Abstract: An extender board for use on a surgical stretcher is disclosed. The surgical stretcher includes a pivotable back section, and an actuator that locks to prevent the back section from pivoting and that unlocks to permit the back section to pivot. The extender board includes a frame, a panel coupled to the frame, and a releasing assembly coupled to the extender board frame. The releasing assembly is adapted to lock and unlock the actuator while the extender board is coupled to the back section.

Abstract: A valve assembly for an air mattress having a common actuator on a manifold between opposed supply and exhaust valves moving the valves along their actuating axis. The system includes a plurality of actuator/valve combinations for different portions of the air mattress. A pulsating valve is provided which includes a housing having therein supply and exhaust valves each directly controlled by supply and exhaust solenoids. The solenoids are of an improved design.

Abstract: A hand table assembly includes a platform having a longitudinal central axis and a platform attachment apparatus for coupling the platform to a patient support deck generally in a horizontal plane and at a 90° angle. The platform attachment apparatus illustratively includes a first member configured to be mechanically coupled to an inboard end of the platform and a second member configured to be mechanically coupled to a side rail of an articulatable back section of the patient support deck. The first member is pivoted relative to the second member about the longitudinal central axis of the platform such that the platform remains generally parallel to the floor when the articulatable back section is articulated.

Abstract: A chair apparatus includes a base frame, an intermediate frame coupled to the base frame, and a resident support frame including a back section, a seat section, and a leg section pivotably coupled to the base frame and the intermediate frame by a plurality of links to permit the support frame to move from a chair position to a flat position.

Abstract: A bed includes a base frame, a bed deck above the base frame, and an intermediate frame carrying the bed deck. The intermediate frame is mounted to the base frame for movement relative to the base frame between a raised position spaced apart above the base frame and a lowered position below the raised position. The bed also includes a side rail mounted to the intermediate frame and extending generally upwardly therefrom to a top of the side rail, a drive assembly coupling the intermediate frame to the base frame, and control buttons mounted on the side rail and coupled to the drive assembly so that activation of the control buttons activates the drive assembly. The drive assembly moves the intermediate frame between the raised position and the lowered position when the drive assembly is activated. The control buttons include resident control buttons facing toward the bed deck and caregiver control buttons facing away from the bed deck.

Abstract: A surface pad apparatus for a surgical table includes a body pad section positioned to lie beneath at least the torso and the thighs of the patient. The body pad section includes an upwardly-facing top surface and spaced-apart, elongated first and second sides. The apparatus also includes longitudinally extending first and second arm pad sections positioned to lie adjacent to the first and second sides of the body pad section and positioned to lie beneath the arms of the patient. Each arm pad section includes a top surface that is generally coplanar with the top surface of the body pad section.

Abstract: A chair bed for supporting a person is provided, the chair bed having a head end, a foot end, and opposing sides. The chair bed includes a frame and a deck supported on the frame. The deck includes head, seat, and foot sections. A mattress is mounted on the deck and has an upwardly-facing patient surface. The mattress also has head, seat, and foot portions corresponding, respectively, to the head, seat, and foot sections of the deck. The head section of the deck and the mattress portion thereon is pivotable from a generally horizontal down position through various positions upwardly to a back-support position. A pair of side rails is mounted on each side of the chair bed. Each pair of side rails includes a body section side rail mounted to move with the deck seat section and extending laterally adjacent the deck head and seat sections and a head section side rail mounted to move with the deck head section relative to the body section side rail and extending adjacent only the deck head section.

Abstract: A mattress is provided having an elongated foam base, a plurality of air sacks positioned above the foam base, and a longitudinally-extending manifold. Each air sack defines an interior region. The manifold includes an outer wall defining an interior region in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid and in fluid communication with the interior region of each air sack. The foam base and the plurality of air sacks cooperate to define a channel. The manifold is positioned in the channel and supported on top of the foam base.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting a person in achieving a standing position. The apparatus include a base, a frame extending upward from the base, a lifting arm pivotally coupled to the frame, a platform upon which a person can stand, and an actuator which is controlled to raise and lower the lifting arm. The apparatus also includes a sling assembly which is removably attachable to the lifting arm. The sling assembly includes matched sets of attachment loops for attaching the sling assembly to the lifting arm. The sling assembly also includes at least one caregiver handle on an outer back portion thereof.

