Abstract: A medical chair comprising a base having one wheel having a brake; and a manual braking mechanism for selectively actuating the brake at the wheel; and a control system operable to control the brake in response to a signal or lack of signal at the chair. Further, the control system includes an actuator, which is coupled to the manual braking mechanism to move the manual braking mechanism to a braking or unbraking position. For example, the actuator may comprise a solenoid, the solenoid being coupled to the manual braking mechanism.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a base, a litter frame, and an elevation mechanism interconnecting the base to the litter frame and being configured to effect changes in elevation of the litter frame relative to the base. The elevation mechanism includes a pair of hydraulic actuators, each actuator covered by a telescoping shroud. The telescoping shroud is connected to the base and to the litter frame by a number of biased catches. The litter frame includes a pair of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending support rails and a plurality of laterally extending support rails interconnecting the longitudinally extending support rails so that the litter frame has a rectangular configuration. The litter frame includes a thigh section configured to be raised and lowered by use of one of a manually pumped hydraulic actuator or a gas-spring assisted lever actuator.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus having a base, a litter frame, an elevation mechanism interconnecting the base to the litter frame and being configured to effect changes in elevation of the litter frame relative to the base. The litter frame includes a pair of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending support rails and a plurality of laterally extending support rails interconnecting the longitudinally extending support rails so that the litter frame has a rectangular configuration. Selected ones of the laterally extending support rails are mounted to the elevation mechanism.

Abstract: A muzzle loading firearm projectile is disclosed that is composed of a multi diameter, hollow base solid copper bullet, the rear cavity filled with a material of low-density, and a gas pressure seal that separates the bullet from the powder charge. The majority of the bullet shank has a diameter less than the bore diameter of the firearm barrel to allow for ease of loading and alignment of the barrel and bullet axis; a narrow ring of material larger than the barrel bore diameter but less than the groove diameter is located at the junction of the bullet shank and nose profile that centers the bullet in the barrel and positively positions the bullet over the powder charge regardless of orientation of the firearm. The low-density material filling the rear cavity of the bullet acts as an expansion medium when impacted by the rear gas seal during the firing process causing the hollow shank of the bullet to expand and lock into the barrel rifling.

Abstract: A muzzle loading firearm projectile is disclosed that is composed of a multi diameter, hollow base solid copper bullet, the rear cavity filled with a material of low-density, and a gas pressure seal that separates the bullet from the powder charge. The majority of the bullet shank has a diameter less than the bore diameter of the firearm barrel to allow for ease of loading and alignment of the barrel and bullet axis; a narrow ring of material larger than the barrel bore diameter but less than the groove diameter is located at the junction of the bullet shank and nose profile that centers the bullet in the barrel and positively positions the bullet over the powder charge regardless of orientation of the firearm. The low-density material filling the rear cavity of the bullet acts as an expansion medium when impacted by the rear gas seal during the firing process causing the hollow shank of the bullet to expand and lock into the barrel rifling.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus having a base, a litter frame, an elevation mechanism interconnecting the base to the litter frame and being configured to effect changes in elevation of the litter frame relative to the base. The litter frame includes a pair of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending support rails and a plurality of laterally extending support rails interconnecting the longitudinally extending support rails so that the litter frame has a rectangular configuration. Selected ones of the laterally extending support rails are mounted to the elevation mechanism.

Abstract: A wheeled carriage having a patient support deck elevatable by a pair of hydraulic jacks controlled by a foot pedal arrangement. Brakes are provided for the wheels on the wheeled carriage activatable by additional foot pedals.

Abstract: A wheeled carriage having a patient support deck elevatable by a pair of hydraulic jacks controlled by a foot pedal arrangement. Brakes are provided for the wheels on the wheeled carriage activatable by additional foot pedals.

Abstract: A wheeled carriage having a patient support deck elevatable by a pair of hydraulic jacks controlled by a foot pedal arrangement. Brakes are provided for the wheels on the wheeled carriage activatable by additional foot pedals.

Abstract: A wheeled carriage for supporting a patient includes a patient support with head and foot ends and a wheeled base supported by castered wheels. An auxiliary wheel assembly is secured to the wheeled base and includes a rotatable support shaft with an axis and a drive pin locked in a keyed surface of the support shaft. A wheel stowing spring is located at an end of the rotatable support shaft to continually urge an auxiliary wheel mounted at one end of an auxiliary wheel support bracket to a stowed position. The auxiliary wheel support bracket is rotatably connected to the support shaft at an opposing end and has a stop mounted thereon. An auxiliary wheel support spring continually urges the auxiliary wheel support bracket in a first direction about the axis of the support shaft so that the stop on the auxiliary wheel support bracket engages a stop element integral with the drive pin. This arrangement maintains the support spring in a pretensioned state.

