Fluidized supporting apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An improved fluidizable patient support structure comprising:
- (a) an open top container means;
(b) a mass of granular material received within said container;
(c) means for supporting non-fluidized granular material at predetermined varying depths within said container, said support means being porous to fluid passage and impervious to passage of granular material;
(d) means for fluidizing said granular material above said material support means, said fluidizing means and porosity of said material support means being correlated such that said granular material across said container is fluidized adequately to support all body areas of a patient in a supine position; and
(e) flexible means enclosing said granular material for receipt of a patient thereon, said flexible means permitting passage of fluid through at least a portion of same while precluding passage of granular material therethrough.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluidized patient support structure in which a mass of granular material is received within an open top container between a fluid diffuser plate and a flexible sheet on which the patient may lie in a supine position. Pressurized fluid passes through the diffuser plate and suspends the granular material in a fluidized form. The diffuser plate has a predetermined variable contour and a predetermined depth of fluidized material thereabove adequate to support a patient in a supine position.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An improved fluidizable patient support structure comprising:
-
(a) an open top container means; (b) a mass of granular material received within said container; (c) means for supporting non-fluidized granular material at predetermined varying depths within said container, said support means being porous to fluid passage and impervious to passage of granular material; (d) means for fluidizing said granular material above said material support means, said fluidizing means and porosity of said material support means being correlated such that said granular material across said container is fluidized adequately to support all body areas of a patient in a supine position; and (e) flexible means enclosing said granular material for receipt of a patient thereon, said flexible means permitting passage of fluid through at least a portion of same while precluding passage of granular material therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An improved fluidizable patient support structure comprising:
-
(a) an open top container defined by a bottom wall and side walls; (b) a frame received in said container, spaced above said bottom wall; (c) a support means received on said frame, said support means being porous to the passage of a fluid therethrough and impervious to the passage of granular material to be received thereover, said support means having a predetermined contour; (d) a mass of granular material received within said container atop said support means, the depth of granular material above said support means varying with the contour of said support means; (e) flexible cover means for said container; and (f) means to fluidize said granular material above said support means, said fluidizing means and porosity of said support means being correlated to fluidize said granular material above said porous support means adequately to support a patient in a supine position thereon and the depth of granular material and porosity of the support means at areas where a patient would normally sit on the structure being such that the patient will also be supported in a sitting position without sinking through the granular material into contact with said support means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification