An auxiliary drive device for a wheelchair has at least one electrically driven drive wheel and a coupling mechanism for coupling the auxiliary drive device to the wheelchair. The coupling mechanism includes a movable locking element which is movably supported in the coupling mechanism. The movable locking element can be in a locking position in which it causes locking in a positive-locking manner so that the auxiliary drive device is coupled to the wheelchair and, by operation of a handle, the locking element can be moved in a release position in which uncoupling of the auxiliary drive device from the wheelchair is possible.

A mobility scooter control system includes a remote control console having a wireless transmitter and switches. A status detection circuit is integrated with the switches. The status detection circuit emits a pulse on a regular cycle. After the pulse passes the respective switch following a change in state of the switch, a wireless transmission is sent. A controller is electronically connected to a motor. The control system has a regular operation mode in which direction of movement and speed limit functions are responsive to instructions inputted to the controller, and, in the absence of user instruction, the controller does not instruct movement of the motor. The control system has a Sabbath operation mode in which the direction of movement and speed limit functions are responsive only to signals from the wireless transmitter, and, in the absence of user instruction, the controller instructs the motor to continuously cycle backward and forward.

A remote-control device for controlling an appliance having a plurality of appliance components is provided. The remote-control device includes a plurality of pushbutton units, each pushbutton unit including at least one physical operating pushbutton configurable to control at least one appliance component. Each of the pushbutton units is provided with a visually detectable distinguishing feature for visually distinguishing one pushbutton unit from another pushbutton unit. The remote-control device also includes a display unit configured to display representations of each controllable appliance component. Each representation of an appliance component includes the same visually detectable distinguishing feature as a corresponding pushbutton unit to which the appliance component is assigned.

A method of rotating a subject includes arranging a lifting aid underneath the subject such that a midline of the subject is off center from a centerline of the lifting aid in a direction opposite of the rotation direction. The lifting aid includes a first loop extending in the rotation direction and a second loop extending in the opposite direction. The method further includes connecting the loops to a sling bar coupled to an overhead lift and directing the overhead lift to raise, where the subject rotates towards the direction of rotation due to the off center location of the subject. The method further includes repositioning the subject when the subject has rotated to a lateral recumbent position and directing the overhead lift to lower, thereby causing the subject to continue rotating.

A handset for controlling a device having a plurality of movable parts defining a support, or a movable surface, the handset having a housing, a touchscreen display on a front face of the housing, the touchscreen display being adapted to display an image representative of a device or surface to be controlled, and a control system within the housing which is connected to the touchscreen display, wherein the control system has an input module which is adapted to receive an input command in the form of a gesture drawn on the touchscreen display, and an output module which is adapted to generate an output control signal, associated with the input command, for transmission to the device or surface.

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 patient bed may include a tag reader that may be connected to antennas on opposite sides of the patient bed. The patient bed may also include circuitry configured to produce, with the tag reader and the antennas, an interrogation signal from the opposite sides of the patient bed, to cause a location tag that may be mounted to a doorway of a room to produce a response signal. The circuitry may also be configured to receive, with the tag reader and with one of the antennas, the response signal from the location tag. Additionally, the circuitry may be configured to determine, as a function of room data in the response signal, a present location of the patient bed.

Bedding for a crib mattress includes a plurality of temperature sensitive sensors disposed therein and an on-board power source. The sensors are configured to be in wireless communication with a monitoring device. A visual indicator is disposed upon the bedding and in electrical communication with the power source. The visual indicator is activated when a pre-set temperature is sensed by any one of the sensors.

An operating table is proposed that may form a system with a remote control. The operating table has a column and table top comprising at least three elements, at least two of which are movable. Interface joints (40.sub.1-40.sub.3) are provided between adjacent elements and are controlled to move by a controller (100). A light emitting arrangement (42) is arranged at each interface joint and is adapted to display light in a pattern having a characteristic that is visibly unique to the associated interface joint such that the interface joints are visually distinguishable from one another. The remote control (50) has touch controls (60.sub.1-60.sub.3) for communicating signals for controlling movement of the interface joints (40.sub.1-40.sub.3). Each touch control is associated with one interface joint and is provided with a visible pattern having a characteristic that is substantially the same as that displayed at the associated interface joint.

A frame positioning device comprises a base assembly, an elevation and rotation assembly coupled to the base assembly, and a table assembly coupled to the elevation and rotation assembly. The table assembly comprises a table support and pivot sub-assembly, a first table section subassembly, and a second table section subassembly. The table support and pivot subassembly is coupled to the first table section subassembly via a first pivot point. The table support and pivot subassembly is coupled to the second table section subassembly via a second pivot point.