Abstract: A transfer device is provided for transferring a patient from a first support surface to an adjacent second support surface. The device includes a plurality of elongated side-by-side first bladders arranged to be placed under the patient on the first support surface and a rolling sheet to be disposed between the patient and the bladders. The bladders being separately and sequentially inflatable to tilt and move the patient transversely.

Abstract: A hand-held pendant operating as a telephone and a controller of one or more functions of a patient-support apparatus is disclosed. The hand-held pendant has a complementary holster which mounts in the siderail of the patient-support apparatus and serves to retain the hand-held pendant. The hand-held pendant has two sides, one functioning as a telephone and the other as a controller for one or more functions of a patient-support apparatus.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame, a wheel movable relative to the frame between a first position engaging the floor and a second position spaced from the floor, a drive assembly coupled to the wheel and operable to drive the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along the floor, a controller associated with the drive assembly, a push handle coupled to the frame, a control coupled to the push handle and movable to provide a signal to the controller via at least one wire routed from the control through the push handle.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a base, a frame coupled to the base, and a deck coupled to the frame. The frame includes a storage portion. The deck includes a head section, a seat section and first and second laterally spaced apart outer leg support sections adjacent the seat section. The seat section and the first and second outer leg support sections being configured to define a central opening therebetween. The apparatus also includes a removable center leg support configured for movement between a first position located within the central opening and coupled to the deck to provide a portion of the deck and a second storage position detached from the deck and located in the storage portion of the frame and below the deck.

Abstract: A surgical table includes a patient support deck includes a central section and at least one side section movably coupled to the central section. The at least one side section is movable between a first position substantially coplanar with the central section and a second position extending upwardly relative to the central section to inhibit lateral movement of a patient lying on the patient support deck.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame and engaging the floor, a wheel supported relative to the frame for movement between a raised position spaced above the floor and a lowered position engaging the floor, a drive assembly that is operable to drive the wheel and propel the patient support apparatus along the floor when the wheel is in the lowered position, and a foot pedal coupled to the frame and movable between a brake position in which the plurality of casters are braked and a steer position in which the plurality of casters are unbraked. The wheel is in the raised position when the foot pedal is in the brake position, and movement of the foot pedal from the brake position to the steer position results in movement of the wheel from the raised position to the lowered position.

Abstract: A surgical theater apparatus for suspending from a ceiling structural member of a hospital includes a central hub mountable to the ceiling structural member to rotate about a rotation axis. The hub has a pivot axis spaced apart from the rotation axis. First and second devices, such as surgical lights, a cameras, and monitors, are mounted to a first end of a first device arm and a first end of a second device arm, respectively. A second end of the first device arm is mounted to the hub for movement about the rotation axis and about the pivot axis. A second end of the second device arm is mounted to the hub for movement about the rotation axis. The pivot axis and the rotation axis are parallel.

Abstract: An epidural patient support includes an upper body support and a foot support. The upper body support extends outwardly from the patient support to support a patient's upper body with the patient's back arched forwardly. The foot support extends outwardly from the patient support to support the patient's feet. According to another illustrative embodiment, an epidural patient support is provided for placing a patient in a prone position for an epidural procedure with the patient's back arched upwardly.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame and a deck carried on the frame. The deck includes longitudinally-spaced apart and transversely-extending back, seat, thigh and foot sections, with at least the back, thigh and foot sections articulated relative to the frame. A back section drive is coupled to the back section to raise and lower the back section. A thigh section drive coupled to the back section and the thigh section to initially raise and then lower the thigh section as the back section is raised.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a patient transfer device includes an elongated foam pad having a fluid impervious enclosure. The foam pad is configured to be placed under the patient on a first support surface, and extends along at least a portion of the patient's body. The foam pad defines a fluid chamber to receive fluid under pressure. The fluid chamber has a bottom wall facing the first support surface, and including perforations for expelling fluid against the first support surface to provide a fluid bearing to facilitate moving the foam pad and the patient supported thereon from the first support surface to an adjacent second support surface.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a base, a frame coupled to the base, and a deck coupled to the frame. The frame includes a storage portion. The deck includes a head section, a seat section and first and second laterally spaced apart outer leg support sections adjacent the seat section. The seat section and the first and second outer leg support sections being configured to define a central opening therebetween. The apparatus also includes a removable center leg support configured for movement between a first position located within the central opening and coupled to the deck to provide a portion of the deck and a second storage position detached from the deck and located in the storage portion of the frame and below the deck.

