Hospital bed

Abstract

A patient support apparatus including a first patient support configured to be rotated about a longitudinal axis. The patient support apparatus is configured to receive an x-ray cassette. The first patient support illustratively includes an inflatable bladder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for supporting a patient and for positioning an x-ray cassette comprising: 
 a frame;    a patient support assembly coupled to the frame and configured to be rotated about a longitudinal axis to position the patient in at least a supine position and a prone position, the patient support assembly including a first patient support for supporting a patient in a supine position and a second patient support for supporting the patient in a prone position; and    a holder apparatus adapted to receive an x-ray cassette and configured to position the x-ray cassette relative to the patient, the holder apparatus being supported by the patient support assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first patient support includes an inflatable bladder and the holder apparatus is positioned below the inflatable bladder such that the inflatable bladder is positioned between the holder apparatus and the patient.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the holder apparatus includes a base portion and a lifting mechanism configured to move the x-ray cassette relative to the base portion.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein x-ray cassette is positioned relative to the patient by at least partially deflating the inflatable bladder and moving the x-ray cassette relative to the lifting mechanism such that the x-ray cassette is spaced apart from the base portion.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a backboard, the backboard being removably coupled to the patient support assembly to facilitate transport of the patient to and from the apparatus.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the patient support assembly is further configured to position the patient in a Trendelenburg position and a reverse Trendelenburg position.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism operably coupled to the patient support assembly and configured to rotate the patient support assembly about the longitudinal axis and a controller operably coupled to the drive mechanism and configured to control the rotation of the patient support assembly.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the drive mechanism is a rotatable motorized drive mechanism.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the holder apparatus is moveable from a first position supported by the patient support assembly and a second position spaced apart from the patient support assembly.  
     
     
         10 . A method of positioning an x-ray cassette relative to a patient being supported at least by an inflatable bladder of a patient support, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a holder apparatus including a base portion, the holder apparatus being adapted to receive an x-ray cassette;    positioning the holder apparatus below the inflatable bladder of the patient support; and    deflating at least partially the inflatable bladder to reduce the distance between the patient and the x-ray cassette.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the holder apparatus is further configured to move the x-ray cassette between a first position wherein the x-ray cassette is received by the base portion and a second position wherein the x-ray cassette is spaced apart from the base portion.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of moving the x-ray cassette from the first position to the second position while the holder apparatus is positioned below the inflatable bladder.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the patient support further comprises a backboard supported by the inflatable bladder, the patient being supported by the backboard, and wherein the inflatable bladder is deflated such that the x-ray cassette is positioned proximate to the backboard when the x-ray cassette is in the second position.  
     
     
         14 . An x-ray carriage for positioning an x-ray cassette, the x-ray carriage comprising: 
 a base having a recessed portion adapted to receive an x-ray cassette;    a lifting mechanism coupled to the base and configured to move the x-ray cassette relative to the base such that the x-ray cassette is moveable from a first position wherein the x-ray cassette is received by the recess portion and a second position wherein the x-ray cassette is spaced apart from the recess portion; and    an actuator configured to actuate the lifting mechanism.    
     
     
         15 . The x-ray carriage of  claim 14 , wherein the lifting mechanism includes a scissor lift.  
     
     
         16 . The x-ray carriage of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator is a crank.  
     
     
         17 . The x-ray carriage of  claim 14 , wherein the base includes a handle portion.  
     
     
         18 . The x-ray carriage of  claim 14 , wherein the second position is vertically spaced apart relative to the first position.  
     
     
         19 . The x-ray carriage of  claim 14 , wherein a front portion of the base includes a tapered portion.