Alternating pressure mattress system and method

An alternating pressure mattress system, comprising:

• (a) a mattress comprising a plurality of narrow, parallel, closely-spaced, horizontally adjacent air sacks, every other one of said air sacks comprising a first group of air sacks being commonly connected for the introduction thereinto of pressurized air and the others of said air sacks comprising a second group of air sacks and being commonly connected for the introduction thereinto of pressurized air;
• (b) a blower to supply said pressurized air to said first and second groups of air sacks;
• (c) control means to alternatingly inflate and deflate said first and second groups of air sacks for selected periods of time;
• (d) said control means providing for intervals of time at inflation/deflation transitions during which periods of time said pressurized air is being furnished to both said first and second groups of air sacks;
• and
• (e) said control means further providing a control mode selected from the group consisting of:
• increasing output of said blower during said intervals of time;
• varying duration of said intervals of time as a function of weight of a patient to be reposed on said mattress;
• increasing said output of said blower as a function of said weight of said patient;
• varying duration of periods of inflation and deflation of said first and second groups of air sacks as a function of said output of said blower;
• and varying said duration of periods of inflation and deflation of said first and second groups of air sacks as a function of said output of said blower and said intervals of time.