Therapeutic mattress assembly

• US 20040031103A1
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tempur World LLC (Tempur Sealy International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tempur-Pedic Management Incorporated (Tempur Sealy International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wyatt, Charles C, Fontaine, Ricky J
• Granted Patent: US 8,789,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/710
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/088 incorporating elastic bodies, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/56 Calf
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/008 tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0525 Side-bolsters rests specially adapted for beds A61G7/065; non-medical devices for prevention against falling-out A47C21/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05715 with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05784 with ventilating means, e.g. mattress or cushion with ventilating holes or ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0755 for the legs or feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1021 Inflatable cushions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 Method

Abstract

A therapeutic mattress assembly comprising a mattress having a substrate assembly that includes a plurality of cylinders positioned side by side over the length of the mattress. Each cylinder is configured as a low air loss system to allow air to flow into the cylinder from a source and out of the cylinder through small holes located on the top of each cylinder. An overlay assembly provides a foam cushion that provides a supporting surface above the substrate assembly for the patient. A calf lift bladder operates to effectively raise or lower the patient'"'"'s feet to prevent pressure related injuries. A lateral rotation assembly selectively raises and lowers a selected half of the mattress to turn patients in a lateral direction. A bolster inflates in response to the lateral rotation assembly to secure the patient within the mattress.

Claims

1. A therapeutic mattress assembly for supporting a patient, the therapeutic mattress assembly comprising:

a low air loss mattress for supporting the patient, the mattress having first and second elongated sides;

a lateral rotation assembly supporting the mattress, the lateral rotation assembly being inflatable to tilt the mattress and rotate the patient;

a first elongated bolster supported by the mattress adjacent to the first elongated side;

a second elongated bolster supported by the mattress adjacent to the second elongated side, the first and second elongated bolsters being inflatable to secure the patient on the mattress when the patient is being rotated by the lateral rotation assembly; and

a calf lift bladder supported by the mattress, the calf lift bladder being adjustably inflatable to support calves of the patient.

2. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 1, wherein the mattress includes a bottom cover, a top cover detachably connected to the bottom cover, the top and bottom cover defining a cavity, and a substrate assembly positioned within the cavity, the substrate assembly including a plurality of cylinders.

3. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 2, wherein approximately half of the plurality of cylinders are inflatable independent of the remaining half of the plurality of cylinders.

4. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 2, further comprising an overlay assembly positioned on top of the substrate assembly, the bolsters being located within the overlay assembly.

5. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 4, wherein the calf lift bladder is positioned between the substrate assembly and the overlay assembly.

6. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 5, wherein the lateral rotation assembly includes a first lateral rotation wedge positioned near the first elongated side and a second lateral rotation wedge positioned near the second elongated side.

7. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 6, wherein the first lateral rotation wedge is inflated to rotate the patient toward the second elongated side, and the second lateral rotation wedge is inflated to rotate the patient toward the first elongated side.

8. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 7, wherein the first bolster inflates with the second lateral rotation wedge and the second bolster inflates with the first lateral rotation wedge.

9. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 6, further comprising a blower assembly for controllably supplying air to the low air loss mattress, lateral rotation wedges, first and second bolsters, and calf lift bladder.

10. A therapeutic mattress assembly for supporting a patient, the therapeutic mattress assembly comprising:

a mattress for supporting the patient, the mattress having an elongated side;

a lateral rotation assembly positioned under the mattress for tilting the mattress toward the elongated side to rotate the patient toward the elongated side;

an inflatable bolster positioned adjacent to the elongated side, the bolster being adjustable between an uninflated condition where the mattress is flat allowing access to the patient and an inflated condition where the bolster secures the patient on the mattress when the lateral rotation assembly is actuated to rotate the patient toward the elongated side.

11. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 10, wherein the mattress further includes an additional elongated side, and the lateral rotation assembly is capable of tilting the mattress toward the additional elongated side to rotate the patient toward the additional elongated side.

12. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 11, further comprising an additional bolster positioned adjacent to the additional elongated side, the additional bolster being positioned adjacent to the additional elongated side, the additional bolster being adjustable between an uninflated condition where the mattress is flat allowing access to the patient and an inflated condition where the additional bolster secures the patient on the mattress when the lateral rotation assembly is actuated to rotate the patient toward the additional elongated side.

13. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 12, wherein the lateral rotation assembly includes a first inflatable lateral rotation wedge positioned near the elongated side and a second inflatable lateral rotation wedge positioned near the additional elongated side.

14. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 13, wherein the first lateral rotation wedge is inflated to tilt the mattress toward the additional elongated side and to rotate the patient to the additional elongated side, and the second lateral rotation wedge is inflated to tilt the mattress toward the elongated side and to rotate the patient to the elongated side.

15. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 14, wherein the inflatable bolster is inflated with the second lateral rotation wedge and the additional inflatable bolster is inflated with the first lateral rotation wedge.

16. A therapeutic mattress assembly for supporting a patient, the therapeutic mattress assembly comprising:

a mattress for supporting the patient;

a calf lift bladder supported by the mattress, the calf lift bladder being selectively adjustable between an uninflated condition where the patient'"'"'s calves are supported by the mattress and an inflated condition where the patient'"'"'s calves are raised above the mattress and supported by the calf lift bladder.

17. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 16, wherein the position of the calf lift bladder is adjustable relative to the mattress.

18. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 17, wherein the calf lift bladder is detachably connected to the mattress.

19. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 18, wherein the calf lift bladder is detachably connect to the mattress with snaps.

20. The therapeutic mattress assembly of claim 16, further comprising a blower assembly, wherein the calf lift bladder is adjusted by controllably inflating or deflating the calf lift bladder with the blower assembly.