Storable trauma board support

A trauma board assembly comprising:

• a radiolucent trauma board having a length exceeding the length of a patient for supporting the patient, and
• a trauma board support mechanism for supporting the radiolucent trauma board relative to a patient support surface of a patient support apparatus, the trauma board support mechanism being configured to be movably coupled to the patient support apparatus adjacent to the patient support surface for movement between a first position away from the patient support surface and a second position above the patient support surface, the trauma board support mechanism being adapted to support the trauma board thereon in a spaced-apart relation to the patient support surface to allow positioning of an x-ray cassette between the trauma board and the patient support surface when the trauma board support mechanism is in the second position, wherein the trauma board support mechanism includes at least one first portion having a first end adapted to be pivotally coupled to the patient support apparatus generally below the patient support surface and a second end coupled to at least one second portion extending away from the second end transversely to the at least one first portion for removably supporting the trauma board, and wherein the at least one first portion extends generally vertically and the at least one second portion extends generally horizontally over the patient support surface when the trauma board support mechanism is in the second position.

A trauma board assembly comprising:

• a trauma board having a length exceeding the length of a patient for supporting the patient, and a trauma board support mechanism for supporting the trauma board relative to a patient support surface of a patient support apparatus, the trauma board support mechanism comprising:
• at least one first portion adapted to be coupled to the patient-support apparatus generally below the patient support surface, and
• at least one second portion coupled to the at least one first portion for movement between a first position and a second position, the at least one second portion being adapted to overlie the patient support surface when the at least one first portion is coupled to the patient-support apparatus and the at least one second portion is in the second position, the at least one second portion being adapted to space the trauma board above the patient support surface, wherein the at least one first portion includes a socket structure adapted to be coupled to the patient support apparatus, wherein the at least one second portion includes an end received in the socket structure when the at least one second portion is in the second position, and wherein the at least one second portion is L-shaped having a first generally vertically-extending section pivotally coupled to the socket structure and a second generally horizontally-extending section that overlies the patient support surface when the at least one second portion is in the second position.

A trauma board support mechanism for supporting a trauma board relative to a longitudinally-extending patient support surface, the trauma board support mechanism comprising:

• a support socket structure configured to be coupled generally below the patient support surface,
• at least one first portion having a first end configured to be slidably received in the support socket structure, the first end of the at least one first portion including an elongated pin-receiving slot configured to receive a generally transversely-extending pivot pin secured to the support socket structure, the at least one first portion being configured to be pivoted about the generally transversely-extending pivot pin from a first out-of-the-way down position to a second generally vertical up position and slid downwardly into the support socket structure to lock the at least one first portion in place, the at least one first portion being configured to be lifted upwardly to release the lock and pivoted downwardly to return the at least one first portion to the first out-of-the-way down position, and
• at least one second portion extending transversely from a second end of the at least one first portion, the at least one second portion being movable from a first out-of-the-way down position to a second position extending generally horizontally and transversely over the patient support surface in response to movement of the at least one first portion from the first out-of-the-way down position to the second generally vertical up position, the at least one second portion being configured to removably support the trauma board thereon in a spaced-apart relation to the patient support surface to allow positioning of an x-ray cassette between the trauma board and the patient support surface when the at least one second portion is in the second position extending generally horizontally and transversely over the patient support surface.