A litter lift system includes a winch system and a lifting strap. The winch system includes a rotatable spool. The lifting strap has a first end, a second end, and an intermediate segment extending away from the lifting strap between the first end and the second end. The first end is coupled to the rotatable spool such that rotation of the spool in a first direction winds the lifting strap about the spool and rotation of the spool in a second direction unwinds the lifting strap from the spool. The second end defines a first lifting segment and the intermediate segment defines a second lifting segment. The first lifting segment and the second lifting segment are each forked to define two separate lifting loops.

A shock absorbing support arm assembly for a litter support assembly that includes a support arm comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a shock absorbing device disposed at the second end of the support arm, and a litter side shaft engagement mechanism disposed at the first end of the support arm. The support arm assembly may also comprise a mounting bracket connected at the second end of the support arm such that the shock absorbing device is positioned between the mounting bracket and the support arm. The support arm may move along an axis of the shock absorbing device and relative to the mounting bracket and may pivot about the axis relative to the mounting bracket.

There is provided an extendable and retractable gurney mountable to a rescue vehicle and configured to receive and hold a rescue basket thereon. The gurney has a base for fixed mounting to a floor area of the rescue vehicle. The gurney has a rescue basket cradle that slides (relative to the base) outward from a stowed configuration on a rescue vehicle to an extended configuration to receive a rescue basket, and then moves back inward to a stowed configuration in the emergency vehicle. Rollers are arrayed along a side of a longitudinally extending slat to facilitate rolling contact with an underside of a rescue basket, when it is placed on the cradle, thereby allowing the basket to be readily moved into appropriate position on the cradle for securing it to, and immobilizing it on, the gurney.

A litter lift system includes a winch and a lifting strap. The winch includes a rotatable spool. The lifting strap has one end coupled to the rotatable spool and is movable due to rotation of the rotatable spool. The lifting strap has a first lifting segment and a second lifting segment positioned away from the end of the lifting strap coupled to the rotatable spool. The first lifting segment and the second lifting segment are each forked to interface with a frame of a litter at first lifting segment and second lifting segment distal ends, wherein a coupling is attached to the first lifting segment. Rotation of the rotatable spool in a first direction raises the first lifting segment and the second lifting segment. Rotation of the rotatable spool in a second direction different from the first direction lowers the first lifting segment and the second lifting segment.

A cot fastening system for fastening a cot to an emergency vehicle includes a frame configured for mounting to the floor of an emergency vehicle, which has a longitudinal axis and a cot loading direction along the longitudinal axis. The system includes a first restraint assembly for coupling to a first cot attachment of the cot, which is mounted to the frame. The system further includes a second restraint assembly for coupling to a second cot attachment, which is also mounted to the frame. The system further includes a spring, such as a coil spring, for biasing the cot in a direction opposed from the loading direction of the frame to thereby apply a pre-load on at least one of said restraint assemblies.

A cot fastening system for fastening a cot to an emergency vehicle includes a frame configured for mounting to the floor of an emergency vehicle, which has a longitudinal axis and a cot loading direction along the longitudinal axis. A first restraint assembly is for coupling to a foot end cot attachment of a cot and is mounted to the frame. A second restraint assembly is for coupling to a head end cot attachment of the cot and is mounted to the frame. The frame includes a first section and a second section. The first section has a first width less than the spacing between head end wheels of the cot to allow the cot to straddle the frame. The second section extends from the first end of the first section along the longitudinal axis of the frame and diverges away from the longitudinal axis of the frame to a second width greater than the first width but less than the spacing between the head end wheels to form a guide for guiding the head end wheels of the cot when the head end cot attachment has passed the first restraint assembly and is at or near the second restraint assembly to thereby guide the head end cot attachment into alignment with the second restraint assembly.

The present disclosure includes litter platform support and positioning systems described generally comprising at least one lift column mounted to an interior floor in an emergency vehicle or structure. The lift column is connected to at least one support assembly, the at least one support assembly adapted to receive and position a litter assembly. In some implementations, the support assembly is connected to the lift column and adapted to independently adjust the litter assembly vertically, laterally, longitudinally, and rotate 360. The litter platform support and positioning system further includes at least one individual motor associated with each lift column which is operatively connected to a drive screw to independently adjust and control the location of each support assembly to individually position a corresponding litter platform assembly.

The invention includes a portable modularized medical unit that may be transported by airplane, helicopter, truck, rail, or ship to and from any location where emergency medical care, trauma care, surgical care, intensive care, isolation care, critical care, mass casualty, exam treatment or emergency medical evacuation are needed. The unit includes a rigid parallelepipedal frame that serves as the rigid exoskeleton of the unit that is a rigid aluminum parallelepipedal frame with a plurality of longitudinal metal tracks in the unit to provide the attachment or connection points for various medical components inside the internal portion of the portable modularized medical unit and that are rigidly attached to the interior surface of the base structure of the rigid parallelepipedal frame to provide multiple connection and attachment points for the components in an airworthy but removable manner to the base structure, walls, or roof of the rigid parallelepipedal frame so that the components internal to the unit may be attached, removed, relocated, replaced, and rearranged inside of the portable modularized medical unit.

A cot fastening system for fastening a cot to an emergency vehicle includes a frame configured for mounting to the floor of an emergency vehicle, which has a longitudinal axis and a cot loading direction along the longitudinal axis. A first restraint assembly is for coupling to a foot end cot attachment of a cot and is mounted to the frame. A second restraint assembly is for coupling to a head end cot attachment of the cot and is mounted to the frame. The frame includes a first section and a second section. The first section has a first width less than the spacing between head end wheels of the cot to allow the cot to straddle the frame. The second section extends from the first end of the first section along the longitudinal axis of the frame and diverges away from the longitudinal axis of the frame to a second width greater than the first width but less than the spacing between the head end wheels to form a guide for guiding the head end wheels of the cot when the head end cot attachment has passed the first restraint assembly and is at or near the second restraint assembly to thereby guide the head end cot attachment into alignment with the second restraint assembly.