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US 6,855,158 B2Granted
Thermo-regulating patient support structure
AssigneeHill-Rom Services, Inc.
InventorJames R. Stolpmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for regulating a temperature of a body support structure including at least one bladder. A temperature modulator is coupled to the at least one bladder for varying the temperature of fluid within the bladder.
Claims32
An apparatus for regulating a temperature of a body support structure comprising:
- a plurality of air bladders defining a plurality of control zones, each of the plurality of air bladders having, an air inlet and an air outlet;
- a plurality of temperature sensors, wherein at least one temperature sensor is coupled to each of the plurality of control zones to detect a temperature of air passing through the control zones and provide an output signal indicative thereof,
- a circulator coupled to the air bladders and configured to move air from the air outlets to the air inlets;
- a temperature modulator coupled to the air bladders and configured to alter the temperature of air moved by the circulator, and
- a controller coupled to the circulator, the temperature modulator and the temperature sensors to control the temperature in each of the plurality of control zones based on the output signals from the temperature sensors.
2 more elements
An apparatus for regulating a temperature of a body support structure comprising:
- an air bladder having an air inlet and an air outlet;
- a temperature sensor coupled to the air bladder to detect a temperature of air passing through the air bladder and provide an output signal indicative thereof,
- a circulator coupled to the air bladder and configured to move air from the air outlet to the air inlet;
- a temperature modulator coupled to the air bladder and configured to alter the temperature of air moved by the circulator;
- a controller coupled to the circulator, the temperature modulator and the temperature sensor to control the temperature of the air bladder based on the output signal from the temperature sensor;
- a first manifold positioned longitudinally along a first side of the air bladder;
- and
- a second manifold positioned longitudinally along a second side of the air bladder, the first and second manifolds being coupled to the air bladder.
5 more elements
An apparatus for regulating a temperature of a body support structure comprising:
- an air bladder having an air inlet and an air outlet;
- a temperature sensor coupled to the air bladder to detect a temperature of air passing through the air bladder and provide an output signal indicative thereof,
- a circulator coupled to the air bladder and configured to move air from the air outlet to the air inlet;
- a temperature modulator coupled to the air bladder and configured to alter the temperature of air moved by the circulator;
- a controller coupled to the circulator, the temperature modulator and the temperature sensor to control the temperature of the air bladder based on the output signal from the temperature sensor;
- a base positioned below the air bladder, and
- wherein the base includes a plurality of base sections, each having a different indention load deflection rating.
4 more elements
An apparatus for regulating a temperature of a body support structure comprising:
- an air bladder having an air inlet and an air outlet;
- a temperature sensor coupled to the air bladder to detect a temperature of air passing through the air bladder and provide an output signal indicative thereof,
- a circulator coupled to the air bladder and configured to move air from the air outlet to the air inlet;
- a temperature modulator coupled to the air bladder and configured to alter the temperature of air moved by the circulator;
- a controller coupled to the circulator, the temperature modulator and the temperature sensor to control the temperature of the air bladder based on the output signal from the temperature sensor;
- a base positioned below the air bladder, and
- wherein the base includes a plurality of base sections, each comprising a polyurethane foam.
4 more elements
An apparatus for regulating a temperature of a body support structure comprising:
- an air bladder having an air inlet and an air outlet;
- a temperature sensor coupled to the air bladder to detect a temperature of air passing through the air bladder and provide an output signal indicative thereof,
- a circulator coupled to the air bladder and configured to move air from the air outlet to the air inlet;
- a temperature modulator coupled to the air bladder and configured to alter the temperature of air moved by the circulator;
- a controller coupled to the circulator, the temperature modulator and the temperature sensor to control the temperature of the air bladder based on the output signal from the temperature sensor;
- and
- a heat reflective covering adapted to be positioned over the body support structure.
4 more elements
An apparatus for controlling a temperature of a body support structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a first bladder coupled to a fluid supply;
- a second bladder coupled to a fluid supply;
- at least one temperature modulator coupled to the first and second bladders,
- the at least one temperature modulator including a heating element and a cooling element;
- and
- a controller coupled to the at least one temperature modulator to control a temperature of the fluid supply in the first and second bladders independently.
3 more elements
An apparatus for regulating a temperature of a body support structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of support zones, each support zone being coupled to a fluid supply and configured to be inflated by the fluid supply for supporting a user;
- a plurality of temperature modulators, each temperature modulator being coupled to one of the support zones;
- and
- a controller coupled to the plurality of temperature modulators to maintain a temperature in each of the plurality of support zones at an independent, preselected temperature.
1 more element
An apparatus for regulating a temperature of a body support structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of support zones, each support zone being coupled to a fluid supply and configured to be inflated by the fluid supply for supporting a user;
- a plurality of temperature modulators, each temperature modulator being coupled to one of the support zones;
- a controller coupled to the plurality of temperature modulators to maintain a temperature in each of plurality of support zones at an independent, preselected temperature;
- and
- wherein the fluid supply is an air supply.
2 more elements
A system for regulating the temperature and pressure of a body support structure, the support structure including a plurality of air bladder zones, the system comprising:
- an air bladder inflation system including an air supply and a plurality of pressure sensors, each pressure sensor being configured to detect a pressure in an associated air bladder zone,
- a closed temperature regulation system including a temperature modulator coupled to each of the plurality of air bladder zones and a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor being configured to detect a temperature of air in an associated air bladder zone,
- each temperature modulator positioned intermediate an air outlet of the associated air bladder and an air inlet of the associated air bladder;
- and
- a controller coupled to both the air bladder inflation system and the temperature regulation system to regulate both the pressure and temperature of air in the plurality of air bladder zones.
2 more elements
An system for regulating a temperature of a body support structure, the system comprising:
- a low air loss air bladder having an air inlet, an air outlet, and an upper support surface formed to include a plurality of holes,
- a temperature sensor coupled to the air bladder to detect a temperature of air passing through the air bladder,
- a blower coupled to the air bladder and configured to move air from the air outlet to the air inlet,
- an air temperature modulator coupled to the blower and configured to alter the temperature of air moved by the blower, and
- a controller coupled to the temperature modulator and the temperature sensor to maintain a temperature of air provided to the air bladder at a preselected temperature based on an output from the temperature sensor.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.