Abstract: Disclosed is a patient support apparatus having a patient support couch, a moveable support plate for supporting a patient, a surgical head fastening unit for fastening a head of the patient in an examination position and/or in an operation position. The patient support apparatus includes a marker unit for marking a maximum occupancy area for the surgical head fastening unit.

Abstract: A compressible or retractable support is installed inside an air blower cavity of a body support system, such as a medical mattress with forced air flow. The support is compressed or retracted within the cavity when the air blower is inserted in the dynamic configuration of the body support system. The support rebounds to an uncompressed state to fill a greater portion of the air blower cavity when the air blower is removed to convert the body support system to a static configuration.

Abstract: A lift apparatus has a frame with open sides and a web assembly slidably retained along the sides which extends from one end of the frame to the other. While the web assembly is retracted, the frame moves to pass around a mobility-impaired individual and rest against the surface supporting the individual. The web assembly is then extended to move underneath or behind the individual, providing lifting support. The frame is configurable for orientations ranging continuously between horizontal and upright sitting. The web assembly has an upper web contacting the individual, a lower web contacting the support surface, a strength layer carrying the individual's weight, and a roller nose bar assembly which is pulled to extend the web assembly. A hand-held power tool can drive the web assembly, adjustment of inclinations of the back and leg sections of the frame, and vertical motion of the lift arm.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to an exercise assembly and an exercise bed assembly. The exercise assembly includes a band configured to be fitted around the circumference of a bed mattress or support frame and includes areas to which exercise bands can be attached. One or more exercise bands can be attached so that a user can perform various bodyweight exercises. The exercise bands can be reset in various combinations in order to enable a user to complete different exercises. In some embodiments, the exercise assembly can also include reinforcements that are connected at multiple points of the band. In some instances, the reinforcements cover a side of the bed.

Abstract: An examination table designed to provide a technician or practitioner easy access to various regions of a patient's body. Specifically, the examination table includes a lower support structure, an upper support structure, and an examination passageway. The upper support structure has a sliding access panel disposed on a side of the upper support structure such that the examination passageway is provided when the sliding access panel is repositioned at various measurements.

Abstract: A mattress and a method of adjusting the pressure of a mattress are provided. The method includes a first process of measuring internal pressure before a user lies on a mattress having at least two zones in which cells having a closed inner space filled with fluid are formed, a second process of measuring an increase in the internal pressure of each cell occurring when the user lies on the mattress, and an average pressure adjusting process of adjusting an amount of the fluid introduced into each cell of the mattress based on a pressure variation caused by a difference between the internal pressure detected from each cell in the first process and the internal pressure detected from each cell in the second process.

Abstract: A sleeping system is described in which comfort systems for a foam mattress assembly are mounted in a foundation assembly supporting the mattress assembly. The comfort systems include an air heating and cooling system, a firmness system and an elevation system. The foam mattress assembly includes a flexible encasement dish into which one or more foam layers are disposed. Blowers for the air system are mounted adjacent the foundation assembly top in direct fluid communication with apertures in the top, minimizing the air flow path from the blower exhaust to the mattress top to reduce air pressure loss and diminishment of the heated or cooled air.

Abstract: A patient support surface includes a cushion and an inflatable patient positioning unit. The cushion is adapted to support a patient. The inflatable patient positioning unit is arranged over a portion of a top side of the cushion at a foot end of the cushion. The inflatable patient positioning unit includes a plurality of positioner bladders shaped so that when inflated a distal end of each positioner bladder is taller than a proximal end of the positioner bladder.

Abstract: An under mattress support to extend the longevity of an existing mattress that may include areas that are concave resulting in sag areas or soft areas comprising a plurality of heavy duty elongated polyurethane foam slats, enclosed in top and bottom pliable fabric covers that are stitched together along each slat lateral side but spaced apart by pliable fabric strips in a parallel slat array. The fabric strip spacing of the parallel foam slats allows for lateral compression to enhance support. The under mattress support is positioned below the mattress and above a box spring with the elongated polyurethane foam slats extended longitudinally from a portion of one side of the mattress to a portion of the other side of the mattress where the concave portion of a sagging or soft mattress appears in the normal course of use.

Abstract: An assembly for supporting an infant (e.g., newborn baby) includes a fabric body defining a pocket between an upper layer and a lower layer of the body at one end of the fabric body, the pocket accessible via an opening selectively closeable to seal the pocket. A neck, spine and spinal cord support device of a semi-rigid material is removably insertable in the pocket of the fabric body by the pocket so as to maintain the support device in a substantially fixed position within the fabric body. The support device supports the head, neck, spine and spinal cord of a newborn baby or infant when the infant is on the fabric body to inhibit injury to the infant's head, neck, spine and spinal cord. The fabric body can be a swaddle blanket and/or sleeve.

