Patient support apparatus with mattress and mattress cable

1 . A patient support apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a side rail mounted relative to the frame, the side rail being spaced from the frame to form an envelope therebetween and being movable between raised and lowered positions;

a mattress supported relative to said frame; and

a mattress power and/or communication cable, wherein at least a portion of the cable is provided with increased stiffness to maintain the cable in the envelope to reduce disconnection of the cable during use of the patient support apparatus,

wherein the cable includes at least a first cable portion connected to the mattress and a second cable portion connected to the frame or another component at the patient support apparatus, the cable also includes a first connector coupled to the first cable portion and a second connector coupled to the second cable portion forming a connector assembly, the connector assembly configured as a breakaway connection.

2 . The patient support apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second cable portions includes a sleeve extending around the cable portion to stiffen the one cable portion adjacent the connector mounted to the one cable portion.

3 . The patient support apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the sleeve extends from the respective connector along the respective cable portion in a range of 5-10 inches, in a range of 6-8 inches, or 7½ inches.

4 . The patient support apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the respective connector has a connector body and a transition between the connector body and the respective cable portion, wherein the sleeve on the one cable portion extends around a portion of the respective connector, and wherein the sleeve is flared to at least partially cover the respective connector body.

5 . The patient support apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein each cable portion has a sleeve, with a first sleeve on the first cable portion, and a second sleeve on the second cable portion.

6 . The patient support apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the cable has a longitudinal axis that extends between the first and second connectors, wherein each of the connectors has a length extending along the longitudinal axis, with the sleeve extending along the respective cable portion for at least the length of the respective connector.

7 . The patient support apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the cable has a cable core and a cable casing surrounding the cable core, the sleeve having a greater thickness than the cable casing.

8 . The patient support apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the cable has a cable core and a cable casing surrounding the cable core, with the cable casing being formed from a first material having a first stiffness, and wherein the sleeve is formed from a second material having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness of the first material of the cable casing.

9 . The patient support apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a litter frame and an articulatable litter deck supported on the litter frame, the litter deck having a top side, and the envelope being defined below the top side of the litter deck, wherein the breakaway connection is located in the envelope.

10 . The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the mattress includes a mattress control housing, and wherein the first cable portion is secured to a side of the mattress control housing along the sleeve.

11 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mattress includes a cable support assembly that is integral to the mattress.

12 . The patient support apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the cable support assembly includes an exterior panel and an interior panel, and wherein the interior panel is coupled to the cable.

13 . The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly comprises a magnetic breakaway connector assembly.

14 . A patient support apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a side rail mounted relative to the frame, the side rail being spaced from the frame to form an envelope therebetween and being movable between raised and lowered positions;

a mattress supported relative to said frame; and

a mattress power and/or communication cable, wherein at least a portion of the cable is provided with increased stiffness to maintain the cable in the envelope to reduce disconnection of the cable during use of the patient support apparatus,

wherein the mattress includes a cable support assembly that is integral to the mattress,

wherein the cable support assembly includes an exterior portion and an interior portion, and wherein the interior portion receives the cable,

wherein the exterior portion is coupled to the mattress and at least in part defines an opening through which the cable passes, wherein the opening is disposed below a separate opening in the mattress to substantially prevent intrusion of water into the mattress.

15 . A patient support apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a side rail mounted relative to the frame, the side rail being spaced by a distance from the frame and being movable between raised and lowered positions;

a mattress supported relative to said frame; and

a mattress cable configured for at least one of power and communication, at least a portion of the mattress cable being provided with increased stiffness to maintain the mattress cable in a space between the side rail and the frame to reduce disconnection of the mattress cable during use of the patient support apparatus,

wherein the mattress cable includes at least a first cable portion connected to the mattress and a second cable portion connected to the frame or another component at the patient support apparatus, wherein the mattress cable includes a first connector coupled to the first cable portion and a second connector coupled to the second cable portion forming a connector assembly, the connector assembly configured as a breakaway connection.

16 . The patient support apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the connector assembly is provided in the space between the side rail and the frame.

17 . The patient support apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second cable portions includes a sleeve extending around the respective first and second cable portions, wherein the sleeve provides stiffness adjacent a respective one of the first and second connectors mounted to the at least one first and second cable portions.

18 . The patient support apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the respective one of the first and second connectors has a connector body and a transition between the connector body and a respective one of the first and second cable portions, and wherein the sleeve on the respective one of the first and second cable portions extends around a portion of the respective one of the first and second connectors.

19 . The patient support apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the mattress includes a mattress control housing, and wherein the first cable portion is secured to a side of the mattress control housing along the sleeve.

20 . The patient support apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the mattress includes a cable support assembly that is integral to the mattress.

21 . The patient support apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the cable support assembly includes an exterior panel and an interior panel, and wherein the interior panel is coupled to the mattress cable.

22 . A patient support apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a side rail mounted relative to the frame, the side rail being spaced by a distance from the frame and being movable between raised and lowered positions;

a mattress supported relative to said frame; and

a mattress cable configured for at least one of power and communication, at least a portion of the mattress cable being provided with increased stiffness to maintain the mattress cable in a space between the side rail and the frame to reduce disconnection of the mattress cable during use of the patient support apparatus,

wherein the mattress includes a cable support assembly that is integral to the mattress,

wherein the cable support assembly includes an exterior portion and an interior portion, and wherein the interior portion receives the mattress cable,

wherein the exterior portion is coupled to the mattress and at least in part defines an opening through which the mattress cable passes, wherein the opening is disposed below a separate opening in the mattress to substantially prevent intrusion of water into the mattress.