Inflatable support
AssigneeHuntleigh Technology Limited
InventorsStephen John Cook, Alastair George McLeod, Rolf Schild
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low air loss mattress continuously supports a person lying thereon, and includes an upper layer of inflatable cells, and a separate lower layer of inflatable cells. The lower layer of inflatable cells is always maintained at a constant pressure which is higher than the pressure in the upper layer of cells to prevent a person lying on the mattress from contacting the underlying support surface, in particular, when sitting or during transport. Cells forming the upper layer may be inflated at different pressures to provide optimum support to different parts of the body.
Claims30
A low air loss mattress comprising:
- a lower layer of inflatable cells;
- an upper layer of inflatable cells, wherein the upper level is overlying the lower layer such that each cell in the upper layer is positioned substantially vertically above an adjacent cell of the lower layer;
- at least one securing member for securing the cells in the upper layer in the substantially vertically positioning above the respective adjacent cells in the lower layer;
- means for inflating the upper layer of cells with air to a first pressure so that, when inflated, the upper layer continuously and directly supports a patient lying thereon;
- and
- means for inflating with air and retaining separately the lower layer at a constant second pressure higher than the first pressure.
A method of providing an inflatable support for a patient comprising the steps of:
- providing the inflatable support having an upper layer of cells and a lower layer of cells, wherein each cell in the upper layer is positioned substantially vertically above an adjacent cell in the lower layer;
- securing the cells in the upper layer in the substantially vertically positioning above the respective adjacent cells in the lower layer;
- inflating both of the upper and lower layers to a respective maximum pressure,
- isolating the lower layer at its respective maximum pressure and retaining the lower layer at its respective pressure, and
- decreasing the inflation pressure of the upper layer to a pressure providing optimum support for a patient according to a physical characteristic of the patient, including the weight of the patient.
A low air loss mattress comprising:
- a lower layer of inflatable cells;
- an upper layer of inflatable cells, wherein the upper layer is overlying the lower layer such that each cell in the upper layer is positioned substantially vertically above an adjacent cell of the lower layer;
- at least one securing member for securing the cells in the upper layer in the substantially vertically positioning above the respective adjacent cells in the lower layer;
- a compressor, connected to the upper and lower layers by at least one manifold, for inflating the upper and lower layers with air, wherein the upper layer, when inflated, continuously and directly supports a patient lying thereon;
- and
- a control device for controlling the inflation of the upper and lower layers by the compressor, with the inflation of the lower layer being separate from inflation of the upper layer, and for maintaining the lower layer at a constant pressure higher than an upper layer pressure.
A low air loss mattress comprising:
- a lower layer of one or more inflatable cells;
- an upper layer of inflatable cells, wherein each cell in the upper layer is a separate chamber of a cell in the lower layer in fluid communication with the corresponding lower layer cell through a one-way valve in the wall separating the chamber from the lower layer cell;
- means for inflating with air and retaining separately the lower layer at a constant pressure;
- and
- means for inflating the upper layer of cells with air to a pressure lower than that of the lower layer, thereby permitting the upper layer, wherein inflated, to continuously and directly support a patient lying thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.