PATIENT SUPPORT

• US 20090217460A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Stacy, Richard B., King, Rachel H., Ginther, Rebecca A., Lachenbruch, Charles, Soltani, Sohrab, Mueller, Jonathan H., Douglas, Stephen L., Wilson, Bradley T., Hakamiun, Reza, Branson, Gregory W., Bobey, John A., O'Keefe, Christopher R., Chambers, Kenith W., Meyer, Eric R., Uzzle, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,707,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/709
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/16 bariatric, e.g. heavy or obese
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/00 Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons stretchers with facilities for picking up patients or disabled persons A61G1/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05784 with ventilating means, e.g. mattress or cushion with ventilating holes or ventilators

Abstract

This disclosure describes certain exemplary embodiments of a patient support having a plurality of vertically-oriented on substantially can-shaped inflatable bladders. In one embodiment, the patient support includes a support layer positioned above the vertical bladders. In another embodiment, the patient support includes a high air loss device. In still another embodiment, the patient support includes a pneumatic device located within the patient support.

Claims

1. A patient support comprising:

a cover;

a body located within the cover, the body including a plurality of bladders; and

a high air loss device including a supply tube and a delivery tube, wherein the supply tube receives a volume of low pressure air from an air supply, the delivery tube includes a plurality of apertures configured to vent the air received from the supply tube around the plurality of bladders.

2. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the delivery tube is located between the seat section and foot section.

3. The patient support of claim 1, further comprising a three dimensional fiber network material layer located above the plurality of bladders.

4. The patient support of claim 3, wherein the three dimensional fiber network material is air permeable.

5. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the air supply is configured to supply a first pressure and volume of air to the plurality of bladders and a second volume and pressure of air to the high air loss device.

6. The patient support of claim 5, wherein the first pressure is greater than the second pressure.

7. The patient support of claim 5, wherein the first volume is less than the second volume.

8. A patient support comprising:

a cover including a head end, a foot end, and a pair of sides;

a body located within the cover, the body including a plurality of bladders; and

a high air loss device including an enclosure is positioned above the plurality of bladders and a supply tube, wherein the supply tube receives a volume of low pressure air from an air supply and the air moves through the enclosure.

9. The patient support of claim 8, further comprising including at least one layer of an air-permeable three-dimensional material located within the envelope, the three-dimensional material having a network of thermoplastic fibers three-dimensional material.

10. The patient support of claim 8, further comprising including a first layer of an air-permeable three-dimensional material located within the enclosure and a second layer of the air-permeable three-dimensional material located within the enclosure, the three-dimensional material having a network of thermoplastic fibers three-dimensional material.

11. The patient support of claim 10, wherein the first layer includes a plurality of dome-shaped projects, the first layer of the three-dimensional fiber material is positioned in the enclosure above the second layer, the dome-shaped projections of the first layer projecting upwardly away from the second layer toward a top surface of the enclosure.

12. The patient support of claim 11, wherein the second layer includes a plurality of dome-shaped projects, the second layer of the three-dimensional fiber material is positioned in the enclosure below the first layer, the dome-shaped projections of the second layer projecting downwardly away from the first layer toward a bottom surface of the enclosure.

13. The patient support of claim 10, wherein the cover is vapor permeable and air impermeable.

14. The patient support of claim 10, wherein at least one of the head end, the foot end, and one of the pair of sides of the cover includes an air permeable portion.

15. The patient support of claim 10, wherein the enclosure is vapor permeable and air impermeable

16. A patient support comprising:

a cover including an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper cover and lower cover defining an interior region;

a body located within the interior region, the body including a head section, a seat section, and a foot section;

a plurality of bladders located within the interior region;

at least one sensor located within the interior region; and

a pneumatic device located within the region, the pneumatic device including at least one valve block and at least one control board configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor.

17. The patient support of claim 16, further including a holder assembly configured to removably couple the pneumatic device to the lower portion.

