Abstract: Roll-in cots having lift assist mechanisms and lift assist mechanisms are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a lift assist mechanism includes a force application member having an actuation element, an actuation mechanism comprising a first grasp handle and a second grasp handle, and a force transmission assembly. The force transmission assembly includes a first keyway plate that is coupled to the first grasp handle, a second keyway plate that is coupled to the second grasp handle, and an actuation pin that extends through both the first keyway plate and the second keyway plate, where the actuation pin selectively applies a force to the actuation element of the force application member.

Abstract: A crash-ready, portable, item compartmentalization device may include a shell which includes a first half shell and a second half shell. The first half shell and the second half shell may have substantially similar dimensions and define an interior space and an exterior space. One or more pouches may be removably coupled to the shell in the interior space. The crash-ready, portable, item compartmentalization device may be relocated throughout the interior of an emergency vehicle when used with an equipment mounting system or taken to the field for use away from the emergency vehicle. The individual pouches may also be removed and replaced with stocked pouches to replenish the crash-ready, portable, item compartmentalization device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a roll-in cot may include a support frame, a pair of front legs, a pair of back legs, and a cot actuation system. The pair of front legs may be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each front leg includes at least one front wheel. The pair of back legs may be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each back leg includes at least one back wheel. The cot actuation system includes a front actuator that moves the front legs and a back actuator that moves the back legs. The front actuator and the back actuator raises or lowers the support frame in tandem. The front actuator raises or lowers the front end of the support frame independently of the back actuator. The back actuator raises or lowers the back end of the support frame independently of the front actuator.

Abstract: Cot fastening systems which fix and hold an emergency cot to a crash stable, cot fastener track included in the system and provided within an emergency vehicle and methods of affixing the emergency cot thereto are disclosed. The track has a longitudinal length with first and second ends, open side rails longitudinally extending between the ends, and a channel centrally located between the rails. The side rails align, accommodate and guide a first fixture of the cot towards the first end as the cot is rolled within the vehicle and to retain the first fixture adjacent the first end at least vertically and laterally therein. The channel accommodates therein and retains a second fixture adjacent the second end at least vertically and laterally therein. A securing mechanism releasably prevents removal of the first fixture from the open side rails and removal of the second fixture from the channel.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a roll-in cot may include a support frame, a pair of back legs, a pair of front legs, and a cot actuation system. The pair of back legs and the pair of front legs can be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each of the pair of front legs can include a front wheel and an intermediate load wheel. The intermediate load wheel is offset from the front wheel by a load wheel distance. A front actuator can raise the pair of front legs such that the front wheel and the intermediate load wheel of each of the pair of front legs are aligned along a loading level. The intermediate load wheel of each of the pair of front legs can be offset from the pair of back legs by a loading span. The load wheel distance can be greater than the loading span.

Abstract: A stretcher which comprises a bed, and a frame having first and second parallel frame members coupled to first and second lateral frame members is disclosed. A securement track is define by an upper surface of at least one of the first parallel frame member, the second parallel frame member, the first lateral frame member, and the second lateral frame member, the securement track having a plurality of alternating open regions and necked down regions along a length. A bed mount configured to both support the bed and be releasably secured in the securement track in a secure condition, and configured to be repositionable along the length of the securement track in an unsecured condition.

Abstract: A powered ambulance cot and methods of raising and lowering the cot as well as loading and unloading the cot are disclosed. The cot includes a support frame and legs, each leg having a wheel. An actuator of an actuation system interconnects the frame and legs, and is configured to effect changes in elevation of the frame relative to the wheel of each of the legs. A control system controls activation of the actuation system, and detects both the actuator at a first location relative to the frame, where the first location is remote from a second location and which situates an end of the actuator that is remote from each wheel closer to the frame, and a presence of a signal requesting a change in elevation of said support frame to thereby cause the legs to move relative to the support frame.

Abstract: A magnetic pouch attachment mechanism may include one or more magnetic pouch mounts having an alignment plate with one or more magnetic areas disposed within the alignment plate. The magnetic pouch mount may also include a pouch that may be removably coupled with the one or more magnetic pouch mounts such that when the pouch is placed in proximity to the one or more magnetic pouch mounts, an attractive magnetic force is exerted between the pouch and the one or more magnetic pouch mounts such that the pouch aligns with and couples to the one or more magnetic pouch mounts. A mounting bracket coupled to the pouch may include one or more bracket magnetic areas disposed within the mounting bracket and configured to induce an attractive magnetic force with the one or more magnetic areas.

Abstract: An equipment mounting system may include a quick mount track having a backing plate with a center slot, a first outer slot, and a second outer slot, the first outer slot and the second outer slot comprise a plurality of diamond contour target regions, and a plurality of locking pin apertures along the center slot in the backing plate, the locking pin apertures are in horizontal alignment with the plurality of diamond contoured target regions. The equipment mounting system also may include a mount removably coupled to the quick mount track wherein the plurality of diamond contour target regions allow for a round head of a t-shaped stud of the mount to engage the first outer slot and the second outer slot at an angle to the backing plate.

