Hinged panels for a thermal support apparatus

A patient-support apparatus having at least one side guard panel pivotably mounted for movement between first and second positions and a combined hinge and latch assembly configured to pivotably connect the side guard panel to the patient support. The combined hinge and latch assembly including a mounting member fixedly connected to the patient support, a hinge member fixedly connected to the side guard panel and rotatably connected to the mount for pivoting movement about an axis, and a stop mechanism coupled to one of the hinge member and the mount. The hinge member is movable along the axis between a locking position in which the stop mechanism engages the other of the hinge member and the mount to prevent relative rotation between the hinge member and the mount and a releasing position in which the stop mechanism is disengaged from the other of the hinge member and the mount to allow relative rotation between the hinge member and the mount.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a patient-support apparatus, and 
particularly, to a thermal support apparatus of the type having an 
isolation chamber with a thermally controlled environment. More 
particularly, the present invention relates to hinged panels, such as side 
guard panels, access door panels, and control panels, for the thermal 
support apparatus. 
Thermal support devices, such as infant warmers and incubators, having an 
isolation chamber and various systems that maintain the isolation chamber 
at a controlled temperature and humidity to facilitate the development of 
a premature infant are known. Infant thermal support devices 
conventionally include a patient-support surface for supporting the infant 
in the isolation chamber and a set of side guard panels arranged around 
the patient-support surface. Many thermal support devices have a canopy 
over the patient-support surface. The canopy cooperates with the set of 
side guard panels to enclose the isolation chamber. 
Conventionally, thermal support devices have access openings formed in one 
or more of the side panels and access door panels that normally close the 
access openings. When the access door panels are opened, a caregiver has 
access to the infant through the access openings. In such thermal support 
devices it is desirable that the access door panels have mechanisms that 
allow a caregiver with sterilized hands to open the access door panels 
without the use of his or her hands so that his or her hands remain 
sterilized. 
The side guard panels of some thermal support devices are formed to include 
small windows with pass-through components in the windows. The 
pass-through components allow wires and tubes to pass through the side 
guard panels into the isolation chamber. It is desirable for the 
pass-through components to tightly seal against the side panels to which 
they are mounted to minimize leaks and to ensure that the pass-through 
components remain secure in the window formed in the side panel. It is 
also desirable that the wires and tubes pass through the pass-through 
components without too large of an opening being created in the 
pass-through component so that heat and air leaks are minimized. 
The side guard panels of many thermal support devices can be moved from a 
raised position extending above the patient-support surface to a lowered 
position away from the patient-support surface to provide the caregiver 
with increased access to the patient. In many such thermal support 
devices, hinge mechanisms are provided for pivotably coupling the side 
panels to some other structure of the thermal support device and separate 
latching mechanisms are provided for locking the side guard panels in a 
raised position. It is desirable for the latching mechanisms to be easy to 
operate. 
Infant thermal support devices having various systems that maintain the 
isolation chamber at a controlled temperature and humidity typically 
include a control panel that caregivers use to enter environmental control 
parameters, such as desired temperature and humidity levels. It is 
desirable for the control panels to be adjustable so that the caregiver 
can move the control panel to a desired position. For example, it may be 
desirable to adjust the angle of the control panel to reduce glare on a 
read-out screen of the control panel. 
According to the present invention, a patient-support apparatus is 
provided. The patient-support apparatus includes a base, a patient support 
carried by the base, and at least one side guard panel pivotably connected 
to the patient support for movement between first and second positions. 
The patient-support apparatus also includes a combined hinge and latch 
assembly for pivotably connecting the side guard panel to the patient 
support. The combined hinge and latch assembly includes a mount fixedly 
connected to the patient support, a hinge member fixedly connected to the 
side guard panel and rotatably connected to the mount for pivoting 
movement about an axis, and a stop mechanism coupled to the mount. The 
hinge member is movable along the axis between a locking position in which 
the stop mechanism engages the hinge member to prevent relative rotation 
between the hinge member and the mount and a releasing position in which 
the stop mechanism is disengaged from the hinge member to allow relative 
rotation between the hinge member and the mount. 
The stop mechanism includes a lug formed in the mount. The hinge member is 
formed to include a lug-receiving space that receives the lug when the 
hinge member is in the locking position. When the hinge member is moved 
along the axis to the releasing position, the lug is positioned to lie 
outside the lug-receiving space so that the hinge member can pivot about 
the axis. Thus, the side guard panel can be unlocked for movement between 
the first and second positions by grabbing the side guard panel with one 
hand, moving the side guard panel so that the hinge member attached 
thereto is moved axially away from the mount, and then pivoting the side 
guard panel about the axis. 
The patient support of the patient-support apparatus includes a platform 
tub formed to include an interior region and a platform cover that is 
positioned to lie above the interior region. The combined hinge and latch 
assembly includes a second member that is also coupled to the mount for 
pivoting movement about the axis. The second member includes a latch arm 
that extends over a portion of the platform cover to secure the platform 
cover on the platform tub. The mount is formed to include a second lug and 
the second member is formed to include a second lug-receiving space. The 
second member is movable along the axis between a locking position in 
which the second lug is received in the second lug-receiving space to lock 
the latch arm in the position extending over the portion of the platform 
cover and a releasing position in which the second lug is positioned to 
lie outside the second lug-receiving space to allow the second member to 
be pivoted to a position in which the latch arm is moved away from the 
platform cover. 
Also according to the present invention, a patient-support apparatus 
includes a base and a patient support carried above the base and having a 
patient-support surface. The patient-support apparatus includes a side 
guard panel coupled to the patient support adjacent to the patient-support 
surface. The side guard panel is formed to include an access port and a 
flexible sealing member is coupled to the side guard panel adjacent to the 
access port. The patient-support apparatus further includes an access door 
assembly including a mounting block, a door panel, and a lever with a 
locking member. 
