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 hospital bed comprising: a frame; a plurality of extendable patient support panels mounted to the frame, each patient support panel including a central section and at least one side section selectively movable laterally towards and away from the central section; a movement transmission assembly including at least one transmission member connecting at least two of the movable side sections for laterally moving at least one of the movable side sections when another one of the movable side sections is moved.

Abstract: A hospital bed comprising: a frame; a plurality of extendable patient support panels mounted to the frame, each patient support panel including a central section and at least one side section selectively movable laterally towards and away from the central section; a movement transmission assembly including at least one transmission member connecting at least two of the movable side sections for laterally moving at least one of the movable side sections when another one of the movable side sections is moved.

Abstract: There is described a door assembly for a bathing enclosure, comprising: a frame; a rotatable panel rotatably securable to a wall; and a slidable panel slidably secured to the frame, wherein a sliding motion of the slidable panel triggers a rotation of the rotatable panel, wherein the door assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the door assembly is in the closed position, the rotatable and slidable panels are adjacent to one another and are unparallel and wherein when the door assembly is in the open position, the rotatable and slidable panels overlap one another and are parallel together.

Abstract: A siderail assembly for a bed, the bed having a patient support assembly, the siderail assembly comprising: a siderail disposed in a siderail plane; a mounting member for mounting to the patient support assembly; at least two parallel connecting arms, each connecting arm having a first end pivotably connected to the mounting member and a second end pivotably connected to the siderail, each connecting arm being adapted to pivot relative to the siderail about a first pivot axis and to pivot relative to the mounting member about a second pivot axis to allow the siderail to pivot along an arcuate path relative to the mounting member, the first and second pivot axes being parallel to each other and angled relative to the siderail plane to allow the siderail to move in a direction perpendicular to the siderail plane when pivoting.

Abstract: A hospital bed comprising: a frame; a plurality of extendable patient support panels mounted to the frame, each patient support panel including a central section and at least one side section selectively movable laterally towards and away from the central section; a movement transmission assembly including at least one transmission member connecting at least two of the movable side sections for laterally moving at least one of the movable side sections when another one of the movable side sections is moved.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a base, a patient support, and a lift mechanism wherein the lift mechanism is coupled to the patient support by at least one upper pivot connection. The upper pivot connection includes an elongated slot and a pin captured in the elongated slot to form a sliding pivot axis, with the sliding pivot axis traveling along the elongated slot when the lift mechanism raises or lowers the patient support.

Abstract: There is described a door assembly for a bathing enclosure, comprising: a frame; a rotatable panel rotatably securable to a wall; and a slidable panel slidably secured to the frame, wherein a sliding motion of the slidable panel triggers a rotation of the rotatable panel, wherein the door assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the door assembly is in the closed position, the rotatable and slidable panels are adjacent to one another and are unparallel and wherein when the door assembly is in the open position, the rotatable and slidable panels overlap one another and are parallel together.

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 patient support apparatus includes a base, a patient support, and a lift mechanism wherein the lift mechanism is coupled to the patient support by at least one upper pivot connection. The upper pivot connection includes an elongated slot and a pin captured in the elongated slot to form a sliding pivot axis, with the sliding pivot axis traveling along the elongated slot when the lift mechanism raises or lowers the patient support.

Abstract: A siderail assembly for a bed, the bed having a patient support assembly, the siderail assembly comprising: a siderail disposed in a siderail plane; a mounting member for mounting to the patient support assembly; at least two parallel connecting arms, each connecting arm having a first end pivotably connected to the mounting member and a second end pivotably connected to the siderail, each connecting arm being adapted to pivot relative to the siderail about a first pivot axis and to pivot relative to the mounting member about a second pivot axis to allow the siderail to pivot along an arcuate path relative to the mounting member, the first and second pivot axes being parallel to each other and angled relative to the siderail plane to allow the siderail to move in a direction perpendicular to the siderail plane when pivoting.

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 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.

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 patient support apparatus may include a base frame, lift arms, an intermediate frame, a deck support having three articulating sections, a brake system, various drive motors, actuators, and sensors, at least one power source, communication devices, and at least one controller, wherein the lift arms, articulating sections, drive motors, brake system, and actuators may be controlled from the at least one controller and in response to signals received by the various sensors, while storing data internally and/or sending data to a remote location.

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.

Abstract: A patient bed includes a base, a patent support supported by the base, and a control system. The patient support includes a pivotal head-end section, with the control system including an actuator to pivot the head-end section and being adapted to control the speed of the actuator and, further, to selectively increase the speed of the actuator to pivot the head-end section at a greater speed.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, or the like, includes a support deck with a head section pivotable between a generally flat orientation and a raised orientation. As the head section pivots from the flat orientation to an intermediate orientation, the pivot axis of the head section remains generally stationary. As the head section pivots from the intermediate orientation to the raised orientation, the pivot axis of the head section moves. The support deck may include an intermediate section attached to the head section wherein a foot end of the intermediate section moves linearly in a horizontal plane as the head section pivots from the intermediate orientation toward the raised orientation.

Abstract: A patient bed includes a patient support, with a headboard, a footboard, and a plurality of side rails. One or more surfaces of the side rails or of the headboard or of the footboard includes a gap and a sealing cover for sealing the gap to facilitate cleaning and disinfection of the patient bed. For example, the cover may comprise a membrane that is applied to the surface, for example, by an adhesive. The adhesive may be releasable so that the membrane may be removed for replacement or to provide access to the gap for example, where the gap is formed between a control interface that is located in the surface.