Articulated support surface for a stretcher or gurney

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 seat section and a head section, said litter frame including a first pivot support oriented at a foot end of said seat section and a second pivot support oriented at a head end of said seat section, a foot end of said seat section being mounted to said first pivot support for movement between first and second positions about a first axis defined by said first pivot support, a foot end of said head section being mounted to said second pivot support for movement between first and second positions about a second axis defined by said second pivot support, said foot end of said head section including an extension extending beneath said head end of said seat section and moveable with said head section, said extension including a low friction mechanism for supporting said head end of said seat section thereon and for relative movement with respect to said head end of said seat section, said extension being configured to orient said seat section in a first horizontal plane parallel to a second horizontal plane defined by said longitudinally extending support rails and when said head section is also in said first horizontal plane, said extension being additionally configured to orient said head end of said seat section below said second horizontal plane when said head section is moved about said second pivot support so that said head end of said head section is oriented above said second horizontal plane;
• a side bolster mounted to each of said longitudinally extending support rails and extending coextensively with said seat section between said head end and said foot end thereof so as to provide lateral support for a patient when said head end of said seat section is oriented below said second horizontal plane and said head end of said head section is oriented above said second horizontal plane.