Abstract: In the embodiments described herein, the person lifting device automatically determines if an accessory, such as a sling, is properly connected to a sling bar of the person lifting device and, if the accessory is not properly connected, the person lifting device provides a user with a visual and/or audible warning and, in some embodiments, may lock-out the actuation controls of the person lifting device to prevent the person lifting device from being used.

Abstract: A user module for a patient support apparatus is provided. The user module has a user interface operably coupled thereto. The user interface includes an input device and an output device. The output device includes a visual display including textual and non-textual elements. The non-textual elements include enhanced, graphical, and animated portions relating to one or more operational features of the patient support or to a person positionable on the patient support. The input device includes one or more touch sensors corresponding to defined regions of the visual display.

Abstract: A user module for a patient support apparatus is provided. The user module has a user interface operably coupled thereto. The user interface includes an input device and an output device. The output device includes a visual display including textual and non-textual elements. The non-textual elements include enhanced, graphical, and animated portions relating to one or more operational features of the patient support or to a person positionable on the patient support. The input device includes one or more touch sensors corresponding to defined regions of the visual display.

Abstract: A user module for a patient support apparatus is provided. The user module has a user interface operably coupled thereto. The user interface includes an input device and an output device. The output device includes a visual display including textual and non-textual elements. The non-textual elements include enhanced, graphical, and animated portions relating to one or more operational features of the patient support or to a person positionable on the patient support. The input device includes one or more touch sensors corresponding to defined regions of the visual display.

Abstract: A system includes a patient support apparatus that has one or more therapies. The therapies are optionally available depending on the acuity of the patient. A request for enablement of a therapy is transferred to a service provider for approval and, when approved, the therapy is enabled by the service provider. The patient support apparatus may be in communication with a server that is in communication with multiple patient support apparatuses so that the server is operable to selectively enable therapies on various patient support apparatuses.

Abstract: A user module for a patient support apparatus is provided. The user module has a user interface operably coupled thereto. The user interface includes an input device and an output device. The output device includes a visual display including textual and non-textual elements. The non-textual elements include enhanced, graphical, and animated portions relating to one or more operational features of the patient support or to a person positionable on the patient support. The input device includes one or more touch sensors corresponding to defined regions of the visual display.

Abstract: A pendant controller for a patient bed includes a housing sized to be held in a user's hand and a liquid crystal display carried by the housing and viewable by the user. The pendant controller has a set of manual buttons carried by the housing adjacent the LCD. The set of manual buttons is arranged in a row and the buttons are n in number, with n being an integer greater than 1. The pendant controller further includes control circuitry situated in the housing and configured to drive the LCD to display a table that is m columns wide, with m being equal to n. The table contains indicia with each indicia corresponding to a function associated with a respective one of the manual buttons.

Abstract: A patient care equipment support is transferable between a first device having a first spherical socket and a second device having a second spherical socket. The equipment support comprises an equipment supporting portion configured to support patient care equipment and a coupler extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion. The coupler has first and second spherical portions configured for receipt in the first and second spherical sockets, respectively. The first and second spherical portions are rotatable within the respective first and second spherical sockets about a multitude of axes to compensate for misalignment between the coupler and at least one of the first and second spherical sockets during transfer of the equipment support between the first and second devices.

Abstract: A user module for a patient support apparatus is provided. The user module has a user interface operably coupled thereto. The user interface includes an input device and an output device. The output device includes a visual display including textual and non-textual elements. The non-textual elements include enhanced, graphical, and animated portions relating to one or more operational features of the patient support or to a person positionable on the patient support. The input device includes one or more touch sensors corresponding to defined regions of the visual display.

Abstract: A patient care equipment support is transferable between a first device having a first spherical socket and a second device having a second spherical socket. The equipment support comprises an equipment supporting portion configured to support patient care equipment and a coupler extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion. The coupler has first and second spherical portions configured for receipt in the first and second spherical sockets, respectively. The first and second spherical portions are rotatable within the respective first and second spherical sockets about a multitude of axes to compensate for misalignment between the coupler and at least one of the first and second spherical sockets during transfer of the equipment support between the first and second devices.

Abstract: A laser imaging system having a diode laser for producing a laser beam; a beamsplitter for splitting the laser beam into a laser writing portion and a feedback portion; a photodetector for detecting the feedback portion; a photodetector amplifier for amplifying the output of the photodetector; a sample and hold coupled to the photodetector amplifier; an integrator adder; an integrator for integrating the outputs of the photodetector amplifier and the sample and hold processed by the integrator adder; and a laser input circuit including a laser amplifier, a linear power signal provider, a threshold power signal provider, and a laser input adder for adding the laser power signal, the linear power signal, and the output of the integrator.