Patient Transport Apparatus With A Frame Assembly For Supporting A Patient Treatment Device

A patient transport apparatus for supporting a patient and a patient treatment device. The patient transport apparatus includes a seat assembly having a seat frame. A fowler assembly having a fowler frame is coupled to seat frame and is moveable relative to the seat assembly. The seat and fowler assemblies support the patient. A fowler actuator moves the fowler frame relative to the seat frame. A support frame assembly is coupled to the fowler frame. The support frame assembly includes a handle extending from the fowler frame and has a grasping portion spaced from the fowler frame. A mounting member is coupled to the handle. The mounting member defines a brace surface shaped for supporting the patient treatment device. The brace surface is spaced from a grasping portion of the handle to permit a user to grab the handle while supporting the patient treatment device.

BACKGROUND

Patient support systems facilitate care of patients in a health care setting. Patient support systems comprise patient transport apparatuses such as, for example, hospital beds, stretchers, cots, tables, wheelchairs, chairs, stair chairs, and the like. Many conventional patient transport apparatuses, such as for example cots, generally include a base arranged for movement about floor surfaces, and a litter upon which a patient can be positioned or otherwise supported. Here, one or types of lift mechanisms may be employed to facilitate adjusting a vertical position of the litter relative to the base to, among other things, promote patient care, load the patient transport apparatus into an ambulance, and the like.

Conventional stair chairs (or “evacuation chairs”) are configured to facilitate transporting a seated patient up or down a flight of stairs, such as by employing tracks that allow for controlled descent down a staircase. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, when used in connection with certain emergency medical services, stair chairs are typically realized as separate patient transport apparatuses from cots. Further, many conventional ambulances are configured to facilitate loading, securing, and transporting cots, but typically only employ storage space for stair chairs. Thus, in scenarios where a patient being transported via an ambulance on a cot must be transported up or down stairs using a stair chair, the patient sometimes has to be transferred between different patient transport apparatuses, such as from a stair chair to a cot which may subsequently be loaded into an ambulance.

It will be appreciated that transporting patients in stair chairs can sometimes necessitate that various types of emergency care equipment be transported concurrently with the patient up or down flights of stairs. Here, depending on the size, weight, and configuration of the emergency care equipment, it can be difficult for caregivers to navigate narrow stairwells while also simultaneously transporting the patient and the emergency care equipment.

A patient support system designed to overcome one or more of the aforementioned challenges is desired.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a patient transport apparatus for supporting a patient and a patient treatment device. The patient transport apparatus includes: a seat assembly having a front end and a rear end with a seat frame and defining a patient support surface for supporting the patient; a fowler assembly having a fowler frame coupled to a rear end of the seat frame and being moveable relative to the seat assembly, the fowler assembly further defining the patient support surface for supporting the patient, and the fowler assembly including a fowler actuator to move the fowler frame relative to the seat frame between a plurality of patient support configurations; and a support frame assembly coupled to the fowler frame and configured for supporting the patient treatment device, the support frame assembly including, a handle extending from the fowler frame and having a grasping portion spaced from the fowler frame, and a mounting member coupled to the handle adjacent the grasping portion of the handle and extending toward the fowler assembly, the mounting member defining a brace surface shaped for supporting the patient treatment device, the brace surface spaced from the grasping portion of the handle for permitting a user to grab the grasping portion while supporting the patient treatment device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS.1A-1B, portions of a patient support system100are shown including a patient transport apparatus102for supporting a patient in a health care setting according to aspects of the present disclosure. In some versions, the patient transport apparatus102is configured to be loaded into a cargo area of an ambulance, such as via a power load device (not shown). As will be appreciated from the subsequent description below, while the illustrated versions of the patient transport apparatus102described herein are configured as cots for transporting patients, the patient transport apparatus102may comprise a hospital bed, a stretcher, a table, a wheelchair, a chair, or a similar apparatus utilized in the care of a patient. The version of the patient transport apparatus102shown inFIGS.1A-1Bgenerally comprises a base110and a litter112. The litter112defines or otherwise comprises a patient support surface114to support a patient.