Abstract: A patient-support apparatus comprises a lower frame having a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side. The patient-support apparatus also has an upper frame supported above the lower frame and movable relative to the lower frame. A plurality of casters are coupled to the lower frame. A mattress is carried by the upper frame. Elevation adjustment pedals are adjacent both of the first and second sides of the lower frame and are adjacent only one of the first and second ends of the lower frame. The elevation adjustment pedals are movable to change the elevation of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to be located on a frame of a patient support, the frame having a top surface configured to support a patient, the top surface having a length dimension and a width dimension. The apparatus includes an overlay positioned over the frame of the patient support, the overlay having an upper surface to support the patient and a lower surface configured to abut the top surface of the patient support. The overlay has a width dimension greater than the width dimension of the top surface. A retainer maintains the overlay in a desired position on the frame.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a patient transfer device includes an elongated foam pad having a fluid impervious enclosure. The foam pad is configured to be placed under the patient on a first support surface, and extends along at least a portion of the patient's body. The foam pad defines a fluid chamber to receive fluid under pressure. The fluid chamber has a bottom wall facing the first support surface, and including perforations for expelling fluid against the first support surface to provide a fluid bearing to facilitate moving the foam pad and the patient supported thereon from the first support surface to an adjacent second support surface.

Abstract: A stretcher includes a brake mechanism and a steer mechanism operated by side actuator pedals and a brake-actuating bar and a wheel-actuating bar. The brake-actuating bar, wheel-actuating bar, and side actuator pedals are connected such that movement is coordinated.

Abstract: A patient-support apparatus, such as a surgical table, includes a longitudinally-extending base supported on a floor and a longitudinally-extending deck supported above the base by first and second lift assemblies. The deck is articulatable to support a patient in selected positions. The lift assemblies are extendible in a vertical direction. The base is extendible in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: According to an aspect of this disclosure, a surgical table is convertible from a general-purpose surgical table to an orthopedic surgical table. The surgical table includes a base module and a number of modular attachments that couple to the base module to configure the surgical table for various types of orthopedic surgery.

Abstract: A hospital stretcher includes a patient support deck having an upwardly-facing patient support surface, and at least one sideframe adjacent to a first side of the stretcher, and movable between (i) a first raised position where the top of the at least one sideframe is generally disposed above the patient support surface at a first adult patient-restraining height, (ii) a second fully-raised position where the top of the at least one sideframe is generally disposed above the patient support surface at a second pediatric patient-restraining height greater than the first adult patient-restraining height, and (iii) a third out-of-the-way down position where the top of the at least one sideframe is generally disposed below the patient support surface. Sideframe locking mechanisms are provided for selectively locking the at least one sideframe in the first adult patient-restraining raised position and the second pediatric patient-restraining fully-raised position.

Abstract: A patient-support apparatus comprises a lower frame having a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side. The patient-support apparatus also has an upper frame supported above the lower frame and movable relative to the lower frame. A plurality of casters are coupled to the lower frame. A mattress is carried by the upper frame. Elevation adjustment pedals are adjacent both of the first and second sides of the lower frame and are adjacent only one of the first and second ends of the lower frame. The elevation adjustment pedals are movable to change the elevation of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.

Abstract: An epidural patient support includes an upper body support and a foot support. The upper body support extends outwardly from the patient support to support a patient's upper body with the patient's back arched forwardly. The foot support extends outwardly from the patient support to support the patient's feet. According to another illustrative embodiment, an epidural patient support is provided for placing a patient in a prone position for an epidural procedure with the patient's back arched upwardly.