This nursing bed has a fixed member forming a fixed bed surface of a bed portion on which a care receiver lies, a movable member which can be moved relative to the fixed member and forms a movable bed surface of the bed portion, and a movable member driving unit for driving the movable member. The fixed member has a plurality of slender parts each extending in the lateral direction or the longitudinal direction. The movable member has a mobile body which can be protruded upward relative to the fixed bed surface and also moved in at least one of the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction via an interval between the plurality of slender parts by the movable member driving unit. The posture of the care receiver lying on the bed can be changed into his/her optimal position without difficulty.

A braking system for a patient support apparatus includes a caster wheel assembly. The caster wheel assembly includes a caster wheel and manually operable brake operable to brake the caster wheel. The caster wheel assembly further includes a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake to move between three positions, wherein said three positions include a braking position, an un-braked position, and a steer lock position. The braking system further includes an electrically powered actuator mechanically coupled to the manual brake activation handle or pedal and to the manually operable brake. When powered, the electrically powered actuator is operable to move the manually operable brake and to move the manual brake activation handle or pedal between two or more of the three positions to thereby manually operate the caster wheel in a braking mode, an un-braked mode, or a steer lock mode. And, when the actuator is unpowered, the manual brake activation handle or pedal is operable to be manually moved between two or more of the three positions to thereby manually operate the caster wheel in the braking mode, the un-braked mode, or the steer lock mode.

A braking system for a patient support apparatus includes a caster wheel assembly. The caster wheel assembly includes a caster wheel and manually operable brake operable to brake the caster wheel. The caster wheel assembly further includes a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake to move between three positions, wherein said three positions include a braking position, an un-braked position, and a steer lock position. The braking system further includes an electrically powered actuator mechanically coupled to the manual brake activation handle or pedal and to the manually operable brake. When powered, the electrically powered actuator is operable to move the manually operable brake and to move the manual brake activation handle or pedal between two or more of the three positions to thereby manually operate the caster wheel in a braking mode, an un-braked mode, or a steer lock mode. And, when the actuator is unpowered, the manual brake activation handle or pedal is operable to be manually moved between two or more of the three positions to thereby manually operate the caster wheel in the braking mode, the un-braked mode, or the steer lock mode.

An adjustable bed having a mattress support platform and a fixed frame base with wheels. A lift mechanism interconnects the mattress support platform and the fixed frame base to displace the mattress support platform between a fully collapsed position and a fully elevated position. The lift mechanism includes leg members pivotally connected with the fixed frame base and with the mattress support platform. A force multiplying actuating linkage interconnects an actuator and the fixed frame base. The actuating linkage includes a driving link and an intermediate link. The driving link has a first end pivotally mounted to the fixed frame base and a second end pivotally connected to the actuator. The intermediate link is pivotally connected to the driving link, and is pivotally engaged with one of the leg members and a stabilizing link. The stabilizing link interconnects one of the leg members and the fixed frame base.

An adjustable bed is described that includes a main frame having a mattress support platform mounted thereon, wheels mounted to the main frame for displacement of the adjustable bed, and a lift mechanism supporting the main frame and actuable to displace same between a fully collapsed position and a fully elevated position. The lift mechanism includes two or more leg members each having a first end pivotally connected with a corresponding one of the wheels at a lower pivot and a second end pivotally connected with the main frame at a movable upper pivot. A stabilizer link has an upper end pivotally connected with the main frame and a lower end pivotally connected with each the leg member at an intermediate pivot point. An actuating assembly includes at least one actuator having a force multiplying actuating linkage interconnecting the actuator and the stabilizer link.

The sleeping-posture-control bed system includes a bed floor including a back-lifting portion for lifting the user's back, a bed-floor support body supporting the bed floor, and a back-lifting driver for lifting the head side of the back-lifting portion. The back-lifting portion includes a back-receiving surface and a head-receiving surface tiltable at different angles. The back-lifting driver lifts the back-receiving surface and the head-receiving surface, satisfying Mathematical Formula (1):
0°<θx≦70°,−45°≦θy<0°, and −30°≦θx+θy  (1) where θx is the tilt angle of the back-receiving surface when tilted, and the tilt angle of the back-receiving surface when the back-receiving surface is not lifted is set to be 0°; and θy is the tilt angle of the head-receiving surface when the angle of an extended line of the back-receiving surface at the tilt angle θx is referred to as 0°.

A system for changing the width of a person support apparatus includes a bed controller for receiving a command signal indicating a command for width alteration, a first motor controlled by the bed controller for driving an extension of a first deck section of the support apparatus thereby altering the width of the first deck section, and a second motor controlled by the bed controller for driving an extension of a second deck section of the support apparatus thereby altering the width of the second deck section. The bed controller controls the first motor and the second motor in a manner that causes the first deck section to reach a first deck section width alteration limit at a first time and the second deck section to reach a second deck section width alteration limit at a second time, wherein the first time and the second time are not equal.

A medical chair having a plurality of adjustable positions includes a seat, a platform configured to support the seat, and a pillar. The pillar includes nested supports, in which a first one of the supports is fixedly coupled to the platform and a second one of the supports is operatively coupled to the seat, wherein the nested supports extend telescopically as the seat is positioned with respect to the platform. A linked cable carrier is located within a housing, wherein the housing extends from the base toward the seat and is disposed adjacently to the pillar. A leg rest and a back are each pivotably coupled to seat. A seat position actuator is centrally located on the seat and a leg rest actuator and a back actuator are located on opposite sides of the seat position actuator.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure comprising a base, a patient support surface, and a reference sensor arranged to sense inclination of the support structure. A drive system is coupled to the support structure and operable to propel the patient transport apparatus. A handle assembly is operable by a user to control operation of the drive system. The handle assembly comprises a handle movable relative to the base and a position sensor arranged to sense positioning of the handle. A controller is coupled to the reference sensor and the position sensor, and is adapted to control the drive system in response to signals received from the reference sensor and the position sensor.

Apparatus and methods related to an underbody support for supporting a body of a being, such as during surgery to prevent contact pressure injuries. In certain embodiments, the underbody support may include one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume. At least one of the inflatable chambers may include one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, and the one or more compression sensitive switches may be located within the inflatable chamber. In some embodiments the one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the said inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume.