Air-operated body support device

Abstract

Airtight sacks are installed in parallel array to support a patient. A blower supplies air to the sacks through a function control valve system and a multi-tap high flow pressure selector. The pressure selector defines discrete zones of air pressure between its inlet and its exhaust to atmosphere. An adjustable tap communicating with individual sacks or group of sacks may be selectively placed in communication with any of the pressure zones to independently establish the pressure maintained in the corresponding sacks. The sacks may be connected to the line from the pressure tap at a single valve. The slide valve has one state permitting communication between the blower and the sacks, a second state sealing all sacks and third state venting all sacks. A detector and indicator of the patient's depth of deflection is provided for at least one sack. The blower may be used also to operate adjunctive air devices such as air pillow overlays for imparting desired movement to a patient.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.