The mounting block is coupled to the side guard panel. The door panel has a 
first end pivotably coupled to the mounting block and a second end spaced 
apart from the first end. The door panel is movable between a closed 
position in which the door panel engages the sealing member and closes the 
access port and an opened position in which the door panel is spaced apart 
from the sealing member so that the access port is opened. The lever has a 
first end pivotably coupled to the mounting block and a second end space 
apart from the first end. The lever is movable between a locking position 
in which the locking member engages the door panel to lock the door panel 
in the closed position and a releasing position in which the locking 
member is spaced apart from the door panel to unlock the door panel. The 
door panel has a portion that engages the lever to move the lever from the 
locking position to the releasing position when the second end of the door 
panel is moved toward the side guard panel. 
The door panel extends from the first pivot axis beyond the mounting block 
in a first direction and the lever extends from the second pivot axis 
beyond the mounting block in a second direction that is opposite to the 
first direction. The door panel includes a hinge plate that couples to the 
mounting block and an access port cover coupled to the hinge plate. The 
lever includes a lever plate that couples to the mounting block and a 
handle coupled to the lever plate. The hinge plate of the door panel 
overlaps the lever plate of the lever when the door panel is in the closed 
position so that the access port cover of the door panel and the handle of 
the lever are positioned to lie on opposite sides of the mounting block. 
The hinge plate of the door panel is formed to include an aperture. The 
locking member extends through the aperture when the door panel is moved 
between the opened and closed positions. 
According to one aspect of the present invention, a patient-support 
assembly includes a patient support and a side guard panel coupled to the 
patient support. The side guard panel has a first surface and a second 
surface spaced-apart from the first surface. The side guard panel also 
includes an edge defining a window in the side guard panel. The side guard 
panel being manufactured within a tolerance range so as to have a 
thickness that is between a maximum thickness and a minimum thickness. The 
patient-support apparatus includes a grommet received in the window of the 
side guard panel. The grommet includes a rim that engages the edge 
defining the window and a plurality of flexible flaps coupled to the rim 
and arranged to substantially fill the window. 
The grommet also includes a first lip extending from the rim and arranged 
to engage the first surface of the side guard panel and a second lip 
extending from the rim and arranged to engage the second surface of the 
side guard panel. The second lip has a first portion adjacent to the rim 
and a second portion spaced apart from the rim and thicker than the first 
portion. The second lip is sufficiently flexible to sealingly engage the 
second surface of any side guard panel having a thickness within the 
tolerance range between the maximum and minimum thicknesses. The side 
guard panel is made out of acrylic having a thickness tolerance range of 
about +0.03 to about -0.06 inches. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, a patient-support 
apparatus includes a base and a patient support carried above the base. 
The patient support includes a platform tub and a platform cover. The 
platform tub includes a first wall and a second wall spaced apart from the 
first wall to define an air flow channel therebetween. The platform cover 
is mounted to the platform tub to cover the air flow channel and the 
platform cover is formed to include a plurality of air vent slots. The 
patient-support apparatus includes an air flow guide having an elongated 
vent rail appended to the platform cover and extending into the air flow 
channel. The patient-support apparatus further includes an elongated vent 
panel pivotably coupled to the platform cover. The vent rail is formed to 
include a plurality of vent channels separated by abutment surfaces. The 
vent channels are in fluid communication with respective air vent slots. 
The vent panel is pivotable between a first position abutting the abutment 
surfaces and a second position moved away from the vent rail to provide 
increased access to the vent channels. 
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a patient-support 
apparatus includes a base, a patient support carried above the base, an 
isolation chamber on the patient support, and a system for monitoring at 
least one environmental condition in the isolation chamber. The 
patient-support apparatus includes a user interface panel having buttons 
for entering system inputs and displays for observing system outputs. The 
user interface panel is rotatively mounted to the patient support through 
a rotatable member for pivoting movement about a vertical axis through 
about 180.degree. so as to be accessible from opposite sides of the 
patient support. In addition, a hinge connects the user interface panel to 
the rotatable member to permit angling of the user interface panel with 
respect to the patient support. The hinge is a resistive hinge configured 
to resist pivoting of the user interface panel in response to normal 
actuating forces applied to the buttons of the user interface panel and 
configured to allow pivoting of the user interface panel in response to 
forces applied to the user interface panel that exceed the normal 
actuating forces. 
Thus, the patient-support apparatus is provided with a number of hinged 
panels. The patient-support apparatus includes a side guard panel coupled 
to a patient support by a combined hinge and latch assembly. The 
patient-support apparatus also includes a door panel coupled for pivoting 
movement to a mounting block attached to the side guard panel and a lever 
coupled to the mounting block for movement to lock and unlock the door 
panel. The patient-support apparatus includes a grommet having a plurality 
of flaps that are flexibly coupled to a rim of the grommet. A vent panel 
is coupled to a platform cover of the patient support for pivoting 
movement relative to a vent rail that is formed to include vent channels. 
In addition, the patient-support apparatus includes a user interface panel 
coupled to the patient support by a resistive hinge. 
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to 
those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed 
description of a preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of 
carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
A thermal support apparatus or patient-support apparatus 20, such as an 
infant warming device or incubator, includes a base 22, a plurality of 
castors 24 extending downwardly from base 22, and an infant supporting 
portion or patient support 26 supported above base 22 as shown in FIG. 1. 
Patient support 26 includes a pedestal 28 coupled to base 22 for vertical 
movement, a platform tub 30 supported by pedestal 28, a platform cover 31 
coupled to platform tub 30, and a mattress 32 supported on platform tub 
30. Mattress 32 has an upwardly facing patient-support surface 33. 
Patient-support apparatus 20 also includes a canopy support arm 34 
including a telescoping vertical arm 36 and a horizontal overhead arm 38. 
A canopy 40 is coupled to overhead arm 38 and is positioned to lie above 
platform tub 30. Canopy 40 includes a pair of canopy halves 42 coupled to 
overhead arm 38 for pivoting movement between a lowered position shown in 
FIG. 1 and a raised position (not shown). 
A pair of transparent side guard panels 44 and a pair of transparent end 
guard panels 46 extend upwardly from platform tub 30 as shown in FIG. 1. 
