Pressure relieving pad with graduated pillars
AssigneeKCI-RIK Acquisition, Corp.
InventorsRobin L. Castellino, Gregory S. Marino, Dustin E. Gabel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure relieving pad with graduated pillars to effectively reduce the development of decubitus ulcers. The pad is preferably made of foam to keep the manufacturing costs down and includes a first plurality of large pillars or columns. A second plurality of smaller pillars or columns is then positioned atop each of the larger pillars forming a progression or graduation of pillars. Adjacent larger pillars are preferably attached to one another at their bases to form an underlying, support platform or level for the pad. In operation, the weight or force of the patient using the pad is progressively transferred from the small pillars on top downwardly through the larger pillars to the underlying support platform or level.
Claims26
A pad primarily intended to reduce the development of decubitus ulcers in a patient using the pad, said pad including:
- at least two, upstanding, resilient, spring members (3), said spring members (3) being formed from a common, continuous piece of resilient, compressible foam and having base portions (5) and top portions (7), said base portions (5) being part of said common, continuous piece of foam and being integrally attached to one another, said top portions (7) being cut (11) in said common, continuous piece of foam and being separated and spaced (11) from one another, each of said top portions (7) having an upper section including a plurality of upstanding, resilient, spring elements (9) separated and spaced (11') from one another, each of said top portions (7) further including a lower section beneath said upper section of spring elements (9), said attached base portions (5) of said spring members (3) forming means for supporting the top portions (7) positioned thereon and the weight of the patient, said means for supporting being resilient and compressible wherein the weight of the patient is substantially transferred in a progressively compressing manner from said spring elements (9) of the upper section of each top portion (7) to the lower section of each top portion (7) and to said means for supporting in response to the force of the patient's weight on the pad.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.