Abstract: A hospital bed has a support frame and a weigh frame mounted on the support frame by load cells. The output of the load cells is summed to provide a reading of the total weight on the weigh frame. The tare weight is subtracted to provide the patient's weight.

Abstract: Multiple elements of a blow-molded, integral patient support surface each include a synthetic sheet-like patient support element and an underlying synthetic corrugated reinforcing element spaced from the support element. When loaded, the patient support element engages the corrugated reinforcing element which resists deflection and rigidifies the surface. The corrugation angulation and the combined wall thicknesses of the flat support and corrugated reinforcing elements in a predetermined are are selected to provide an effective combined wall thickness within F.D.A. attenuation standards, yet still provide sufficient rigidity and aberration-free x-rays.An adjustable x-ray plate cassette is disclosed.

Abstract: A bed for multipurpose maternity care uses includes an elevationally adjustabel bed frame carried by transversely spaced lift mechanisms that permit the bed frame to nest between the lift mechanisms as it is raised or lowered with respect to a supporting base. An upper mattress assembly, including a seat and back rest, are pivotally mounted across the top of the bed frame. The bed frame includes a forwardly open cavity having guides for receiving a longitudinally movable lower mattress assembly at all elevational positions of the bed frame relative to the base. Elevationally movable outer supports mounted on the bed frame engage and support the lower mattress assembly when it is extended longitudinally outward from the bed frame. A pair of foot supports are movably mounted on brackets alongside the bed frame. The supporting linkages and brackets for the foot supports can be selectively connected to the outer supports for moving the extended lower mattress assembly in unison with the foot supports.

Abstract: A safety control system for an electrically operated hospital bed utilizes a wireless disconnect signal from an above mounted safety light to an outlet below which supplies electrical power to the bed, thereby to interrupt power to the outlet upon the detection of physical contact with the safety light, as perhaps caused by an IV pole raising with the bed. In a preferred embodiment, a two-way transmission path is utilized to verify no blockage of the line of sight transmission path between the outlet and the light, with power to the outlet being disconnected upon contact with the light or blockage of the line of sight path.

Abstract: A bed that is convertible to a chair. The bed has a retracting frame mounted on a fixed frame. A patient support is formed by serially-connected head, seat, thigh, calf and foot panels, with the seat panel being fixed to the retracting frame. Movement of the retracting frame toward the foot end of the bed causes the head panel to rise and the leg panel to drop, thereby creating a chair.

Abstract: A clutter-eliminating head wall for a hospital bed has two horizontally-spaced modules with services and service outlets mounted in the modules. The recess between the modules is covered by a removable panel. The modules are covered by sliding tambour doors that slide behind the center panel to provide access to the modules.

Abstract: A hospital bed having a pivoted headboard that functions as a work center. The headboard can be swung to either side of the bed and locked there as well as its normal position at the head of the bed.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with an improved air bed system. In this invention, the bed occupant can control the firmness of the bed. Two inflatable bladders are used with a pre-set pressure differential between them. The pressure in the lower bladder is always kept high enough to prevent bottoming of a bed occupant. The pressure in the upper bladder can be adjusted by the occupant to his or her own personal comfort level. The invention may also include various medical devices which are fluid powered, thus taking advantage of the presence of the pressurized working fluid. The invention may further include a warning circuit which senses the departure of an occupant from the bed and generates a warning signal in response thereto.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated hospital bed with dual hydraulic power systems for operation with or without electrical service. The bed has its head and thigh/leg elevation functions performed by hydraulic cylinders. A control circuit meters the introduction and removal of hydraulic fluid from these cylinders so an occupant of the bed is not subjected to any sudden movement. In case of an emergency requiring the bed occupant to be in a supine position (the need to perform CPR), the normal control circuit is bypassed by an emergency circuit that allows much faster than normal lowering of the head and thigh/leg portions of the bed.

Abstract: A hospital bed footboard is provided which can be moved from the normal, vertical position of a bed footboard to a horizontal position overlying the bed. The support for the footboard in the overbed position is of a fully cantilevered nature so no impediment is placed to approaching the patient from the sides of the bed, nor is the overall width of the bed increased. The footboard when positioned over the bed can serve as a shelf for holding monitoring and life support devices during patient transport.