Side guard panels 44 and end guard panels 46 cooperate with canopy halves 
42 and overhead arm 38 to provide patient-support apparatus 20 with an 
isolation chamber. Side guard panels 44 are formed to include a pair of 
access ports 47, as shown in FIG. 13, that are normally closed by access 
door assemblies 48. Access door assemblies 48 include door panels 49 that 
can be opened to allow access to a patient, such as an infant, supported 
by thermal support apparatus 20 within the isolation chamber. Each end 
guard panel 46 is formed to include at least one U-shaped window and a 
pass-through grommet 50 is positioned to lie in each U-shaped window. 
Wires and tubes (not shown) can be routed into the isolation chamber 
through pass-through grommets 50. 
Patient-support apparatus 20 includes a user interface panel 52 for 
monitoring various systems that control the temperature and humidity of 
the isolation chamber and for allowing caregivers to input various control 
parameters into memory of a control system of patient-support apparatus 
20. Patient-support apparatus 20 also includes a humidifier module 54 that 
can be filled with water and inserted into a humidifier compartment of 
platform tub 30. Heated air is blown through humidifier module 54 and 
directed into the isolation chamber. A tower 56 is positioned to lie in 
the isolation chamber. Tower 56 supports various sensors 58, such as 
patient environmental sensors and light and noise sensors, and also 
provides a return-air path for the air being circulated through the 
isolation chamber. 
Combined hinge and latch assemblies 60 are provided so that both side guard 
panels 44 and one of end guard panels 46 at the foot end of 
patient-support apparatus 20 can pivot downwardly away from canopy 40 to 
provide increased access to the infant supported by thermal support 
apparatus 20. Up and down buttons (not shown) can be pressed to extend and 
retract vertical arm 36 of canopy support arm 34, thereby raising and 
lowering, respectively, overhead arm 38 and canopy 40. Thermal support 
apparatus 20 includes an up pedal 62 that can be depressed to raise 
patient support 26 relative to base 22 and a down pedal 64 that can be 
depressed to lower patient support 26 relative to base 22. Thermal support 
apparatus 20 also includes a side bumper 66 that protects pedals 62, 64 
and other components, such as base 22 and pedestal 28, from inadvertent 
impact. Platform tub 30 is formed to include a handle 68 on each side of 
canopy support arm 34. Handles 68 can be grasped by a caregiver to 
maneuver thermal support apparatus 20 during transport. 
Other features of patient-support apparatus 20 are discussed in detail in 
co-pending applications Ser. No. 08/925,981 (attorney docket 7175-28091); 
Ser. No. 08/926,380(attorney docket 7175-28751); Ser. No. 
08/926,383(attorney docket 7175-28752); and Ser. No. 08/926,381 (attorney 
docket 7175-28855), filed concurrently herewith, all of which are 
incorporated herein by reference. 
Patient-support apparatus 20 includes a plurality of combined hinge and 
latch assemblies 60 that pivotably couple respective side and end guard 
panels 44, 46 to patient support 26 as previously described. Each combined 
hinge and latch assembly 60 includes a first member 70, a second member 
72, and a mount 74 as shown in FIG. 2. Each combined hinge and latch 
assembly 60 also includes a pivot pin 76 that couples the first and second 
members 70, 72 to mount 74. Platform tub 30 is formed to include a 
plurality of hinge recesses 78 and each combined hinge and latch assembly 
60 is coupled to platform tub 30 in the respective hinge recess 78. The 
description below of one of combined hinge and latch assemblies 60 in 
conjunction with the associated side guard panel 44 is descriptive of all 
hinge and latch assemblies 60 and the associated side and end guard panels 
44, 46 unless specifically noted otherwise. 
Mount 74 of hinge and latch assembly 60 includes a mounting portion 73 
received in a socket 77 formed in platform tub 30 and a hinge portion 75 
extending upwardly from mounting portion 73 into hinge recess 78 as shown 
in FIGS. 2-4. A pair of screws 79 fasten mount 74 to platform tub 30 as 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. First member 70 includes a hinge arm 80 and a 
pivot body 82 extending from hinge arm 80 into hinge recess 78. Pivot body 
82 is formed to include a bore 84 and pivot pin 76 extends through bore 84 
to pivotably couple first member 70 to mount 74. Second member 72 includes 
a latch arm 86 and a pivot body 88. Platform cover 31 includes an upper 
surface 114 and a recessed ledge 116 that is offset downwardly from upper 
surface 114 to provide platform cover 31 with an arm recess 118 as shown 
in FIG. 2. Latch arm 86 of second member 72 is received in arm recess 118 
and overlies recessed ledge 116 to secure platform cover 31 to platform 
tub 30. Pivot pin 76 includes a head 92 formed at one end thereof and a 
threaded portion 90 formed at another end thereof. 
Hinge portion 75 of mount 74 is formed to include a bore 96 and pivot pin 
76 extends from bore 84 formed in pivot body 82 through bore 96 formed in 
hinge portion 75 and threaded portion 90 threadedly couples to pivot body 
88 so that a shoulder 94 of pivot pin 76 abuts pivot body 88. Combined 
hinge and latch assembly 60 includes a spring 120 mounted in compression 
between head 92 of pivot pin 76 and an internal shoulder 122, shown in 
FIG. 3, of pivot body 82. Combined hinge and latch assembly 60 also 
includes a cosmetic cap 97 mounted to pivot body 82 to cover bore 84 and 
shield pivot pin 76 from view. Thus, first member 70 and second member 72 
are each coupled to mount 74 by pivot pin 76 for pivoting movement about a 
pivot axis 136 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
Combined hinge and latch assembly 60 includes a backing plate 98 formed to 
include a pair of apertures 100 as shown in FIG. 2. Side guard panel 44 is 
formed to include a pair of apertures 110 that are aligned with apertures 
100 of backing plate 98. A pair of bolts 112 extend through respective 
apertures 100, 110 and threadedly couple to hinge arm 80 of first member 
70. Bolts 112 are tightened so that side guard panel 44 is clamped between 
backing plate 98 and hinge arm 80. Thus, first member 70 and side guard 
panel 44 are rigidly coupled together so that pivoting movement of side 
guard panel 44 about pivot axis 136 causes pivoting movement of first 
member 70 about pivot axis 136. 
