A modular patient support system adapted to be quickly mounted to utility vehicles
such as trucks, buses, vans or trailers, to permit emergency medical workers to
rapidly transform standard utility vehicles into specialized ambulances. When not
in use, the modular patient support system is easily dismounted and collapsed for
warehousing. The modular patient support system comprises a base frame that is
used to attach the system to a vehicle. The base frame is oriented parallel and
adjacent to a side wall of the vehicle. Two telescoping litter supports are attached
to the base frame by hinges having a vertical axis of rotation. The two litter
supports can either be extended normal to the base frame in order to support a
patient on a litter, or collapsed and folded parallel to the base frame. A seat
frame is adjustably attached to the base frame using multiple connecting links.
When positioned vertically, the seat bottoms serve as mounting surfaces for medical
equipment. When positioned horizontally, the seat frame provides restrained seating
for multiple patients. Mounting rails permit the secure attachment of equipment
and for the positions of the pieces of equipment to be easily adjusted.