A mobility enhancement device has an elongate strap of flexible material and a slide member having an inner face secured to a first surface of the strap and an outer smooth surface configured for sliding engagement with a floor surface. The strap is secured in a loop about a user's foot or footwear with releasable fastener devices associated with opposite end portions of the strap secured together and the slide member positioned to face downward from a ventral region of the sole of the foot or footwear so that the outer smooth surface is positioned for sliding engagement with a floor surface during ambulation or transfer.

Methods and systems of patient offloading include positioning an inflatable transfer mattress in a first position with respect to a surface supporting the inflatable transfer mattress. At least one inflatable positioning wedge is positioned in a second position with respect to the surface. The inflatable transfer mattress is positioned in a third position in which a portion of the inflatable transfer mattress overlaps a portion of the at least one inflatable positioning wedge. The at least one inflatable positioning wedge is inflated to transition the portion of the inflatable transfer mattress overlapping the portion of the at least one inflatable positioning wedge to a non-zero angle with respect to the surface.

An apparatus for transferring a patient or other body comprises a housing, a deck at least partially disposed within the housing, and a continuous belt disposed about the deck. The housing is formed with first and second sides coupled to first and second ends, and a panel attached to the sides and ends to provide structural rigidity to the apparatus. The deck is coupled to the housing, and the continuous belt circulates around the deck to transfer a body from a first surface at a first side of the housing to a second surface at a second side of the housing.

A patient support device includes a sheet configured to be placed beneath the patient in use and a plurality of straps connected to the sheet and configured for use in moving, lifting, turning, and/or positioning the patient. The straps may include one or more retractable straps that each have a stretchable retraction strap connected thereto and configured for retracting the retractable strap. The straps may also include one or more central support straps connected to the sheet in an area positioned between the legs of the patient. The sheet may also include a head support for supporting the patient's head, which head support may also include one or more straps. The straps may be connected to a hoist, which is then used to lift the patient.

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.

An apparatus for reorienting a person includes a wrap having a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion, the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion being releasably securable to one another along an anterior region of the wrap between lateral sides of the person and along a posterior region of the wrap between the lateral sides of the person via a set of fasteners. Each of the lateral portions are dimensioned to extend around a corresponding one of the lateral sides of the person and having anterior and posterior edges that are dimensioned to extend at most partway across to an opposite one of the lateral sides of the person. The wrap is made from flexible materials and dimensioned to extend at least from below knees of the person to above the elbows of the person and snugly retain the person therein.

A patient support device includes a sheet configured to be placed beneath the patient in use and a plurality of straps connected to the sheet and configured for use in moving, lifting, turning, and/or positioning the patient. The straps may include one or more retractable straps that each have a stretchable retraction strap connected thereto and configured for retracting the retractable strap. The straps may also include one or more central support straps connected to the sheet in an area positioned between the legs of the patient. The sheet may also include a head support for supporting the patient's head, which head support may also include one or more straps. The straps may be connected to a hoist, which is then used to lift the patient.

A patient rotation system for rotating the body of a patient comprises an air inflatable cushion having two elastic exterior surfaces, e.g. of stretch material, wherein one of said two elastic surfaces of said cushion forms the top surface, and the other one forms the bottom surface. In deflated state the cushion has a flat shape and in inflated state the two elastic surfaces bulge away from each other, such that inflation of the cushion causes the cushion to assume a wedge shape thereby rotating the body around said rotation axis. The cushion is embodied as a unitary, semi-rigid, portable board when in its deflated state, which enables the sliding of the deflated cushion in between the body of the patient and a horizontal surface, on which the body is lying in supine position, until its posterior support points are being supported by the cushion at its top elastic surface.

An automated system and methods are provided for coordinating a transfer of a patient between patient support apparatuses. The method can include establishing communication between a transferring patient support apparatus and a receiving patient support apparatus. The method can further include adjusting a position of at least one of the receiving patient support apparatus and the transferring patient support apparatus. The method can include locating and aligning the receiving patient support apparatus adjacent the transferring patient support apparatus.

A transfer device includes an extendable transfer platform. The transfer platform includes a fixed plate, a moveable plate, and at least one platform actuator configured to selectively move the moveable plate relative to the fixed plate between a retracted position and an extended position in which a leading edge of the moveable plate is located distally from a leading edge of the fixed plate. The transfer platform also includes a transfer belt having a first end secured to a first driven roller, and a second end secured to a second driven roller. The transfer device also includes a platform support structure secured to the transfer platform for supporting the transfer platform above a floor surface. The platform support structure includes at least one support actuator configured to selectively move the transfer platform relative to the floor surface between a lowered position and a raised position.