Person support systems with cooling features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10548788-B2
Application number	US-201615348080-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2016
Priority date	Nov 13, 2015
Publication date	Feb 4, 2020
Grant date	Feb 4, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments provide a person support system including support pads having cooling features. According to one embodiment, a person support system may include a longitudinal frame comprising at least one side rail. A support pad may be positioned on the longitudinal frame. The support pad may comprise a thermally conductive core portion comprising a support matrix and at least one thermally conductive element. A cooling source may be thermally coupled to the thermally conductive core portion through the side rail with a connector comprising thermally conductive fibers. The cooling source may draw heat from the thermally conductive core portion through the at least one thermally conductive element and the thermally conductive fibers of the connector thereby cooling at least the thermally conductive core portion of the support pad.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A person support system comprising:
a longitudinal frame comprising at least one side rail;
a support pad positioned on the longitudinal frame, the support pad comprising a thermally conductive core portion comprising a support matrix and at least one thermally conductive element; and
a cooling source thermally coupled to the thermally conductive core portion through the at least one side rail with a connector comprising thermally conductive fibers, wherein the cooling source draws heat from the thermally conductive core portion through the at least one thermally conductive element and the thermally conductive fibers of the connector thereby cooling at least the thermally conductive core portion of the support pad,
wherein the cooling source is thermally coupled to the thermally conductive core portion with a magnetic coupler.

2. The person support system of claim 1 , wherein:
the person support system further comprises a control unit communicatively coupled to a temperature sensor, the control unit comprising a processor and a non-transitory memory storing computer readable and executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the control unit to:
receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensor indicative of a measured temperature of skin of a subject or a surface of the support pad;
compare the measured temperature to a target temperature; and
adjust an operating parameter of the cooling source when the measured temperature is not equal to the target temperature, thereby increasing or decreasing cooling of the support pad until the measured temperature is equal to the target temperature.

3. The person support system of claim 1 , wherein:
the person support system further comprises a control unit communicatively coupled to an input device and a temperature sensor, the control unit comprising a processor and a non-transitory memory storing computer readable and executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the control unit to:
receive an input indicative of a target temperature;
receive an input indicative of an identity of an accessory;
determine an adjusted target temperature based on the target temperature and the identity of the accessory;
receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensor indicative of a measured temperature of a surface of the support pad; and
adjust an operating parameter of the cooling source thereby increasing or decreasing cooling of the support pad until the measured temperature is equal to the adjusted target temperature.

4. The person support system of claim 3 further comprising an RFID reader communicatively coupled to the control unit, wherein the computer readable and executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the control unit to receive an accessory identification signal from the RFID reader indicative of the identity of the accessory, wherein the accessory identification signal is the input indicative of the identity of the accessory.

5. The person support system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cooling source comprises thermally absorptive material; and
the person support system further comprises a control unit communicatively coupled to an input device, the control unit comprising a processor and a non-transitory memory storing computer readable and executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the control unit to:
receive an input indicative of a target temperature;
receive an input indicative of an identity of an accessory; and
determine a recommended thermally absorptive material based on the target temperature and the identity of the accessory.

6. The person support system of claim 5 further comprising an RFID reader communicatively coupled to the control unit, wherein the computer readable and executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the control unit to receive an accessory identification signal from the RFID reader indicative of the identity of the accessory, wherein the accessory identification signal is the input indicative of the identity of the accessory.

7. The person support system of claim 5 , wherein the computer readable and executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the control unit to determine a recommended time schedule for replacing the thermally absorptive material to achieve the target temperature.

8. The person support system of claim 1 , wherein:
The cooling source comprises a thermally absorptive material disposed in a canister; and
the thermally conductive core portion of the support pad is thermally coupled to the canister with the thermally conductive fibers of the connector.

9. The person support system of claim 1 , wherein the at least on thermally conductive element comprises:
thermally conductive particles suspended in the support matrix; and
at least one thermal transport layer thermally coupled to the support matrix and configured to conduct heat from the support matrix.

10. The person support system of claim 9 , wherein a number of thermally conductive particles per unit volume of the support matrix is greatest proximate a top surface of the thermally conductive core portion and decreases with increasing distance from the top surface of the thermally conductive core portion.

11. The person support system of claim 9 , wherein the thermally conductive core portion further comprises thermally absorptive particles suspended in the support matrix.

12. The person support system of claim 11 , wherein a number of thermally absorptive particles per unit volume of the support matrix is greatest at a top surface of the thermally conductive core portion and decreases with increasing distance from the top surface of the thermally conductive core portion.

13. The person support system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive element of the thermally conductive core portion comprises an array of thermally conductive fibers suspended in the support matrix and arranged to conduct heat away from a top surface of the thermally conductive core portion, wherein at least a portion of the array of thermally conductive fibers extend from at least one of a side surface of the support matrix and a bottom surface of the support matrix.

14. The person support system of claim 13 , wherein the array of thermally conductive fibers comprises a first plurality of thermally conductive fibers and a second plurality of thermally conductive fibers, wherein the second plurality of thermally conductive fibers are arranged parallel to a top surface of the thermally conductive core portion.

15. The person support system of claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of thermally conductive fibers are obliquely oriented with respect to the second plurality of thermally conductive fibers.

16. The person support system of claim 15 , wherein the first plurality of thermally conductive fibers and the second plurality of thermally conductive fibers have different thermal conductivities and the thermal conductivity of the first plurality of thermally conductive fibers is greater than the thermal conductivity of the second plurality of thermally conductive fibers.

17. The person support system of claim 14 , wherein the second plurality of thermally conductive fibers are arranged in the support matrix such that a density of the second plurality of thermally conductive fibers in the support matrix is greatest at a top surface of the thermally conductive core portion and decreases with increasing distance from the top surface of the therm

Assignees

• Hill Rom Services Inc

Inventors

• Lachenbruch Charles A
• Srivastava Varad Narayan
• Ribble David Lance
• Williamson Rachel L
• Bedel David Lawrence
• Clark Andrew David
• Baker Steven D
• Harmeyer John V
• Hertz Ben
• O'Neal Todd P

Classifications

• A61G13/06

  raising or lowering of the whole table surface (A61G13/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61G7/057 Primary

  Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor {(ventilation openings in mattresses A47C21/042; pneumatic or hydraulic mattresses A47C27/08)} · CPC title

• A61G13/126

  with specific supporting surface · CPC title

• A61F2007/0056

  for cooling · CPC title

• A61F2007/0096

  with a thermometer · CPC title