Ventilated access interface and cushion support system

A support system for supporting a patient on an underlying surface, said system comprising an independent cushion for supporting a patient, said cushion having a flexible base provided with apertures which pass through the flexible base, a separate independent distributor located beneath the base of the cushion and positionable on said underlying surface, said cushion and distributor being separable from each other to facilitate individual cleaning, said distributor including a base and upstanding pillars which engage and elevate the base of the cushion above the base of the distributor, the flexible base of the cushion and the distributor defining a distribution chamber beneath the base of the cushion, a duct having one end remote from the distributor and its opposite end opening into the distribution chamber, and an air mover connected to the duct for moving air through it, whereby the air flows through the duct and the distribution chamber and through the apertures in the cushion base so as to pass over that portion of the patient which is against the cushion.

In combination with a generally horizontal surface, a system for supporting an individual above that surface while circulating air along the downwardly presented skin area of that individual, said system comprising a distributor having a base which rests on the surface and studs projecting upwardly from the base, a cushion located over the distributor and having a flexible base and a plurality of flexible air cells projecting outwardly from the base, the cushion for the most part resting on the posts of the distributor so that a distribution access chamber exists between the distributor base and the cushion base, but being larger than the distributor so that a peripheral portion of the cushion rests on the supporting surface, the interiors of at least some of the air cells of the cushion being in communication through the cushion base so that the interiors of those cells exist at the same pressure when an individual is upon the cushion, the cushion base having apertures located in the air cells, a duct connected to the distributor and opening into the distribution chamber, and a blower connected to the duct remote from the distributor for supporting air or suction to the distributor chamber, whereby the air escapes through the apertures in the cushion base and circulates along the downwardly presented skin area of the individual supported on the cushion.

A support system for supporting a patient, said system comprising an underlying surface, a cushion having a flexible base provided with apertures, distributor means having a base positioned on said underlying surface and a plurality of pillars which project upwardly from the distributor base and support the cushion base above the underlying surface so as to create a distribution chamber beneath the base of the cushion, a duct having one end remote from the distributor means and its opposite end opening into the distribution chamber at the distributor means, and an air mover connected to the duct for moving conditioned air through said duct, whereby the conditioned air flows through the duct and the distribution chamber and through the apertures in the cushion base so as to pass over that portion of the patient which is against the cushion, the base of the distributor means being smaller than the flexible base of the cushion so that the cushion base projects beyond the distributor and forms a seal with the surface and the duct includes a horizontal section that extends along the underlying surface and leads up to the distributor means and a vertical section which is located beyond the underlying surface and extends downwardly from the horizontal section, and further comprising a container coupled to the vertical section at the lower end thereof for collection of liquids.