System for preventing a patient from falling from a bed, the system comprising first and second protective side barriers adapted to be positioned along first and second side edges of the bed, respectively, and are configured to be lifted or lowered by varying the height thereof from minimum to maximum height. The system includes anchoring means for fixing the protective side barriers to a bed frame, sensors adapted to detect the position taken by the patient on a mattress of the bed, and a control unit configured to receive data collected by the sensors and, on the basis of the data, determine in real time a lifting or lowering of a predetermined extent of the protective side barriers, up to heights of the protective side barriers ranging between the minimum and the maximum height, depending on the position taken by the patient on the mattress.

A patient support apparatus includes a support structure having a patient support deck and a side rail coupled to the support structure. The side rail is movable relative to the support structure. A lock releasably locks the side rail in one or more side rail positions, such as in a raised position and an intermediate position. A manual release is coupled to the side rail and operable to unlock the side rail. A bypass lever is provided to allow a user to raise the side rail from a lowered position to the raised position without locking in the intermediate position. A damper is located inside the side rail to counterbalance the weight of the side rail and assist the user in raising the side rail, bi-directionally. The side rail is formed of first and second walls that are heat staked together to form a lightweight side rail of suitable strength.

A hospital bed comprises gas mattress units, connecting pipe devices and a gas supplying-releasing device. The gas mattress units each have an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer is an airbag. The outer layer is a laminated fabric. The laminated fabric encloses the airbag. The airbag internally defines a first gas receiving space. A second gas receiving space is defined between the laminated fabric and the airbag. The connecting pipe devices and the gas supplying-releasing device are in communication with the gas mattress units, allowing a gas to be introduced into and released from the first gas receiving space. The first and second gas receiving spaces enable the hospital bed to bear high internal pressure and thus be durable, thereby lessening the durability requirement of the laminated fabric.

A patient support apparatus includes a support structure having a patient support deck and a side rail coupled to the support structure. The side rail is movable relative to the support structure. A lock releasably locks the side rail in one or more side rail positions, such as in a raised position and an intermediate position. A manual release is coupled to the side rail and operable to unlock the side rail. A bypass lever is provided to allow a user to raise the side rail from a lowered position to the raised position without locking in the intermediate position. A damper is located inside the side rail to counterbalance the weight of the side rail and assist the user in raising the side rail, bi-directionally. The side rail is formed of first and second walls that are heat staked together to form a lightweight side rail of suitable strength.

Apparatuses and method are disclosed for use with a furniture for providing protection to a user against injuries. An apparatus for use with the furniture for providing protection to a user against injuries includes an inflatable unit including an exterior surface including a number of housing elements. The inflatable unit also includes an airtight chamber capable of being filled with a filler. The inflatable unit also includes a valve attached to an orifice present on the airtight chamber. The valve is configured to secure the filler into the airtight chamber. The apparatus further includes at least one strapping element configured to securely mount the inflatable unit to the furniture. The apparatus also includes at least one fastener configured to attach to the at least one strapping element while mounting the inflatable unit to the furniture.

A guard structure of a patient support, such as a hospital bed, is electrically unlockable. An electromechanical actuator, such as a solenoid, may be used to electrically unlock the guard structure. The guard structure may also be mechanically unlockable. The guard structure may automatically unlock during a CPR emergency. A maximum allowable height of the patient support may be adjusted based on a sensed locked state or position of the guard structure. A release for the guard structure may be positioned to be accessible to an occupant of the patient support. The release may include an access port that may be opened. The release may include a button that electrically unlocks the guard structure.

A patient support apparatus includes a base, a patient support, and a lift mechanism wherein the lift mechanism is coupled to the patient support by at least one upper pivot connection. The upper pivot connection includes an elongated slot and a pin captured in the elongated slot to form a sliding pivot axis, with the sliding pivot axis traveling along the elongated slot when the lift mechanism raises or lowers the patient support.

A cover for covering a portion of a hospital bed barrier that includes a sheet of material that has sufficient flexibility and elasticity to stretch from a first configuration to a second configuration. When in the first configuration, the cover is insufficient in size to cover at least a portion of a hospital bed barrier and, when in the second configuration, the cover is sufficient in size to cover at least a portion of a hospital bed barrier.

A method of evaluating the likelihood that an occupant will exit an occupant support comprises determining if the location of the occupant on the occupant support is displaced relative to a reference location, and if the location of the occupant is so displaced, designating that the occupant is at a risk of exiting the occupant support which is elevated relative to the baseline risk. A support apparatus comprises a framework, a mattress, sensors distributed on the support apparatus to sense occupant weight distribution on the support apparatus, and a processor adapted to designate a risk of occupant egress as a function of the direction of the occupant weight distribution and the elevation status of the perimeter panels.

A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface, a manually operable brake operatively associated with the patient support surface, a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake, and an electrically powered actuator. The actuator is mechanically coupled to the manually operable brake and to the manual brake activation handle or pedal, and actuates the manually operable brake and moves the manual brake activation handle or pedal from a first position to a second portion in response to a signal at the patient support apparatus.