A patient support including a base; a patient support surface supported by the base; an electrically powered device; a rechargeable power storage device for powering the electrically powered device; and a receiving coil electrically coupled to the rechargeable power supply for inductive coupling with a transmitting coil. The receiving coil is for recharging the rechargeable power supply when the receiving coil is inductively coupled to the transmitting coil.

A device for handling a stretcher is suitable to be installed in a helicopter cockpit for displacing the stretcher between a patient transportation position, in which the stretcher is arranged horizontally and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the helicopter, and a patient loading and unloading position in which the stretcher is at least partially removed from the helicopter cockpit substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis, and vice-versa.

A method and an alignment system which auto-levels and/or auto-centers a loading platform (104) to load and unload a wheeled stretcher (106) to and from an emergency transport vehicle (100) are disclosed. A controller (114) of the alignment system receives a command to extend the loading platform from the emergency vehicle and extends the loading platform under power from the emergency transport vehicle. The controller recognizes an approaching wheeled stretcher, and aligns automatically the loading platform with a leading edge of the approaching wheeled stretcher to compensate automatically for any alignment issues between the loading platform and loading wheels (130) of the wheeled stretcher.

A deployable gurney lift assembly 12 having a carriage assembly 14 composed of a carriage assembly plate 20 with two pivot carriage arms 38 disposed opposite one another to engage the sides of a gurney G, at least one safety bar holder 16 to accommodate a safety bar B of the gurney G, the safety bar holders 16 with at least one bar latch 18 to receive and secure a gurney bar B therein. At least one lift actuator 88 lifts and lowers the arms 38.

An auxiliary loading device (10) of a stretcher (20) on a loading plane (30), for example fixed or removable, comprising: a winch (11) which includes: a support frame (110) which rotatably supports a spool (111); a tow strap (112) wound on the spool (111) and provided with a tow hook (113) that can be attached to the stretcher (20); and a motor (114) connected to the spool (111) and configured to rotate the spool (111), in a first rotation direction for winding the tow strap (112) on the spool (111) and in an opposite second rotation direction for unwinding the tow strap (112) from the spool (111);
the auxiliary loading device (10) further comprising: a sensor unit (12) connected to the winch (11) and configured to detect a value of a parameter indicative of a tension of a section of the tow strap (112) comprising the tow hook (13) and unwound from the spool (111); and an electronic control unit (100) operatively connected to the sensor unit (12) and to the motor (114) of the winch (11), wherein the electronic control unit (100) is configured to stop the rotation of the spool (111) when operated to rotate in the second direction of rotation if the value of the parameter indicative of the tension detected by the sensor unit (12) is less than or equal to a predetermined reference value thereof.

An ambulance cot and cot loading and unloading system for an emergency vehicle comprises a cot having a head end, a base for mounting to a deck of an emergency vehicle, a track mounted for linear movement along said base, and an arm mounted for linear movement along said track from a retracted position to an extended position. The arm is and configured to engage the cot, and wherein when the track is extended along the base and the arm is extended along the track the arm is extended from the base in an extended position and is configured for lifting the cot and providing cantilevered support to the cot while in the extended position.

An ambulance cot and cot loading and unloading system for an emergency vehicle comprises a cot having a head end, a base for mounting to a deck of an emergency vehicle, a track mounted for linear movement along said base, and an arm mounted for linear movement along said track from a retracted position to an extended position. The arm is and configured to engage the cot, and wherein when the track is extended along the base and the arm is extended along the track the arm is extended from the base in an extended position and is configured for lifting the cot and providing cantilevered support to the cot while in the extended position.

A system for loading a patient transport apparatus into a vehicle is described. The system includes a loading and unloading system including a track and a trolley supporting a receiver movable between locked and unlocked configurations. The system also includes a patient transport apparatus for attachment to the loading and unloading system including a base, a litter, and a lift mechanism to facilitate arranging the litter at different heights relative to the base with an actuator movable between fully-retracted and fully-extended configurations, a coupler for engaging the receiver to secure the patient transport apparatus, first and second sensors configured to output a first signal and second signal and a controller to determine a target lift configuration during unloading from the emergency based on first and second values and to drive the actuator to the target lift configuration to limit relative movement between the patient transport apparatus and the trolley.

A deployable gurney ramp assembly with a retractable ramp deployment apparatus having two deployment tracks extending parallel, parallel first and second base tracks terminating in stops, the deployment tracks slidably engage the base tracks, with ramp guides slidably pivotally engaging a ramp at the end permitting the ramp to pivot when raised or lowered. Extension devices are utilized to advance the deployment ramps and the ramp guides.

A system for loading a patient transport apparatus into a vehicle is described. The system includes a loading and unloading system including a track and a trolley supporting a receiver movable between locked and unlocked configurations. The system also includes a patient transport apparatus for attachment to the loading and unloading system including a base, a litter, and a lift mechanism to facilitate arranging the litter at different heights relative to the base with an actuator movable between fully-retracted and fully-extended configurations, a coupler for engaging the receiver to secure the patient transport apparatus, first and second sensors configured to output a first signal and second signal and a controller to determine a target lift configuration during unloading from the emergency based on first and second values and to drive the actuator to the target lift configuration to limit relative movement between the patient transport apparatus and the trolley.