In some versions, the patient transport apparatus102may comprise a reconfigurable patient support as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,486,373, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In some versions, the patient transport apparatus102may comprise a reconfigurable transport apparatus as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,510,981, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In some versions, the patient transport apparatus102may comprise a person support apparatus system as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0028383, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In some versions, the patient transport apparatus102may comprise a patient transfer apparatus with integrated tracks as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/854,943, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In some versions, the patient transport apparatus102may comprise a variable speed patient transfer apparatus as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/854,199, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In some versions, the patient transport apparatus102may comprise a patient transfer apparatus as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/855,161, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In some versions, the patient transport apparatus102may comprise an ambulance cot as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,398,571, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

With continued reference toFIGS.1A-1B, the base110and litter112each have a head end HE and a foot end FE corresponding to designated placement of the patient's head and feet on the patient transport apparatus102. InFIG.1A, the litter112is shown separated from the base110; as is described in greater detail below, the base110is configured to removably receive and support the litter112in certain situations. Put differently, in the illustrated version, the litter112is configured for releasable attachment to the base110. The base110generally includes a base frame116, an intermediate frame118, and a base lift device120. The intermediate frame118is spaced above the base frame116and is moved relative to the base frame116via the base lift device120as described in greater detail below. Although not illustrated in detail in the drawings, a mattress (or sections thereof) may be disposed on or integral with the litter112. In such circumstances, the mattress comprises or otherwise defines a secondary patient support surface114upon which the patient is supported.

As will be described in greater detail below in connection withFIGS.2-9, in the illustrated versions, the litter112employs a plurality of assemblies, some of which are capable of being articulated relative to others in various ways and under certain operating conditions to adjust the patient support surface114and to facilitate docking to and undocking from the base110. In the illustrated version, the litter112generally includes a seat assembly122with a seat frame124and a seat section126, a fowler assembly128with a fowler frame130and a fowler section132, a front assembly134with a front frame136and a front section138, a rear assembly140with a rear frame142, and a ski assembly144. Each of the assemblies122,128,134,140,144introduced above will be described in greater detail below.

In the illustrated versions, the fowler assembly128pivots relative to the seat assembly122about a fowler axis XW (shown inFIG.10), the front assembly134pivots relative to the seat assembly122about a front axis XF, and the rear assembly140pivots relative to the seat assembly122about a rear axis XR. In addition, the ski assembly144pivots about the rear axis XR, but could pivot about other axes in some configurations. In the illustrated version, the seat section126, the fowler section132, and the front section138each provide support to the patient and, thus, generally cooperate to define the patient support surface114. In the illustrated version, the front section138is also configured to translate along the front frame136, such as is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/705,878, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. It will be appreciated that the fowler section132and the front section138may pivot relative to the seat section126, or may articulate relative to the seat section126in any manner. For instance, the fowler section132and/or the front section138may both pivot and translate relative to the seat section126in some configurations.

Caregiver interfaces148, such as upper and lower handles148a,148b, help facilitate movement of the patient transport apparatus102over floor surfaces. Here, caregiver interfaces148may be coupled to the fowler assembly128, the front assembly134(not shown), the intermediate frame118(not shown), and the like. Additional caregiver interfaces may be integrated into other components of the patient transport apparatus102. The upper and lower handles148a,148band other optional caregiver interfaces148are graspable by the caregiver to manipulate the patient transport apparatus102for movement.

Base wheels150are coupled to the base frame116to facilitate transport over floor surfaces, and facilitate supporting the base. The base wheels150are arranged in each of four quadrants of the base110adjacent to corners of the base frame116. In the illustrated versions, the base wheels150are caster wheels, which are able to rotate and swivel relative to the base frame116during transport. Each of the base wheels150forms part of a base caster assembly152. Each base caster assembly152is mounted to the base frame116. It should be understood that various configurations of base caster assemblies152are contemplated. In addition, in some configurations, the base wheels150are not caster wheels and may be non-steerable, steerable, non-powered, powered, or combinations thereof. Additional base wheels150are also contemplated. For example, the patient transport apparatus102may comprise four non-powered, non-steerable wheels, along with one or more powered wheels. In some cases, the patient transport apparatus102may not include any wheels. In other configurations, one or more auxiliary wheels (powered or non-powered), which are movable between stowed positions and deployed positions, may be coupled to the base frame116. In some cases, when these auxiliary wheels are located between caster assemblies and contact the floor surface FS in the deployed position, they cause two of the base caster assemblies152to be lifted off the floor surface thereby shortening a wheel base of the patient transport apparatus102. A fifth wheel may also be arranged substantially in a center of the base110. Other configurations are contemplated.

