the hook from snagging clothing or other nearby objects when the IV pole is not being used. The IV pole has three telescoping sections, and two locking mechanisms which respectively releasably secure the lower and middle pole sections and the middle and upper pole sections against relative movement, each locking mechanism being controlled by a manually rotatably actuator. An arrangement separate from the locking mechanisms is provided to prevent relative rotation of the lower and middle pole sections.

Abstract: A mattress for use on a hospital stretcher has an upwardly facing support surface which can support a patient. The top surface of the mattress has a plurality of small, parallel ribs which extend transversely of the mattress, and which resist sliding movement of the patient lengthwise of the mattress while simultaneously facilitating sliding movement of the patient transversely of the mattress. The mattress has bevels extending along opposite sides of the support surface, the support surface being provided on a sheetlike material which extends from a lower edge of one bevel to a lower edge of the other bevel without intervening seams extending lengthwise of the mattress. The sheetlike material is preferably a laminate which includes a rip-resistant scrim layer made of a closely woven spun polyester material and two vinyl layers disposed on respective sides of the scrim layer, the ribs being provided in one of the vinyl layers on a side thereof remote from the scrim layer.

Abstract: A stretcher for a medical patient has at one end two L-shaped handles which each have first and second legs and which are each supported at the outer end of the first leg for 90.degree. pivotal movement between a position in which the first leg is horizontal and approximately level with the top surface of the stretcher and a position in which the second leg is horizontal and located vertically higher than the top surface of the stretcher. The stretcher has two spaced vertical openings therein, and the first leg of each handle has an extension, each extension being received in a respective opening in the stretcher for lengthwise sliding movement between a first position in which the extension is disposed substantially within the opening and a second position in which the extension is disposed substantially outside the opening.

Abstract: A hospital stretcher includes an upwardly facing patient support surface and side rails on each side of the surface movable between raised and collapsed positions. Each side rail has at one end a spindle with a handle portion which, in the raised position, extends downwardly and away from the side rail. In the collapsed position, the top of each side rail is disposed below the support surface on the stretcher. The stretcher has on each side thereof a patient transfer mechanism, each transfer mechanism including a support board which can, from a retracted position disposed lower than the patient support surface, move upwardly between the support surface and one side rail in a vertical orientation and then pivot 90.degree. to a horizontal orientation in which a surface thereon is level with the patient support surface and in which an underside of one edge portion of the support board rests on top of the collapsed side rail.