PATIENT SUPPORT

• US 20140059780A1
• Filed: 09/05/2013
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Lafleche, Patrick, Peters, Stephen F., Brubaker, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 9,420,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/710
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/044 with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/046 without active means, e.g. with openings or heat conductors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/001 with several cushions, mattresses or the like, to be put together in one cover
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/00 Details or accessories for chairs, beds, or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass, e.g. upholstery fasteners, mattress protectors, stretching devices for mattress nets
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05715 with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05792 with low air loss function, e.g. in mattresses, overlays or beds

Abstract

A patient support for supporting a patient includes a plurality of cushioning layers arranged such that their supporting surfaces when unloaded are generally arranged in a plane, and with each cushioning layer interlocked with each adjacent cushioning layer wherein each cushioning layer provides lateral and longitudinal support to each of its adjacent cushion layer.

Claims

1. A patient support comprising:

a plurality of cushioning layers arranged such that their supporting surfaces when unloaded are generally arranged in a plane, and with each cushioning layer interlocked with each adjacent cushioning layer wherein each cushioning layer provides lateral and longitudinal support to each of its adjacent cushion layer.

2. The support of claim 1, wherein said plurality of cushioning layers includes a bladder layer.

3. The support of claim 1, wherein said cushioning layers includes a gel layer.

4. The support of claim 1, wherein at least one of the cushioning layers includes transverse openings allowing air to pass through the at least one cushioning layer to direct air flow through the at least one cushioning layer.

5. The support of claim 1, wherein said cushioning layers comprise a plurality of inflatable bladders and a gel layer adjacent said inflatable bladders.

6. The support of claim 5, wherein said gel layer interlocks with adjacent bladders of said inflatable bladders.

7. The support of claim 6, wherein each of said bladders has a hexagonal cross-section.

8. The support of claim 7, wherein said gel layer includes a plurality of hexagonal gel footings.

9. The support of claim 8, wherein each of said gel footings is disconnected from its adjacent gel footings.

10. The support of claim 7, wherein each of said gel footings is internally reinforced by a plurality of hexagonal gel wall structures.

11. The support of claim 9, wherein each of said gel footings is internally reinforced by a plurality of hexagonal gel wall structures.

12. The support of claim 1, wherein said cushioning layers are supported on a foam crib.

13. The support of claim 12, further comprising turning bladders positioned below said foam crib.

14. The support of claim 13, wherein said foam crib includes at least two hinged panels above said turning bladders to allow turning of a patient supported on said patient support.

15. The support of claim 12, wherein said foam crib includes a plurality of channels extending there through for directing air through said foam crib and into at least one of said cushioning layers.

16. The support of claim 15, wherein said foam crib includes a base wall, said base wall having said channels, and said channels comprising a central channel and a plurality of branch channels in communication with said central channel for directing air flow.

17. The support of claim 15, wherein said foam crib include a recess in communication with said channels and a blower supported in said recess for directing air into said channels.

18. The support of claim 17, wherein said at least one cushioning layer comprises a bladder layer supported on said foam crib, said bladder layer having a base sheet and an upper sheet forming a plurality of bladders, said bladder layer having a plurality of transverse openings through said base sheet, and said channels for directing air flow through said apertures.

19. A patient support comprising:

a foam crib; and

a cushioning layer supported on said foam crib, said foam crib having a base wall supporting said cushion layer and opposed side walls extending upwardly from said base wall, and said side walls including wedge-shaped portions forming inwardly facing angled surfaces for facing a patient supported on said cushioning layer.

20. The patient support according to claim 19, wherein said cushion layer had an upper surface, said wedge-shaped portions extending above said upper surface of said cushion layer when unloaded.

21. The patient support according to claim 20, wherein said wedge-shaped portions have a cross-section that imparts sufficient resilience to collapse down when a patient supported on the cushioning layer exits the bed.

22. A patient support comprising:

a foam crib having a base wall and side walls; and

a bladders layer supported on said base wall of said foam crib, said bladders and said side walls configured and arranged such that the bladders and said side walls are interlocked wherein said side walls provide lateral and longitudinal support to said bladders adjacent said side walls.

23. The support of claim 22, wherein each of said bladders has a hexagonal cross-section, and said side walls have a plurality of recesses for receiving adjacent bladders.

24. The support of claim 23, wherein said side walls have a plurality of recesses that at least generally follow the contour of each adjacent bladder.

25. The support of claim 22, further comprising a gel layer supported on said foam crib adjacent said bladder layer, said gel layer having a plurality of gel structures configured to interlock with said bladders.

26. The support of claim 25, wherein said gel structures each have a hexagonal cross-section.