A litter lift system includes a motor-driven winch and a lifting strap. The motor-driven winch includes a rotatable spool. The lifting strap has one end coupled to the rotatable spool and is movable in response to rotation of the rotatable spool. The lifting strap has a first lifting segment and a second lifting segment positioned away from the end of the lifting strap coupled to the rotatable spool. The first lifting segment and the second lifting segment are each forked to define two separate lifting loops. Rotation of the rotatable spool in a first direction raises the first lifting segment and the second lifting segment. Rotation of the rotatable spool in a second direction different from the first direction lowers the first lifting segment and the second lifting segment.

A rail assembly for a knee positioning system that includes a base and a pair of rails removably coupled to the base. Each of the rails defines a plurality of positioning slots formed therein, each of the positioning slots being at least partially aligned with a corresponding positioning slot of the other rail. At least one of the rails and the base form at least one cleanout channel therebetween that is configured to receive a cleaning fluid for removing contaminants that collect on the at least one rail and the base.

An infant care device that can include a failure indicating feature in one or more of the side panels to discourage improper use of the side panels to move the infant care device. When a side panels is used to move the infant care device and a force greater than a pre-determined maximum is applied to the side panel, the failure indicting feature indicates such improper use. The failure indicating feature is designed to provide an indication at a level of force that is less than the level of force that would damage the hinge and latch assembly holding the side panel. The failure indicating feature can provide a physical indication or a visual indication when a force greater than a predetermined maximum is applied to the side panel.

A barrier overcoming method for a mobile assistive device is disclosed. The barrier overcoming method includes sensing a surrounding environment of the mobile assistive device; determining whether a dangerous terrain exists in the surrounding environment of the mobile assistive device; determining whether the dangerous terrain belongs to a conquerable obstacle when the dangerous terrain exists in the surrounding environment around the mobile assistive device; and adjusting a status of the mobile assistive device to overcome the dangerous terrain when the dangerous terrain belongs to a conquerable obstacle.

Patient support apparatuses include a frame, support surface, and a controller. The controller provides notification to a user of a service event relating to the patient support apparatus. The controller limits functionality of a component of the patient support apparatus based upon a severity of the service event. The controller may also, or alternatively, detect when a control is activated by a user and, in response to such activation, determine whether the patient support apparatus has been marked for use or marked for servicing. If marked for use, the controller responds in a first manner, and if marked for service, the controller responds in a different manner. In other embodiments, a method is provided for determining an order in which multiple patient support apparatuses should be service. In still other embodiments, the patient support apparatus automatically changes to an unusable configuration when in need of high priority service.

A band of stretchable material has dimensions suitable to be stretched over the neck of a urinal bottle. The neck has exposed edges that can come into contact with a user's hand, arms, male member, and/or any other portions of a user's anatomy, and the band is sized so that it covers those edges of the bottle neck. The band has a length and a diameter, and that diameter is smaller than the diameter of the neck in a urinal bottle. That way, when stretched over the neck, the bank will cover the edges of the neck of the bottle. In use, the band will also cover at least some portion of the opening in the neck of the urinal bottle.

A person lifting apparatus includes a first lifting strap feeding device including a first drum and a first lifting strap wound on the first drum. A second lifting strap feeding device includes a second drum and a second lifting strap wound on the second drum. A controller is communicatively coupled to the first lifting strap feeding device and to the second lifting strap feeding device. The controller includes logic that controls operation of the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device based on a comparison of current draws of the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device.

A patient support system for providing customized user menus. The system comprises a patient support apparatus, a user interface configured to receive input from a user, and a display configured to display user menus or information. The user menus may comprise indicia representative of the operational functions of the patient support apparatus. A controller determines the customized user menu based on usage characteristics, a position of the user interface in proximity to the patient support apparatus, a location of the user interface within a facility, an identification of the user, and/or a patient condition. A touchscreen and/or a mobile device may comprise the user interface and the display. The mobile device may be removably coupled to the patient support apparatus. Methods for improving patient care by providing the customized user menu are also disclosed.

A bed base frame assembly of a bed generally comprises a base frame, a plurality of steerable and lockable casters, a lateral support assembly at the first and second sides of the base frame assembly, and an in-line support assembly at the foot end of the base frame assembly. The lateral support assembly may further include: a base frame; a first leg and a second leg rotatably connected to the base frame; a first actuator connected to the first leg and the second leg, wherein the first leg and the second leg rotate from the retracted position to the extended position; a third leg and a fourth leg rotatably connected to the base frame; and a second actuator connected to the third leg and the fourth leg, wherein the third leg and the fourth leg rotate from the retracted position to the extended position.

The present invention provides a braking device for an operating table base, comprising at least two supporting legs, each supporting leg having a pivoting end and a supporting end distanced from the pivoting end. The operating table base supports an operation bed whose projected area covers the operating table base. The operating table base has a first pivoting portion corresponding to each supporting leg, and each supporting leg has a second pivoting portion at the pivoting end to correspond to the first pivoting portion of the operating table base. The first pivoting portion pivotally connects to the second pivoting portion, so that each supporting leg rotates with respect to the operating table base. The supporting ends of the supporting legs extend a supporting area of the operating table base.