Pump apparatus and associated system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11478086-B2
Application number	US-202016909345-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2020
Priority date	Aug 18, 2015
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

A system includes a pump having a filter. The filter includes a HEPA material configured for filtering air and the pump used to inflate an inflatable device configured to support a patient. A kit includes a pump configured for moving air to inflate an inflatable device, and a removable filter including a HEPA material couplable to the pump and configured to filter the air to inflate the inflatable device. The inflatable device configured to support a patient on a supporting surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a pump comprising a filter made of a HEPA material, the filter located at an intake portion of the pump and configured for filtering air that is moving in the pump and that is provided through an air output of the pump to inflate an inflatable device configured to support a patient, wherein the HEPA material is disposed adjacent a support at a first end of the filter, wherein the pump comprises a complementary structure for removably connecting to the support;
wherein the inflatable device comprises an inflatable body forming a cavity and a plurality of passages in a bottom sheet of the inflatable body that permits air to pass from the cavity to an exterior of the device between a bottom surface of the device and a support surface,
such that air that has been filtered through the HEPA material flows through the pump, through an air output of the pump, into the cavity of the inflatable device, and out of the inflatable device to the exterior of the device in a vicinity of a patient.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filter is configured for filtering air moving in the pump to prevent bacterial or viral contamination of a patient, an inflatable device, or a patient room by the air provided through the air output.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the inflatable device configured to support a patient on a supporting surface.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filter is a HEPA filter configured to provide high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) air through the air output of the pump to inflate the inflatable device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the HEPA filter filters the air provided by the air output of the pump to inflate the device, such that the air moving from the pump in close proximity to the patient on the inflatable device is free of harmful particles.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a structure for connecting the filter to the pump.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the pump has a corresponding structure for connection to the structure for connecting the filter to the pump.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises a retaining portion configured to hold the filter in place relative to the pump.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the retaining portion is biased and engages a portion of the pump.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filter has a cylindrical shape.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filter has a frusto-conical shape.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cover to filter out particles before reaching the filter.

13. A kit comprising:
a pump configured for moving air to inflate an inflatable device; and
a removable filter comprising a HEPA material couplable at an intake portion of the pump and configured to filter the air that is moving in the pump and that is provided through an air output of the pump to inflate the inflatable device, wherein the HEPA material is disposed adjacent a support at a first end of the filter, wherein the pump comprises a complementary structure for removably connecting to the support;
wherein the inflatable device comprises an inflatable body forming a cavity and at least one passage in a bottom sheet of the inflatable body that permits air to pass from the cavity to an exterior of the device between a bottom surface of the device and a support surface,
such that air that has been filtered through the HEPA material flows through the pump, through an air output of the pump, into the cavity of the inflatable device, and out of the inflatable device to an exterior of the device in a vicinity of a patient.

14. The kit of claim 13 , wherein inflatable device is configured to support a patient on a supporting surface.

15. The kit of claim 14 , further comprising the inflatable device.

16. The kit of claim 13 , wherein the filter is a HEPA filter configured to provide high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) air through the air output of the pump to inflate the inflatable device.

17. The kit of claim 13 , further comprising a structure for connecting the filter to the pump.

18. The kit of claim 17 , wherein the pump has a corresponding structure for connection to the structure for connecting the filter to the pump.

19. The kit of claim 17 , wherein the structure is an elastic retaining portion on the filter.

20. The kit of claim 13 , wherein the removable filter is configured for filtering air moving in the pump to prevent bacterial or viral contamination of a patient, an inflatable device, or a patient room by the air provided through the air output.

Assignees

• Sage Products Llc

Inventors

• Kennedy Jeffrey A
• Alvarez Ryan A
• Davis Gregory T
• Ecklund Brian J
• Golden Craig S
• Hollabaugh Curtis L

Classifications

• A61G7/05776

  with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers · CPC title

• A61G7/001

  with means for turning-over the patient · CPC title

• A61G7/05761 Primary

  where patient is supported on a free, unbounded, film or cushion of air · CPC title

• F16L11/118

  having arrangements for particular purposes, e.g. electrically conducting · CPC title

• A47C27/082 Primary

  with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps · CPC title