It should be noted that in many of the drawings described herein, certain components of the patient transport apparatus102have been omitted from view for convenience of description and case of illustration.

A control system (not shown) of the patient transport apparatus may generally comprise one or more powered devices operated by a controller in response to actuation of one or more user interfaces and optionally in response to state signals from a sensing system (not shown). One suitable example of a patient transport apparatus102having such a control system is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0369036, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The litter112of the present disclosure is configured to be removably attached to the intermediate frame118of the base110, as noted above and as is described in greater detail below, and is generally operable between: an undocked mode MU (seeFIG.1A) where the litter112supports the patient for movement independent of the base110, and a docked mode MD (seeFIG.1B) where the litter112supports the patient for movement concurrent with the base110. While operating in the undocked mode MU, the litter112is operable between various configurations by pivoting or otherwise articulating assemblies122,128,134,140,144relative to one another. While operating in the docked mode MD, portions of the litter112may be articulable to adjust the patient support surface114, such as by moving the fowler assembly128.

In some configurations, the litter112is configured to serve as a mobile chair to transport the patient along floor surfaces FS as well as up and down stairs ST. Mobile chairs (sometimes called “stair chairs”) are used to evacuate patients from buildings where patient accessibility is limited, such as buildings having more than one floor. As noted above, the patient support surface114of the litter112of the illustrated patient transport apparatus102is generally defined by the fowler section132, the seat section126, and the front section138. Here, the seat section126is supported by the seat frame124, and the fowler section132is supported by the fowler frame130that is coupled to the seat frame124such that the fowler frame130may pivot or otherwise articulate relative to the seat frame124. The front section138is supported by the front frame136which is coupled to the seat frame124such that the front frame136may pivot or otherwise articulate relative to the seat frame124. Here too, the rear assembly140is coupled to the seat frame124such that the rear frame142may pivot or otherwise articulate relative to the seat frame124.

In some configurations, the seat frame124may include seat frame members170spaced laterally apart from and fixed relative to each other. Similarly, the fowler frame130may include fowler frame members172spaced laterally apart and fixed relative to each other. The front frame136may include front legs174spaced laterally apart and fixed relative to each other, and the rear frame142may include rear legs176spaced laterally apart and fixed relative to each other. In the illustrated version, the litter112comprises a fowler actuator178, a front actuator180, and a rear actuator182which are each driven by the controller (e.g., by a litter controller) and are operatively attached to the seat assembly122to facilitate respectively pivoting or otherwise articulating the fowler assembly128, the front assembly134, and the rear assembly140relative to the seat assembly122.

In the illustrated versions, the fowler assembly128is movable via the fowler actuator178between a fowler raised position, a fowler lowered position, and one or more intermediate fowler positions between the fowler raised position and the fowler lowered position.

As noted above, the illustrated patient transport apparatus102employs the track driving device164, which is configured to assist users in traversing a flight of stairs by mitigating the load users (e.g., caregivers) would otherwise be required to lift via caregiver interfaces148. In some configurations, the track driving device164may be configured to move the litter112across the floor surface. The track driving device164is formed as a part of the rear legs176of the rear assembly140. Here, each rear leg176includes a respective track frame member184coupled to the seat frame124for pivoting movement about the rear axis XR. The track driving device164also includes track actuators186which drive continuous leg tracks188rotatably coupled to the respective leg track frame members184. The track actuators186are coupled to the track frame members184and are coupled to (or otherwise disposed in communication with) the controller to drive the leg tracks188for ascending and descending stairs. The track driving device164may be configured to operate in the same manner or a similar manner as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,398,571, 9,486,373, 9,510,981, U.S. 2018/0369036 and/or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0028383, previously referenced.

