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.

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.

A patient transferring bed assembly includes hospital bed that has a mattress deck and a plurality of legs. A gurney is provided that includes a mattress panel and a plurality of legs. The gurney is positionable in a transferring position having the mattress panel being positioned adjacent to and being oriented coextensive with the mattress deck on the hospital bed. A mattress is slidably coupled to the mattress panel on the gurney and a patient lies on the mattress. The mattress slidably engages the mattress deck on the hospital bed when the gurney is positioned in the transferring position and the mattress is urged to slide laterally onto the mattress deck. In this way the mattress transfers the patient from the gurney to the hospital bed without requiring the patient to be lifted.

Transfer apparatus designed as a mobile, generally C-shaped frame assembly including top and bottom portions removably connected by at least one spacer and a seat adapted to support a patient in a sitting or suspended sitting position at multiple levels. A horizontal part of the top portion is a seat support, the bottom portion is a wheeled base, and spacers fix a selected height of the seat support. The apparatus operates on patient support surfaces with and without vertical movement capability, enables use of a commode over and away from the bed by the patient in a seating position, and enables changing of a seat under the sitting patient. The transfer apparatus provides a cost effective, lightweight, rigid, without moving parts mobile seat support assembly as a commode/wheelchair (C/W) capable of performing multifunctional safe patient transfer to and from patient support surfaces with and without vertical movement.

A transfer device is used to help a person move from one seated position at a first location to another seated position at a second location. The device is particularly useful for persons who cannot use their legs because the device is structurally supported to allow the person using the device to support himself by his arms and upper body muscles. The device is supported by the floor joists disposed below the floor. The person can have multiple support frames installed at different locations in his house so that the device can be moved from place to place as needed. Each location only requires a small hole to be cut in the floor with the unused holes being closed by plugs. The device allows the person to place his feet on a pivot disc while bracing his knees or shins against a knee board. The person then grasps handgrips and secures his forearms in an arm support assembly and lifts his lower body out of the first location. Another assistant rotates the device to align the person with the second seat wherein the person can lower himself into the second seat.

A method and system is provided for repositioning a patient on a transfer surface (e.g., a hospital bed, a stretcher, an imaging system, or the like). The system comprises two rollers positioned on one side of the surface, and a retractable transfer sheet wound around the rollers. The transfer sheet may be unwound from the two rollers to form two layers between the patient and the transfer surface. The patient may then be moved by sliding a top layer of the transfer sheet relative to a second layer of the transfer sheet. After use, the sheet can be retracted around the roller(s), allowing it to be stored in a location that is convenient but out-of-the-way. Such a system may allow a patient to be moved with less force, in less time, with fewer personnel, or with some other benefit.

A system and method for positioning an article under a person are provided. The system includes an apparatus having a first cover structure and a second cover structure, each having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface is movable in a first direction and the second surface moves in a second opposite direction. A coupling structure couples the first cover structure and the second cover structure, spacing them to enable the article to be positioned therebetween. The first and second directions of the first and second cover structures are substantially aligned. Movement of the first surfaces of the first and second cover structures in the first direction causes the second surfaces of the first and second cover structures to move the article positioned therebetween in the second direction by the second surfaces.

A patient transferring bed assembly includes hospital bed that has a mattress deck and a plurality of legs. A gurney is provided that includes a mattress panel and a plurality of legs. The gurney is positionable in a transferring position having the mattress panel being positioned adjacent to and being oriented coextensive with the mattress deck on the hospital bed. A mattress is slidably coupled to the mattress panel on the gurney and a patient lies on the mattress. The mattress slidably engages the mattress deck on the hospital bed when the gurney is positioned in the transferring position and the mattress is urged to slide laterally onto the mattress deck. In this way the mattress transfers the patient from the gurney to the hospital bed without requiring the patient to be lifted.

A transfer device is used to help a person move from one seated position at a first location to another seated position at a second location. The device is particularly useful for persons who cannot use their legs because the device is structurally supported to allow the person using the device to support himself by his arms and upper body muscles. The device is supported by the floor joists disposed below the floor. The person can have multiple support frames installed at different locations in his house so that the device can be moved from place to place as needed. Each location only requires a small hole to be cut in the floor with the unused holes being closed by plugs. The device allows the person to place his feet on a pivot disc while bracing his knees or shins against a knee board. The person then grasps handgrips and secures his forearms in an arm support assembly and lifts his lower body out of the first location. Another assistant rotates the device to align the person with the second seat wherein the person can lower himself into the second seat.

An inflatable transfer mattress includes a top panel, a bottom panel having a perimeter sealingly coupled to a perimeter of the top panel to define an internal volume therebetween, and a rotational positioning device coupled to the top panel. The internal volume is configured to receive an air flow therein. The rotational positioning device is positioned outside of the internal volume and includes at least one inflatable bladder configured to be inflated from a deflated state to an inflated state. The bladder portion is configured to rotate a patient to a predetermined angle with respect to the top panel in the inflated state.