The present disclosure provides a method of positioning a patient. The patient is provided on a support surface, an inflatable positioning mattress disposed between the patient and the support surface. Air flow into the inflatable positioning mattress is initiated to inflate the inflatable positioning mattress. A downward force is applied on the inflatable positioning mattress proximate to a first side of the support surface. A portion of the inflatable positioning mattress proximate to a second side of the support surface is raised. At least one wedge is positioned beneath the inflatable positioning mattress. Subsequently, the patient is lowered onto the at least one wedge.

A patient rotation system for rotating the body of a patient comprises an air inflatable cushion having two elastic exterior surfaces, e.g. of stretch material, wherein one of said two elastic surfaces of said cushion forms the top surface, and the other one forms the bottom surface. In deflated state the cushion has a flat shape and in inflated state the two elastic surfaces bulge away from each other, such that inflation of the cushion causes the cushion to assume a wedge shape thereby rotating the body around said rotation axis. The cushion is embodied as a unitary, semi-rigid, portable board when in its deflated state, which enables the sliding of the deflated cushion in between the body of the patient and a horizontal surface, on which the body is lying in supine position, until its posterior support points are being supported by the cushion at its top elastic surface.

Inflatable coveralls provide individuals, who fall frequently, with protection and independence. The coveralls consist of pads on the shoulders and hips to reduce the impact of a fall on the person. When worn and located underneath the fallen person, the coveralls can be inflated with air into a chair, creating a higher platform from which the person can more easily get up. This reduces the dependence these individuals have on a care-giver. Users can fasten the coveralls using velcros, instead of buttons or zippers, because it is easier to wear and they automatically open from the increase in air pressure of the inflated coveralls. Made of light-weight and air impermeable material, the inflatable coveralls pads the fall of individuals, and elevated the fallen individual so that they can more easily rise, allowing them to gain independence.

A combination patient-transfer air-inflated pad and intraoperative heater device has first and second interlocking chambers laterally fused together. The air-inflated pad has a top surface and a bottom surface formed by way of the first and second interlocking chambers. The first interlocking chamber is formed as a comb-type structure having a main spine with two or more prongs alternately separated by valleys. The second interlocking chamber is a mirror comb-type structure to the first interlocking chamber. The device is fabricated from two thin layers of plastic material, selectively configured and fused. With this construction, the bulk of the device, as well as the cost of manufacture, are reduced. The device is affordable for single use, obviating the difficulty and possible incompleteness of sterilization between uses. The first interlocking chamber has an inlet appointed to be supplied with regulated, controlled low pressure and controlled temperature heated or cooled air. The second interlocking chamber has a plurality of air venting apertures in said bottom surface of said air-inflated pad. The second interlocking chamber has an inlet appointed to be supplied with ambient air at a regulated, controlled pressure to facilitate lifting and lateral displacement during patient transfer. The device may be easily re-employed when the patient is transferred from one location to another and may function as an alternating pressure mattress if needed.

An orthotic device is provided which includes a first structural element; a second structural element which is rotatably attached to the first structural element across a joint; a first rotary actuator which imparts rotational motion to the first structural element relative to the second structural element about a first axis; and a second rotary actuator which imparts rotational motion to the first structural element relative to the second structural element about a second axis. Each of the first and second rotary actuators is selected from the group consisting of parallel eccentric actuators and rotary actuators.

A mobility apparatus having: a base having casters; a handle assembly pivotally attached to the base; a locking mechanism operable to place the handle assembly into a plurality of positions corresponding to an operating mode of the apparatus, and maintain the handle assembly in one of the plurality of positions; an actuating mechanism coupled to the locking mechanism to actuate the locking mechanism; and wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a hub fixedly secured to the base; a hub ring rotatably secured within the hub and comprising attachment means for the handle assembly; a gas spring mechanism coupled to the hub ring to provide a mechanical advantage to assist an operator in lifting a patient; a breaking mechanism for the casters, wherein the breaking mechanism is operable to lock and unlock the casters simultaneously.

An assistance device that enables a caregiver or care receiver to understand a degree to which a load is applied in the front-rear direction of a body supporting member. The assistance device includes: the body supporting member configured to support the upper body of the care receiver; a load detecting device provided on the body supporting member and configured to detect a load applied by the care receiver; and a display device configured to display an extent to which a load is applied to the body supporting member in a front-rear direction of the body supporting member based on the load detected by the load detecting device.

An apparatus for reorienting a person includes a wrap having a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion, the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion being releasably securable to one another along an anterior region of the wrap between lateral sides of the person and along a posterior region of the wrap between the lateral sides of the person via a set of fasteners. Each of the lateral portions are dimensioned to extend around a corresponding one of the lateral sides of the person and having anterior and posterior edges that are dimensioned to extend at most partway across to an opposite one of the lateral sides of the person. The wrap is made from flexible materials and dimensioned to extend at least from below knees of the person to above the elbows of the person and snugly retain the person therein.

A portable frame apparatus and associated methods of use are disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame. The frame includes a first support member, a second support member, and at least one connecting member. The connecting member is configured to be coupled to the first support member at a first end of the connecting member and to the second support member at a second end of the connecting member. The first support member, the second support member and the connecting member form a rigid structure that provides support to a user of the portable frame apparatus.

A patient-support apparatus includes a first frame and a second frame movable relative to the first frame. The patient-support apparatus further includes an obstacle detection device and related method for detecting an obstacle between the first frame and the second frame of the patient-support apparatus.