The rear assembly140also includes rear wheels190rotatably coupled to each of the track frame members184that are configured to be disposed in contact with the floor surface FS, such as to support the litter112for movement in the chair configuration CC. In the illustrated versions, the rear wheels190are freely rotatable. In alternative versions, the rear wheels190may be powered drive wheels coupled to the controller. Other configurations are contemplated. The components of the track driving device164are arranged such that the leg track frame members184, the leg tracks188, and the rear wheels190move together with the rear assembly140which, as noted above, is arranged to selectively pivot about the rear axis XR to facilitate changing between the various configurations of the litter112as well as to facilitate docking and undocking from the base110.

In some versions, the ski assemblies144serve as extensions to the track driving device164and likewise help facilitate engagement with stairs ST. To this end, in the illustrated versions, the ski assemblies144each include respective ski track frame members192operatively attached to the seat frame124for pivoting movement about the rear axis XR (or another axis). Here too, the track actuators186drive continuous ski tracks194rotatably coupled to the respective ski track frame members192.

The front legs174of the front assembly134support respective front wheels196, which are realized as part of respective front caster assemblies198arranged to facilitate movement of the litter112on the floor surface, as well as to facilitate transitioning between various litter112configurations. In the illustrated versions, the front wheels196are freely rotatable, but could be motorized, braked, and the like in some versions. As noted above, in some versions, the front section138may be translatable along the front frame136. To this end, the front assembly134may include an extension mechanism, generally indicated at200, configured to longitudinally position the front section138relative to the front legs174. While not depicted in detail herein, the extension mechanism200may be similar to as is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/705,878, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

A litter lift device162is coupled to the litter112and is configured to raise and lower the patient between minimum and maximum heights of the litter112, and to generally facilitate movement between litter112configurations when the litter112is separated from the base110. To this end, the illustrated litter lift device162generally includes the front actuator180and the rear actuator182. The base lift device120is coupled to the base110and is configured to raise and lower the patient between a plurality of vertical configurations including a maximum raised configuration110R (seeFIG.1B), a maximum lowered configuration110L (seeFIG.1A), and a plurality of vertical configurations therebetween, both while the litter112is supported by the base110and, in some versions, while the litter112is undocked from the base110.

In the representative version illustrated inFIGS.1A-1B, the base110comprises one or more lift arms202coupling the intermediate frame118to the base frame116. The base lift device120comprises one or more base lift actuators204coupled to at least one of the base frame116and the intermediate frame118to raise and lower the intermediate frame118and litter112relative to the floor surface FS and the base frame116. The base lift device120may be configured to operate in the same manner or a similar manner as the lift mechanisms shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,398,571, 9,486,373, 9,510,981, and/or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0028383, previously referenced.

The base110of the patient transport apparatus102also generally includes a docking subassembly206operatively coupled to the intermediate frame118. Here, the docking subassembly206includes intermediate rails208which support a trolley210for translation between a trolley forward position210F where the trolley210is arranged at the head end HE of the base110, and a trolley docking position210D where the trolley210is arranged at the foot end FE of the base110. The trolley210includes or otherwise defines upper and lower pin stops212,214which are arranged to engage against respective upper and lower pins216,218of the litter112in order to support the litter112in a cantilevered position CP during the process of docking the litter112to the base110, as well as to support the litter112to the base110when operating in the docked mode MD. The docking subassembly206also generally includes a forward trolley lock mechanism220to inhibit movement of the trolley210away from the trolley forward position210F, and a dock trolley lock mechanism222to inhibit movement of the trolley210away from the trolley docking position210D, in order to facilitate transitioning between the undocked mode MU and the docked mode MD.