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: A system for turning a person from a supine position to a prone position and vice versa includes opposing patient support platens each coupled to a corresponding end of a first and a second COG assembly, the first and second COG assemblies each coupled to a corresponding one of a pair of spindles, each one of the spindles disposed on a corresponding lift column. In yet another embodiment, registration plates, coupled to the system, conveniently align the attachment mechanisms of each COG assembly with distal ends of one or more platens. The registration plates allow for medical staff to align the system so that it straddles the operating table with the attachment mechanisms of the COG assembly in alignment with platen tubes (or other complimentary attachment mechanisms) located at the distal ends of the anterior platen.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a surface and a pneumatic system cooperating to provide a microclimate system for reducing moisture at the interface of a patient and the surface. The patient support apparatus further includes a graphical user interface and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to adjust operation of the microclimate system in response to sensor outputs from sensors included in the microclimate system and caregiver inputs from the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A fabric article includes a variety of structural features for swaddling a person, providing warmth to the head, supporting the neck, permitting the use of restraining belts, and/or allowing independent leg movement. The article includes opposing protrusions for wrapping around the torso of a body and securing the arms within. The lower portion of the article preferably defines a slit with overlapping flaps, which are easily configured into legs. The slit allows a restraining belt to fit snugly between the legs of a wearer, such that a person can be swaddled while still being properly secured by restraining belts.

Abstract: The present invention is a rigid collapsible litter having a base and a plurality of collapsible rib members. The rib members are capable of being folded or collapsed in a first direction while remaining rigid in a second direction to support weight placed on the litter.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device comprising a body that defines a first surface and a second surface and defines a first, second, third and fourth lateral sides. In one embodiment, the first surface defines a first aperture and a second aperture. In one embodiment, the thickness of the body along the first lateral side is greater than the thickness of the body along the third lateral side such that the first surface slopes downwards from the first lateral side towards the third lateral side. The device not only reduces the pressure on the tailbone or on the hemorrhoids for a person in a seated position, but also reduces the discomfort or pain associated with settling into a seated position or emerging from a seated position.

Abstract: A therapeutic support device includes a bladder having one or more independently inflatable compartments, each including a plurality of inflatable cells. When inflated, each inflatable cell forms a contact node that may support a user or another object disposed thereon. The inflatable compartments can be alternately inflated and deflated such that contact pressure can be applied to and relieved from corresponding portions of the user's body in an alternating manner.

Abstract: An adjustable side rail assembly includes a side rail and an actuation assembly. The side rail is rotatable between a storage position and a use position. The actuation assembly includes an inner member, an outer member, and a locking assembly. The outer member is coupled to the side rail and is rotatable relative to the inner member between first and second rotational orientations for rotating the side rail between the storage and use positions, respectively. The locking assembly is transitional between a locked condition, wherein the locking assembly engages both the inner and outer members to fix the inner and outer members in the first or second rotational orientation, and an unlocked condition, wherein the locking assembly is disengaged from the inner and/or outer member to permit rotation of the outer member relative to the inner member between the first and second rotational orientations.

Abstract: Efficient systems and methods for inflating, deflating, or simultaneously inflating and deflating air mattress chambers using various pump and pump housing configurations are provided. Examples of the various pump and pump housing configurations include: boundary-layer pumps having single disk array or multiple disk array layouts, different disk geometries, different pressure recovery chamber geometries, adjustable components for switching between filling and powered dumping operations, and reversible and non-reversible motors; and pump housings having one or more dump channels for manifold-driven powered dumping, multiple sides or stages for pressure and/or flow compounding, various manifold chamber configurations for robust connectivity with air mattresses having multiple chambers, and various valve configurations for flexible control over filling, powered dumping, and simultaneous filling and powered dumping operations.

Abstract: A bedding product, such as a mattress, mattress topper, or pillow case, includes a flexible gel panel having a cured gel layer with a top surface and a bottom surface, a flexible top layer overlying the top surface of the cured gel layer, and a fabric bottom layer overlying the bottom surface of the cured gel layer. The bedding product has a major surface and the flexible gel panel is integrated into the bedding product so that the flexible top layer of the flexible gel panel is juxtaposed with the major surface of the bedding product. The flexible gel panel is removable from the bedding product for laundering the bedding product.