Abstract: A stretcher with an X-ray transparent heated section to inhibit patient hypothermia and facilitate X-raying the patient without having to move the patient off the stretcher. The heated section of the stretcher includes an electrically conductive layer including a sheet of electrically conducting and radiolucent material, e.g. a sheet of carbon-loaded silicone. The sheet of electrically conducting material extends continuously over a two-dimensional region of the stretcher that supports the patient's shoulders back and buttocks (but not the head). The sheet of electrically conducting material lacks wires or other linear elements and so avoid X-ray artefacts and also local heating that can be associated with linear conductive elements. Some implementations of the stretcher can regulate the temperature of the sheet in a way that compensates for a temperature gradient across the sheet.

Abstract: A stretcher with a heated section, the heated section of the stretcher comprising: two opposing electrically conductive elements positioned at, or towards, opposing sides of the stretcher, wherein the opposing electrically conductive elements are connectable to a power source; an electrically conductive layer in electrical contact with the opposing electrically conductive elements, to heat up when the opposing electrically conductive elements are powered by the power source; such that the electrically conductive layer is X-ray transparent to allow a patient to be X-rayed whilst on the stretcher.

Abstract: A stretcher with a heated section, the heated section of the stretcher comprising: two opposing electrically conductive elements positioned at, or towards, opposing sides of the stretcher, wherein the opposing electrically conductive elements are connectable to a power source; an electrically conductive layer in electrical contact with the opposing electrically conductive elements, to heat up when the opposing electrically conductive elements are powered by the power source; such that the electrically conductive layer is X-ray transparent to allow a patient to be X-rayed whilst on the stretcher.