Patient support apparatus having an air cell grid and associated method
AssigneeThe Cleveland Clinic Foundation
InventorsSteven Reger, Richard Navarro
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus (10) for supporting a patient during a medical procedure includes a bead bag (18) that is filled with compressible beads (20) and that forms a lower layer of the apparatus (10). The apparatus (10) also includes a layer of foam material (30) that is located above the bead bag and an air cell grid (36) that has a plurality of inflatable air cells (38). The air cell grid (36) forms an upper layer of the apparatus (10) and provides a soft surface upon which the patient lies. The bead bag (18), when subjected to a vacuum, becomes rigid for supporting the air cell grid (36) against the patient for helping to maximize a surface area of contact between the patient and the apparatus (10).
Claims18
1-10. (canceled)
An apparatus for supporting a patient during a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
- an air cell grid having a plurality of inflatable air cells, each air cell including a base wall and an upper wall, the upper wall moving away from the base wall when the air cell is inflated into an expanded condition;
- and
- an electrical switch for indicating a collapsed condition of an associated air cell of the air cell grid, the electrical switch including a first electrical contact that is located on the base wall of the associated air cell and a second electrical contact that is located on the upper wall of the associated air cell, the first and second electrical contacts coming into engagement with one another in response to the associated air cell moving into the collapsed condition.
A method of supporting a patient on a support structure having an air cell grid that includes a plurality of inflatable air cells, the method comprising the steps of:
- inflating the air cells of the air cell grid into an expanded condition;
- venting the air cells of the air cell grid to atmosphere while maintaining the air cells in the expanded condition;
- isolating air cells of the air cell grid from one another and from atmosphere;
- positioning the patient on the support structure above the air cell grid;
- and
- placing the air cells in fluid communication with one another to equalize air pressure throughout the air cell grid for helping to equalize an interface pressure between the patient and the support structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.