Pressure relief valve vent line mattress system and method

A methodology for a pressure relief valve vent line mattress, comprising:

• providing a mattress body including at least one patient air support bladder having a bladder air input port;
• applying via a first air tube a predetermined positive flow of air to said patient air support bladder via said port thereof;
• providing at least one air distribution manifold received within said mattress body and having a manifold air input port for receiving and dispersing air supplied thereto;
• and
• routing overflow pressure from said patient air support bladder, via a second air tube through a first pressure relief valve having an established set point, to said manifold so as to disperse such overflow pressure within said mattress body as low air loss for patient cooling and drying effects while the pressure level within said patient air support bladder is automatically controlled by venting such bladder overflow pressure via said manifold.

A self-adjusting pressure relief patient support apparatus with low air loss function, comprising:

• a main support body for receiving a patient thereon, and having at least one adjustable air support bladder with air therein;
• constant air flow pump means, in pneumatic communication with said air support bladder, for automatically supplying said bladder a generally constant predetermined air flow regardless of changing patient loading on said main support body;
• and
• overflow pressure manifold means, operatively associated with said air support bladder for dispersing overflow pressure air therefrom through said main support body as a low air loss, so that bladder air pressure is automatically controlled as patient cooling and drying effects are provided with the low air loss derived from such overflow pressure.

An air bladder mattress system providing automatic air pressure equalization combined with low air loss function achieved from a single air flow source, said system comprising:

• a main patient support mattress having respective foam and air bladder support elements, including a plurality of air bladders each of which have respective bladder air input ports;
• an air flow pump having a generally constant air flow output;
• a first section of air tubing directing said pump air flow output commonly into said respective bladder air input ports;
• at least one bleeder tube residing within said main patient support mattress, and having a plurality of low air loss holes formed therealong so that air fed to one end of such bleeder tube is dispersed within said mattress via said tube holes;
• and
• a second section of air tubing and a pressure relief valve with a predetermined set point, collectively forming a vent line between said first section of air tubing and said bleeder tube, so that air pressure within said plurality of air bladders greater than that of said predetermined set point is dispersed via the low air loss holes so as to automatically control such bladder air pressure while providing patient cooling and drying effects, thereby utilizing said air flow pump as a single source of air flow for operating both such functions.