A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, recliner, cot, stretcher, operating table, or the like, includes battery-powered circuitry whose functions are reduced, but not eliminated, as the battery charge level falls below a threshold. Electrical power may be cut off to one or more components of the battery-powered circuitry while still providing battery-supplied electrical power to the other components of the circuitry. A user interface provides battery status data, including a replacement status of a rechargeable battery, and allows a user to select different formats for displaying battery status data. Such formats include displays of battery charge level information not only in manners specific to the battery, but also in manners relative to the patient support apparatus, such as displays of how many, or how much of, one or more functions the patient support apparatus is able to perform based on the battery's current charge level.

A patient support system includes a patient support apparatus and a powered device mounted relative to the patient support apparatus and an electrical circuit to power the powered device, with the electrical circuit having a wireless power receiver to inductively couple to and transfer electrical energy from a wireless power transmitter when the wireless power receiver is in proximity to the wireless power transmitter.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support frame to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over a floor surface. The auxiliary wheel is movable to a deployed position with the auxiliary wheel engaging the floor surface and a stowed position with the auxiliary wheel spaced a distance from the floor surface. An actuator assembly coupled to the support frame and to the auxiliary wheel. The actuator assembly includes a lift actuator and a spring cartridge assembly. The lift actuator is operable to move the auxiliary wheel to the deployed position and to the stowed position. The spring cartridge assembly is configured to bias the auxiliary wheel towards the deployed position.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support structure to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the floor surface to assist users. An actuator is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheel and operable to move the auxiliary wheel relative to the support structure from a retracted position to a deployed position. A user interface sensor is operatively connected to the actuator and configured to generate signals responsive to the user touching the user interface. A controller is operatively coupled to the user interface sensor and the actuator to operate the actuator in response to detection of signals.

Systems for facilitating movement of a patient transport apparatus are provided and include user input control device that includes a mode switch selectable between a longitudinal transport mode and a multidirectional mode and a driving assist device actuatable between at least one engaged state and a non-engaged state. The mode switch generates signals based on the selected mode and the driving assist device generates engaged or non-engaged signals which are received by a controller. The controller is configured to generate an output signal sent to a lift actuator, swivel actuator, and/or a powered drive system to assist a user in propelling the apparatus in a desired manner.

A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient transport apparatus includes an auxiliary wheel assembly including an auxiliary wheel, an auxiliary wheel drive system, and a control system for operating the auxiliary wheel drive system based on user commands. The control system includes a processor that is programmed to receive a user command to operate the auxiliary wheel drive system in a drive mode and responsively operate a motor control circuit to transmit power signals to a motor to rotate the auxiliary wheel. The processor is also programmed to receive a user command to operate the auxiliary wheel drive system in a free wheel mode and responsively operate the motor control circuit to enable the auxiliary wheel to rotate relatively freely with the auxiliary wheel in a deployed position.

A system for loading/unloading (100) an ambulance patient transport equipment (50) onto/from a loading surface (L) of an ambulance (V), wherein the system (100) comprises: a loading/unloading apparatus (60) of a patient transport equipment (50) associable with the loading surface (L), wherein the loading/unloading apparatus (60) comprises: at least one safety hook (611) which can be rigidly fixed to the loading surface (L); a patient transport equipment (50) comprising: an undercarriage (20) equipped with a support frame (21) and a plurality of legs (22,23) articulated to the support frame (21) and provided with rest wheels (221,231); an additional patient support device (30) configured to be mounted in a releasable manner on the undercarriage (20), wherein the additional device (30) comprises a load-bearing structure (31) to which a fixing block (315) is rigidly fixed adapted to detachably constrain the additional device (30) to the undercarriage (20); a rigid constraint body (250) rigidly fixed to the support frame (21) of the undercarriage (20) and provided, at a lower end, with a coupling body (251) configured to be detachably coupled to the safety hook (611) of the loading/unloading apparatus (60) and, at an opposite upper end thereof, with a fixing arrangement (252) configured to be detachably engaged by the fixing block (315) of the additional device (30).

A patient transport system (10) that comprises: at least one mobile undercarriage (20) provided with rest wheels (221,231) and equipped with a fixing arrangement (252); a plurality of additional devices (30) for supporting the patient, wherein the additional devices (30) of the plurality of additional devices are structurally different from each other; wherein each additional device (30) is equipped with a relative fixing block (315), wherein each fixing block (315) is configured to selectively engage with the fixing arrangement (252) of the undercarriage (20), so that any one of the additional devices (30) can be selectively mounted on the same undercarriage (20) by means of the connection between the fixing arrangement (252) of the undercarriage (20) with the fixing block (315) of the respective additional device (30).

A patient transport system (10) that comprises: at least one mobile undercarriage (20) provided with rest wheels (221,231) and equipped with a fixing arrangement (252); a plurality of additional devices (30) for supporting the patient, wherein the additional devices (30) of the plurality of additional devices are structurally different from each other; wherein each additional device (30) is equipped with a relative fixing block (315), wherein each fixing block (315) is configured to selectively engage with the fixing arrangement (252) of the undercarriage (20), so that any one of the additional devices (30) can be selectively mounted on the same undercarriage (20) by means of the connection between the fixing arrangement (252) of the undercarriage (20) with the fixing block (315) of the respective additional device (30).

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support frame to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over a floor surface. The auxiliary wheel is movable to a deployed position with the auxiliary wheel engaging the floor surface and a stowed position with the auxiliary wheel spaced a distance from the floor surface. An actuator assembly including a lift actuator a biasing device, and a biasing load adjustment assembly. The lift actuator is operable to move the auxiliary wheel to the deployed position and to the stowed position. The biasing device configured to bias the auxiliary wheel towards the deployed position. The biasing load adjustment assembly configured to adjust a biasing force being applied by the biasing device to the auxiliary wheel.