Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface, a plurality of caster wheels supporting the patient support surface on a floor or ground surface, a brake for manually braking at least one caster wheel of the plurality of caster wheels, and a handle or pedal for manually operating the brake, with the handle or pedal at least having a brake position. The patient support apparatus also includes an electrical actuator configured to couple to the brake and to selectively output a driving force and a user interface in communication with the electrical actuator. In response to input at the user interface, the electrical actuator generating the driving force to actuate the brake to thereby brake the at least one caster wheel, and wherein the driving force of the actuator moves the handle or pedal to the brake positon when the actuator actuates the manually operable brake to brake the caster wheel.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface, a manually operable brake operatively associated with the patient support surface, a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake, and an electrically powered actuator. The actuator is mechanically coupled to the manually operable brake and to the manual brake activation handle or pedal, and actuates the manually operable brake and moves the manual brake activation handle or pedal from a first position to a second portion in response to a signal at the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a deck, a plurality of side rails, a control panel, and a plurality of subsystems, such as a bed exit system that detects when a patient may exit from the support apparatus, or a lifting mechanism to raise and lower the deck. A controller is in communication with the control panel and is adapted to monitor conditions regarding the side rails and/or the other subsystems. At least one lamp is also provided on the patient support apparatus that is adapted to be illuminated in a first manner when a plurality of monitored conditions remain in a desired state, and in a second manner when at least one of the plurality of monitored conditions changes to an undesired state.

Abstract: A container comprising a pair of bars extending across opposite sidewalls; wherein each one of the opposite sidewalls comprises an opening comprising a lower corner, an upper corner and an intermediate corner between said lower and upper corners the bars are movable between: i) a lower stacking bar position in which pivot ends thereof rest in the lower corner of the opening, ii) an upper stacking bar position in which the pivot ends rest in the intermediate corner of the opening and iii) a nesting position in which the pivot ends rest in the upper corner of the opening.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame, with a barrier, and a patient support surface supported in the frame. The apparatus further includes a control system with a controller, which is incorporated into the surface or the frame, and which is in communication with at least one functional component associated with the surface or the frame for controlling or monitoring the functional component. The control system further includes a touch-screen display in communication with the controller for controlling the functional component, which is positioned in the barrier between the exterior and interior side of the barrier wherein the display is incorporated into the barrier and accessible at the exterior or interior side for access by a user.

Abstract: A grab bar comprising a body with open opposite ends and diametrically opposed apertures close to the open ends; and a cap supporting a central leg supporting flexible side legs, each side leg comprising a protrusion at a free extremity thereof and being adapted to flex inwards toward the central leg as the central leg is inserted within the body from the open end thereof until the protrusions engage a respective the apertures in the body and emerge out of the outer surface of the body, and the cap is generally flush with an edge of the open end of the body; and the side legs being adapted to flex inwards toward the central leg as the protrusions are pushed toward the central leg thereby disengaging the protrusions from the apertures in the body and allowing the cap to be pulled out from the open end of the body.

Abstract: A container comprising a first and a second pairs of opposite sidewalls extending from a base to a lip , the lip running around the perimeter of the container and delimiting an upper collar having a height from the lip to an upper rim of the container; a pair of bars extending across the first pair of opposite sidewalls; wherein each one of the first pair of opposite sidewalls comprises an outer wall and an inner wall separated by a recess; the inner wall comprising an upper supporting surface, a lower supporting surface and a nesting surface; the outer wall comprises a first opening located below the lip, and a second opening located between the upper rim of the container and the lip; pivot ends of each bar being received in opposite second openings; the bars being movable between: i) a lower stacking bar position, ii) an upper stacking bar position and iii) a nesting position.

Abstract: A grab bar comprising a body with open opposite ends and diametrically opposed apertures close to the open ends; and a cap supporting a central leg supporting flexible side legs, each side leg comprising a protrusion at a free extremity thereof and being adapted to flex inwards toward the central leg as the central leg is inserted within the body from the open end thereof until the protrusions engage a respective the apertures in the body and emerge out of the outer surface of the body, and the cap is generally flush with an edge of the open end of the body; and the side legs being adapted to flex inwards toward the central leg as the protrusions are pushed toward the central leg thereby disengaging the protrusions from the apertures in the body and allowing the cap to be pulled out from the open end of the body.

Abstract: A patient support for supporting a patient includes an inflatable mattress having at least one bladder forming at least part of a patient support surface, a pneumatic system for inflating the inflatable mattress, and a control system. The control system including at least one sensor, which includes an emitter and a receiver, with the emitter directing light into the bladder. The receiver receives a reflection from the light directed into the bladder, and the control system detects the immersion of a patient into the mattress based on the reflection received by the receiver.

Abstract: A patient support for supporting a patient includes an inflatable mattress defining a support surface and a pneumatic system for inflating the inflatable mattress. The pneumatic system includes a pressurized reservoir for holding pressurized air and selectively releases pressurized air from the reservoir to the mattress.

Abstract: A patient support for a patient includes a mattress with at least one air operated component and a cushioning layer forming a patient support surface. The mattress has a recessed portion beneath the patient support surface at the foot end of the mattress with an enclosure housed in the recess. The enclosure houses therein at least one pump for directing air to the air operated component and a controller for operating the pump. The enclosure has a central section and two side sections, with each of the sections having an upper side. The side sections are located on opposed sides of the central section and at opposed sides of the mattress at the foot end. The upper side of the central section is recessed below the upper sides of the side sections wherein the depth of the cushioning layer at the foot end between the side sections is maintained generally constant at least along the central portion of the mattress extending from the head end to the foot end.

Abstract: A patient support for supporting a patient includes an inflatable mattress having at least one bladder forming at least part of a patient support surface, a pneumatic system for inflating the inflatable mattress, and a control system. The control system including at least one sensor, which includes an emitter and a receiver, with the emitter directing light into the bladder. The receiver receives a reflection from the light directed into the bladder, and the control system detects the immersion of a patient into the mattress based on the reflection received by the receiver.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface, a manually operable brake operatively associated with the patient support surface, a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake, and an electrically powered actuator. The actuator is mechanically coupled to the manually operable brake and to the manual brake activation handle or pedal, and actuates the manually operable brake and moves the manual brake activation handle or pedal from a first position to a second portion in response to a signal at the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A method of actuating a manually operable brake on a caster wheel of a patient support apparatus to stop motion of the apparatus includes electrically coupling the control system of the patient support to an actuator at the patient support, generating actuating signals with the control system based on input at the patient support apparatus, transmitting the actuating signals to the actuator to thereby actuate the actuator to output a driving force, and mechanically coupling the driving force of the actuator with the manually operable brake to thereby actuate the manually operable brake and thereby brake the caster wheels.