Support surface with phase change material or heat tubes

A clinical support surface pad for reducing the incidence and promoting the healing of bedsores, the support surface pad comprising:

• (a) phase change material having a melting point of between about 18 and 32 degrees Centigrade;
• (b) a gel or viscous fluid carrier in which the phase change material is substantially evenly distributed;
• (c) a fluid-impermeable, conformable envelope surrounding the phase change material and the carrier;
• and
• (d) at least one conformable compression support layer beneath and adjacent to the envelope.

A clinical support surface for reducing the incidence and promoting the healing of bedsores, the support surface comprising:

• (a) at least one thermal layer comprising:
• a phase change material having a melting point of between about 18 and 32 degrees Centigrade;
• a gel or viscous fluid carrier in which the phase change material is substantially evenly distributed;
• and a fluid-impermeable, conformable envelope surrounding the phase change material and the gel or fluid carrier;
• (b) at least one conformable compression support layer beneath and adjacent to the thermal layer;
• (c) at least one conformable base support layer beneath and adjacent to the compression layer, the base support layer having a higher indentor load deflection (ILD) than the compression layer;
• wherein the layers are joined within an outer covering.

A support surface for comfort or reducing the incidence and promoting the healing of bedsores, the support surface comprising:

• (a) at least one heat tube layer comprising at least two adjacent heat tubes, at least one of the heat tubes containing a refrigerant liquid, the refrigerant liquid having a boiling point between about 80 and about 85 degrees Fahrenheit;
• (b) at least one conformable compression support layer beneath and adjacent to the heat tube layer;
• and
• (c) at least one conformable base support layer beneath and adjacent to the compression layer, the base support layer having a higher indentor load deflection (ILD) than the compression layer;
• wherein the layers are joined within an outer covering, and the support surface does not comprise a manually operated temperature control unit.