A set of first lug-receiving spaces 124 are formed in pivot body 82 of 
first member 70 as shown best in FIG. 4. A set of second lug-receiving 
spaces 126, similar to lug-receiving spaces 124, are formed in pivot body 
88 of second member 72 as shown best in FIG. 2. Hinge portion 75 of mount 
74 is formed to include a set of first lugs 128, shown best in FIG. 2, and 
a set of second lugs 130 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Spring 120 acts 
between head 92 of pivot pin 76 and internal shoulder 122 of first member 
70 to bias first and second members 70, 72 into engagement with mount 74. 
When first lug-receiving spaces 124 are aligned with first set of lugs 128 
and second lug-receiving spaces 126 are aligned with second set of lugs 
130, spring 120 urges first member 70 into a locked position in which 
first set of lugs 128 are received in first lug-receiving spaces 124 and 
spring 120 urges second member 72 into a locked position in which second 
set of lugs 130 are received in second lug-receiving spaces 126 as shown 
in FIG. 3. Receipt of lugs 128 in lug-receiving spaces 124 prevents first 
member 70 and side guard panel 44 from pivoting relative to mount 74 and 
platform tub 30. In addition, receipt of lugs 130 in lug-receiving spaces 
126 prevents second member 72 from pivoting relative to mount 74 and 
platform tub 30. 
Although in a preferred embodiment, first and second set of lugs 128, 130 
are formed in mount 74 and first and second lug-receiving spaces 124, 126 
are formed in first and second members 70, 72, respectively, it is within 
the scope of the invention as presently perceived for the lugs and 
lug-receiving spaces to be formed in first member 70, second member 72, 
and mount 74 in a variety of ways. For example, mount 74 may be formed 
with lug-receiving spaces on either one side thereof or on both sides 
thereof and first and second members 70, 72 can be formed with lugs that 
mate with the lug-receiving spaces that are formed alternatively in mount 
74. In addition, it is within the scope of the invention as presently 
perceived for the lugs and lug-receiving spaces to have shapes that are 
different than those shown in FIG. 2 and for a different number of lugs 
and lug-receiving spaces to be provided. 
First lug-receiving spaces 124 and first set of lugs 128 are configured so 
that side guard panel 44 will remain locked in a raised position extending 
upwardly from patient support 26 when a force of fifty pounds is applied 
at the top of side guard panel 44. Side guard panel 44 can be moved from 
the raised position, shown in FIG. 1, to a lowered position shown in FIG. 
6, by first moving side guard panel 44 in a longitudinal direction 132 and 
then pivoting side guard panel 44 in a direction 134 about pivot axis 136 
of pivot pin 76 as shown in FIG. 2. When side guard panel 44 is moved in 
longitudinal direction 132, first member 70 is moved from the locked 
position, shown in FIG. 3, to an unlocked position in which first set of 
lugs 128 are no longer received in lug-receiving spaces 124 as shown in 
FIG. 4. Movement of first member 70 in direction 132 causes spring 120 to 
be further compressed between head 92 of pivot pin 76 and shoulder 122 of 
pivot body 82. When side guard panel 44 is pivoted in direction 134 about 
pivot axis 136 to the lowered position, combined hinge and latch assembly 
60 is in the orientation shown in FIG. 5 having hinge arm 80 of first 
member and side guard panel 44 alongside platform tub 30. 
When side guard panel 44 is in the lowered position, as shown in FIGS. 5 
and 6, lug-receiving spaces 124 are misaligned with lugs 128 and spring 
120 acts between head 92 and shoulder 122 to bias a face 138 of pivot body 
82 against first set of lugs 128. During movement of side guard panel 44 
in directions 132, 134, second set of lugs 130 remain inside lug-receiving 
spaces 126 so that second member 72 remains locked to mount 74. In a 
preferred embodiment, side guard panel 44 and first member 70 need to be 
moved only 0.09 inch (0.035 cm) in direction 132 before lugs 128 are no 
longer received in lug-receiving spaces 124. 
Side guard panel 44 can be moved from the lowered position back to the 
raised position by pivoting side guard panel 44 in a direction 140 as 
shown in FIG. 6. When side guard panel 44 reaches the raised position, 
lug-receiving spaces 124 are once again aligned with lugs 128 and spring 
120 acts between head 92 and shoulder 122 to move first member 70 and side 
guard panel 44 in a direction 142 as shown in FIG. 4 (in phantom) relative 
to mount 74 and platform tub 30. Thus, as soon as side guard panel 44 
reaches the raised position, the respective combined hinge and latch 
assemblies 60 automatically operate to lock side guard panel 44 in the 
raised position. As is evident from the above description, combined hinge 
and latch assemblies 60 allow a caregiver to move side guard panels 44 
between the raised and lowered positions with the use of just one hand. 
When side guard panels 44 are in the lowered position, second member 72 can 
be moved from the locked position, shown in FIG. 8, in a direction 144 to 
an unlocked position, shown in FIG. 9. After second member 72 is moved to 
the unlocked position, second set of lugs 130 are no longer received in 
second lug-receiving spaces 126. Second member 72 is then pivoted in 
direction 134 so that latch arm 86 is moved out of arm recess 118 to a 
releasing position. In a preferred embodiment, second member 72 needs to 
be moved only 0.09 inch (0.035 cm) in direction 142 to unlock second 
member 72 from mount 74. 
