Patient support system with transferable support surface

A patient support system, comprising:

• a support apparatus including a frame assembly;
• a control assembly coupled to the frame assembly, wherein the control assembly includes a blower, a power source, and a winch;
• a coverlet selectively disposed on the frame assembly, wherein the coverlet includes a spacer material and a thermoelectric device;
• a tether coupled to the control assembly and selectively coupled to the coverlet, wherein the tether includes an airflow channel for directing air from the blower to an interior of the coverlet and an electrical connection coupling the power source with the thermoelectric device;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the control assembly, wherein the controller is configured to:
• activate the blower to direct the air through the airflow channel and through an interior of the coverlet;
• activate the power source to drive a current through the thermoelectric device;
• and
• activate the winch to move the coverlet, wherein the coverlet is configured for horizontal transfer to the frame assembly from a second frame assembly of a second support apparatus via the tether and the winch.

A patient support apparatus, comprising:

• a frame assembly;
• a first control subassembly coupled to the frame assembly on a first side, wherein the first control subassembly includes:
• a first tether including an airflow channel and an electrical connection;
• a first blower configured to direct air through the airflow channel;
• a first power source configured to drive a current through the electrical connection;
• and
• a first winch coupled to the first tether and configured to adjust the first tether;
• a second control subassembly coupled to the frame assembly on a second side, wherein the second control subassembly includes:
• a second tether including an airflow channel and an electrical connection;
• a second blower configured to direct air through the airflow channel of the second tether;
• a second power source configured to drive a current through the electrical connection of the second tether;
• and
• a second winch coupled to the second tether and configured to adjust the second tether;
• and
• a coverlet including a spacer material and a thermoelectric device, wherein at least one of the first winch and the second winch is configured to be coupled to the coverlet and provide a pulling force on the coverlet to move the coverlet from a second frame assembly to the frame assembly.