Abstract: A method and an alignment system which auto-levels and/or auto-centers a loading platform to load and unload a wheeled stretcher to and from an emergency transport vehicle are disclosed. A controller of the alignment system receives a command to extend the loading platform from the emergency vehicle and extends the loading platform under power from the emergency transport vehicle. The controller recognizes an approaching wheeled stretcher, and aligns automatically the loading platform with a leading edge of the approaching wheeled stretcher to compensate automatically for any alignment issues between the loading platform and loading wheels of the wheeled stretcher.

Abstract: A power ambulance cot having a cot control system operably connected to a cot actuation system to control independent raising and lowering of front and back legs thereof, and which detects a presence of a signal requesting a change in elevation of a support frame thereof and causes the cot actuation system to raising or the lowering of the front and/or back legs automatically upon detecting a condition during loading/unloading a patient from an emergency vehicle or transporting the patient up or down an escalator and methods thereafter are disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic pouch attachment mechanism includes one or more magnetic pouch mounts (500) having an alignment plate (505) with one or more magnetic areas (520) disposed within the alignment plate (505). The magnetic pouch mount (500) also includes a pouch (900) removably coupled with the one or more magnetic pouch mounts (500) such that when the pouch (900) is placed in proximity to the one or more magnetic pouch mounts (500), an attractive magnetic force is exerted between the pouch (900) and the one or more magnetic pouch mounts (500) such that the pouch (900) aligns with and couples to the one or more magnetic pouch mounts (500). A mounting bracket (920) coupled to the pouch (900) includes one or more bracket magnetic areas (935) disposed within the mounting bracket (920) and configured to induce an attractive magnetic force with the one or more magnetic areas (520).

Abstract: A crash-ready, portable, item compartmentalization device may include a shell which includes a first half shell and a second half shell. The first half shell and the second half shell may have substantially similar dimensions and define an interior space and an exterior space. One or more pouches may be removably coupled to the shell in the interior space. The crash-ready, portable, item compartmentalization device may be relocated throughout the interior of an emergency vehicle when used with an equipment mounting system or taken to the field for use away from the emergency vehicle. The individual pouches may also be removed and replaced with stocked pouches to replenish the crash-ready, portable, item compartmentalization device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a roll-in cot may include a support frame, a pair of back legs, a pair of front legs, and a cot actuation system. The pair of back legs and the pair of front legs can be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each of the pair of front legs can include a front wheel and an intermediate load wheel. The intermediate load wheel is offset from the front wheel by a load wheel distance. A front actuator can raise the pair of front legs such that the front wheel and the intermediate load wheel of each of the pair of front legs are aligned along a loading level. The intermediate load wheel of each of the pair of front legs can be offset from the pair of back legs by a loading span. The load wheel distance can be greater than the loading span.

Abstract: A method and an alignment system which auto-levels and/or auto-centers a loading platform to load and unload a wheeled stretcher to and from an emergency transport vehicle are disclosed. A controller of the alignment system receives a command to extend the loading platform from the emergency vehicle and extends the loading platform under power from the emergency transport vehicle. The controller recognizes an approaching wheeled stretcher, and aligns automatically the loading platform with a leading edge of the approaching wheeled stretcher to compensate automatically for any alignment issues between the loading platform and loading wheels of the wheeled stretcher.

Abstract: Container mounting assemblies are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a container mounting assembly includes mounting plates (31, 33), track engagement members outwardly extending from the track engagement surface, mounting receptacles (20, 20?) spaced and outwardly extending from the container mounting surface (3), and a retention locking member (40) near at least one mounting receptacles. Each mounting plate has a track engagement surface and a container mounting surface opposite the track engagement surface. The track engagement members can engage one or more track slots of a track member. Each mounting receptacle has at least one vertical slot (17) for receiving an insert of a container. The retention locking member is configured to secure the container to the container mounting surface.

Abstract: Cot fastening systems which fix and hold an emergency cot to a crash stable, cot fastener track included in the system and provided within an emergency vehicle and methods of affixing the emergency cot thereto are disclosed. The track has a longitudinal length with first and second ends, open side rails longitudinally extending between the ends, and a channel centrally located between the rails. The side rails align, accommodate and guide a first fixture of the cot towards the first end as the cot is rolled within the vehicle and to retain the first fixture adjacent the first end at least vertically and laterally therein. The channel accommodates therein and retains a second fixture adjacent the second end at least vertically and laterally therein. A securing mechanism releasably prevents removal of the first fixture from the open side rails and removal of the second fixture from the channel.