Abstract: A surgical lighthead includes a light source having a reference point defined thereon and a reflector including a concave reflector surface which has a central axis. The concave reflector surface is formed to include a plurality of facets configured to reflect light emanating from the light source. The plurality of facets includes a first set of facets for which each associated longitudinal boundary line is angularly spaced by a first angle from each of the next adjacent boundary lines relative to the central axis. In addition, the plurality of facets includes a second set of facets for which each associated longitudinal boundary line is angularly spaced by a second angle from each of the next adjacent boundary lines relative to the central axis.

Abstract: A light fixture apparatus includes a support frame mounted to the wall and an auxiliary or examination light source coupled to the support frame and movable from a first stored position to a second deployed position. A first switch in series with the auxiliary light source is opened when the auxiliary light is in the stored position and closed when the auxiliary light is in the deployed position. The light source has three degrees of adjustment. The light source is connected to one end of telescopic members which are pivotally connected at its second end to the support to pivot about an axis transverse the telescoping axis. A safety switch is provided adjacent the telescopic members to sense the pivoting.

Abstract: A bed including a frame, an articulating deck on the frame having head, seat, and foot deck sections, and a mattress on the deck. The deck foot section and mattress foot portion have a first length when the foot section is in the up position and a second length shorter than said first length when the foot section is in the down position. A first driver varies the length of the deck foot section, and a second driver moves the foot section relative to said seat section between the generally horizontal up position and the generally vertically downwardly extending down position.

Abstract: A coverlet is disclosed for enclosing an air fluidizable section of a patient support surface. The air fluidizable section includes a diffuser board assembly for supporting a fluidizable medium, a side wall defining a boundary of the air fluidizable section and an air permeable top wall impervious to the fluidizable medium. The coverlet includes a sheet of material impervious to fluids and comprises a top portion configured to overlie the top wall of the air fluidizable section, and a side portion configured to overhang over the side wall of the air fluidizable section. The side portion of the coverlet includes at least one opening therein to permit air flowing through the air fluidizable section to escape.

Abstract: A chair apparatus includes a base frame, an intermediate frame coupled to the base frame, and a resident support frame including a back section, a seat section, and a leg section pivotably coupled to the base frame and the intermediate frame by a plurality of links to permit the support frame to move from a chair position to a flat position.

Abstract: A holder for retaining an x-ray cassette against a bottom surface of a patient support deck is provided. The patient support deck is part of a bed that has an outer frame with first and second side frame members. The holder includes a cassette channel member configured to receive an end of the x-ray cassette. The channel member is pivotably coupled to the first side frame member and is pivotable from a storage position to an x-ray position. A cassette retainer is coupled to the frame. The retainer is configured to engage the x-ray cassette and hold it against the bottom surface of the deck.

Abstract: A sleep support surface includes a mattress having at least two bladders located adjacent a foot end. The bladders each have a predetermined, adjustable internal pressure. The pressure in at least one of the bladders is selectively and independently reduced to provide pressure relief on the heels of the patient lying on the mattress. The pressure in a bladder located toward the head end of the mattress and adjacent the at least one bladder is increased. This pressure increase advantageously provides the lifting force under the calves of the patient to reduce further pressure on the patient's heels. A visual indication of the location each of the at least two bladders in the mattress is provided to facilitate selection of the at least one bladder in which to reduce pressure during the pressure reducing step, thereby providing pressure relief on the heels of the patient lying on the mattress.

Abstract: A system for regulating a core body temperature of a person includes a pressure applicator configured to apply negative or cyclical positive pressure to a portion of the person to vasodilate blood vessels of the person within the portion, a heating device configured to supply heat to the portion of the person, and a control apparatus. The control apparatus is coupled to the heating device and includes a controller configured to vary the amount of heat supplied by the heating device. The amount of heat supplied by the heating device is varied in response to a difference in temperature between a preset temperature programmed into the controller and an actual core body temperature of the patient received by the controller from a temperature sensor on the person such that the controller maintains the actual core body temperature of the person at substantially the preset temperature.

Abstract: A gas valve apparatus is configured to receive a gas specific adapter. The apparatus includes a gas valve body having a first keying mechanism, and a cap coupled to the gas valve body. The cap includes a keyed front face having a gas outlet configured to receive the gas specific adapter. The cap also includes a second keying mechanism configured to mate with the first keying mechanism on the gas valve body to permit the cap to be coupled to the valve body.