Back to results
US 8,997,287 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for removing moisture from a mattress topper
AssigneeHill-Rom Services, Inc.
InventorsMark Lanning, Charles A. Lachenbruch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A patient support apparatus includes a pressurized air source, a dehumidifier, and a support surface including a topper having a vapor-permeable surface. The dehumidifier is configured to selectively treat pressurized air communicated to the dehumidifier from the pressurized air source and communicate the treated pressurized air to the vapor-permeable surface.
Claims20
A patient support apparatus comprising:
- a patient support surface including a topper, the topper having an upwardly-facing surface, the upwardly-facing surface being vapor permeable,
- a source of pressurized air,
- a dehumidification system in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air to receive pressurized air therefrom, the dehumidification system operable to selectively treat the pressurized air to reduce the moisture content of the pressurized air, the dehumidification system including
- a first dryer including a first desiccant and a first regenerator operable to regenerate the desiccant in the first dryer,
- a second dryer including a second desiccant and a second regenerator operable to regenerate the desiccant in the second dryer,
- a plurality of valves operable to vary the flow of pressurized air through the dehumidification system such that the flow of pressurized air may be selectively conducted through only one of the first and second dryers, neither of the first and second dryers, or both of the first and second dryers, and
- a conduit coupled to the dehumidification system to conduct the pressurized air from the dehumidification system to the topper.
4 more elements
A patient support apparatus comprising:
- a patient support surface including a topper, the topper having an upwardly-facing surface, the upwardly-facing surface being vapor permeable,
- a pressurized air source,
- a dehumidification system in fluid communication with the pressurized air source, the dehumidification system operable to selectively reduce the moisture content of ambient air provided to the dehumidifier so that it becomes treated air and communicate treated air to the pressurized air source, the dehumidification system including
- a first dryer including a first desiccant and a first regenerator operable to regenerate the desiccant in the first dryer,
- a second dryer including a second desiccant and a second regenerator operable to regenerate the desiccant in the second dryer,
- a plurality of valves operable to vary the flow of pressurized air through the dehumidification system such that the flow of pressurized air may be selectively conducted through only one of the first and second dryers, neither of the first and second dryers, or both of the first and second dryers, and
- a conduit coupled to the pressurized air source to conduct treated air from the pressurized air source to the topper.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.