Abstract: A wheeled carriage having a patient support deck elevatable by a pair of hydraulic jacks controlled by a foot pedal arrangement. Brakes are provided for the wheels on the wheeled carriage activatable by additional foot pedals.

Abstract: A headpiece for providing support to the head of a patient includes neck and head support plates. The neck support plate is pivotally attached to a surgical table and is pivotal about a neck support plate axis. A head support plate is pivotally attached to the neck support plate and is pivotal with respect to the neck support plate about a head support plate axis. A first lever is pivotally attached to the head support plate. A first locking mechanism moves between locked and released positions when the first lever pivots. The head support plate can pivot with respect to the neck support plate when the first locking mechanism is in the released position. A second lever includes a first arm pivotally attached to the head support plate and configured to pivot about a second axis and a second arm pivotally attached to the neck support plate and configured to pivot about a third axis. The first arm pivots with respect to the second arm in response to pivoting of the head support plate.

Abstract: A patient support having a frame supporting a patient supporting surface as well as supporting a pair of foot rest mechanisms thereon. The pair of foot rest mechanisms are each selectively movable from stowed positions beneath the patient supporting surface to deployed positions thereof which straddle a drop leaf foot section forming a part of the patient supporting surface. As the drop-leaf foot section is moved to a vertically upright position, a space between the two foot rest mechanisms is available for physician use. Further, as the drop leaf foot section is moved in the vertically upright position toward the floor, a mechanism is provided for preventing contact of the foot end of the drop leaf foot section with the floor.

Abstract: A side rail assembly for a wheeled carriage includes side rail posts secured by a support structure including bushings having inner flat sides that expand outwardly to adjust for variations in the tolerance of the side rail posts and snugly secure the side rail posts to the support structure. Such variations can be caused by a finished surface applied to the entire outer circumference of the side rail posts and the support structure to improve the appearance thereof. The support structure enables curved side rail posts to rotate about their axis at lower ends thereof.

Abstract: A noise suppressor device for absorbing pulsating fluids is disclosed. A noise suppressor device has a housing which defines an axially extending bore. A resilient bladder is coaxially positioned in the bore. A spool assembly is coaxially positioned within the bladder. The spool assembly has an inner spool layer and an outer spool layer which coaxially surrounds the inner spool layer. The inner spool layer and outer spool layers each define a plurality of perforations extending therethrough. The perforations in the outer spool layer are offset from the perforations in the inner spool layer such that a direct line of sight through the first perforations and second perforations is prevented.

Abstract: A telescoping IV pole has a bottom pole with a support at a bottom end thereof for facilitating an orienting of said bottom pole in an upright, vertically oriented position. A top pole is provided which is slidably disposed within the bottom pole in a telescoping manner. The top pole has at a top end thereof an intravenous fluid container support and at a bottom end thereof a circumferential locking groove. A pole latch is provided for automatically effecting an interlock with the locking groove when the top pole is deployed to an extended position outside of the bottom pole. The pole latch includes plural latch members each being supported for movement into and out of the locking groove. A spring is provided for urging the latch members into the locking groove. A manually operable unlocking device is provided for effecting a simultaneous release of the interlock so that the top pole will telescope into the bottom pole.

Abstract: A noise suppressor device for absorbing pulsating fluids is disclosed. A noise suppressor device has a housing which defines an axially extending bore. A resilient bladder is coaxially positioned in the bore. A spool assembly is coaxially positioned within the bladder. The spool assembly has an inner spool layer and an outer spool layer which coaxially surrounds the inner spool layer. The inner spool layer and outer spool layers each define a plurality of perforations extending therethrough. The perforations in the outer spool layer are offset from the perforations in the inner spool layer such that a direct line of sight through the first perforations and second perforations is prevented.

Abstract: A noise suppressor device for absorbing and dampening the noise of pulsating fluids is disclosed. The noise suppressor device has a housing which defines an axially extending bore. A resilient bladder is coaxially positioned in the bore. A spool assembly is coaxially positioned within the bladder. The spool assembly has a spool layer and a sleeve layer which coaxially surrounds the inner spool layer. The spool layer and the sleeve layer define a tortuous path for fluid to flow through from the axial bore to the bladder.

Abstract: An improved hose fitting is disclosed. The hose fitting has a body member with a coupling nut at one end. A socket member surrounds the body member and together they define an opening for receiving a hose. A plurality of projections extend inwardly from the interior surface of the socket member. Each projection includes an inner side or surface, an outer side or surface and a tip surface connecting the inner surface and the outer surface. The tip surface extends a distance "x" from the interior surface of the socket member. An enlarged radius defines a circular outer surface on each projection. The radius is between 0.5x and 1.3x and is preferably approximately "x".