Shock absorbing apparatus

A shock absorbing apparatus for use with a patient transport vehicle having a gurney entrance door, the apparatus comprising;

• a gurney support and fixing structure configured to support a gurney;
• an airbag system having
• at least one airbag operable to mitigate shocks;
• a pressurized air supply for supplying air to the airbags;
• at least one airbag valve respectively coupled to the at least one airbag and configured to control the inflow and outflow of air within the at least one airbag;
• one or more pipes for pneumatically connecting the at least one airbag to the pressurized air supply and the at least one airbag valve;
• a pressure controller for adjusting the air pressure within the airbag system;
• and
• a gurney entrance door-actuated valve automatically activated by the opening and closing of the gurney entrance door, whereby the airbag system is automatically activated to inflate the at least one airbag of the airbag system when the gurney entrance door is closed and to automatically control the airbag system so as to deflate the at least one airbag, when the gurney entrance door is opened, and
• a vehicle attachment mechanism for attaching the gurney support and fixing structure to a floor of said patient transport vehicle;
• wherein each of the at least one airbag is deflated and inflated independently, in accordance with the weight load applied thereon, to thereby mitigate agitations when the vehicle is travelling.