A patient support includes a height adjustable patient support deck, at least one guard structure mounted for movement relative to the patient support deck, and a latch operable to lock the position of the guard structure in a raised position. The patient support further includes a CPR release operable to lower the head deck section of the patient support deck to place the patient support in an emergency state and further operable to release the latch to allow the guard rail structure to lower or be lowered from the raised position.

There is provided a patient support that may be adjustable in height, width, length or a combination thereof. The patient support may be useable with normal sized patients or with bariatric patients. The patient support has a variety of features to enhance operability and/or functionality, including a width adjustable caster frame, width adjustable deck portions, a width adjustable headboard and an extendible foot board to provide extra length. An enhanced lift mechanism can accommodate bariatric patients and alternative functionality in achieving deck positions improves patient comfort. Various parts of the patient support including deck panels and the footboard may be removed and replaced with ease without complicated connectors.

The present disclosure relates to patient support systems, such as hospital beds, and particularly to reconfigurable patient support systems movable among a number of different positions. The present disclosure further relates to control algorithms and interfaces for use in patient support systems.

Shear-reduction cushioning devices are provided for the prevention of shear related wounds. Cushioning devices include upper and lower cushioning layers that contact each other through at least one internal shear reduction layer provided between the cushioning layers and extending over a shear reduction region, such that dynamic relative translation of the two cushioning layers is permitted within the shear reduction region while absorbing friction and shear internally. The interface between the cushioning layers (where the shear reduction layer is provided) may be angled relative to an external surface of the cushioning device. The cushioning layers may be attached or attachable to one another beyond the shear reduction region, to limit an amount of relative translation of the cushioning layers and to re-center or reset the cushioning layers after use.

A person support apparatus includes a support surface for supporting a person thereon. The support surface includes at least a seat and a backrest coupled together by a pivot assembly. In some embodiments, the pivot assembly includes a backrest slide bar mounted to the backrest and a seat slide bar mounted to the seat. The backrest and seat slide along their respective slide bars when the backrest pivots. A seat link is coupled to the seat and backrest slide bar, and a backrest link is coupled to the backrest and seat slide bar. The slide bars are coupled at their ends to each other. The pivot assembly creates a virtual pivot axis that, as the backrest pivots from an upright position to a reclined position, moves backward and upwardly. Elongate openings may be defined in the slide bars to support the slide bars on the seat and backrest, respectively.

There is provided a patient support that may be adjustable in height, width, length or a combination thereof. The patient support may be useable with normal sized patients or with bariatric patients. The patient support has a variety of features to enhance operability and/or functionality, including a width adjustable caster frame, width adjustable deck portions, a width adjustable headboard and an extendible foot board to provide extra length. An enhanced lift mechanism can accommodate bariatric patients and alternative functionality in achieving deck positions improves patient comfort. Various parts of the patient support including deck panels and the footboard may be removed and replaced with ease without complicated connectors.

This disclosure provides a person support formed from an elastomeric composition. The elastomeric composition includes a polymer blend with the polymer blend consisting essentially of a first and second SEEPS copolymer. The first and second SEEPS copolymers are present in the polymer blend in an amount of from 75 to 95 percent by weight and 5 to 25 percent by weight, respectively, based on the total weight of the polymer blend. In addition, the sum of the first and second SEEPS copolymers in the polymer blend is 100 percent by weight. The first and second SEEPS copolymers have a weight average molecular weight of weight of at least 200,000 and 125,000 to 175,000, respectively. The disclosure also provides a patient support for supporting a patient with the patient support formed from the elastomeric composition.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus and/or method involving respective sets of interleaved elongated pressure cells, which operate to inflate and deflate independently of one another. The pressure cells further provide shear relief by deflecting along a direction of movement along a width of/perpendicular to a length of the elongated pressure cells.

An occupant support structure for supporting an occupant includes an orientation adjustable torso section, a lower body section, and a control system. The lower body section includes a heel region subsection which supports the heel region of an occupant of the occupant support. The control system is adapted to A) cause the heel region subsection to temporarily substantially disengage from the heel region of the occupant in response to a change of angular orientation of the torso section which begins at a time t.sub.0, and B) cause the heel region subsection to subsequently re-engage with the heel region of the occupant, the re-engagement occurring at a time t.sub.B which is later than t.sub.0.

A foldable tiltable wheelchair that overcomes the foregoing deficiencies comprises a base frame comprising laterally spaced side frames. A tiltable seat frame is supported for pivotal movement in relation to the base frame. The tiltable seat frame comprises laterally spaced seat rails. A first foldable cross-member provides a rigid connection between the seat rails when in an unfolded position. According to one embodiment, a second foldable cross-member provides a rigid connection between the side frames when in an unfolded position. The first and second foldable cross-members coupled so that moving one cross-member moves the other cross-member. According to another embodiment, the tiltable seat frame comprises a seat back supported in relation to the seat frame. The seat back comprises laterally spaced back canes. The first foldable cross-member is coupled to the seat frame so that the back canes are supported in relation to the first foldable cross-member so as to limit lateral flexure of the back canes. The first foldable cross-member is foldable to a folded position to fold the wheelchair.