Patient support

A mattress, comprising

• a cover having a top portion and a bottom portion spaced from the top portion, the top portion and the bottom portion defining an interior region, the interior region comprising
• a resilient, breathable three-dimensional fabric,
• a plurality of inflatable zones, each zone comprising at least one air bladder, at least one of the zones comprising a plurality of vertical air cells positioned across a width of the mattress,
• a sensor pad configured to sense force applied to the mattress, and
• a pneumatic box defining an inner region, the inner region of the pneumatic box comprising a microprocessor, a valve assembly electrically coupled to the microprocessor, the valve assembly comprising a plurality of valves in fluid communication with each of the inflatable zones, wherein the valve assembly comprises a first valve module and a second valve module spaced from the first valve module, the first valve module comprises a first plurality of valves, each valve of the plurality of first valves is fluidly coupled to one side of the inflatable zone, the second valve module comprises a second plurality of valves, each valve of the second plurality of valves is fluidly coupled to another side of the inflatable zone, and the inner region of the pneumatic box comprises a tee connector and an inlet hose coupled to the first valve module and to the second valve module and to a source of pressurized air located outside the pneumatic box by the tee connector.

A mattress system, comprising

• a mattress comprising
• a cover defining an interior region, the interior region comprising
• a layer of resilient, breathable three-dimensional fabric,
• a plurality of inflatable zones, each zone comprising at least one air bladder, at least one of the zones comprising a plurality of vertical air cells positioned across a width of the mattress,
• a pneumatic box defining an inner region, the inner region of the pneumatic box comprising a multiplexer electrically coupled to the sensor pad and to a microprocessor, a valve assembly electrically coupled to the microprocessor, the valve assembly comprising a first plurality of valves in fluid communication with a first side of the inflatable zones and a second plurality of valves spaced from the first plurality of valves and in fluid communication with a second side of the inflatable zones, and the inner region of the pneumatic box comprising an inlet hose coupled to the first plurality of valves, the second plurality of valves, and an air supply located outside the pneumatic box by a tee connector,
• a control unit spaced from the mattress, the control unit comprising a user input device, a display, and the air supply,
• a first air line coupling the air supply to the layer of resilient, breathable three-dimensional fabric, and
• an electrical line coupling the control unit to the pneumatic box.

A mattress, comprising

• a cover having a top portion and a bottom portion spaced from the top portion, the top portion and the bottom portion defining an interior region, the interior region comprising
• a resilient, breathable three-dimensional fabric,
• a plurality of inflatable zones, each zone comprising at least one air bladder, at least one of the zones comprising a plurality of vertical air cells positioned across a width of the mattress,
• a sensor pad configured to sense force applied to the mattress, and
• a pneumatic box defining an inner region, the inner region of the pneumatic box comprising a multiplexer electrically coupled to the sensor pad and to a microprocessor, a valve assembly electrically coupled to the microprocessor, the valve assembly comprising a plurality of valves in fluid communication with each of the inflatable zones, and the inner region of the pneumatic box comprising a plurality of hoses and a tee connector, the plurality of hoses and the tee connector coupling the valve assembly to a source of pressurized air located outside the pneumatic box.

A mattress, comprising

• a cover having a top portion and a bottom portion spaced from the top portion, the top portion and the bottom portion defining an interior region, the interior region comprising
• a resilient, breathable three-dimensional fabric,
• a plurality of inflatable zones, each zone comprising at least one air bladder, at least one of the zones comprising a plurality of vertical air cells positioned across a width of the mattress,
• a sensor pad configured to sense force applied to the mattress, and
• a pneumatic box defining an inner region, the inner region of the pneumatic box comprising a multiplexer electrically coupled to the sensor pad and to a microprocessor, a valve assembly electrically coupled to the microprocessor, the valve assembly comprising a first valve module comprising a first plurality of valves, a second valve module comprising a second plurality of valves, the first and second valve modules being supported by different sides of the pneumatic box, the first and second valve modules being in fluid communication with each of the inflatable zones,
• wherein the pneumatic box comprises a plurality of pressure sensors, and each pressure sensor senses the internal air pressure of one of the inflatable zones,
• wherein an air supply located outside the pneumatic box comprises a first source of pressurized air in fluid communication with the layer of resilient, breathable fabric and a second source of pressurized air in fluid communication with each of the inflatable zones, and
• wherein the first valve module controls inflation and deflation of a first side of the inflatable zones and the second valve module controls inflation and deflation of a second side of the inflatable zones located opposite the first side, and
• wherein the inner region of the pneumatic box comprises a tee connector, a plurality of hoses coupled to the tee connector, the first and second valve modules and to the air supply.

A pneumatic system for a mattress, comprising:

• a box comprising a base and a cover removably coupled to the base, the base and the cover defining an inner region, the inner region comprising
• a multiplexer configured to receive control signals from a control unit located outside the mattress,
• an air control circuit board in two-way electrical communication with the multiplexer,
• a plurality of air control valves coupled to the air control circuit board, including a first valve supported by a first end of the box and a second valve supported by a second end of the box,
• a fastener coupled to the box to releasably couple the box to an interior portion of a mattress,
• a first hose coupled to the first valve,
• a second hose coupled to the second valve, and
• an inlet hose coupled to the first hose, the second hose, and to a source of pressurized air located outside the box, and
• a tee connector, wherein the first hose, the second hose, and the inlet hose are coupled to the connector.

A pneumatic system for a mattress, comprising:

• a box comprising a base and a cover removably coupled to the base, the base and the cover defining an inner region, the inner region comprising
• a multiplexer configured to receive sensor signals from a sensor pad located in the mattress and to receive control signals from a control unit located outside the mattress,
• an air control circuit board in two-way electrical communication with the multiplexer,
• a plurality of air control valves coupled to the air control circuit board, and
• a fastener coupled to the box to releasably couple the box to an interior portion of a mattress,
• wherein the plurality of air control valves comprises a first valve module supported by a first end of the box and a second valve module supported by a second end of the box spaced from the first end, and
• wherein each of the first and second valve modules comprises a first fill valve coupled to a foot bladder of the mattress, a first vent valve coupled to the foot bladder, a second fill valve coupled to a head bladder of the mattress, a second vent valve coupled to the head bladder of the mattress, a third fill valve coupled to a turn assist bladder of the mattress, a third vent valve coupled to the turn assist bladder of the mattress, and the third vent valve is biased in an open position, and
• wherein the inner region of the box comprises a tee connector, a first module hose coupled to the first valve module and the tee connector, a second module hose coupled to the second valve module and the tee connector, and an inlet hose coupled to the first and second valve modules and the tee connector and to a source of pressurized air located outside the box.

A pneumatic system for a mattress, comprising:

• a box comprising a base and a cover removably coupled to the base, the base and the cover defining an inner region, the inner region comprising
• a multiplexer configured to receive sensor signals from a sensor pad located in the mattress and to receive control signals from a control unit located outside the mattress,
• an air control circuit board in two-way electrical communication with the multiplexer,
• a plurality of air control valves coupled to the air control circuit board, and
• a fastener coupled to the box to releasably couple the box to an interior portion of a mattress,
• wherein the plurality of air control valves comprises a first valve module supported by a first end of the box and a second valve module supported by a second end of the box spaced from the first end, and
• wherein the inner region of the box comprises a tee connector, a first module hose coupled to the first valve module and the tee connector, a second module hose coupled to the second valve module and the tee connector, and an inlet hose coupled to the tee connector and to a source of pressurized air located outside the box.