Alternating pad

An alternating pressure pad useful in the prevention and management of decubitous ulcers the relief of pressure a lied to selected portions of skin of bedridden patients, and the support of bony protuberances the pad comprising at least two sets of alternately inflatable cells, at least one cell in each cell set comprising at least one force applying member extending a sufficient distance about the periphery of the cell to cause the force applying member, during deflation of the cell, to rapidly collaspe the cell into a deflated state.

An alternating pressure pad useful in the prevention and management of decubitous ulcers, the relief of pressure applied to selected portions of skin of bedridden patients, and the support of bony protuberances, the pad comprising at least two sets of alternately inflatable cells, at least one cell in each set comprising at least one membrane extending a sufficient distance about the periphery of the cell to restrict at least a portion of the cell to a shape for supporting, when the cell is inflated, at least selected portions of a patient, and to significantly accelerate deflation of the cell from such portions of the patient during deflation.

An alternating pressure pad useful in the prevention and management of decubitous ulcers, the relief of pressure applied to selected portions of skin of bedridden patients, and the support of bony protuberances, the pad comprising at least two sets of alternately inflatable cells, at least one cell in each set comprising at least one force applying member extending a sufficient distance about the periphery of the cell to restrict at least a portion of the cell to a shape, when the cell is inflated, for supporting at least selected portions of a patient, and to significantly accelerate deflation of the cell from such portions of the patient during deflation.

An alternating pressure pad useful in the prevention and management of decubitous ulcers, the relief of pressure applied to selected portions of skin of bedridden patients, and the support of bony protuberances, the pad comprising at least two sets of alternately inflatable cells, at least one cell in each cell set comprising at least one force applying member extending a sufficient distance about the periphery of the cell to cause the force applying member to significantly increase a rate at which the cell is pulled away from a portion of the patient supported by the cell when pressure within the cell is reduced.

An alternating pressure pad useful in the prevention and management of decubitous ulcers, the relief of pressure applied to selected portions of skin of bedridden patients, and the support of bony protuberances, the pad comprising at least two sets of alternately inflatable cells, at least one cell in each set comprising at least one force applying member extending a sufficient distance about the periphery of the cell to restrict at least a portion of the cell to a shape, when the cell is inflated, for supporting at least a selected portion of a patient, and to significantly increase a rate at which the cell is pulled away from a portion of the patient supported by the cell when pressure within the cell is reduced.

An alternating pressure pad useful in the prevention and management of decubitous ulcers, the relief of pressure applied to selected portions of skin of bedridden patients, and the support of bony protuberances, the pad comprising at least two sets of alternately inflatable cells, at least one cell in each cell set comprising at least one force applying member extending a sufficient distance about the periphery of the cell to cause the force applying member to significantly accelerate pressure reduction in the cell when the cell is at least partially deflated.