When all of the second members 72 of hinge and latch assemblies 60 
associated with both side guard panels 44 and the end guard panel 46 at 
the foot end of patient support 26 are moved to respective releasing 
positions, platform cover can be separated away from platform tub 30 as 
shown in FIG. 10. Thus, each combined hinge and latch assembly 60 includes 
first member 70 that locks to mount 74 to secure side guard panel 44 in 
the raised position. In addition, each combined hinge and latch assembly 
60 includes second member 72 that locks to mount 74 to secure platform 
cover 31 to platform tub 30. First member 70 can be moved in direction 132 
from the locked position to the unlocked position and then side guard 
panel 44 can be moved in direction 134 from the raised position to a 
lowered position. In addition, second member 72 can be moved in direction 
144 from the locked position to the unlocked position and then latch arm 
86 can be moved in direction 134 so that platform cover 31 can be 
separated from platform tub 30. 
Platform tub 30 includes a set of inner walls 146, a set of outer 
perimetral walls 148, and a set of intermediate walls 150 between outer 
perimetral walls 148 and inner walls 146 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. 
Platform tub 30 also includes a top wall 152 interconnecting outer 
perimetral walls 148 with intermediate walls 150 and a bottom wall 154 
interconnecting inner walls 146 with intermediate walls 150. Inner walls 
146 are spaced apart from intermediate walls 150 to provide platform tub 
30 with a horizontal air channel 156 above bottom wall 154. 
Patient-support apparatus 20 includes an air circulation system (not 
shown) that forces air through horizontal air channel 156. 
Platform cover 31 includes an undersurface 160 beneath upper surface 114 as 
shown in FIGS. 10-12. In addition, platform cover 31 is formed to include 
a plurality of vent slots 158, shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, that extend through 
platform cover 31 between upper surface 114 and undersurface 160. A pair 
of air flow guides 162 are coupled to platform cover 31 beneath vent slots 
158 as shown in FIGS. 10-12. Each air flow guide 162 includes an elongated 
vent rail 164 appended to undersurface 160 and an elongated vent panel 166 
pivotably coupled by pivot pins 170 to a set of pivot blocks 168 that are 
also appended to undersurface 160 as shown in FIG. 12. 
Each elongated vent rail 164 is formed to include a plurality of vent 
channels 172 that are bounded by channel surfaces 174. Elongated vent 
rails 164 also include a plurality of abutment surfaces 176 between vent 
channels 172. Elongated vent panel 166 is movable from a first position in 
which vent panel 166 engages each of abutment surfaces 176 and a second 
position in which vent panel 166 is pivoted away from abutment surfaces 
176. In the first position, vent panel 166 cooperates with vent rail 164 
to provide a plurality of vertical air flow ducts that are coextensive 
with vent slots 158. Vent rail 164 and vent panel 166 cause the air 
flowing horizontally through horizontal air channel 156 to be redirected 
vertically through vent slots 158 and into the isolation chamber. When 
vent panel 166 is in the second position, channel surfaces 174 are 
accessible for cleaning. 
A wall-engaging strip 178 is appended to vent panel 166 and extends 
therefrom in a perpendicular arrangement as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. When 
platform cover 31 is secured to platform tub 30 by second members 72 of 
combined hinge and latch assemblies 60, wall-engaging strip 178 contacts 
intermediate wall 150 to secure vent panel 166 in the first position as 
shown in FIG. 11. In addition, platform cover 31 includes an inner 
perimetral lip 180 that engages inner walls 146 of platform tub 30 when 
platform cover 31 is secured to platform tub 30. 
Patient-support apparatus 20 includes access door assemblies 48 having door 
panels 49 that are moved to open and close access ports 47 as previously 
described. Each access door assembly 48 further includes a lever 200 and a 
mounting block 210 to which both lever 200 and door panel 49 pivotably 
couple. Each mounting block 210 includes a mounting plate 212, a first 
hinge cap 214 coupled to mounting plate 212, and a second hinge cap 216 
coupled to mounting plate 212 as shown in FIG. 13. The description below 
of one of access door assemblies 48 and the operation of access door 
assembly 48 is descriptive of all access door assemblies 48 unless 
specifically noted otherwise. 
A flexible sealing member 218 is mounted to an edge 220 that defines the 
boundary of access port 47 as shown in FIG. 13. Door panel 49 includes an 
access port cover 222 that engages a sealing surface 224 of sealing member 
218 when door panel 49 is in a closed position. Door panel 49 also 
includes a hinge plate 226 appended to access port cover 222. Hinge plate 
226 of door panel 49 is pivotably coupled to mounting block 210 so that 
door panel 49 pivots about a first pivot axis 228 relative to mounting 
block 210 and side guard panel 44. Thus, door panel 49 has a first end 230 
pivotably coupled to side guard panel 44 and a second end 232 spaced apart 
from first end 230. Second end 232 moves away from flexible sealing member 
218 and side guard panel 44 when door panel 49 is moved from the closed 
position to the opened position. 
Lever 200 includes a lever plate 234 and a handle 236 appended to lever 
plate 234 as shown in FIG. 13. Lever 200 is also provided with a locking 
member 238 that is fixed by suitable fastening means such as bolt 242 to a 
latch boss 240 formed in lever 200. Lever 200 is coupled to mounting block 
210 for pivoting movement about a second pivot axis 244 that is 
substantially parallel with and spaced apart from first pivot axis 228. 
Hinge plate 226 of door panel 49 includes an outer surface 246, an 
inwardly facing surface 248, and a square-shaped aperture 250 extending 
between surfaces 246, 248. Locking member 238 includes a catch lip 252 
that engages outer surface 246 of hinge plate 226 to lock door panel 49 in 
the closed position when lever 200 is in a locking position as shown in 
FIG. 14. Lever 200 is pivotable about second pivot axis 244 between the 
locking position and a releasing position, shown in FIG. 15, in which 
catch lip 252 is spaced apart from outer surface 246 of hinge plate 226 so 
that door panel 49 is unlocked for movement between the closed position 
and the opened position. Handle 236 includes a push surface 254 that can 
be engaged by a caregiver to pivot lever 200 about second pivot axis 244 
in a releasing direction 256 as shown in FIG. 14. 