Abstract: A method is provided for the production of a pedestal assembly which includes a molded collar portion comprising the steps of providing a pedestal assembly having multiple elongated component members joined together at a joint and oriented at an angle to one another, one of said multiple component members comprising a vertically oriented first component supporting member and another of said multiple component members comprising at least one horizontally oriented second component base member, said pedestal assembly further including a precast collar having an aperture in an upper extent thereof through which said vertically oriented first component supporting member extends, the inner dimension and shape of said collar aperture being substantially identical to the outer dimension and cross-sectional configuration of the portion of said first component member extending through and positioned adjacent said precast collar, and a lower extent of said collar being positioned in encompassing relationship to the junc

Abstract: An improved table is disclosed which permits easy access to additional useable horizontal surface and which permits easy raising and lowering. The table, which in its preferred embodiment, is a hospital overbed table, is equipped with upper and lower horizontal tray surfaces. The surfaces are movable with respect to each other and may be positioned to expose the top surface alone or the upper and lower surfaces. The upper and lower surfaces may also be moved in unison to expose storage cavities in a base supporting the tray surfaces. A gas spring mechanism permits easy adjustment of the vertical positioning of the overbed table and provides a mechanism for securely locking the overbed table in place when in use.

Abstract: A free-standing medical service column has front and rear chases with service outlets mounted on at least the front side for connection with fluid and electrical conduits. The column includes vertically extending tracks at each corner, which tracks extend substantially the height of the column. Brackets, holders, and equipment are connected to the tracks by means of locking slide assemblies. Each slide assembly includes a base and a slide element formed of a low-friction material. A screw interconnects the base with the slide element such that rotation of the screw moves the slide toward the base and against the wall of the channel to frictionally secure the slide within the channel. Members secured to the column by means of locking slide elements may also carry a bracket. The bracket includes a plug formed of resilient material, which plug is received in a cylindrical bore of the member.

Abstract: A service outlet wall comprising at least one generally planar wall member, at least one section of which is adapted to receive one or more service outlets having a service conduits connected thereto and leading to service sources is disclosed. Means for housing the conduits is provided. The housing means is adjacent to the linear sections of the wall member and is configured to conceal and protect the service conduit. The service outlets are movable along the linear sections of the wall member, permitting placement of the service outlets at different positions along the linear sections. The service conduits connected to the outlets are simultaneously repositioned while maintaining the conduits in a concealed and protected position. A rail system for providing service outlets to particular locations in a room while simultaneously positioning service conduit connected to the outlets is also disclosed.

Abstract: A male-female connector is utilized to mount a holder to a mounting member. The connector includes a sleeve within which is disposed a gripper assembly. The gripper assembly comprises a plurality of elastic O-rings, each of which is positioned between a pair of beveled surfaces. When the beveled surfaces are converged toward one another, the O-rings ride-up upon the beveled surfaces and are radially expanded to frictional engagement with the socket wall.

Abstract: An improved medical service column is described. The improved column is of a fixed height yet may be mounted or secured in a variety of patient room environments with floor-to-ceiling heights of substantially varying lengths. By employing guide tubes or jack screw assemblies of various lengths, the single medical service column may be adjustably mounted in rooms of varying height. A shroud or cover to render the upper section of the medical service column and the ceiling connecting area aesthetically pleasing is also described. The improvement permits employing a single medical service column of a fixed height to provide services to a patient or to a patient bed area at a standard or desired height with respect to the patient room floor.

Abstract: A wheeled hospital bed is removably connectible to a drive unit. The bed comprises a plurality of articulated frame sections, a plurality of driven shafts, a linkage interconnecting the driven shafts and the frame sections for articulating the latter in response to rotation of the driven shafts, and a first guide structure. The drive unit includes a plurality of motors and drive shafts, and a second guide structure arranged to interact with the first guide structure of the bed when the bed is merged with the drive unit in order to orient the bed and drive units such that the drive and driven shafts are mutually aligned. The drive and driven shafts include a self-coupling mechanism for establishing a drive connection therebetween when in a merged condition. The drive unit may be anchored to the floor, or may be supported solely by the bed. In the former case, the bed can be rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the drive unit while maintaining connection therewith.

Abstract: A free-standing medical service column has front and rear chases with service outlets mounted on at least the front side for connection with fluid and electrical conduits. The column includes vertically extending tracks at each corner, which tracks extend substantially the height of the column. Brackets, holders, and equipment are connected to the tracks by means of locking slide assemblies. Each slide assembly includes a base and a slide element formed of a low-friction material. A screw interconnects the base with the slide element such that rotation of the screw moves the slide toward the base and against the wall of the channel to frictionally secure the slide within the channel. Members secured to the column by means of locking slide elements may also carry a bracket. The bracket includes a plug formed of resilient material, which plug is received in a cylindrical bore of the member.