Shear reducing mattress cover
AssigneeSpan-America Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsJames R. O'Reagan, Richard W. Raburn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mattress cover is disclosed for redirecting shear on a patient's skin away from the areas of the body relatively more likely to develop decubitus ulcers. The mattress cover includes an upper portion designed to cover the topside of a mattress, and at least one shear transfer zone attached to an underside of the upper portion of the mattress cover. The shear transfer zone(s) may be made of a low shear material so as to create a low friction interface between the mattress and the mattress cover to reduce shear forces exerted by the mattress. Additionally, the shear transfer zone(s) may be arranged such that a large portion of the shear forces exerted by the mattress can be redirected to areas of the body that are relatively less likely to develop decubitus ulcers.
Claims13
A shear reducing mattress cover for redirecting shear on a patient's skin away from areas of a patient's body more likely to develop decubitus ulcers, comprising:
- an upper portion covering the topside of an associated mattress;
- and
- at least one shear transfer zone formed on a portion of an underside of said upper portion, said at least one shear transfer zone comprising a relatively low shear material so as to create a low friction interface directly between an associated mattress and said mattress cover to reduce shear forces exerted by the associated mattress in said at least one shear transfer zone;
- wherein said at least one shear transfer zone is arranged in a predetermined pattern such that shear forces exerted by an associated mattress in said at least one shear transfer zone are redistributed to areas of a patient's body that are relatively less likely to develop decubitus ulcers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.