Topper for a patient surface

A patient support apparatus comprising

• a cushion including a plurality of inflatable bladders adapted to support a patient, and
• a topper arranged to extend over a top side of the cushion and configured to receive air from a first origination point and that is spaced a first distance from a foot end of the cushion and is spaced apart from the head end of the cushion,
• wherein the topper includes a top layer of fabric, a bottom layer of fabric, a first piece of three-dimensional material arranged between the top layer of fabric and the bottom layer of fabric, a first fluid distributor pneumatically coupled to the first piece of three-dimensional fabric and comprising a flexible fabric sleeve that extends between inflatable bladders of the cushion, and a second piece of three-dimensional material pneumatically separated from the first sheet of three-dimensional material arranged between the top layer and the bottom layer of fabric, wherein the second piece of material defines a passively-cooled region free of pneumatic communication with distribution mechanisms and the second piece of three-dimensional material is pneumatically separated from the first piece of three-dimensional material by a divider that extends from the top layer of fabric to the bottom layer of fabric spacing the top layer of fabric from the bottom layer of fabric to accommodate at least a portion of a thickness of one of the first piece of three-dimensional material and the second piece of three-dimensional material.

A patient support apparatus comprising

• a cushion, and
• a topper having a head end, a foot end, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side, the topper comprising
• a top layer of fabric,
• a bottom layer of fabric spaced apart from the top layer,
• a middle layer arranged between the top layer and the bottom layer, the middle layer including a first piece of material and a second piece of material generally adjacent to the first piece of material when viewed from above and separated from the first piece of material to block pneumatic communication between the first piece of material and the second piece of material, the first piece of material comprising three-dimensional material configured to conduct air between the top layer of fabric and the bottom layer of fabric,
• a first fluid distributor in pneumatic communication with the first piece of material, the first fluid distributor being connected to the first piece of material at a first origination point that is near to a location that corresponds to one of a patient's pelvic region or shoulders and that is spaced apart from the foot end and the head end, and
• a second fluid distributor in pneumatic communication with the first piece of material, the second fluid distributor being connected to the first piece of material at a second origination point that is near to a location that corresponds to the other of a patient's pelvic region or shoulders and that is spaced apart from the foot end and the head end, the first and second fluid distributors being adapted to conduct active cooling to the first piece of material,
• wherein the second piece of material is free from pneumatic communication with any fluid distributor that is adapted to conduct active cooling air to the second piece of material,
• wherein the first fluid distributor is a first distribution sleeve coupled to the bottom layer and in pneumatic communication with the first piece of material, and the first distribution sleeve comprises a fabric and is coupled to a central portion of the bottom layer located between the head end and the foot end of the topper, and
• wherein the cushion includes a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder, and the first distribution sleeve extends between the first inflatable bladder and the second inflatable bladder.