Support apparatus for preventing and/or inhibiting decubitus ulcers
OwnerThomas Davenport, Steven Stavridesinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for preventing decubitus ulcerations including a frame having a pair of frame supports spaced from each other. A mattress is supported on the frame between the frame supports. A pliable support material extends between the supports. The material is adapted to support an individual thereon in a generally recumbent position. A lift mechanism is disposed on the frame and operably connected to the support material. The lift mechanism adjusts the tension of the material so that the support has a first position resting on the mattress and a second position wherein the support is raised above the mattress.
Claims27
An apparatus for preventing and/or inhibiting decubitus ulcers comprising:
- a frame including a pair of frame supports spaced from each other;
- a contact surface supported on the frame between the frame supports;
- a pliable support material extending between the frame supports, the material adapted to support an individual thereon in a generally recumbent position;
- and
- a lift mechanism disposed on the frame and operably connected to the support material, the lift mechanism adjusting the position of the support material so that the support material has a first position resting on the contact surface and a second position wherein the support material is raised above the contact surface.
An apparatus for supporting a patient comprising:
- a bed including a frame having a first and second frame end supports spaced from each other;
- a mattress supported on the frame between the first and second frame end supports;
- a patient support extending between the first and second frame end supports and including a web of material disposed over the mattress adapted to support the patient in a generally recumbent position;
- and
- a lift mechanism disposed on the frame and operably connected to the web of material, the lift mechanism moving the web of material between a first position wherein the patient support rests on the mattress and a second position wherein the patient support is raised above the mattress.
An apparatus for preventing and/or inhibiting decubitus ulcers comprising:
- a frame including a pair of frame supports spaced from each other;
- a contact surface supported on the frame between the frame supports;
- a pliable support material extending between the frame supports, the material adapted to support an individual thereon in a generally recumbent position;
- and
- a positional shifting device supported on the frame and operably connected to the support material;
- and
- a controller operably connected to the positional shifting device, the controller emitting signals to cause the shifting device to periodically adjust the position of the support material relative to the contact surface to adjust the position of the individual.
A method of preventing and/or inhibiting decubitus ulcers comprising:
- supporting an individual on a bed having a mattress disposed in a frame including a pair of frame supports spaced from each other, the bed including a pliable material extending between and operably connected to the frame supports, the material adapted to support an individual thereon in a generally recumbent position;
- moving the material disposed over the mattress relative to the mattress to redistribute the weight of the individual relative to the mattress for a predetermined period of time;
- and
- following the predetermined time moving the material disposed over the mattress to lower the individual onto the mattress, wherein the individual is substantially supported by the mattress.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.