An emergency cot includes a litter frame, a base, and a lift assembly supporting the litter frame relative to the base. The lift assembly includes load bearing members pivotally coupled to the litter frame by head-end upper pivot connections and foot-end upper pivot connections and to the base by head-end lower pivot connections and foot-end lower pivot connections for raising or lowering the base or the litter frame with respect to the other. The foot-end upper pivot connections or head-end upper pivot connections are movable toward or away from the longitudinal axis of the litter frame to allow one end of the litter frame to be tilted upwardly.

An ambulance cot loading and unloading system for an emergency vehicle includes a base for mounting in the emergency vehicle and an arm mounted for linear movement along the base, wherein the arm configured to support a cot while the cot is being loaded into or unloaded from the emergency vehicle. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system further includes an indicator mounted relative to the arm and a control system, which is in communication with the indicator and configured to generate a status indication of the cot loading and unloading system at the indicator.

A powered ambulance cot and methods of raising and lowering the cot as well as loading and unloading the cot are disclosed. The cot includes a support frame and legs, each leg having a wheel. An actuator of an actuation system interconnects the frame and legs, and is configured to effect changes in elevation of the frame relative to the wheel of each of the legs. A control system controls activation of the actuation system, and detects both the actuator at a first location relative to the frame, where the first location is remote from a second location and which situates an end of the actuator that is remote from each wheel closer to the frame, and a presence of a signal requesting a change in elevation of said support frame to thereby cause the legs to move relative to the support frame.

In one embodiment, a rolling transport cot may include an elongate frame, one or more support linkages, an arcuate coupling member, and a swivel caster. The one or more support linkages may include a pivoting link that is in rotatable engagement with the elongate frame, a traveling link that is in sliding and rotatable engagement with the elongate frame, and an equalizing link that is in rotatable engagement with the traveling link. The arcuate coupling member can be in rotatable engagement with the pivoting link and the equalizing link. The swivel caster may include a wheel that rotates along a surface and a swivel mechanism that can rotate around an axis that is aligned with the surface at a swivel angle φ. When the traveling link is urged along the elongate frame, the swivel angle φ of the swivel mechanism can be substantially constant.

In one embodiment, a rolling transport cot may include an elongate frame, one or more support linkages, an arcuate coupling member, and a swivel caster. The one or more support linkages may include a pivoting link that is in rotatable engagement with the elongate frame, a traveling link that is in sliding and rotatable engagement with the elongate frame, and an equalizing link that is in rotatable engagement with the traveling link. The arcuate coupling member can be in rotatable engagement with the pivoting link and the equalizing link. The swivel caster may include a wheel that rotates along a surface and a swivel mechanism that can rotate around an axis that is aligned with the surface at a swivel angle φ. When the traveling link is urged along the elongate frame, the swivel angle φ of the swivel mechanism can be substantially constant.

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 patient transport apparatus including a base, a litter, a lift mechanism, a litter extension and a cable assembly. The lift mechanism is interposed between the base and the litter and includes an actuator for moving the litter relative to the base. The litter extension moves relative to a patient support surface of the litter between a plurality of litter extension positions. The cable assembly includes a cable and a cable housing. The cable translates mechanical force applied to a user interface of the letter extension to the actuator. The cable housing is operatively attached to the litter and defines an inner cavity, a guide disposed within the inner cavity. The cable housing retains at least a portion of the cable as the litter extension moves between the plurality of litter extension positions.

A first transport apparatus includes a deck for supporting a patient thereon and a lift mechanism supporting the deck. The deck is removable from the lift mechanism for use as a second transport apparatus or part of a second transport apparatus. The first transport apparatus further includes an electrically powered device at the first transport apparatus, and a user input device for wireless control of the electrically powered device, which is operable at or near the first transport apparatus and the second transport apparatus.

Roll-in cots having lift assist mechanisms and lift assist mechanisms are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a lift assist mechanism includes a force application member having an actuation element, an actuation mechanism comprising a first grasp handle and a second grasp handle, and a force transmission assembly. The force transmission assembly includes a first keyway plate that is coupled to the first grasp handle, a second keyway plate that is coupled to the second grasp handle, and an actuation pin that extends through both the first keyway plate and the second keyway plate, where the actuation pin selectively applies a force to the actuation element of the force application member.

A patient support system with chest compression system and harness assembly with sensor system. The harness assembly secures shoulders and hips of the patient on a patient support surface during transport. A chest compression system is integrated into the harness assembly in a manner that provides chest compressions to the patient while the patient is secured on the patient support surface. The tension of the harness assembly is selectively adjusted and/or a fluid bladder may be selectively expanded. A controller is in communication with the chest compression system and controls operation of the chest compression system. The sensor system is integrated into the harness assembly and in communication with the controller. The chest compression system may be removable from the harness assembly via an adapter. The chest compression system may be integrated into the patient support apparatus to secure the patient to the patient support surface while providing chest compressions.