As noted above, caregivers may use the litter112to evacuate patients from buildings where patient accessibility is limited, such as buildings having more than one floor. Evacuation of the patient is often accomplished outside the confines of a patient care facility. In these circumstances, caregivers may need to bring patient treatment devices230necessary to facilitate evacuation with them inside the building and keep the patient treatment devices close to the patient during evacuation. The patient treatment device230is realized as an Oxygen tank in this disclosure. However, it is contemplated that other patient treatment devices230may be employed. Requiring a caregiver to carry the patient treatment device230while simultaneously operating the litter112to evacuate the patient from the building can be cumbersome. To case this burden, the patient transport apparatus102includes a support frame assembly232to secure the patient treatment device230to the litter112.

As shown inFIGS.3-7, the support frame assembly232is coupled to the fowler frame130. The support frame assembly232includes a handle (lower handle148b). As noted above, the illustrated versions of the litter112include the upper handle148aand the lower handle148bas caregiver interfaces. In this version, the handle of the support frame assembly232comprises the lower handle148b. It is contemplated that the support frame assembly232may include another handle or a different handle. The lower handle148bextends from the fowler frame130. The lower handle148bhas a grasping portion234spaced from the fowler frame130designed for the caregiver to grasp.

The support frame assembly232also includes a mounting member236coupled to the lower handle148badjacent the grasping portion234of the lower handle148b. The mounting member236extends toward the fowler assembly128. The mounting member236defines a brace surface238shaped for supporting the patient treatment device (e.g., the oxygen tank). The brace surface238is spaced from the grasping portion234of the lower handle148bfor permitting the caregiver to grab the grasping portion234while supporting the patient treatment device (FIG.4).

As shown inFIGS.5-8, the mounting member236may have a first brace edge240proximal the grasping portion234of the lower handle148bdefining a first end of the brace surface238. The mounting member236may have a second brace edge242distal the grasping portion234of the lower handle148bdefining a second end of the brace surface238. One or more of the first and second brace edges240,242may be linear and laterally disposed as illustrated such that the brace edges240,242are parallel with the grasping portion234of the lower handle148b. In other configurations, the brace edges240,242may be non-linear. A first distance defined between the first brace edge240and the grasping portion234of the lower handle148bmay be less than a second distance defined between the second brace edge242and the fowler frame130. In some configurations, the second distance may be at least twice as long as the first distance. In the illustrated configurations, the brace surface238defines a recess for receiving the patient treatment device. In other configurations, the mounting member236may have one or more projections extending outwardly instead of the recess. In such a configuration, the brace surface238may be an externally facing surface of the projection. In the illustrated configurations, the recess is “D-shaped” to maximize contact surface area with the patient treatment device230and accommodate a patient treatment device230having a cylindrical shape. It is contemplated that the recess (or projection in alternative configurations) may have another shape suitable for engaging and supporting the patient treatment device230. In still other configurations, the brace surface238may be flat.

The mounting member236may be further defined as a first mounting member236aand the support frame assembly232may further comprise a second mounting member236bspaced from the first mounting member236a. The second mounting member236bmay also be coupled to the lower handle148badjacent the grasping portion234of the lower handle148bsuch that the grasping portion234is disposed between the first and second mounting members236a,236b. The second mounting member236bmay extend toward the fowler assembly128and define a second brace surface238bshaped for supporting the patient treatment device230. The second mounting member236bmay be identical to or different from the first mounting member236a.

In some configurations, as shown inFIG.6, the mounting members236a,236bmay be selectively removable from the lower handle148b. While the illustrated configurations depict the support frame assembly232having the first and second mounting members236a,236b, the first mounting member236ais described below. It is contemplated that the second mounting member236bmay have one or more features in common with the first mounting member236a. The mounting member236amay comprise a first mounting body244and a second mounting body246. The first and second mounting bodies244,246may be configured to be coupled to each other to secure the mounting member236ato the lower handle148badjacent the grasping portion234of the lower handle148b. One of the first and second mounting bodies244,246may comprise the brace surface238. More specifically, the lower handle148bmay be disposed between the first and second mounting bodies244,246when the first and second mounting bodies244,246are coupled to each other. Said differently, the mounting bodies244,246may “clam shell” or “sandwich” the lower handle148bbetween each other to couple the mounting member236to the lower handle148b. Although the first and second mounting bodies244,246are shown coupled together via fasteners, it is contemplated that the mounting bodies244,246may be coupled together in another manner.

