Patient Support with an Air Permeable Layer and with Air Flow Through the Air Permeable Layer Controlled as a Function of Pressure Sensed at a Pressure Sensing Layer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017014289-A1
Application number	US-201615234244-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 11, 2016
Priority date	Aug 4, 2006
Publication date	Jan 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A patient support includes a cover defining an interior region, an air permeable first layer located in the interior region, at least one air supply coupled to the first layer to provide air flow through the first layer, a support layer located beneath the air permeable first layer, a pressure sensing layer located underneath the support layer, and a controller coupled to the air supply and to the pressure sensing layer. The controller controls air flow through the first layer in response to a signal from the pressure sensing layer.

First claim

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

2 . The patient support of claim 1 wherein the support layer comprises a plurality of air bladders.

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

4 . The patient support of claim 2 wherein:
1) the bladders are connected to the air supply; and
2) the controller controls inflation and deflation of the bladders in response to the signal from the pressure sensing layer.

5 . The patient support of claim 4 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.

6 . The patient support of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of air bladders comprises a head zone bladder, a seat zone bladder, and a foot zone bladder, and wherein:
1) the signal from the pressure sensing layer indicates patient weight; and 2) following establishment of an initial pressure of the head zone bladder, an initial pressure of the seat zone bladder, and an initial pressure of the foot zone bladder, pressure in the head zone is adjusted again if a head angle as determined by a head angle sensor has changed.

7 . The patient support of claim 2 wherein the plurality of air bladders comprises a head zone bladder, a seat zone bladder, and a foot zone bladder, and the controller determines whether sensed head zone pressure exceeds a head zone threshold and, if so, adjusts bladder pressure in the head, seat, and foot zone bladders to respective predetermined amounts based on a patient's weight.

8 . The patient support of claim 7 wherein the controller determines whether sensed seat zone pressure exceeds a seat zone threshold and if:
A) sensed head zone pressure does not exceed the head zone threshold; and
B) sensed seat zone pressure does not exceed the seat zone threshold;
the controller adjusts bladder pressure for a “bed empty” mode.

9 . The patient support of claim 8 wherein the adjustment of bladder pressure for the “bed empty” mode comprises adjusting the pressures to prepare for patient ingress.

10 . 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 sensor positioned underneath at least one of the zones.

11 . The patient support of claim 2 wherein:
1) the support layer comprises a head zone a seat zone and a foot zone;
2) the pressure sensing layer comprises at least one pressure sensor positioned underneath at least one of the zones.

12 . The patient support of claim 11 wherein the bladders are connected to the at least one air supply and the controller controls inflation and deflation of the bladders in response to the signal from the pressure sensing layer.

13 . The patient support of claim 12 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.

14 . The patient support of claim 1 including an angle sensor in an articulable portion of the patient support and wherein the articulable portion is a head section of the occupant support.

15 . The patient support of claim 14 wherein the patient support also comprises a second articulable portion which is a foot section.

16 . The patient support of claim 14 wherein the angle sensor is a first angle sensor and the patient support also includes a second angle sensor and wherein the controller determines that the patient support is in a chair position based on the signals received from the first and second angle sensors.

17 . The patient support of claim 14 , wherein the angle sensor is a first angle sensor and the patient support also includes a second angle sensor, and if the first angle sensor detects that a head section of the patient support is oriented at more than about H degrees above the horizontal and the second angle sensor detects that a foot section of the patient support is oriented more than about F degrees below the horizontal, the patient support is determined to be in a chair position.

18 . The patient support of claim 16 wherein the determination of chair position is carried out without the patient support receiving any data from an associated bed frame.

19 . The patient support of claim 2 wherein the plurality of air bladders is a mattress comprised of a head zone bladder, a seat zone bladder, and a foot zone bladder, and wherein if the controller determines that:
A) sensed head zone pressure exceeds a head zone threshold;
B) sensed seat zone pressure exceeds a seat zone threshold; and
C) the mattress was previously unoccupied;

the controller adjusts bladder pressure to a pressure desirable for an ingressed patient.

Assignees

• Hill Rom Services Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61G7/015 Primary

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

• A61G7/05776 Primary

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

• A61G7/0525

  Side-bolsters (rests specially adapted for beds A61G7/065; non-medical devices for prevention against falling-out A47C21/08) · CPC title

• A61G2203/20

  Displays or monitors · CPC title

• A61G2203/42

  for inclination · CPC title