US 5,168,589 AGranted

Pressure reduction air mattress and overlay

AssigneeKinetic Concepts, Inc.

InventorsGlenn C. Stroh, Randall L. Ohman

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Abstract

An inflatable mattress made of multiple, integrally joined cushions designed to reduce patient interface pressures, which may be used separately or as an overlay on a standard hospital bed. Each cushion and section of the mattress is formed by joining upper and lower sheets, both to form the edges of the cushions and sections and to provide a relatively flat support surface which is laterally bounded by inflatable ridges which help keep the patient from rolling or sliding off either side of the mattress. The upper and lower sheets to form the mattress are made from a water vapor permeable but waterproof material, certain sections of the upper surface of the cushions being formed of air-permeable material which serves to allow air to escape in the area where a patient lies to provide comfort and therapy for the patient. A blower for the mattress provides compressed air at separately adjustable flow rates through three separate conduits and also include a heating element for warming the air to enhance the therapeutic benefits of the mattress.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An inflatable patient support mattress comprising:

a plurality of inflatable cushions forming an elongate patient support mattress when inflated, said cushions including at least three cushions positioned along the length of said mattress to generally correspond to head, body and leg portions of a patient supported thereon;
a first of said three cushions being located near a first longitudinal end of said mattress and being inflatable separately from the others of said three cushions by means of a first air inlet located at said first longitudinal end of said mattress;
a second of said three cushions being located near the opposite longitudinal end of said mattress and being inflatable separately from the others of said three cushions by means of a second air inlet located at said first longitudinal end of said mattress, said second inlet being in fluid communication with said second cushion by means of a first elongate section positioned lengthwise along a first lateral edge of each of said three cushions of said mattress;
and
a third of said three cushions being located between said first cushion and said second cushion and being inflatable separately from the others of said three cushions by means of a third air inlet located at said first longitudinal end of said mattress, said third inlet being in fluid communication with said third cushion by means of a second elongate section positioned lengthwise along a second lateral edge of each of said three cushions of said mattress, the second lateral edge being opposite the first lateral edge.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/714,379Filed 11 Jun 1991 · continuation in part
Priority: 17 Apr 1989
Granted: 8 Dec 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A61G 7/05769
Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor: with inflatable chambers
Y10S 5/939
Beds: with microporous material
A61G
Transport, personal conveyances or accommodation specially adapted for patients or disabled persons
Y10S
Technical subjects covered by former uspc cross-reference art collections [xracs] and digests