Mattress section support

1. A patient support comprising:

a frame including a deck support and a step deck positioned on the deck support, the step deck having an upper deck, a lower deck, and a side wall, the upper deck being spaced apart from the lower deck to define a recess of the deck, the step deck including a first section and a second section configured to articulate relative to the first section, and

a mattress section support located on the step deck, the mattress section support being substantially non-rigid.

2. A patient support comprising:

a frame including a deck support and a step deck positioned on the deck support, the step deck having an upper deck, a lower deck, and a side wall, the upper deck being spaced apart from the lower deck to define a recess of the deck, the step deck including a first section and a second section configured to articulate relative to the first section and

a siderail supported by the frame, the siderail moveable between a raised position and a lowered position, the siderail positioned below the upper deck in the lowered position,

a mattress section support located on the step deck, and tethers coupled to the matress section support.

3. The patient support of claim 2 , wherein the tethers removably couple to a mattress.

4. A patient support comprising:

a frame including a deck support and a step deck positioned on the deck support, the step deck having an upper deck, a lower deck, and a side wall, the upper deck being spaced apart from the lower deck to define a recess of the deck;

a mattress section support located on the step deck; and

tether means for aligning the mattress section support with a deck section.

5. The patient support of claim 4 , wherein the upper deck includes a lip extending from the side wall.

6. The patient support of claim 4 , wherein the step deck is coupled to a substantially planar foot section.

7. A patient support comprising:

a frame including a deck support and a step deck positioned on the deck support, the step deck having an upper deck, a lower deck, and a side wall, the upper deck being spaced apart from the lower deck to define a recess of the deck;

a mattress section support located above the lower deck of the step deck; and

means for aligning the mattress section support with a deck section, the step deck being coupled to a substantially planar foot section and the foot section articulating relative to the step deck.

8. A patient support comprising:

a frame including a deck support and a step deck positioned on the deck support, the step deck having an upper deck, a lower deck, and a side wall, the upper deck being spaced apart from the lower deck to define a recess of the deck;

a substantially rigid mattress section support located on the step deck; and

means for aligning the mattress section support with a deck section.

9. The patient support of claim 4 , further comprising a substantially non-rigid mattress supported on the step deck.

10. A patient support comprising:

a frame including a deck support and a step deck positioned on the deck support, the step deck having an upper deck, a lower deck, and a side wall, the upper deck being spaced apart from the lower deck to define a recess of the deck;

a mattress section support located on the step deck;

means for aligning the mattress section support with a deck section; and

a substantially non-rigid mattress supported on the step deck, the mattress including straps coupled thereto.

11. A patient support comprising:

a frame including a deck support and a step deck positioned on the deck support, the step deck having an upper deck, a lower deck, and a side wall, the upper deck being spaced apart from the lower deck to define a recess of the deck;

a mattress section support located on the step deck; and

means for aligning the mattress section support with a deck section including tethers-removably coupled to a mattress.

12. A patient support comprising:

a frame including a deck support and a step deck positioned on the deck support, the step deck having an upper deck, a lower deck, and a side wall, the upper deck being spaced apart from the lower deck to define a recess of the deck;

a mattress section support located on the step deck; and

a coupler coupled to the mattress section support.

13. The patient support of claim 12 , wherein the coupler orients the mattress section support with a deck section.

14. The patient support of claim 12 , wherein the upper deck includes a lip extending from the side wall.

15. The patient support of claim 12 , wherein the step deck is coupled to a substantially planar foot section.

16. The patient support of claim 12 , wherein the mattress section support is substantially rigid.

17. The patient support of claim 12 , wherein the mattress section support is substantially non-rigid.

18. The patient support of claim 17 , wherein the mattress includes a strap coupled thereto.

19. The patient support of claim 18 , wherein the coupler removably couples to the straps.

20. A method of converting a patient support deck from a step deck having a recess to a substantially flat deck comprising the steps of:

removing a first mattress section support and a first mattress simultaneously;

placing a second mattress section support upon a step deck to substantially fill the recess in the step deck; and

placing a second mattress upon the step deck and the second mattress section support.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein placing the mattress section support upon the step deck configures the step deck to receive a mattress of substantially uniform thickness thereon.

22. A method of converting a patient support deck from a step deck having a recess to a substantially flat deck comprising the steps of:

placing a mattress section support upon a step deck to substantially fill the recess in the step deck;

placing a mattress upon the step deck and mattress section support; and

coupling the mattress section support to the step deck.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the coupling step includes removably coupling a tether to the mattress, and the tether is coupled to the mattress section support.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the mattress includes straps to which the tethers are removably coupled.

25. A method of converting a patient support deck from a step deck having a recess to a substantially flat deck comprising the steps of:

placing a substantially rigid mattress section support upon a step deck to substantially fill the recess in the step deck; and

placing a mattress upon the step deck and mattress section support.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the mattress section support has a plurality of hollow portions.

27. The method of claim 20 , wherein the placing of the mattress section support on the step deck is performed before the placing of the mattress upon the step deck.

28. A mattress for use with a deck, the mattress comprising:

a first section having a first width;

a second section having a second width, the first section being located above the second section when positioned on a deck, the first width being about 20 percent greater than the second width, the first section being removably coupled to the second section; and

a tether, removably coupled to the second section, to align the second section upon the deck.

29. A mattress for use with a deck, the mattress comprising:

a first section having a first width; and

a substantially rigid second section having a second width, the first section being located above the second section when positioned on a deck, the first width being about 20 percent greater than the second width.

30. A mattress for use with a deck, the mattress comprising:

first section having a first width; and

a substantially hollow second section having a second width, the first section being located above the second section when positioned on a deck, the first width being about 20 percent greater than the second width.

31. A mattress for use with an articulating step deck defining a recess, the mattress comprising:

a first section having a first width;

a second section positioned under the first section and having a second width less than the first width to fit in the recess of a step deck, wherein the first and second sections are composed of a unitary piece of material,

a head end; and

a foot end configured to move relative to the head end during articulation of an articulating step deck.

32. A mattress for use with an articulating step deck defining a recess, the mattress comprising:

a first section having a first width;

a second section positioned under the first section and having a second width less than the first width to fit in the recess of a step deck, wherein the second section is substantially rigid;

a head end; and

a foot end configured to move relative to the head end during articulation of an articulating step deck.

33. A mattress for use with an articulating step deck defining a recess, the mattress comprising:

a first section having a first width;

a second section positioned under the first section and having a second width less than the first width to fit in the recess of a step deck; straps configured to couple the mattress to the articulating step deck,

a head end;

a foot end configured to move relative to the head end during articulation of an articulating step deck; and

straps configured to couple the mattress to the articulating step deck.