Back to results
US 2012/0054964 A1Published application
Patient support apparatuses and methods
AssigneeKCI Licensing, Inc.
InventorsGlenn C. Stroh, John H. Vrzalik, Cesar Lina
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improved patient-support apparatuses and methods for rapid mattress inflation and pressure-compensation for changes in patient position.
Claims27
A patient-support apparatus comprising:
- a mattress with two or more inflatable zones;
- two or more primary fluid sources each having a first capacity and coupled to a corresponding one of the two or more inflatable zones;
- a secondary fluid source having a second capacity that is greater than the first capacity of each primary fluid source, the secondary fluid source coupled to the two or more inflatable zones;
- a controller coupled to the two or more primary fluid sources and to the secondary fluid source, the controller configured to activate the secondary fluid source to provide fluid to the two or more zones if the pressure in at least one of the two or more zones is below a lower threshold pressure.
1 more element
A control unit for a mattress having two or more inflatable zones, the control unit comprising:
- two or more primary fluid sources each having a first capacity and configured to be coupled to a different one of the two or more zones of the mattress;
- a secondary fluid source having a second capacity that is greater than the first capacity of each primary fluid source, the secondary fluid source configured to be coupled to each of the two or more zones of the mattress;
- a controller coupled to the two or more primary fluid sources and to the secondary fluid source;
- where the controller is configured such that if the primary fluid sources and the secondary fluid source are coupled to the two or more zones of an mattress, the controller will activate the secondary fluid source to provide fluid to the two or more zones if the pressure in at least one of the two or more zones is below a lower threshold pressure.
1 more element
A method of controlling air pressure in a multi-chamber inflatable mattress, the method comprising:
- detecting that the angle of a pivotable back section of a patient support is changing;
- and
- isolating one or more seat chambers of the mattress until the angle of the back section stops changing.
A patient-support apparatus comprising:
- a frame having a seat portion and a back portion configured to pivot between a lowered position and a raised position;
- an air mattress having one or more back chambers, and one or more seat chambers;
- a fluid source coupled to the one or more seat chambers;
- a sensor configured to detect if the angle of the back portion of the frame is being adjusted;
- and
- a controller coupled to the sensor and configured such that if the sensor detects that the back portion of the frame is being adjusted, the controller will isolate the one or more seat chambers until the back portion stops being adjusted.
3 more elements
A patient-support apparatus comprising:
- a frame having a head end, a foot end, and a mattress region between the head end and the foot end, the frame including a coupling portion;
- a housing coupled to the frame and having a peripheral edge facing the mattress region of the frame, the housing supporting at least one of a fluid source and a controller;
- a boundary member having a first side, a second side, and a lip extending from the second side;
- where the boundary member is configured to be removably coupled to the coupling portion of the frame such that the first side of the boundary member faces the mattress region, the second side of the boundary member faces the housing, and the lip of the boundary member extends over the upper peripheral edge of the housing.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.