A patient support apparatus for supporting a patient comprising a support frame and a support deck coupled to the support frame. The support deck has a deck section arranged to articulate relative to said support frame between a first position and a second position. An actuator is interposed in force-translating relation between the support frame and the deck section to articulate the deck section. The actuator comprises a biasing device configured to store mechanical energy and having an interface. The actuator further comprises a torque multiplier coupled to the deck section and engaged with the interface to translate mechanical energy stored in the biasing device into force acting on the deck section to urge the deck section toward the first position.

A patient transport apparatus comprises support structure. The support structure comprises a base, a support frame, and a patient support deck. A headboard and a footboard are coupled to the support structure. The support frame comprises a head section and a body section, the body section coupled to the patient support deck. The patient support deck comprises a patient support surface capable of articulating relative to the support frame. The head section is movable relative to the body section to define first and second configurations of the support frame, the support frame having a first footprint in the first configuration and a second footprint, smaller than the first footprint, in the second configuration.

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.

A patient support apparatus comprises a support structure. The support structure comprises a base and a patient support deck coupled to the base. The patient support deck comprises a patient support surface capable of articulating to adjust positioning of a patient supported thereon, a lift system configured to adjust a height of the patient support deck relative to the base, and a user interface system coupled to the support structure and comprising an elongated member and a user interface coupled to the elongated member. The user interface is configured to receive inputs from a user to control a function of the patient support apparatus.

Patient transport apparatus with defined transport height comprises a support structure and a litter that are interconnected by a lift mechanism. The support structure comprises a base frame and a plurality of articulable support members or legs. The litter comprises a litter frame and a patient support surface with articulating back and leg sections. The lift mechanism may comprise one or more actuators configured to raise and lower the litter between a lowered position and one or more defined raised positions. The Patient transport apparatus may further comprise a controller coupled to one or more sensors and the lift mechanism. The controller may be configured to define a transport height for the litter based, at least in part, on a characteristic detected by the one or more sensors, and to manipulate the lift mechanism to adjust the litter to the defined transport height.

A wirelessly controlled wheelchair assembly comprises a wheel driving unit, a seat edge and footrest lifting unit, a back-rest lifting unit and a seat retracting unit. The wheelchair assembly further comprises a microcontroller electronically coupled with the wheel driving unit, the seat edge and footrest lifting unit, the back-rest lifting unit and the seat retracting unit. The microcontroller is configured to execute a plurality of commands to wirelessly control the operating of the wheelchair. The plurality of commands comprises commands for displacing the wheelchair from a source location to a destination location, lifting the user to slightly detach from the seat, opening the seat by retracting the one or more panels of the seat to enable accessibility of a toilet, move the user in the downward direction and reversing the above steps to restore the user in normal sitting posture. A method of operating the wheelchair assembly is also provided.

A portable rehab station, including left and right outriggers, each having a forward end and a rearward end, the left and right outriggers being pivotally connected at the bottom ends of the respective left and right frame members to pivot between retracted and expanded positions, the retracted position including the left and right outriggers being generally mutually parallel, and the expanded position including the left and right outriggers being spread out at an angle of between about six and ten degrees relative to each other; a front, ground-engageable caster connected to the forward end of each of the left and right outriggers and a rear, ground-engageable caster connected to the rearward end of each of the left and right outriggers; and an actuator assembly connected with the frame and operably connected with the left and right outriggers to selectively pivot the left and right outriggers between the retracted and expanded positions.

A hoist apparatus for use with a hoist for lifting a load is described. The hoist apparatus includes an elongate load bearing member having a longitudinal axis and at least two support points spaced apart along the longitudinal axis. An intermediate support member includes a hoist connection element for connecting the intermediate support member to a hoist, and at least first and second support point connection elements each connecting the intermediate support member to a respective support point of the elongate load bearing member. The first support point connection element is spaced a first distance from the hoist connection element, and the second support point connection element is spaced a second distance from the hoist connection element. Adjustment means adjusts at least one of the first and second distances so as to adjust the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the elongate load bearing member relative to the horizontal.

Patient transport apparatus with defined transport height comprises a support structure and a litter that are interconnected by a lift mechanism. The support structure comprises a base frame and a plurality of articulable support members or legs. The litter comprises a litter frame and a patient support surface with articulating back and leg sections. The lift mechanism may comprise one or more actuators configured to raise and lower the litter between a lowered position and one or more defined raised positions. The Patient transport apparatus may further comprise a controller coupled to one or more sensors and the lift mechanism. The controller may be configured to define a transport height for the litter based, at least in part, on a characteristic detected by the one or more sensors, and to manipulate the lift mechanism to adjust the litter to the defined transport height.

A four bar apparatus and method are provided for lifting, lowering, providing exercise and facilitating self-propelled transit. The apparatus includes an actuator and interconnected four-bar lifting mechanism, which includes a crank, a coupler, a rocker, and a frame. Each of the crank, coupler, rocker and frame are rotatably interconnected, and operation of the actuator moves a lift point of the coupler, with the lift point connectable to a vest-type garment or belt worn by a user of the apparatus, with the lift point following a J shape path or an S shape path to lift the user from a shoulder or hip area, respectively.