PATIENT SUPPORT

• US 20150059100A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Brubaker, Michael T., Peters, Stephen F., Martel, Benoit
• Granted Patent: US 9,782,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/710
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/40 for distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• 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 7/05792 with low air loss function, e.g. in mattresses, overlays or beds

Abstract

A patient support includes a bladder layer with a plurality of bladders, a pneumatic supply system, and a plurality of tubes in fluid communication with pneumatic supply system. The tubes are coupled to and guided by the bladder layer so that the tubes and bladder layer may remain in close registry when being handled, for example, either during the assembly process or cleaning process.

Claims

1. A patient support comprising:

a bladder layer with a plurality of bladders;

a pneumatic supply system; and

a plurality of tubes in fluid communication with pneumatic supply system, the tubes coupled to and guided by the bladder layer.

2. The support of claim 1, wherein the tubes comprise supply tubes.

3. The support of claim 1, wherein the tubes comprise sensing tubes.

4. The support of claim 3, wherein the tubes comprise sensing tubes and supply tubes.

5. The support of claim 1, wherein the bladder includes a plural supports, the supports comprising channels.

6. The support of claim 5, wherein the supports are formed from patches of sheet material attached at or to the bottom surface of the bladder layer.

7. The support of claim 6, wherein the patches are attached to the bottom surface of the bladder layer.

8. The support of claim 1, wherein the bladder layer includes at least two zones, with each zone being configured to be separately inflatable.

9. The support of claim 1, wherein the bladder layer includes a harness for harnessing the tubes.

10. The support of claim 9, wherein the harness comprises flange.

11. The support of claim 10, wherein the bladder comprises an upper sheet and a lower sheet, the harness comprises a portion of the upper sheet and/or the lower sheet.

12. The support of claim 1, wherein the bladder layers includes an array of bladders and a plurality of transverse openings allowing air to pass through the bladder layer to direct air flow through the bladder layer.

13. The support of claim 1, wherein each of said bladders has a hexagonal cross-section.

14. A patient support comprising:

a foam crib having first and second sections; and

a gel layer supported on the foam crib and joined to the foam crib, and the gel bladder layer forming a hinge for the two sections of the foam crib.

15. The support of claim 14, wherein the first section comprises a head/body end and the second section comprises a foot end, the gel layer forming a hinge between the foot end and the head/body end. foot end, the head/body end supporting a bladder layer.

16. The support of claim 15, wherein the foot end is releasably coupled to the head/body end.

17. The support of claim 16, wherein the foot end is releasably coupled to the head/body end by VELCRO strips.

18. The support of claim 15, wherein the foot end is releasably coupled to the head/body end a joint, the joint forming line management channels.

19. A patient support comprising:

a bladder layer with a plurality of bladders;

a pneumatic supply system; and

a plurality of tubes in fluid communication with the pneumatic supply system and the bladder layer, the bladder layer including a manifold holding and harnessing the tubes.

20. The support of claim 19, wherein the harness comprises a flange.

21. The support of claim 20, wherein the bladder layer comprises an upper sheet and a lower sheet, the flange formed by a portion of the upper sheet and/or the lower sheet.

22. A patient support comprising:

a bladder layer with a plurality of bladders;

a blower unit having an output;

a foam crib supporting the bladder layer, the foam crib having channels formed therein and in fluid communication with the output of the blower; and

a cover extending over the channels to close the channels, the cover having openings for directing air flow from the channels to the underside of the bladder layer.

23. The support of claim 22, wherein said bladder layer has a plurality of openings therethrough to allow air flow from the channels to pass through the bladder layer.

24. The support of claim 22, wherein the cover is adapted to seal against the underside of the bladder layer to reduce air loss between the bladder layer and the channels.

25. The support of claim 24, wherein the cover supports a resilient pad, the pad including openings aligning with the openings of the cover.