Systems for patient support surface orientation and displacement

Abstract

There is provided a backrest pivoting system having a backrest and an actuator for pivoting the backrest. The actuator is pivotably connected to the backrest by a pivot defining a first pivot axis. The backrest is configured to pivot about a guide member which defines a second pivot axis coaxial with the first pivot axis. There is also provided a backrest pivoting system including an actuator and a resilient member mounted in series with the actuator. There is also provided an extendable user support assembly comprising a lower body support panel and a core support panel supported by a frame, the lower body support panel being translatable relative to the frame such that an opening is created between the lower body support panel and the core support panel when the lower body support panel is translated away from the core support panel. There is also provided a method for placing a bed in a vascular position.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A patient support device comprising:
 a base;   a frame supported relative to the base, the frame configured to support a patient support surface for supporting a patient thereon; and   an elevation system for raising or lowering the frame relative to the base, the elevation system including an actuator and a leg assembly coupled to the frame and the base, the leg assembly including at least one lifting leg, and the actuator mounted in the leg assembly between a first lever and a second lever, the first lever coupled to the lifting leg, and the second lever coupled to the base or the frame;   wherein the leg assembly comprises a head end leg assembly, the lift assembly further comprising a foot end leg assembly, and the foot end leg assembly including a lifting leg and an actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The patient support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lifting leg includes an upper pivot connection to the frame, a lower pivot connection to the base, and a folding pivot axis between the upper and lower pivot connections, and the first lever eccentrically coupled to the lifting leg at the folding pivot axis. 
     
     
         3 . The patient support device according to  claim 2 , wherein the lower pivot connection comprises a sliding pivot connection, the sliding pivot connection sliding along a long axis of the base. 
     
     
         4 . The patient support device according to  claim 3 , wherein the first lever comprises an offset frame, the offset frame pivotally mounted about the folding pivot axis and pivotally mounted to the sliding pivot connection. 
     
     
         5 . The patient support device according to  claim 4 , wherein the offset frame comprises a pair of spaced plates, the spaced plates supporting a transverse pin, and the actuator pivotally coupled to the transverse pin. 
     
     
         6 . The patient support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a plurality of pivoting links. 
     
     
         7 . The patient support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the head end leg assembly is independent of the foot end leg assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The patient support device according to  claim 7 , wherein the frame has a foot end and a head end, the lifting leg of one of foot end leg assembly and the head end leg assembly being pivotally mounted at a fixed pivot connection at or near foot end or the head end of the frame, the lifting leg of the other of the foot end leg assembly and head end leg assembly being pivotally mounted at a movable fixed pivot connection at or near the foot end or the head end of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The patient support device according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the head end leg assembly and the foot end leg assembly includes a pair of the lifting legs. 
     
     
         10 . The patient support device according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the actuators is mounted in a respective leg assembly between a first lever and a second lever, the first levers comprising pivotal frames, and each of the pivotal frames mounted between the pair of the lifting legs of the respective leg assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The patient support device according to  claim 1 , wherein the head end leg assembly and the foot end leg assembly each having an inverted Y-shaped configuration when the elevation system moves the frame to a raised position. 
     
     
         12 . A patient support device comprising:
 a base, the base having a base frame;   a support frame supported relative to the base, the support frame configured to support a patient support surface for supporting a patient thereon;   a head end actuator;   a foot end actuator; and   an elevation system for raising or lowering the frame relative to the base, the elevation system including a head end leg assembly and a foot end leg assembly, each of the leg assemblies having a Y-shaped configuration when the frame is raised and being folded when the frame is lowered, the head end leg assembly and the foot end leg assembly each having a pair of lifting legs, the lifting legs pivotally mounted at their upper ends to the frame and pivotally mounted at their lower ends to the base, each of the lifting legs having a folding pivot axis, and each of the head end and foot end actuators having a lower pivot connection below the base frame and an upper pivot connection above the folding pivot axis of a respective pair of lifting legs of the lifting legs.   
     
     
         13 . The patient support device according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the actuators is mounted in a respective leg assembly between a first lever and a second lever, the first levers comprising pivotal frames, and each of the pivotal frames mounted between the pair of the lifting legs of a respective leg assembly of the head end leg assembly and the foot end leg assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The patient support device according to  claim 13 , wherein the head end leg assembly and the foot end leg assembly each have an inverted Y-shaped configuration when the elevation system moves the frame to a raised position. 
     
     
         15 . The patient support device according to  claim 13 , wherein the frame has a foot end and a head end, the lifting legs of one of the foot end leg assembly or the head end leg assembly being pivotally mounted at fixed pivot connections at or near the foot end or the head end of the frame, the lifting legs of the other of foot end leg assembly and head end leg assembly being pivotally mounted at movable fixed pivot connections at or near the foot end of the frame.