Access door assembly 48 includes a latch 258 that is pivotably coupled to 
latch boss 240 for pivoting movement about a pivot axis 260. Mounting 
plate 212 is formed to include a catch ledge 262 and latch 258 includes a 
catch lip 264 that hooks onto catch ledge 262 to lock lever 200 in the 
releasing position as shown in FIG. 15. Catch ledge 262 includes a camming 
surface 266 that pivots latch 258 toward latch boss 240 during movement of 
lever 200 from the locking position to the releasing position. Access door 
assembly further includes a latch spring 268 that compresses when latch 
258 pivots toward latch boss 240 and that biases latch 258 away from latch 
boss 240 and into the positions shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 17-19 when 
catch lip is either above or below catch ledge 262. 
When lever 200 is locked in the releasing position by latch 258, door panel 
49 can be grabbed and moved in an opening direction 274, shown in FIGS. 15 
and 16, from the closed position to the opened position. Latch 258 is 
formed to include a reset rib 270 and hinge plate 226 of door panel 49 is 
formed to include a reset lip 272. As door panel 49 is moved in direction 
274, reset lip 272 engages reset rib 270 to pivot latch 258 toward latch 
boss 240 so that catch lip 264 unhooks from catch ledge 262 as shown in 
FIG. 16. Door assembly 48 includes a lever spring 276 mounted between 
lever 200 and mounting plate 212 in a state of compression. When latch 258 
unhooks from catch ledge 262, lever spring 276 acts to move lever 200 in a 
direction 277 from the releasing position back to the locking position as 
shown in FIG. 16 (in phantom). Access door assembly 48 is configured so 
that, when latch 258 unhooks from catch ledge 262, outer surface 246 of 
hinge plate 226 is pivoted away from locking member 238 by a sufficient 
amount that locking member 238 does not lock door panel 49 when lever 200 
returns to the locking position in direction 277. 
After door panel 49 has been moved to the opened position and the caregiver 
has gained access to the patient supported on mattress 32 for a desired 
length of time, the caregiver returns door panel 49 to the closed position 
by moving door panel 49 in a closing direction 278 as shown in FIG. 17. 
During movement of door panel 49 in closing direction 278, reset lip 272 
engages reset rib 270 to pivot latch 258 toward pivot boss 240. However, 
lever 200 is held in the locking position by spring 276 so that reset lip 
272 snaps past reset rib 270 and latch 258 returns to its initial position 
without catch lip 264 hooking on catch ledge 262. 
After reset lip 272 has moved past reset rib 270 and after further movement 
of door panel 49 in direction 278, a camming surface 280 of hinge plate 
226 contacts a camming surface 282 of locking member 238 as shown in FIG. 
18. As door panel 49 is moved further in direction 278, camming engagement 
between surface 280 and surface 282 causes lever 200 to deflect away from 
the locking position by a slight amount until outer surface 246 of hinge 
plate 226 is beneath catch lip 252 at which point spring 276 returns lever 
200 back to the locking position so that catch lip 252 engages outer 
surface 249 to lock door panel 49 in the closed position as shown in FIG. 
14. When door panel 49 is returned to the closed position, sealing surface 
224 of sealing member 218 engages door panel 49 to resist movement of door 
panel 49 in direction 278 past the closed position. 
Thus, door panel 49 can be unlocked for movement from the closed position 
to the opened position by moving lever 200 in direction 256 from the 
locking position, shown in FIG. 14, to the releasing position, shown in 
FIG. 15. Door panel 49 can then be grabbed and moved in direction 274 
through the positions shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 to the opened position. 
Door panel 49 can be returned to the closed position by pivoting door 
panel 49 from the opened position through the positions shown in FIGS. 17 
and 18 back to the closed position shown in FIG. 14. As door panel 49 is 
moved between the opened and closed positions, locking member 238 moves 
through aperture 250 formed in hinge plate 226 of door panel 49. When door 
panel 49 is returned to the closed position, locking member 238 
automatically locks door panel 49 in the closed position. 
Door panel 49 can also be moved from the closed position to the opened 
position by first moving second end 232 of door panel 49 toward side guard 
panel 44 in direction 278 and then releasing second end 232. As second end 
232 of door panel 49 is moved toward side guard panel 44, the portion of 
flexible sealing member 218 that abuts second end 232 of door panel 49 is 
resiliently compressed between second end 232 and side guard panel 44. 
When second end 232 is released, the compressed portion of flexible 
sealing member 218 acts between side guard panel 44 and second end 232 to 
swing door panel 49 in opening direction 274 as shown in FIG. 19 (in 
phantom). As second end 232 of door panel 49 is moved toward side guard 
panel 44, inwardly facing surface 248 of hinge plate 226 engages an 
actuating rib 284, shown in FIG. 13, that is appended to lever plate 234 
of lever 200. Engagement between inwardly facing surface 248 and actuating 
rib 284 causes lever 200 to be moved from the locking position to the 
releasing position as shown in FIG. 19. When lever 200 reaches the 
releasing position, latch 258 acts to lock lever 200 in the releasing 
position as described above with reference to FIG. 15. 
Thus, there are two ways in which door panel 49 can be unlocked and moved 
to the opened position from the closed position. One way is by pushing on 
push surface 254 to move lever 200 to the releasing position and then 
grabbing door panel 49 and moving it to the opened position. The second 
way is by pushing second end 232 toward side guard panel 44 and then 
releasing second end 232 so that flexible sealing member 218 acts to swing 
door panel 49 to the opened position. The second way of opening door panel 
49 allows a caregiver with sterilized hands to open door panel 49 with his 
or her elbow so that his or her hands remain sterilized. 
Mounting block 210 includes mounting plate 212, first hinge cap 214, and 
second hinge cap 216 as previously described. Mounting plate 212 is 
fastened to side guard panel 44 by suitable fastening means such as 
mounting bolts 286. First and second hinge caps 214, 216 extend away from 
side guard panel 44 and mounting block 210 to define a lever-receiving 
recess 288 therebetween as shown, for example, in FIG. 15. Mounting block 
210 is configured so that lever plate 234 is received in lever-receiving 
space 288 and handle 236 is positioned to lie outside lever-receiving 
space 288. In addition, hinge plate 226 is received in lever-receiving 
space 288 and access port cover 222 is positioned to lie outside 
lever-receiving space 288 when door panel 49 is in the closed position. 
