Patient support apparatus

A patient support apparatus, comprising:

• a base;
• a litter frame;
• an elevation mechanism interconnecting said base and said litter frame and being configured to effect changes in elevation of said litter frame relative to said base;
• said litter frame having a head end and a foot end, said litter frame including a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending support rails and plural laterally extending support rails interconnecting said longitudinally extending support rails, said laterally extending support rails being mounted to said elevation mechanism;
• a support deck mounted on said litter frame and comprising at least a thigh section, the thigh section being pivotally mounted to the litter frame and configured for movement between a lowered and a raised position;
• a gas spring mounted on said litter frame and connected between said litter frame and a portion of said thigh support;
• a gatch control mechanism for raising and lowering the thigh section, the gatch control mechanism including a trigger-activation handle connected to said gas spring for locking and releasing said gas spring, and an actuation handle pivotally connected to said litter frame and connected to said portion of said thigh support for raising and lowering said thigh support.