The embodiments described and claimed herein are a restraint system for securing a wheeled mobility device and its occupant in a vehicle. In one embodiment, occupant restraints and an anchor point are provided. The occupant restraints are connected directly to the anchor point, while the anchor point is on a frame of the wheeled mobility device and is adapted for connection to the vehicle for securing the wheeled mobility device and its occupant to the vehicle. With this configuration, occupant loads during an accident will bypass the gurney and occupant head excursions can be reduced.

The embodiments described and claimed herein are a restraint system for securing a wheeled mobility device in a vehicle. In one embodiment, at least one restraint includes a hand-releasable connection to the vehicle. In other embodiments, the hand releasable connection is formed by a set of mounting details, where the mounting details include a headed stud received in a slot. In yet other embodiments, the hand releasable connection can be formed by a spring loaded locking pin that engages with a bore. In even further embodiments, the headed stud and spring loaded locking pin are coupled to the restraint, while the slot and bore are coupled to the floor of the vehicle.

Patient support systems and methods for docking, transporting, sterilizing, and storing patient support decks. The patient support system comprises patient support decks that are configured to carry patients, such as in emergency situations or in a healthcare facility. The patient support decks are adapted to be engaged by docking stations and transport devices. Different configurations of docking stations and transport devices are contemplated. Sterilization apparatuses are provided to sterilize the patient support decks after use and storage facilities store the patient support decks for later use once they are sterilized.

An ambulance cot loading and unloading system for an emergency vehicle includes a base for mounting in the emergency vehicle and an arm mounted for linear movement along the base, wherein the arm configured to support a cot while the cot is being loaded into or unloaded from the emergency vehicle. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system further includes an indicator mounted relative to the arm and a control system, which is in communication with the indicator and configured to generate a status indication of the cot loading and unloading system at the indicator.

In one embodiment, a rolling transport cot may include an elongate frame, one or more support linkages, an arcuate coupling member, and a swivel caster. The one or more support linkages may include a pivoting link that is in rotatable engagement with the elongate frame, a traveling link that is in sliding and rotatable engagement with the elongate frame, and an equalizing link that is in rotatable engagement with the traveling link. The arcuate coupling member can be in rotatable engagement with the pivoting link and the equalizing link. The swivel caster may include a wheel that rotates along a surface and a swivel mechanism that can rotate around an axis that is aligned with the surface at a swivel angle φ. When the traveling link is urged along the elongate frame, the swivel angle φ of the swivel mechanism can be substantially constant.

A patient support apparatus comprises a litter and a base configured to receive and support the litter when the litter is docked to the base in a docked state. A foot end extension is coupled to a foot end of an intermediate frame of the base, with the foot end extension defining an extended position wherein at least a portion of the foot end extension extends outwardly beyond the foot end of the litter in a direction opposite the head end of the intermediate frame when the litter and base are in the docked state. The foot end extension includes a top surface that is axially aligned with a substantially flat configuration of the litter in the extended position. The foot end extension can be fixedly coupled in the extended position or movably coupled to the intermediate frame and movable between the extended position and a non-extended position.

Patient transport apparatus with defined transport height comprises a support structure and a litter that are interconnected by a lift mechanism. The support structure comprises a base frame and a plurality of articulable support members or legs. The litter comprises a litter frame and a patient support surface with articulating back and leg sections. The lift mechanism may comprise one or more actuators configured to raise and lower the litter between a lowered position and one or more defined raised positions. The Patient transport apparatus may further comprise a controller coupled to one or more sensors and the lift mechanism. The controller may be configured to define a transport height for the litter based, at least in part, on a characteristic detected by the one or more sensors, and to manipulate the lift mechanism to adjust the litter to the defined transport height.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a base and support wheels coupled to the base. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the base to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the floor surface to assist users. A wheel drive system is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheel to rotate the auxiliary wheel relative to the base at a rotational speed. A throttle assembly having a throttle operably coupled to the actuator. The throttle is movable in a first position, a second position, and intermediate positions between the first and second positions. The rotational speed of the auxiliary wheel changes in a non-linear manner with respect to movement of the throttle.

A self-propelled track drive module for an emergency stretcher, includes a left-side track drive unit and a right-side track drive unit. A frame, having a front end and a rear end, is disposed between the left-side track drive unit and the right-side track drive unit. The frame has a mounting structure for receiving an emergency stretcher and for releasably securing the emergency stretcher to the frame. The mounting structure is configured to support the emergency stretcher such that rolling wheels of the emergency stretcher do not contact a ground surface therebelow when the emergency stretcher is in a mounted condition.

An ambulance cot loading and unloading system for an emergency vehicle includes a base for mounting in the emergency vehicle and an arm mounted for linear movement along the base, wherein the arm configured to support a cot while the cot is being loaded into or unloaded from the emergency vehicle. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system further includes an indicator mounted relative to the arm and a control system, which is in communication with the indicator and configured to generate a status indication of the cot loading and unloading system at the indicator.