# US 2014/0196210 A1 · Microclimate system for a patient support apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196210 A1 - Document ID: US20140196210A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/156,085 - Filed: 2014-01-15 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-15 - Assignees: Hill-Rom Services, Inc. - Applicants: Hill-Rom Services, Inc. - Inventors: Charles A. Lachenbruch; Rachel L. Williamson; Katherine M. McDonnell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196210A1 ## CPC - A61G 7/057: Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor {(ventilation openings in mattresses A47C21/042; pneumatic or hydraulic mattresses A47C27/08)} - A61F 7/0053: {Cabins, rooms, chairs or units for treatment with a hot or cold circulating fluid} - A61F 7/007: {characterised by electric heating} - A61F 7/0085: {Devices for generating hot or cold treatment fluids} - A61F 7/0097: {Blankets with active heating or cooling sources (warming mats A61F7/08)} - A61G 7/001: {with means for turning-over the patient} - A61G 7/015: divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position - A61G 7/018: Control or drive mechanisms - A61G 7/05769: {with inflatable chambers} - A61G 7/05784: {with ventilating means, e.g. mattress or cushion with ventilating holes or ventilators} - A61F 2007/006: {of gas} - A61F 2007/0096: {with a thermometer} - A61F 2007/0258: {with a fluid permeable layer} - A61G 2203/12: Remote controls - A61G 2203/16: Touchpads - A61G 2203/20: Displays or monitors - A61G 2203/34: for pressure - A61G 2203/46: for temperature - A61G 2210/70: for cooling - A61G 2210/90: for heating - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract According to the present disclosure, a microclimate system includes a topper and an air box. The topper is configured to conduct air along a surface of the topper so that heat and moisture from a patient lying on the topper are drawn away from the surface. The air box includes a blower coupled to the topper to provide air to the topper to be conducted along the surface of the topper. The air box may also include an environmental sensor unit coupled configured to detect environmental information corresponding to the environment around the microclimate system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microclimate system comprising a support surface including a topper, the topper configured to conduct air along a top face of the support surface so that heat and moisture from a patient lying on the support surface are drawn away from the top face of the support surface, an air box including a controller, a blower coupled to the controller and coupled to the topper, and an environmental sensor unit coupled the controller, the environmental sensor unit configured to detect environmental information corresponding to the surroundings of the support surface and the air box, wherein the controller receives the environmental information from the environmental sensor unit, determines if current operating parameters of the air box provide a rated level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity through the topper based at least in part on the environmental information, and updates the current operating parameters of the air box if the current operating parameters of the air box do not provide the rated level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity through the topper. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microclimate system of claim 1, wherein the environmental sensor unit includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a pressure sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The microclimate system of claim 2, wherein the environmental sensor unit includes a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microclimate system of claim 1, wherein the controller determines if current operating parameters of the air box will provide the rated level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity through the topper based at least in part on the environmental information by (i) looking up an actual level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity corresponding to the detected environmental information in a first look-up table and (ii) comparing the actual level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity with the rated level of heat withdrawal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The microclimate system of claim 4, wherein the controller updates the current operating parameters of the air box by (i) looking up new operating parameters corresponding to the detected environmental information in a second look-up table and (ii) changing the current operating parameters to the new operating parameters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microclimate system of claim 1, wherein the air box includes a conditioning unit coupled to the controller, and the conditioning unit is coupled between the blower and the topper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The microclimate system of claim 6, wherein the conditioning unit includes at least one of a heater configured to warm air moving from the blower to the topper and a cooler configured to cool air moving from the blower to the topper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The microclimate system of claim 7, wherein the operating parameters of the air box include blower speed settings and conditioning unit power settings. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The microclimate system of claim 1, wherein the support surface includes inflatable body bladders encased by a lower ticking and the topper, the inflatable body bladders are coupled to the blower for pneumatic communication, and the inflatable body bladders are configured to support a patient lying on the support surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The microclimate system of claim 9, wherein the support surface includes a left turn bladder and a right turn bladder encased by the lower ticking and the topper, the left and the right turn bladder are coupled to the blower, and the left and the right turn bladder are configured to rotate a patient lying on the support surface about a longitudinal axis of the support surface. ### Claim 11 A microclimate system comprising a topper, an air box including a controller, a blower coupled to the controller and coupled to the topper, and an environmental sensor unit coupled the controller, the environmental sensor unit configured to detect environmental information corresponding to the surroundings of the topper and the air box, wherein the controller receives the environmental information from the environmental sensor unit, determines if current operating parameters of the air box provide a rated level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity through the topper based at least in part on the environmental information, and updates the current operating parameters of the air box if the current operating parameters of the air box do not provide the rated level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity through the topper. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The microclimate system of claim 11, wherein the air box includes a housing encasing the blower and a connector hose extending from the housing to the topper. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The microclimate system of claim 12, wherein the environmental sensor unit is encased in the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The microclimate system of claim 11, wherein the air box includes a conditioning unit coupled to the controller, the conditioning unit coupled between the blower and the topper, and the conditioning unit including at least one of a heater configured to warm air moving from the blower to the topper and a cooler configured to cool air moving from the blower to the topper. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The microclimate system of claim 14, wherein the operating parameters of the air box include blower speed settings and conditioning unit power settings. ### Claim 16 A method for controlling a microclimate system including a topper and an air box coupled to the topper to provide pressurized air to the topper, the method comprising receiving information from a sensor unit corresponding to air temperature and air humidity, determining if current operating parameters of the air box provide a rated level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity through the topper based at least in part on the information, and updating the current operating parameters of the air box if the current operating parameters of the air box do not provide the rated level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity through the topper. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein determining if current operating parameters of the air box will provide the rated level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity includes (i) looking up an actual level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity corresponding to the received information in a first look-up table and (ii) comparing the actual level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity parameters with the rated level of heat withdrawal and evaporative capacity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein updating the current operating parameters of the air box includes (i) looking up new operating parameters corresponding to the received information in a second look-up table and (ii) changing the current operating parameters to the new operating parameters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein determining if current operating parameters of the air box will provide the rated level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity includes (i) calculating an actual level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity corresponding to the received information using a first equation and (ii) comparing the actual level of heat withdrawal or evaporative capacity with the rated level of heat withdrawal and evaporative capacity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the information received corresponds to at least one of environmental temperature, environmental humidity, and environmental pressure.