A trolley system configured to transport a patient within an MRI environment includes a patient support portion, a base portion configured for movement relative to a floor, a lift coupled to the patient support portion and the base portion, an electric motor coupled to the lift, and an electric blower coupled to the patient transfer device. The lift is configured to change the elevation of the patient support portion relative to the base portion. The motor is mounted such that the elevation of the motor is fixed relative to base portion. The trolley system is positionable adjacent an MRI apparatus within the MRI environment and the magnetic field of the MRI does not interfere with the operation of the motor or blower. The trolley system may further include a patient transfer device having an air bearing. The blower is configured to deliver air to the air bearing.

A trolley system configured to transport a patient within an MRI environment includes a patient support portion, a base portion configured for movement relative to a floor, a lift coupled to the patient support portion and the base portion, an electric motor coupled to the lift, and an electric blower coupled to the patient transfer device. The lift is configured to change the elevation of the patient support portion relative to the base portion. The motor is mounted such that the elevation of the motor is fixed relative to base portion. The trolley system is positionable adjacent an MRI apparatus within the MRI environment and the magnetic field of the MRI does not interfere with the operation of the motor or blower. The trolley system may further include a patient transfer device having an air bearing. The blower is configured to deliver air to the air bearing.

Vehicles are disclosed which have a lower center of gravity than existing all-terrain, amphibious, and unmanned ground vehicles due to the location of propulsion units and other vehicle components inside the wheels of the vehicle. The vehicles can climb over large obstacles yet are also able to corner at high speeds. The vehicles can be configured for direct manual operation or operation by remote control, and can also be configured for a wide variety of missions.

Systems and methods for facilitating movement of a patient transport apparatus. The patient transport apparatus has a support structure comprising a patient support surface. A wheel assembly comprises a base wheel having an outer periphery rotatably coupled to the support structure about a base rotational axis. The wheel assembly also comprises a plurality of peripheral wheels disposed about the outer periphery to rotate about a plurality of peripheral rotational axes. The wheel assembly comprises a motion control device configured to selectively control rotation of the peripheral wheels independent of rotation of the base wheel about the base rotational axis.

A patient conveyance apparatus such as a transport chair or a stretcher is disclosed. The apparatus has a frame onto which a patient support with a lowering backrest is provided. The apparatus has two handles extending away from the frame. The handles are rotatable about two axes to change their position, and can be moved through different operative and stowed positions without conflicting with movement of backrest.

A patient conveyance apparatus such as a transport chair or a stretcher is disclosed. The apparatus has a frame onto which a patient support with a lowering backrest is provided. The apparatus has two handles extending away from the frame. The handles are rotatable about two axes to change their position, and can be moved through different operative and stowed positions without conflicting with movement of backrest.

Described is a rollup evacuation sled that includes a bottom sheet, a foam mattress disposed above the bottom sheet, and a support sheet disposed above the mattress. A margin stack including the bottom sheet and the support sheet forms a sandwiched margin left side and a sandwiched margin right side. The sled may further include a plurality of spinal boards disposed between the bottom sheet and the mattress in the upper section of the bottom sheet. Wheel assemblies are mounted on each spinal board. The sled further includes a foot pouch coupled to the sandwiched margin left and right sides and dimensioned to substantially enclose feet and calves of a person lying on the support sheet. The foot pouch is configured to store a stack including the bottom sheet, mattress and the support sheet, when the stack is rolled up along a longitudinal direction from the head end.

A patient transport apparatus for transporting a patient over a floor surface is described herein. The patient transport apparatus includes a throttle assembly, 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 received from the throttle assembly. The control system includes a controller configured to detect a position of the throttle assembly, determine a desired rotational speed value associated with a current operating throttle position, determine a current rotational speed of the auxiliary wheel, select an acceleration rate based on the current rotational speed of the auxiliary wheel, generate an output signal based on the selected acceleration rate, and transmit the generated output signal to the motor control circuit to operate the motor to rotate the auxiliary wheel at the selected acceleration rate.

Described is a bariatric version of foldup evacuation sled that includes a bottom sheet, a mattress disposed above the bottom sheet, and a support sheet disposed above the mattress. A margin stack including the bottom sheet and the support sheet forms a sandwiched margin left side and a sandwiched margin right side. The sled may further include a plurality of spinal boards disposed between the bottom sheet and the mattress. Wheel assemblies are mounted on each spinal board. The sled further includes a leg/torso cover coupled to the bottom sheet and dimensioned to substantially enclose legs and lower torso of the person when the leg/torso cover is folded upward over the person lying on the support sheet.

A patient support apparatus includes a base having a length and including a plurality of caster wheels enabling movement of the patient support apparatus across a floor surface. An auxiliary wheel support structure is secured to the base and rotatably supports at least one non-castered auxiliary wheel. A drive mechanism including a motor may be configured to drive the auxiliary wheel. A braking system including at least one brake member may be configured to apply a braking force to decelerate the auxiliary wheel and is movable between a first position wherein the at least one brake member is disengaged from the auxiliary wheel and a deployed position wherein the at least one brake member is frictionally engaged with the auxiliary wheel to restrict rotation of the auxiliary wheel. The braking system may be configured to synchronize the braking forces applied to first and second auxiliary wheels.