A transfer device has a carriage supported on a base, movable between a home position and an extended position. A table assembly includes a lower table fixed to the carriage and an upper table coupled to the lower table, movable between a downward position in forcible contact with the lower table and an upward position having no contact with the lower table. The table assembly moves toward the extended position with the tables in forcible contact to place the table assembly underneath the object to be transferred while keeping the base stationary. The plates are separated to lift the object on the upper table while the lower table remains resting upon the support surface. The table assembly returns to the home position while supporting the object on the upper table and keeping the upper and lower tables separated. The device may operate in a bidirectional manner.

A pad of vibration-reducing foam is interposed between a spineboard and a litter that are secured together by straps. The pad has a pad upper surface contoured to receive and substantially mate with a spineboard lower surface to block horizontal motion therebetween, and a pad lower surface with a substantially planar support region. The pad can be formed of more than one layer of foam, with each layer having different vibration-damping characteristics. Material costs can be reduced by employing a discontinuous pad formed by a pad head segment and a pad foot segment. When a full-length pad is employed, separate straps for engaging the spineboard and the litter can be provided, with the pad interposed between the straps to prevent transmission of vibrations through the straps. The pad can be configured to offset the spineboard on the litter and allow a portable ICU to be placed alongside the spineboard.

A pad of vibration-reducing foam is interposed between a spineboard and a litter that are secured together by straps. The pad has a pad upper surface contoured to receive and substantially mate with a spineboard lower surface to block horizontal motion therebetween, and a pad lower surface with a substantially planar support region. The pad can be formed of more than one layer of foam, with each layer having different vibration-damping characteristics. Material costs can be reduced by employing a discontinuous pad formed by a pad head segment and a pad foot segment. When a full-length pad is employed, separate straps for engaging the spineboard and the litter can be provided, with the pad interposed between the straps to prevent transmission of vibrations through the straps. The pad can be configured to offset the spineboard on the litter and allow a portable ICU to be placed alongside the spineboard.

A patient lifting apparatus designed to facilitate the lifting patients off the ground having a backboard having a perimeter, a patient receiving surface and an opposingly located lower surface having opposingly located bases thereon, each of the bases having opposingly located curved sections and a flat middle section located in between the curved sections.

A patient lifting apparatus designed to facilitate the lifting patients off the ground having a backboard having a perimeter, a patient receiving surface and an opposingly located lower surface having opposingly located bases thereon, each of the bases having opposingly located curved sections and a flat middle section located in between the curved sections.

A patient transport apparatus for use with a vehicle, comprising a lift mechanism between a base and a support frame to move between an extended configuration defining a first distance and a retracted configuration defining a second distance. An interface generates a user signal. A sensor generates a sensor signal corresponding to force acting on the base relative to the support frame. A controller determines if the user signal corresponds to an extend or retract command; determines if the force acting on the base has exceeded a predetermined threshold value based on the sensor signal; drives the lift mechanism toward the extended configuration where the user signal corresponds to the extend command and toward the retracted configuration where the user signal corresponds to the retract command; and interrupts driving the lift mechanism to stop motion of the lift mechanism in response to the sensor signal exceeding the predetermined threshold value.

A patient transport apparatus for use with a vehicle, comprising a lift mechanism between a base and a support frame to move between an extended configuration defining a first distance and a retracted configuration defining a second distance. An interface generates a user signal. A sensor generates a sensor signal corresponding to force acting on the base relative to the support frame. A controller determines if the user signal corresponds to an extend or retract command; determines if the force acting on the base has exceeded a predetermined threshold value based on the sensor signal; drives the lift mechanism toward the extended configuration where the user signal corresponds to the extend command and toward the retracted configuration where the user signal corresponds to the retract command; and interrupts driving the lift mechanism to stop motion of the lift mechanism in response to the sensor signal exceeding the predetermined threshold value.

A stretcher comprising a hollow body made in one piece and extending longitudinally is described. In the stretcher there is an upper seat, intended to accommodate a patient in pronated position that includes a flexible bearing plane surrounded by perimetric retaining side walls. The retaining side walls are tilted with respect to the bearing plane and the lower surface of the hollow rigid body include continuous convex curved struts extending at least under the retaining side walls.

A stretcher may include a foldable/decomposable frame. The frame may include at least two transverse frame elements and two longitudinal frame elements. Each of the longitudinal frame elements may include at least a first longitudinal member and at least a second longitudinal member that may be perpendicularly connectable at their respective first ends to the opposite transverse frame elements and may be removably connectable to each other at their second ends. The stretcher may include multiple support assemblies. Each of the multiple support assemblies may include an elongated support and two support connectors. The support connectors of each of the multiple support assemblies may be removably connectable at their first ends to the opposite longitudinal frame elements and removably connectable at their seconds ends to opposite ends of the respective elongated support.

A stretcher may include a foldable/decomposable frame. The frame may include at least two transverse frame elements and two longitudinal frame elements. Each of the longitudinal frame elements may include at least a first longitudinal member and at least a second longitudinal member that may be perpendicularly connectable at their respective first ends to the opposite transverse frame elements and may be removably connectable to each other at their second ends. The stretcher may include multiple support assemblies. Each of the multiple support assemblies may include an elongated support and two support connectors. The support connectors of each of the multiple support assemblies may be removably connectable at their first ends to the opposite longitudinal frame elements and removably connectable at their seconds ends to opposite ends of the respective elongated support.