LOCALIZED PATIENT SUPPORT

• US 20070283496A1
• Filed: 06/06/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allen Medical Systems, Inc. (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Skripps, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/654
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05715 with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05723 with cut-outs or depressions in order to relieve the pressure on a part of the body mattresses with cavities A47C27/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05738 with fluid-like particles, e.g. sand, mud, seeds, gel, beads
• 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 7/065 Rests specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A localized patient support comprises a base, an annular ring supported above the base and defining a cavity, and a gel pad having a plurality of sections located in the cavity. In some embodiment, the localized patient support includes an insert received in the cavity and located between the base and the gel pad. At least some of the sections of the gel pad located in the cavity are vertically movable substantially independently of adjacent sections of the gel pad. In some embodiments, the base, the annular ring, and the insert comprise foam elements. In other embodiments, the base and the annular ring comprise foam elements and the insert comprises individually inflatable and deflatable air bladders.

Claims

1. A localized patient support comprising:

a base,

an annular ring supported above the base and defining a cavity, and

a gel pad having a plurality of sections located in the cavity, at least some of the sections of the gel pad located in the cavity being vertically movable substantially independently of adjacent sections of the gel pad.

2. The localized patient support of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one foam pad.

3. The localized patient support of claim 1, wherein the annular ring comprises a foam ring.

4. The localized patient support of claim 1, further comprising an insert received in the cavity and located between the base and the gel pad.

5. The localized patient support of claim 4, wherein the insert comprises a foam insert.

6. The localized patient support of claim 4, wherein the insert comprises a plurality of bladders which are independently inflatable and deflatable.

7. The localized patient support of claim 6, wherein each section of the gel pad received in the cavity is positioned above at least one bladder.

8. The localized patient support of claim 7, further comprising at least one sensor located above each section of the gel pad received in the cavity.

9. The localized patient support of claim 6, wherein each section of the gel pad received in the cavity is positioned above at least two bladders.

10. The localized patient support of claim 9, further comprising at least two sensors located above each section of the gel pad received in the cavity.

11. The localized patient support of claim 10, wherein the sensors measure one or more of the following parameters:

pressure, temperature, humidity level, and air circulation.

12. The localized patient support of claim 4, wherein the base comprises a foam pad, the annular ring comprises a foam ring, the insert comprises a plurality of bladders which are independently inflatable and deflatable, and each section of the gel pad received in the cavity is positioned above at least two bladders.

13. The localized patient support of claim 12, wherein and the gel pad further comprises an annular section overlying the annular ring.

14. The localized patient support of claim 13, further comprising at least one sensor located above each section of the gel pad received in the cavity and a plurality of sensors located above the annular section of the gel pad overlying the annular ring.

15. The localized patient support of claim 1, further comprising a disposable cover having a stretchable anti-shear portion configured to substantially cover a top surface of the annular ring and top surfaces of the sections of the gel pad received in the cavity.

16. The localized patient support of claim 14, further comprising a foam pad supported above the stretchable anti-shear portion of the cover.

17. The localized patient support of claim 1, wherein the sections of the gel pad received in the cavity are sized so that a top surface of the annular ring and top surfaces of the sections of the gel pad received in the cavity define a substantially continuous surface upon which a portion of a patient rests.

18. The localized patient support of claim 1, wherein the gel pad further comprises a plurality of web portions interconnecting adjacent sections of the gel pad.

19. A cover for use with a segmented localized patient support having an upwardly-facing patient support surface, the cover comprising a stretchable anti-shear portion configured to substantially cover the upwardly-facing patient support surface.

20. The cover of claim 19, further comprising a foam pad supported above the stretchable anti-shear portion of the cover.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a localized patient support having a plurality of sections defining an upwardly-facing patient support surface, at least some of the sections of the localized patient support being vertically movable substantially independently of adjacent sections of the localized patient support,

a plurality of adjustable bladders located under the localized patient support,

a pressure regulator coupled to the plurality of adjustable bladders,

a plurality of pressure sensors located above the localized patient support, and

a processor coupled to the plurality of sensors and coupled to the pressure regulator.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one bladder is located under each section of the localized patient support.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one sensor is located above each section of the localized patient support.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the localized patient support further comprises a base and an annular ring supported above the base and defining a cavity, the plurality of bladders are located in the cavity, and the plurality of sections of the localized patient support are located in the cavity above the bladders.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the plurality of sections comprise a gel pad.