Mattress system
AssigneeHill-Rom Services, Inc.
InventorsMikael Maho, Anthony Thepaut, Etienne Yvernault, Pierre-Yves Le Naour, David Guyot
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A patient support apparatus includes a mattress that defines a plurality of grooves. A bladder is disposed within each groove. Each bladder is operable between a deployed state and a non-deployed state. A flap is disposed adjacent to each groove. Each flap includes a broad contact surface and a narrow contact surface. A manifold is in fluid communication with each bladder. The manifold is configured to direct fluid into each bladder to adjust the bladders between the deployed state and the non-deployed state, and consequently move the flaps between a raised position and a lowered position, respectively.
Claims20
A mattress system for a patient support apparatus, the mattress system comprising:
- a mattress defining a cavity therein and having a support surface, comprising:
- a first bladder comprising an outer membrane and a foam core disposed within the outer membrane, the foam core having an original size and shape, the first bladder disposed within the cavity;
- and
- a second bladder comprising an outer membrane and a foam core disposed within the outer membrane, the foam core having an original size and shape, the second bladder disposed within the cavity proximate the first bladder;
- a pump in fluid communication with each of the first bladder and the second bladder, wherein the pump defines a first port and a second port;
- and
- a manifold in fluid communication with the first bladder, the second bladder, and the pump, wherein the pump is configured to evacuate fluid from the first bladder when the manifold is in a first operating state and configured to evacuate fluid from the second bladder when the manifold is in a second operating state to influence a shape of the support surface of the mattress,
- wherein in a non-powered condition, the first and second bladders are in a neutral state, the neutral state being defined by the original size and shape of the respective foam core, and wherein each of the first bladder and the second bladder are independently operable between the neutral state, an expanded state in which the respective outer membrane is expanded and the respective foam core has the original size and shape, and a compressed state in which the respective foam core has a compressed size and shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.