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.

A pressure sore prevention mattress is provided alternating pressure points on the body of an occupant that is easily transformable between two stable configurations. The four-layer mattress construction has a top foam pad, a webbing layer, a dynamic layer of deformable panels trapezoid-shaped four-bar mechanisms that deform to produce an undulating pattern of peaks, and a base. Panel geometry can determine peak height. The mattress has a spatially hollow geometry that allows natural air convection through the breathable top foam pad to enable drying of moisture as well as the use of forced air convective drying or cooling. The mattress can be transformed from one configuration to the other while the occupant is on the mattress.

A patient support apparatus is provided with a cable that couples to a mattress to provide power and/or data to the mattress with the cable configured with two cable portionsa first cable portion connected to the mattress and a second cable portion connected to the frame or another component at the patient support apparatus.

A bed includes a base, a mattress-supporting device, two driving units and a limiting unit. The base includes two tracks. The mattress-supporting device includes a frame, a body-supporting element and a leg-supporting element. The frame includes rollers supported on the tracks. The body-supporting element is pivotally connected to an end of the frame. The leg-supporting element is pivotally connected to another end of the frame. The first driving unit is operable for pivoting the body-supporting element. The second driving unit is operable for pivoting the leg-supporting element. The limiting unit is movable between a first position to allow horizontal movement of the mattress-supporting device on the base as the body-supporting element is pivoted and a second position to avoid horizontal movement of the mattress-supporting device on the base as the body-supporting element is pivoted.

A chair includes a backrest that pivots with respect to the seat in a manner that improves the occupant's experience during the transition from an upright position to a reclined position. During pivoting of the backrest with respect to the seat, the backrest moves in a manner having an instantaneous center of rotation that does not remain stationary during the pivoting of the backrest. In some embodiments, the instantaneous center of rotation begins at a location lower than a height of the seat and moves backward as the backrest pivots from the upright position to the reclined position. The movement of the instantaneous center of rotation follows a smoothly curved path that has a continuous first derivative and, in some embodiments, continuous higher order derivatives as well. The movement may be effectuated via pins coupled to the backrest that ride in smoothly curved channels defined in a seat frame.

The inclinable leg rest device for a wheelchair having a wheeled frame to which a seat is attached includes a structure mounted pivotably on the frame in order for the user to be able to assume a position between two extreme positions of the legs being bent and the legs being straightened. The leg rest device also includes a board provided with pads for calf placement and slidably mounted on the pivoting structure so as to enable a lengthwise adjustment and an adaptation of the positioning of the pads. The board is slidably mounted on the pivoting structure through a curved guide path which is convex on the side that supports the legs.

The telescopic inclinable footrest device for a motorized wheelchair includes a frame which pivots the structure of a legrest having a sliding plate. The structure is pivotably mounted so as to pivot between a deployed end position and a stowed end position. The pivoting and sliding the legrest are by a motor having a single cylinder rigidly attached to the structure and to the frame. A portion of the retraction stroke of the cylinder brings the structure into the stowed position while the extension of the retraction stroke of the cylinder generates the movement of a pulley borne by the rod of the cylinder over which passes a strap which connects the plate to the frame. The movement is suitable for shortening the path of the strap and thus deploying the plate.

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.

A hospital bed obstacle detection device and related method for detecting an obstacle between first and second components of a hospital bed is provided.

The invention relates to a backrest assembly for a wheelchair with a backrest frame pivotally connected to a seat or seat frame, a carrying means provided by or attached to the backrest frame, a rotating means rotatable secured to the carrier means, a first sliding means slidable connected to the backrest frame on the rear side of the backrest assembly and connected to the rotating means via a first mechanical link, a second sliding means slidable secured to the backrest frame on the front of the backrest assembly and connected to the rotating means via a second mechanical link, and an actuator for adjusting the backrest assembly between an upright and reclined position with the actuator being connected to the first sliding means for driving the second sliding means via the rotating means to perform a sinusoidal movement.