Cot fastening systems which fix and hold an emergency cot to a crash stable, cot fastener track included in the system and provided within an emergency vehicle and methods of affixing the emergency cot thereto are disclosed. The track has a longitudinal length with first and second ends, open side rails longitudinally extending between the ends, and a channel centrally located between the rails. The side rails align, accommodate and guide a first fixture of the cot towards the first end as the cot is rolled within the vehicle and to retain the first fixture adjacent the first end at least vertically and laterally therein. The channel accommodates therein and retains a second fixture adjacent the second end at least vertically and laterally therein. A securing mechanism releasably prevents removal of the first fixture from the open side rails and removal of the second fixture from the channel.

The present invention relates to a military stretcher system. The system includes a military hand-carried stretcher. An adaptor is provided for adapting the stretcher to fasten to a military transportation stretcher holder, typically used on vessels and in vehicles and in aircraft. Advantageously, the adaptor may adapt the stretcher to fasten to the holder (e.g. a racking system) conventionally used to hold a known NATO type stretcher.

The embodiments described and claimed herein are a restraint system for securing a gurney in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a conventional antler and rail-type gurney restraint system is improved by the addition of a center latch restraint that engages with a latch member secured by a support bracket to the underside of the gurney. In one configuration, the latch member enters into engagement with the center latch restraint through lateral movement of the control end of the gurney. In that respect, the EMT may use the same autonomic movements used with the conventional antler and rail-type system to secure the gurney in the vehicle. Optionally, one or more of the gurney occupant restraint belts are directly connected to the support bracket, whereby occupant loads during an accident will bypass the gurney and occupant head excursions can be reduced.

A patient transport apparatus is provided for use with a retainer of a transport vehicle. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure comprising a patient support surface to support a patient. An engagement member is coupled to the support structure and arranged to engage the retainer when unloading the patient transport apparatus from the transport vehicle. A dampener is operable in a standby state or a resistance state such that the dampener provides increased resistance to movement of the patient transport apparatus in the resistance state as compared to the standby state. The resistance state of the dampener is activated by manually moving the patient transport apparatus in a first direction and the standby state is activated by manually moving the patient transport apparatus in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

Cot fastening systems (2) which fix and hold an emergency cot (14) to a crash stable cot fastener track (12) provided within an emergency vehicle (8). The track (12) has a longitudinal length with front (85) and back ends (80), open side rails (28, 30) longitudinally extending between the ends, and a channel (86, 88) centrally located between the rails. The side rails (28, 30) align, accommodate and guide a forward fixture (4) of the cot towards the front end (85) as the cot (14) is rolled within the vehicle to retain the forward fixture (4) adjacent the front end (85) at least vertically and laterally. The channel (86, 88) accommodates and retains a rearward fixture (6) adjacent the back end (80) at least vertically and laterally. A securing mechanism (70,102) releasably prevents removal of the forward fixture (4) from the open side rails and removal of the rearward fixture (6) from the channel (86, 88).

The invention generally encompasses an animal cart system for safely carrying, transporting and offloading an animal from an examination or surgery area to a recovery area, the cart system comprising a floor cart, the floor cart comprising an upper platform having rails, a lower platform, an actuator secured to the upper platform and the lower platform, and a pivoting connection coupled to the upper platform and the lower platform that tilts the upper platform in response to the actuator, and an examination cart slidably and releaseably coupled to the upper platform.

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.

According to one embodiment, a roll-in cot may include a support frame, a pair of front legs, a pair of back legs, and a cot actuation system. The pair of front legs may be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each front leg includes at least one front wheel. The pair of back legs may be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each back leg includes at least one back wheel. The cot actuation system includes a front actuator that moves the front legs and a back actuator that moves the back legs. The front actuator and the back actuator raises or lowers the support frame in tandem. The front actuator raises or lowers the front end of the support frame independently of the back actuator. The back actuator raises or lowers the back end of the support frame independently of the front actuator.

According to one embodiment, a roll-in cot may include a support frame, a pair of front legs, a pair of back legs, and a cot actuation system. The pair of front legs may be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each front leg includes at least one front wheel. The pair of back legs may be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each back leg includes at least one back wheel. The cot actuation system includes a front actuator that moves the front legs and a back actuator that moves the back legs. The front actuator and the back actuator raises or lowers the support frame in tandem. The front actuator raises or lowers the front end of the support frame independently of the back actuator. The back actuator raises or lowers the back end of the support frame independently of the front actuator.