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US 11,672,715 B2Granted
Support apparatus, system and method
AssigneeDabir Surfaces, Inc.
InventorsDavid A. Dzioba, Kenneth Andrew Wolf, Timothy Wyrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A therapeutic support device includes a bladder having one or more independently inflatable compartments, each including a plurality of inflatable cells. When inflated, each inflatable cell forms a contact node that may support a user or another object disposed thereon. The inflatable compartments can be alternately inflated and deflated such that contact pressure can be applied to and relieved from corresponding portions of the user's body in an alternating manner.
Claims34
A method of supporting a user, comprising the steps of:
- providing a support surface overlay, said support surface overlay comprising:
- a first flat flexible sheet and a second flat flexible sheet overlying said first flat flexible sheet, said second flat flexible sheet joined to said first flat flexible sheet by a generally sinuous seam, wherein regions of said first flat flexible sheet, corresponding regions of said second flat flexible sheet, and said seam cooperate to define:
- a first selectively inflatable compartment comprising a first plurality of selectively inflatable cells, each of said first plurality of selectively inflatable cells defining a contact node having a contact node centroid when said first selectively inflatable compartment is inflated, said first plurality of selectively inflatable cells having a nodal contact density of at least two contact node centroids contained within a square area having a length of ten centimeters and a width of ten centimeters;
- and
- a second selectively inflatable compartment comprising a second plurality of selectively inflatable cells, each of said second plurality of selectively inflatable cells defining a contact node having a contact node centroid when said second selectively inflatable compartment is inflated, said second plurality of selectively inflatable cells having a nodal contact density of at least two contact node centroids contained within a square area having a length of ten centimeters and a width of ten centimeters;
- providing a control unit and operating said control unit to:
- inflate said first selectively inflatable compartment such that the inflation pressure at each of said first plurality of selectively inflatable cells is greater than or equal to 1.9 pounds per square inch;
- deflate said first selectively inflatable compartment;
- inflate said second selectively inflatable compartment such that the inflation pressure at each of said second selectively inflatable cells of said second inflatable compartment is greater than or equal to 1.9 pounds per square inch;
- and
- deflate said second selectively inflatable compartment.
8 more elements
A system for therapeutically supporting a user, comprising:
- a therapeutic support surface overlay, said support surface overlay comprising:
- a first flat flexible sheet and a second flat flexible sheet overlying said first flat flexible sheet, said second flat flexible sheet joined to said first flat flexible sheet by a generally sinuous seam, wherein regions of said first flat flexible sheet, corresponding regions of said second flat flexible sheet, and said seam cooperate to define:
- a first selectively inflatable compartment comprising a first plurality of selectively inflatable cells, each of said first plurality of selectively inflatable cells defining a contact node having a contact node centroid when said first selectively inflatable compartment is inflated, said first plurality of selectively inflatable cells having a nodal contact density of at least two contact node centroids contained within a square area having a length of ten centimeters and a width of ten centimeters;
- and
- a second selectively inflatable compartment comprising a second plurality of selectively inflatable cells, each of said second plurality of selectively inflatable cells defining a contact node having a contact node centroid when said second selectively inflatable compartment is inflated, said second plurality of selectively inflatable cells having a nodal contact density of at least two contact node centroids contained within a square area having a length of ten centimeters and a width of ten centimeters;
- and
- a control unit configured to selectively:
- inflate said first selectively inflatable compartment such that the inflation pressure at each of said first plurality of selectively inflatable cells is greater than or equal to 1.9 pounds per square inch;
- deflate said first selectively inflatable compartment;
- inflate said second selectively inflatable compartment such that the inflation pressure at each of said second selectively inflatable cells of said second inflatable compartment is greater than or equal to 1.9 pounds per square inch;
- and
- deflate said second selectively inflatable compartment.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.