Patient support with an air permeable layer and a support layer, with inflation and deflation of the support layer controlled in response to pressure sensed at a pressure sensing layer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10695247-B2
Application number	US-201816149251-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2018
Priority date	Aug 4, 2006
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A patient support includes a cover defining an interior region, an air permeable first layer located in the interior region, and a support layer located beneath the air permeable first layer. A pressure sensing layer is located underneath the support layer. At least one air supply is coupled to the support layer. A controller is coupled to the air supply and to the pressure sensing layer. The controller controls inflation and deflation of the support layer in response to a signal from the pressure sensing layer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A patient support comprising:
a cover defining an interior region;
an air permeable first layer located in the interior region;
a support layer located beneath the air permeable first layer, the support layer comprised of a plurality of air bladders;
a pressure sensing layer located underneath the support layer;
at least one air supply coupled to the support layer, the first layer being connected to the air supply; and
a controller coupled to the air supply and to the pressure sensing layer to control inflation and deflation of the bladders and to control air flow through the first layer in response to signaling from the pressure sensing layer.

2. The patient support of claim 1 wherein the plurality of air bladders includes one or more transverse bladders and one or more upright can-shaped bladders.

3. The patient support of claim 1 wherein the at least one air supply comprises:
1) a first air supply coupled to the first layer for providing the air flow through the first layer and
2) a second air supply coupled to the bladders for effecting the inflation and deflation of the bladders.

4. The patient support of claim 1 wherein:
1) the support layer comprises first, second and third zones; and
2) the pressure sensing layer comprises at least one pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath at least one of the zones.

5. The patient support of claim 4 wherein the pressure sensing layer comprises a first pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the first support layer zone, a second pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the second support layer zone, and a third pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the third support layer zone.

6. The patient support of claim 5 wherein:
the first support layer zone is a head support layer zone, the second support layer zone is a seat support layer zone, and the third support layer zone is a foot support layer zone; and
the pressure sensing layer comprises a head pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the head support layer zone, a seat pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the seat support layer zone, and a foot pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the foot support layer zone.

7. The patient support of claim 6 wherein the controller adjusts pressure in one or more of the head zone support layer bladder, the seat zone support layer bladder and the foot zone support layer bladder based on a signal from at least one of the pressure sensing assemblies.

8. The patient support of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensing layer comprises one or more fluid-filled bladders and a pressure transducer.

9. The patient support of claim 8 wherein the bladder is filled with silicone oil or gel.

10. The patient support of claim 1 wherein the support layer includes a head section bladder assembly, a seat section bladder assembly, and a foot section bladder assembly, and the pressure sensing layer includes a sensor assembly or assemblies positioned under only the head section bladder assembly and the seat section bladder assembly.

11. The patient support of claim 10 wherein the head section bladder assembly comprises transverse bladders and the seat section bladder assembly comprises transverse bladders.

12. The patient support of claim 11 wherein the foot section bladder assembly comprises upright can shaped bladders.

13. A patient support comprising:
a cover defining an interior region;
a first layer located in the interior region;
a support layer located beneath the first layer, the support layer comprised of one or more transverse bladders and one or more upright can-shaped bladders;
a pressure sensing layer located underneath the entirety of the support layer;
at least one air supply coupled to the support layer; and
a controller coupled to the air supply and to the pressure sensing layer to control inflation and deflation of the bladders in response to a signal from the pressure sensing layer.

14. The patient support of claim 13 wherein:
1) the first layer is connected to the air supply and
2) the controller controls air flow through the first layer in response to the signal from the pressure sensing layer.

15. The patient support of claim 13 wherein the at least one air supply comprises:
1) a first air supply coupled to the first layer for providing the air flow through the first layer and
2) a second air supply coupled to the bladders for effecting the inflation and deflation of the bladders.

16. The patient support of claim 13 wherein the pressure sensing layer comprises a first pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the first support layer zone, a second pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the second support layer zone, and a third pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the third support layer zone.

17. The patient support of claim 16 wherein:
the first support layer zone is a head support layer zone, the second support layer zone is a seat support layer zone, and the third support layer zone is a foot support layer zone; and
the pressure sensing layer comprises a head pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the head support layer zone, a seat pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the seat support layer zone, and a foot pressure sensing assembly positioned underneath the foot support layer zone.

18. The patient support of claim 17 wherein the controller adjusts pressure in one or more of the head zone support layer bladder, the seat zone support layer bladder and the foot zone support layer bladder based on a signal from at least one of the pressure sensing assemblies.

19. The patient support of claim 13 wherein the pressure sensing layer comprises one or more fluid-filled bladders and a pressure transducer.

20. The patient support of claim 19 wherein the bladder is filled with silicone oil or gel.

21. The patient support of claim 13 wherein the head section bladder assembly comprises transverse bladders and the seat section bladder assembly comprises transverse bladders.

22. The patient support of claim 21 wherein foot section bladder assembly comprises upright can shaped bladders.

23. The patient support of claim 13 wherein the support layer comprises longitudinally distributed first, second and third support layer zones the pressure sensing layer comprises longitudinally distributed first, second and third pressure sensing assemblies, the first pressure sensing assembly is positioned underneath the first support layer zone, the second pressure sensing assembly is positioned underneath the second support layer zone, and the third pressure sensing assembly is positioned underneath the third support layer zone.

24. A patient support comprising:
a cover defining an interior region;
a first layer located in the interior region;
a support layer located beneath the air permeable first layer, the support layer comprised of a plurality of air bladders;
a pressure sensing layer located underneath the support layer, the pressure sensing layer comprising one or more fluid filled bladders and a pressure transducer;
at least one air supply coupled to the support layer; and
a controller coupled to the air supply and to the pressure sensing layer to control inflation and deflation of the bladders in response to a signal from the pressure sensing layer.

25. The patient support of claim 24 wherein the bladder is fille

Assignees

• Hill Rom Services Inc

Inventors

• Wilson Bradley T
• Lachenbruch Charles A
• O'Keefe Christopher R
• Stevens Daniel K
• Borgman Darrell L
• Flessate Dennis S
• Meyer Eric R
• Branson Gregory W
• Bobey John Alan
• Mueller Jonathan H
• Janoff Karen
• Chambers Kenith W
• King Rachel Hopkins
• Ginther Rebecca Anne
• Hakamiun Reza
• Stacy Richard B
• Soltani Sohrab
• Douglas Stephen L

Classifications

• A61G7/015 Primary

  divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position · CPC title

• A61G7/05784

  with ventilating means, e.g. mattress or cushion with ventilating holes or ventilators · CPC title

• A61G2203/70

  with special adaptations, e.g. for safety or comfort · CPC title

• A61G2210/70

  for cooling · CPC title

• A61G7/05769

  with inflatable chambers · CPC title