First hinge cap 214 includes a first post 290 and second hinge cap 216 
includes a second post 292 as shown in FIG. 13. A pivot cylinder 294 is 
formed in hinge plate 226 at first end 230 of door panel 49 as also shown 
in FIG. 13. Pivot cylinder 294 is formed to include a first socket 296 and 
a second socket 298. First post 290 is received in first socket 296 and 
second post 292 is received in second socket 298 so that door panel 49 is 
coupled to mounting block 210 for pivoting movement about first pivot axis 
228. 
Mounting plate 212 is formed to include a first curved bearing surface 300 
and a second curved bearing surface 310 as shown in FIG. 13. In addition, 
second hinge cap 216 includes a curved bearing surface 212 and first hinge 
cap 214 includes a curved bearing surface (not shown) that is 
substantially similar to curved bearing surface 312 of second hinge cap 
216. Lever 200 includes a first pivot post 314 and a second pivot post 
316, both of which are appended to lever plate 234. First pivot post 314 
is trapped for pivoting movement between first curved bearing surface 300 
of mounting plate 212 and the curved bearing surface of first hinge cap 
214. Second pivot post 316 is trapped for pivoting movement between second 
curved bearing surface 310 of mounting plate 312 and curved bearing 
surface 312 of second hinge cap 216. 
As can be seen in FIGS. 14-19, a portion of lever plate 234 of lever 200 is 
positioned to lie between pivot cylinder 294 and mounting plate 212. In 
addition, door panel 49 extends from first pivot axis 228 in a first 
direction beyond mounting block 210 and lever 200 extends from second 
pivot axis 244 in a second direction opposite to the first direction past 
mounting block 210. In addition, hinge plate 226 of door panel 49 overlaps 
lever plate 234 of lever 200 when door panel 49 is in the closed position 
so that lever plate 234 is positioned to lie between hinge plate 226 and 
mounting plate 212. 
Patient-support apparatus 20 includes a number of pass-through grommets 50 
through which wires and tubes can be routed into the isolation chamber as 
previously described. The description below of one pass-through grommet 50 
is descriptive of all pass-through grommets 50 unless specifically noted 
otherwise. 
Pass-through grommet 50 includes a rim 330 and a plurality of flexible 
flaps 332 appended to rim 330 as shown in FIG. 20. Rim 330 is somewhat 
keyhole shaped and flaps 332 are arranged to substantially fill the space 
between the spaced-apart vertical portions of rim 330 and above the lower 
curved portion of rim 330. End guard panels 46 each include at least one 
keyhole-shaped edge 334, as shown in FIG. 21 (in phantom), that defines a 
window in the respective end guard panel 46. Pass-through grommets 50 are 
received in respective windows so that an edge-engaging surface 356 of rim 
330 engages edge 334. The keyhole shape of rim 330 and edge 334 secures 
pass-through grommet 50 in the respective window to prevent pass-through 
grommet 50 from falling out of the window, for example, when end guard 
panel 46 with combined hinge and latch assemblies 60 is pivoted to the 
lowered position. 
Pass-through grommet 50 includes a first lip 336 and a second lip 338, each 
of which are appended to rim 330 as shown in FIG. 20. First lip 336 
includes an inner portion 340 appended to rim 330 and an outer portion 342 
that is spaced apart from rim 330 and that is substantially the same 
thickness as inner portion 340. Second lip 338 includes an inner portion 
344 appended to rim 330 and an outer portion 336 that is spaced apart from 
rim 330 and that is thicker than inner portion 344. Thus, first lip 336 
has a substantially uniform thickness around the periphery of rim 330 and 
second lip 338 has a non-uniform thickness around the periphery of rim 
330. 
First lip 336 includes a U-shaped outer edge 348 and second lip 338 
includes a U-shaped outer edge 350. First lip 336 includes a sealing 
surface 352 extending between outer edge 348 and rim 330 and second lip 
338 includes a sealing surface 354 extending between outer edge 350 and 
rim 330 as shown in FIG. 22. Sealing surface 352 of first lip 336 is 
substantially perpendicular to edge-engaging surface 356 of rim 330 and 
sealing surface 354 of second lip 338 is angled with respect to 
edgeengaging surface 356 of rim 330. In addition, sealing surface 352 
confronts sealing surface 354 so that a panel-receiving space 358 is 
defined between first and second lips 336, 338 as shown in FIG. 20. 
Each end guard panel 46 includes a first surface 358 and a second surface 
360 that is substantially parallel with and spaced apart from first 
surface 360. The distance between surfaces 358, 360 determines the 
thickness of end guard panel 46. Any one end guard panel 46 selected from 
a number of end guard panels 46 will have a thickness within a tolerance 
range due to the manner in which end guard panels 46 are manufactured. For 
example, it is possible for end guard panel 46 to have a minimum thickness 
362, as shown in FIG. 22, and it is also possible for end guard panel 46 
to have a maximum thickness 364, as shown in FIG. 23. Of course, end guard 
panel 46 could have a thickness between minimum and maximum thicknesses 
362, 364. In a preferred embodiment, end guard panels 46 are made out of 
commercially available acrylic and have a thickness tolerance range of 
+0.03 to -0.06. 