18. The patient support of claim 17, wherein the holder assembly includes a base and a cover.

19. The patient support of claim 17, wherein one of the holder assembly and the pneumatic device includes a hook fastener and one of the holder assembly and the pneumatic device include a loop fastener configured to receive the hook fastener.

20. The patient support of claim 17, wherein the holder assembly is located in the foot section.

21. The patient support of claim 16, wherein the at least one air control board is configured to maintain a pressure range within the plurality of bladders.

22. The patient support of claim 21, wherein the plurality of bladders are vertical can bladders.

23. The patient support of claim 21, wherein the plurality of bladders are horizontal bladders.

24. The patient support of claim 21, wherein the at least one control board is coupled to a user interface to receive an input from a user.

25. The patient support of claim 24, wherein the input from the user interface sends a pressure range to the control board.

26. The patient support of claim 21, wherein the air control board includes a pressure transducer to maintain the pressure range.

27. The patient support of claim 16, wherein the pneumatic unit includes a data hub operably coupled to a control unit, the data hub configured to receive data from a plurality of pressure sensors and transit the data to the control unit.

28. The patient support of claim 16, wherein the at least one valve block includes at a manifold assembly and a plurality of valves coupled to the manifold assembly, wherein the plurality of valves.

29. The patient support of claim 16, wherein the pneumatic device includes a first valve block and a second valve block.

30. The patient support of claim 29, wherein the first valve block is in fluid communication with the second valve block.

31. A patient support configured to move between a use position and a folded position, the patient support comprising:

a cover including an upper cover and a lower cover, the upper cover and lower cover defining an interior region;

a plurality of bladders located within the interior region;

a control unit operably coupled to the plurality of bladders, the control unit including an air pump and a switching valve, the control unit selectively configurable to provide a positive pressure to fill the plurality of bladders and a negative pressure to evacuate the plurality of bladders; and

at least one strap to hold the patient support in the folded position.

32. The patient support of claim 31, wherein the control unit includes a software routine configured to use the air pump and switching valve to create the negative pressure.

33. A patient support comprising:

a cover including an upper cover and a lower cover, the upper cover and lower cover defining an interior region;

a body located within the interior region, the body including a head section, a seat section, and a foot section;

a plurality of support bladders located within the interior region;

at least one turn assist bladder located below the plurality of support bladders; and

a first switch located within the interior region, the first switch configured to actuate when the head section is raised to at least a first angle relative to the seat section; and

a controller coupled to the first switch and the at least one turn assist bladder configured to receive an indication that the first switch was actuated and control actuation of the at least one turn assist bladder.

34. The patient support of claim 33, wherein the first angle is at least 5 degrees.

35. The patient support of claim 33, further comprising a second switch configured to actuate when the head section is raised to at least a second angle greater than the first angle and indicate to the controller that the second angle was reached.

36. The patient support of claim 34, wherein the turn assist bladder is disabled when the head section is raised at or above the second angle.

37. The patient support of claim 36, wherein the second angle is at least 30 degrees.

38. The patient support of claim 34, further comprising a third switch configured to actuate when the head section is raised to at least a third angle greater than the first angle and the second angle and indicate to the controller that the second angle was reached.

39. The patient support of claim 38, wherein the turn assist bladder is disabled when the head section is raised at or above the third angle.

40. The patient support of claim 38, wherein the third angle is at least 45 degrees.

41. A patient support comprising:

a cover;

a body located within the cover, the body including a bladder; and

an air loss device including a tube, wherein the tube receives a volume of air from an air supply, the tube including a plurality of apertures configured to deliver the air received across the bladder.

42. The patient support of claim 41, wherein the tube includes a supply tube and a delivery tube.

43. The patient support of claim 41, wherein the body includes a plurality of bladders.

44. The patient support of claim 43, wherein the plurality of bladders are vertical bladders.

45. The patient support of claim 41, wherein the air supply is configured to supply a first pressure and volume of air to the bladder and a second volume and pressure of air to the air loss device.

46. The patient support of claim 45, wherein the first pressure is greater than the second pressure.

47. The patient support of claim 45, wherein the first volume is less than the second volume.