In many configurations, as illustrated inFIG.6, the lower handle148bmay comprise a “C” shape with the middle portion of the “C” including the grasping portion234and at least one mounting portion248extending between the grasping portion234and the fowler frame130. In some configurations, as illustrated, the mounting member236amay be coupled to the lower handle148bat both the grasping portion234and the mounting portion248to provide greater rigidity. In some configurations, the grasping portion234may be further defined as a first grasping portion234and at least part of the mounting portion248of the lower handle148bmay be referred to as a second grasping portion248for the caregiver to grab. The mounting member236amay separate the first grasping portion234from the second grasping portion248. More specifically, a first grasping cavity250may be defined between the first grasping portion234and the fowler frame130. In configurations of the support frame assembly232having two mounting members236a,236b, the first grasping cavity250may be further defined between the first and second mounting members236a,236b. A second grasping cavity252may be defined between the second grasping portion248and the mounting member236a.

The first grasping portion234of the lower handle148bmay extend along a first grasping axis XG1. The first grasping axis XG1may be parallel to the fowler axis XW. The mounting member236amay extend perpendicularly relative to the first grasping axis XG1such that the patient treatment device230may be disposed across the mounting member236a, parallel to the first grasping portion234. The second grasping portion248may extend along a second grasping axis XG2perpendicular to the first grasping axis XG1.

The support frame assembly232may further comprise one or more straps254for securing the patient treatment device230to the mounting member236a. The one or more straps254may comprise a rubber material, a silicone material, or another material suitable for securing the patient treatment device230to the mounting member236a. Rubber or silicone straps are advantageous for securing patient treatment devices230having a metal exterior because the rubber or silicone straps may grip the patient treatment device230. The one or more straps254may be attached to the mounting member236aor the lower handle148b.

It will be further appreciated that the terms “include,” “includes,” and “including” have the same meaning as the terms “comprise.” “comprises,” and “comprising.” Moreover, it will be appreciated that terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like are used herein to differentiate certain structural features and components for the non-limiting, illustrative purposes of clarity and consistency.

Several configurations have been discussed in the foregoing description. However, the configurations discussed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to any particular form. The terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings and the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The present disclosure also comprises the following clauses, with specific features laid out in dependent clauses, that may specifically be implemented as described in greater detail with reference to the configurations and drawings above.

CLAUSES

I. A patient transport apparatus for supporting a patient and a patient treatment device, the patient transport apparatus comprising:a seat assembly having a front end and a rear end with a seat frame and defining a patient support surface for supporting the patient;a fowler assembly having a fowler frame coupled to a rear end of the seat frame and being moveable relative to the seat assembly, the fowler assembly further defining the patient support surface for supporting the patient, and the fowler assembly including a fowler actuator to move the fowler frame relative to the seat frame between a plurality of patient support configurations; anda support frame assembly coupled to the fowler frame and configured for supporting the patient treatment device, the support frame assembly including,a handle extending from the fowler frame and having a grasping portion spaced from the fowler frame, anda mounting member coupled to the handle adjacent the grasping portion of the handle and extending toward the fowler assembly, the mounting member defining a brace surface shaped for supporting the patient treatment device, the brace surface spaced from the grasping portion of the handle for permitting a user to grab the grasping portion while supporting the patient treatment device.

II. The patient transport apparatus of clause I, wherein the mounting member has a first brace edge proximal the grasping portion of the handle defining a first end of the brace surface, and wherein the mounting member as a second brace edge distal the grasping portion of the handle defining a second end of the brace surface.

III. The patient transport apparatus of clause II, wherein a first distance defined between the first brace edge and the grasping portion of the handle is less than a second distance defined between the second brace edge and the fowler frame.

IV. The patient transport apparatus of clause III, wherein the second distance is at least twice as long as the first distance.

