The biobed was the standard diagnostic facility available in a sickbay. Physicals, surgeries, and other medical procedures were all performed on biobeds.
Biobed types
Surgical
| File:Galaxyclass surgicalbed.jpg | |
| Caption: | Main surgical bed in the Galaxy-class sickbay. |
| File:Galaxyclass icu.jpg | |
| Caption: | Galaxy class intensive care biobeds. |
The primary biobed in sickbay was designed for surgical purposes, although it was also the default bed for examinations conducted by the chief medical officer. It had various hookups for surgical equipment, and was typically covered by a large sensor cluster. Surgical beds usually had a large display for vital signs and other information adjacent to the bed. Serious surgeries usually required a larger biobed with more specialized sensors and surgical equipment. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II", "Ethics")
Intensive care
Other biobeds lined the perimeter of sickbay. These beds were generally used for patients under intensive care or in recovery. Information on a patients' medical status was typically displayed on a biofunction monitor at the head of the bed.
Stasis units
A biobed could be modified for stasis purposes. A patient too critically injured for a starship crew to care for at present could be placed in suspended animation. They could then be revived once help arrived or a crisis situation was resolved. (TNG: "Genesis") Stasis beds could be used for other purposes as well, such as supporting a holographic chamber or a bio-temporal chamber. (VOY: "Phage", "Before and After")
OB/GYN
Another type of biobed was designed for OB/GYN purposes. It was reclined and styled like a chair. It was generally used for deliveries. (TNG: "The Child") Not all starships had this type of bed available, however. The USS Voyager used a standard biobed for the two children born aboard that vessel. (VOY: "Deadlock", "Endgame")
Cardassian biobed
A Cardassian biobed
After the Kobliad Security officer Ty Kajada fell from the third level of Quark's in 2369 she was stabilized and treated on a Cardassian biobed in Deep Space 9's infirmary. (DS9: "The Passenger")