Pass-through grommet 50 is able to seal tightly against outwardly-facing 
and inwardly-facing surfaces 358, 360 of end guard panels 46 having 
minimum thickness 362, maximum thickness 364, or any thickness 
therebetween. When grommet 50 is mounted to end guard panel 46 having 
minimum thickness 362, sealing surface 352 of first lip 336 abuts first 
surface 358 of end guard panel 46 and inner portion 344 of second lip 338 
flexes by a minimum amount so that a portion of sealing surface 354 
adjacent to outer portion 346 of second lip 338 abuts second surface 360 
as shown in FIG. 22. When grommet 50 is mounted to end guard panel 46 
having maximum thickness 364, sealing surface 352 of first lip 336 abuts 
first surface 358 of end guard panel 46 and inner portion 344 of second 
lip 338 flexes by a maximum amount so that substantially the entire 
sealing surface 354 of second lip 338 abuts second surface 360 as shown in 
FIG. 23. Pass-through grommet 50 can be made from any soft, low durameter 
rubber or plastic. 
In use, wires and tubes (not shown), such as EKG wires and intravenous 
feeding tubes, are routed from external devices through pass-through 
grommet 50 into the isolation chamber in which the patient, such as an 
infant, resides. Pass-through grommet 50 includes a vertical slit 366 and 
a plurality of horizontal slits 368 that cooperate to provide grommet 50 
with the plurality of flaps 332. The flaps 332 in contact with the wires 
and tubes that are routed through grommet 50 flex and the other flaps 332 
remain in an unflexed configuration. Thus, flaps 332 operate to minimize 
the size of the opening that is created in grommet 50 when wires and tubes 
are routed therethrough, thereby minimizing the amount of heat and air 
losses through the opening created in grommet 50. 
End guard panel 46 includes a top edge 370 and the top of grommet 50 is 
substantially coextensive with top edge 370 as shown in FIG. 21. In 
addition, vertical slit 366 provides grommet 50 with a top opening 372. 
Wires and tubes can be passed downwardly through top opening 372 and into 
vertical slit 366. In addition, wires and tubes that are routed through 
grommet 50 can be moved upwardly through vertical slit 366 and then 
through top opening 372 to remove the wires and tubes from grommet 50. By 
providing grommet 50 with top opening 372, the wires and tubes that are 
attached to the patient in the isolation chamber can remain attached to 
the patient when end guard panel 46 at the foot end of patient support 26 
is pivoted to the lowered position, or when end guard panel 46 at the head 
end of patient support 46 is removed. 
In a preferred embodiment, grommets 50 are received in windows formed in 
end guard panels 46. However, it is within the scope of the invention as 
presently perceived for grommets 50 to be received in similar windows 
formed in side guard panels 44. 
Patient-support apparatus 20 includes user interface panel 52 as previously 
described. Patient-support apparatus 20 includes a pivot collar 380 having 
a cylindrical portion 382 and an arm 384 extending from cylindrical 
portion 382 as shown in FIG. 24. Cylindrical portion 382 is rotatively 
coupled to vertical arm 36 of canopy support arm 34 for pivoting movement 
about a vertical axis 386. User interface panel 52 is coupled to arm 384 
of collar 380 for pivoting movement about a substantially horizontal axis 
388 by a pair of resistive hinges 390, shown best in FIG. 25. Pivot collar 
380 is movable about vertical axis 386 through about one hundred eighty 
degrees (180.degree.) so that user interface panel 52 is movable between a 
first position accessible for use on a first side of patient-support 
apparatus 20, as shown in FIG. 1, and a second position accessible for use 
on a second side of patient-support apparatus 20. 
User interface panel 52 includes a read-out screen 392 and a user input 
screen 394. A caregiver can input various environmental parameters by 
pressing on-screen "buttons" (not shown) that are displayed on user input 
screen 394. User interface panel 52 includes a knob 396 that, when 
rotated, cycles through a plurality of input screens, each of which allow 
the caregiver to enter user inputs for a corresponding system of 
patient-support apparatus 20. For example, one screen allows the caregiver 
to enter threshold noise and light levels, above which an alert light is 
flashed, and another screen allows the caregiver to enter desired 
temperature and humidity settings. 
Resistive hinges 390 are configured to resist pivoting of user interface 
panel 52 in response to normal actuating forces applied to the buttons of 
user input screen 394 and to allow pivoting of user interface panel 52 in 
response to forces applied to user interface panel 52 that exceed the 
normal actuating forces. The caregiver may wish to adjust the position of 
user interface panel 52 to reduce glare from room lights, for example. In 
a preferred embodiment, resistive hinges 390 allow user interface panel 52 
to pivot when a torque exceeding 30 inch-pounds (3.4 N-m) is applied to 
user interface panel 52. Preferred resistive hinges 390 are available from 
CEMA Technologies, Inc. located in Bridgeport, Pa. 
Each resistive hinge 390 includes a first member 398 fastened to user 
interface panel 52 and a second member 400 fastened to arm 384 of collar 
380. Each resistive hinge 390 also includes a hinge post 410 fixed to 
first member 398 and extending therefrom into second hinge member 400 
along axis 388. Resistive hinges 390 further include a loop of resistive 
material (not shown) that is clamped against hinge post 410 inside second 
member 400 with a controlled amount of force so that a predetermined 
amount of torque is required to rotate hinge post 410 relative to second 
member 400. 
Thus, patient-support apparatus 20 is provided with a number of hinged 
panels. Patient-support apparatus 20 includes side guard panels 44 and end 
guard panel 46 at the foot end of patient support 26 coupled to patient 
support 26 by respective combined hinge and latch assemblies 60. 
Patient-support apparatus 20 also includes access door assemblies 48 
having door panels 49 coupled for pivoting movement to companion mounting 
blocks 210 attached to respective side guard panels 44 and levers 200 
coupled to respective mounting blocks 210 for movement to lock and unlock 
companion door panels 49. Patient-support apparatus 20 includes grommets 
50, each having a plurality of flaps 332 that are flexibly coupled to rim 
330 of the respective grommet 50. Vent panels 166 are coupled to platform 
cover 31 of patient support 26 for pivoting movement relative to 
respective vent rails 164 that are each formed to include vent channels 
172. In addition, patient-support apparatus 20 includes user interface 
panel 52 coupled to pivot collar 380 by resistive hinges 390. 
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to a 
certain preferred embodiment, variations and modifications exist within 
the scope and spirit of the invention as described and as defined in the 
following claims.