V. The patient transport apparatus of any of clauses I-IV, wherein the brace surface defines a recess.

VI. The patient transport apparatus of clause V, wherein the recess has a D-shaped profile.

VII. The patient transport apparatus of any of clauses I-VI, wherein the mounting member is further defined as a first mounting member and the support frame assembly further comprises a second mounting member spaced from the first mounting member and coupled to the handle adjacent the grasping portion of the handle and extending toward the fowler assembly, the second mounting member defining a second brace surface shaped for supporting the patient treatment device, the second brace surface spaced from the grasping portion of the handle for permitting a user to grab the grasping portion while supporting the patient treatment device.

VIII. The patient transport apparatus of any of clauses I-VII, wherein the grasping portion of the handle extends along a grasping axis and wherein the mounting member extends perpendicularly from the grasping axis.

IX. The patient transport apparatus of any of clauses I-VIII, wherein the support frame assembly further comprises one or more straps for securing the patient treatment device to the mounting member.

X. The patient transport apparatus of clause IX, wherein the one or more straps comprise at least one material selected from rubber and silicone.

XI. The patient transport apparatus of any of clauses IX-X, wherein the one or more straps are attached to at least one of the mounting member and the handle.

XII. The patient transport apparatus of clauses I-XI, wherein the mounting member is selectively removable from the handle.

XIII. The patient transport apparatus of clause XII, wherein the mounting member comprises a first mounting body and a second mounting body, and wherein the first and second mounting bodies are configured to be coupled to each other to secure the mounting member adjacent the grasping portion of the handle.

XIV. The patient transport apparatus of clause XIII, wherein the handle is disposed between the first and second mounting bodies when the first and second mounting bodies are coupled to each other.

XV. The patient transport apparatus of any of clauses XIII-XIV, wherein one of the first and second mounting bodies defines the brace surface.

XVI. The patient transport apparatus of any of clauses I-XV, wherein the grasping portion of the handle is further defined as a first grasping portion of the handle, and wherein the handle includes a second grasping portion disposed between the first grasping portion and the fowler frame.

XVII. The patient transport apparatus of clause XVI, wherein the mounting member separates the first grasping portion from the second grasping portion, and wherein a first grasping cavity is defined between the first grasping portion of the handle and the fowler frame, and wherein a second grasping cavity is defined between the second grasping portion of the handle and the mounting member.

XVIII. The patient transport apparatus of any of clauses XVI-XVII, wherein the first grasping portion of the handle extends along a first grasping axis, and wherein the second grasping portion extends along a second grasping axis perpendicular to the first grasping axis.

XIX. The patient transport apparatus of any of clauses I-XVIII, wherein the fowler frame is rotatable relative to the seat frame about a fowler axis, and wherein the grasping portion of the handle extends along a grasping axis parallel to the fowler axis.

XX. The patient transport apparatus of any of clauses I-XIX, further comprising:a front assembly coupled to the front end of the seat frame and configured for movement between a plurality of front assembly positions; anda rear assembly coupled to the rear end of the seat frame and configured for movement between a plurality of rear assembly positions.

XXI. The patient transport apparatus of clause XX, further comprising:a front actuator arranged to articulate the front assembly relative to the seat frame between the plurality of front assembly positions; anda rear actuator arranged to articulate the rear assembly relative to the seat frame between the plurality of rear assembly positions.

XXII. The patient transport apparatus of any of clauses I-XXI, wherein at least part of one or more of the seat assembly, the fowler assembly, and the support frame assembly defines a litter.

XXIII. The patient transport apparatus of clause XXII, further comprising:a base having a head end and a foot end, the base including:a base frame supporting a plurality of wheels arranged for movement about a floor surface,an intermediate frame having a trolley configured to translate between a plurality of trolley positions including a trolley forward position where the trolley is arranged at the head end of the base and a trolley docking position where the trolley is arranged at the foot end of the base, anda base lift device to move the intermediate frame relative to the base frame between a plurality of vertical configurations including a maximum raised configuration and a maximum lowered configuration,wherein the litter is configured to be docked to and undocked from the trolley of the intermediate frame such that, when docked to the trolley, the litter is configured to slidably translate relative to the intermediate frame between a plurality of litter positions to facilitate docking and undocking the litter from the trolley.