A patient transport apparatus is provided for use with a retainer of a transport vehicle. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure comprising a patient support surface to support a patient. An engagement member is coupled to the support structure and arranged to engage the retainer when unloading the patient transport apparatus from the transport vehicle. A dampener is operable in a standby state or a resistance state such that the dampener provides increased resistance to movement of the patient transport apparatus in the resistance state as compared to the standby state. The resistance state of the dampener is activated by manually moving the patient transport apparatus in a first direction and the standby state is activated by manually moving the patient transport apparatus in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

A patient transport apparatus includes a height-adjustable assembly having a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes a brake cable. The brake cable includes an elongate portion extending along the height-adjustable assembly and includes a slack portion. The apparatus includes a brake cable housing coupled to and axially offset from the height-adjustable assembly. The slack portion of the brake cable is enclosed within a hollow interior of the brake cable housing.

A patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure. The support structure comprises a base, a frame, and a patient support surface to support a patient. The patient transport apparatus also includes a first and a second caster assembly respectively coupled to the support structure to facilitate movement of the support structure along a floor surface, with the first caster assembly comprising a first brake assembly and the second caster assembly comprising a second brake assembly. The patient transport apparatus also includes an actuator assembly operatively coupling the first and second brake assemblies, with the actuator assembly comprising a first and second actuator respectively operatively coupled to the first and second brake assemblies. The actuator assembly further comprises a cable assembly interconnecting the first and second actuator that places the operatively coupled first and second brake assemblies in the braked state or the unbraked state.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface and includes a support structure and a plurality of support wheels coupled to the support structure. The patient transport apparatus also includes a user interface including at least two handles coupled to the support structure, with each of the handles movable between a stowed position and non-stowed position. The patient transport apparatus also includes a user input device coupled to the user interface, and a controller coupled to the user interface. The controller is configured to electronically coordinate the movement of the handles to the stowed position upon actuation of the user input device.

A patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure. The support structure comprises a base, a frame, and a patient support surface to support a patient. The patient transport apparatus also includes a first and a second caster assembly respectively coupled to the support structure to facilitate movement of the support structure along a floor surface, with the first caster assembly comprising a first brake assembly and the second caster assembly comprising a second brake assembly. The patient transport apparatus also includes an actuator assembly operatively coupling the first and second brake assemblies, with the actuator assembly comprising a first and second actuator respectively operatively coupled to the first and second brake assemblies. The actuator assembly further comprises a cable assembly interconnecting the first and second actuator that places the operatively coupled first and second brake assemblies in the braked state or the unbraked state.

A patient support apparatus includes a base having a length and including a plurality of caster wheels enabling movement of the patient support apparatus across a floor surface. An auxiliary wheel support structure is secured to the base and rotatably supports at least one non-castered auxiliary wheel. A drive mechanism including a motor may be configured to drive the auxiliary wheel. A braking system including at least one brake member may be configured to apply a braking force to decelerate the auxiliary wheel and is movable between a first position wherein the at least one brake member is disengaged from the auxiliary wheel and a deployed position wherein the at least one brake member is frictionally engaged with the auxiliary wheel to restrict rotation of the auxiliary wheel. The braking system may be configured to synchronize the braking forces applied to first and second auxiliary wheels.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support structure to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the floor surface to assist users. An actuator is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheel and operable to move the auxiliary wheel relative to the support structure from a retracted position to a deployed position. A user interface sensor is operatively connected to the actuator and configured to generate signals responsive to the user touching the user interface. A controller is operatively coupled to the user interface sensor and the actuator to operate the actuator in response to detection of signals.

A system for loading/unloading (100) an ambulance patient transport equipment (50) onto/from a loading surface (L) of an ambulance (V), wherein the system (100) comprises: a loading/unloading apparatus (60) of a patient transport equipment (50) associable with the loading surface (L), wherein the loading/unloading apparatus (60) comprises: at least one safety hook (611) which can be rigidly fixed to the loading surface (L); a patient transport equipment (50) comprising: an undercarriage (20) equipped with a support frame (21) and a plurality of legs (22,23) articulated to the support frame (21) and provided with rest wheels (221,231); an additional patient support device (30) configured to be mounted in a releasable manner on the undercarriage (20), wherein the additional device (30) comprises a load-bearing structure (31) to which a fixing block (315) is rigidly fixed adapted to detachably constrain the additional device (30) to the undercarriage (20); a rigid constraint body (250) rigidly fixed to the support frame (21) of the undercarriage (20) and provided, at a lower end, with a coupling body (251) configured to be detachably coupled to the safety hook (611) of the loading/unloading apparatus (60) and, at an opposite upper end thereof, with a fixing arrangement (252) configured to be detachably engaged by the fixing block (315) of the additional device (30).

A patient transport apparatus is provided for use with a retainer of a transport vehicle. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure comprising a patient support surface to support a patient. An engagement member is coupled to the support structure and arranged to engage the retainer when unloading the patient transport apparatus from the transport vehicle. A dampener is operable in a standby state or a resistance state such that the dampener provides increased resistance to movement of the patient transport apparatus in the resistance state as compared to the standby state. The resistance state of the dampener is activated by manually moving the patient transport apparatus in a first direction and the standby state is activated by manually moving the patient transport apparatus in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface and includes a support structure and a plurality of support wheels coupled to the support structure. The patient transport apparatus also includes a user interface including at least two handles coupled to the support structure, with each of the handles movable between a stowed position and non-stowed position. The patient transport apparatus also includes a user input device coupled to the user interface, and a controller coupled to the user interface. The controller is configured to electronically coordinate the movement of the handles to the stowed position upon actuation of the user input device.