Vibratory patient support system

A vibratory patient support system, comprising:

• a rigid support frame;
• a plurality of inflatable sacs supported by said support frame, each said sac having an upper surface whereby said plurality of sacs forms a patient support surface;
• means for pressurizing and maintaining said sacs at a predetermined pressure;
• a pneumatic vibrating system separate from said pressurizing and maintaining means for vibrating at least a portion of said patient support surface at a predetermined frequency, so that while said plurality of sacs are maintained at said predetermined pressure, said portion of said patient support surface is simultaneously vibrated at said predetermined frequency, said pneumatic vibrating system further comprising
• a source of pressurized air;
• at least one inflatable cell disposed within at least one said inflatable sac generally at the top thereof, said inflatable cell being supported within said sac, said inflatable cell being in pneumatic communication with said source of pressurized air;
• controllable valve means between said source of pressurized air and said inflatable cell, said valve means operating to alternately supply pressurized air from said pressurized air source to said inflatable cell and to vent pressurized air from said inflatable cell at said predetermined frequency, whereby said inflatable cell pneumatically pulsates just below said upper surface of said sac thereby imparting vibrational forces to said patient support surface;
• and a control circuit for controlling the operational frequency of said controllable valve means;
• and
• means for variably controlling said pneumatic vibrating system.

A vibratory therapy device, comprising:

• an inflatable patient support surface;
• means for maintaining said inflatable patient support surface at a predetermined pressure profile, said maintaining means controlling the internal relative pressure of said inflatable patient support surface;
• and
• means independent of said maintaining means and operably configured generally adjacent at least a portion of the upper surface of said patient support surface for simultaneously imparting vibrational forces to at least said portion of said patient support surface while at least the remainder of said patient support surface is separately maintained at said predetermined pressure profile.

A vibratable inflatable sac for use with an inflatable patient support system having a plurality of said inflatable sacs forming at least a portion of a patient support surface, said vibratable inflatable sac comprising:

• at least one internal chamber;
• means for connecting said internal chamber to a source of pressurized air so that said inflatable sac can be pressurized and maintained at a predetermined pressure;
• pneumatic vibrating means disposed generally at the top of said inflatable sac;
• and
• means for connecting said vibrating means to a source of pressurized air so that said vibrating means can be alternately pressurized and vented at a predetermined frequency, thereby imparting a vibrational force to the top of said inflatable sac.

A vibratory therapy device, comprising:

• an inflatable patient support surface comprising a plurality of inflatable low air loss sacs supported upon a rigid support structure;
• means for maintaining said inflatable patient support surface at a predetermined pressure profile, said maintaining means controlling the internal relative pressure of said inflatable patient support surface;
• and
• means independent of said maintaining means for simultaneously imparting vibrational forces to at least a portion of said patient support surface while said patient support surface is separately maintained at said predetermined pressure profile, said means for imparting vibrational forces comprising at least one pressurizable cell disposed internal to one of said low air loss sacs, said pressurizable cell being separately inflatable and ventable from said low air loss sac so as to expand and contract within said low air loss sac thereby imparting vibrational forces to said patient support surface.

A vibratory patient support system, comprising:

• a rigid support frame;
• a plurality of inflatable sacs supported by said support frame, each said sac having an upper surface whereby said plurality of sacs form a patient support surface;
• means for pressurizing and maintaining said sacs at a predetermined pressure;
• a pneumatic vibrating system separate from said pressurizing and maintaining means for vibrating at least a portion of said patient support surface at a predetermined frequency, so that while said plurality of sacs are maintained at said predetermined pressure, said portion of said patient support surface is simultaneously vibrated at said predetermined frequency, said pneumatic vibrating system further comprising:
• a source of pressurized air;
• at least one inflatable cell disposed generally adjacent said upper surface of at least one said inflatable sac, said inflatable cell being in pneumatic communication with said source of pressurized air;
• controllable valve means between said source of pressurized air and said inflatable cell, said valve means operating to alternately supply pressurized air from said pressurized air source to said inflatable cell and to vent pressurized air form said inflatable cell at a predetermined frequency, whereby said inflatable cell pneumatically pulsates imparting vibrational forces to said patient support surface;
• and
• means for controlling said controllable valve means.