A bed for therapeutic and recreational applications, comprises a frame structure, a mattress provided on the frame structure of the bed, a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, an infrared heater assembly provided within the frame structure, the infrared heater assembly including a plurality of flexible heating elements connected with a power source, a plurality of temperature sensors provided at a plurality of locations on the frame structure and the mattress in order to generate signals in correlation with temperature values at the plurality of locations. Further, the frame structure includes a plurality of frame segments adapted to rotate to respective predetermined angles. Also, the mattress is made from at least partially transparent material and includes a fluid that is at least partially transparent.

A bed for therapeutic and recreational applications, comprises a frame structure, a mattress provided on the frame structure of the bed, a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, an infrared heater assembly provided within the frame structure, the infrared heater assembly including a plurality of flexible heating elements connected with a power source, a plurality of temperature sensors provided at a plurality of locations on the frame structure and the mattress in order to generate signals in correlation with temperature values at the plurality of locations. Further, the frame structure includes a plurality of frame segments adapted to rotate to respective predetermined angles. Also, the mattress is made from at least partially transparent material and includes a fluid that is at least partially transparent.

A patient support apparatus includes a frame and a mattress supported by the frame and arranged to support a patient thereon. A sensor is included to detect moisture on the patient and/or the patient support apparatus. The sensor produces signals indicative of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus. One or more alerts are output in response to the signals provided by the sensor to notify a caregiver of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus.

A patient support apparatus includes a frame and a mattress supported by the frame and arranged to support a patient thereon. A sensor is included to detect moisture on the patient and/or the patient support apparatus. The sensor produces signals indicative of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus. One or more alerts are output in response to the signals provided by the sensor to notify a caregiver of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus.

Powered patient support apparatuses—such as beds, cots, stretchers, or the like—include a plurality of user controls that allow a caregiver to control the steering and/or driving of one or more powered wheels from multiple different locations around the patient support apparatus (e.g. head end, foot end, and/or the sides). The control is carried out by force sensors that detect both an orientation of the applied forces and a magnitude of the applied forces. Translational and/or rotational movement is effectuated, depending upon the magnitude and direction of the forces, as well as the physical location of the applied force relative to a reference point on the support apparatus, such as the center. One or more object sensors may also be included in the support apparatus to assist in steering and/or navigating.

Powered patient support apparatuses—such as beds, cots, stretchers, or the like—include a plurality of user controls that allow a caregiver to control the steering and/or driving of one or more powered wheels from multiple different locations around the patient support apparatus (e.g. head end, foot end, and/or the sides). The control is carried out by force sensors that detect both an orientation of the applied forces and a magnitude of the applied forces. Translational and/or rotational movement is effectuated, depending upon the magnitude and direction of the forces, as well as the physical location of the applied force relative to a reference point on the support apparatus, such as the center. One or more object sensors may also be included in the support apparatus to assist in steering and/or navigating.

A method for detecting an exit of a patient from a hospital bed, the method comprising: detecting a presence of the patient on the bed, upon detection of the patient on the bed, monitoring an indication that the patient has moved from a predetermined patient area on a patient receiving surface of the bed to outside the predetermined patient area, upon detection that the patient has moved outside the predetermined patient area, activating a bed alarm to indicate to a user that an exit of the patient from the hospital bed has been detected, and after monitoring the indication that the patient has moved from the predetermined patient area and further upon receiving a pause command, suspending monitoring the indication that the patient has moved from the predetermined patient area. There is also provided a system for detecting an exit of a patient from a hospital bed.

A method for detecting an exit of a patient from a hospital bed, the method comprising: detecting a presence of the patient on the bed, upon detection of the patient on the bed, monitoring an indication that the patient has moved from a predetermined patient area on a patient receiving surface of the bed to outside the predetermined patient area, upon detection that the patient has moved outside the predetermined patient area, activating a bed alarm to indicate to a user that an exit of the patient from the hospital bed has been detected, and after monitoring the indication that the patient has moved from the predetermined patient area and further upon receiving a pause command, suspending monitoring the indication that the patient has moved from the predetermined patient area. There is also provided a system for detecting an exit of a patient from a hospital bed.

A patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and at least one caster assembly coupled to the structure to facilitate movement of the structure along a floor. Each caster assembly comprises a wheel, an actuator moveable between three actuator positions, a steer lock assembly moveable by the actuator between a steer and non-steer locked state, and a brake assembly movable by the actuator between a braked and unbraked state. The brake assembly includes a plunger, a retainer coupled to the plunger, a brake pad for sliding movement along the retainer, and a brake biasing element disposed between the plunger and the brake pad to urge the brake pad away from the plunger such that movement of the actuator to place the brake assembly in the braked state simultaneously brings the brake pad into engagement with the wheel and slides the brake pad along the retainer to compress the biasing element.

A patient support apparatus comprising a support frame and a patient support deck operatively attached to the support frame. The patient support deck has at least one deck section arranged for movement relative to the support frame. An actuator is arranged to move the deck section between an initial configuration and one or more raised configurations relative to the support frame. A link supports the deck section for movement with respect to the support frame. The link has a first end pivotally attached to the support frame, a second end pivotally attached to the deck section, and a protruding stop formed between the first end and the second end arranged to abut the deck section so as to prevent the actuator from moving the deck section beyond a maximum raised configuration.