Fluidized patient support system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An improved patient support system comprising:
- (a) an open ended container means having a bottom wall and side walls;
(b) a support means for said container means;
(c) a perforated plate received within said container means;
said plate defining a plurality of mounting openings therein;
(d) a plurality of spacer means received within said container and being located between said perforated plate and said bottom wall of said container means, whereby a plenum chamber is defined between said plate and said bottom wall;
spacer means being located beneath each mounting opening in said plate and secured to said plate thereat;
(e) a fluid diffuser means received atop said perforated plate and secured thereto, said diffuser means being generally uniformly pervious to passage of fluid under pressure therethrough;
(f) sealing means received between the outer periphery of said diffuser means and an inside of said sidewalls of said container means;
(g) a mass of granular material received within said container atop said diffuser means;
(h) flexible sheet means located atop said granular material and being removably secured completely around edges of same at an upper end of said side walls, said sheet means being pervious to passage of fluid therethrough while being impervious to the passage of granular material; and
(i) means to generate fluid pressure in said plenum chamber adequate to diffuse through said diffuser means and fluidize said granular material sufficient to support a patient thereon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved fluidizable patient support system including an oval tank, a perforated plate received in the tank atop a plurality of spacers, a diffuser board located atop the perforated plate and sealed around its edge, a mass of granular material received atop the diffuser board, a flexible sheet removably secured around upper edges of the tank by snap fitting elements, a wheeled support pedestal for the tank which has a fluid pressure generator therewithin. Pivotal steps and side rails may be associated with the pedestal and tank respectively. A support frame may also be secured to the tank, extending thereabove to receive treatment apparatus.
78 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An improved patient support system comprising:
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(a) an open ended container means having a bottom wall and side walls; (b) a support means for said container means; (c) a perforated plate received within said container means;
said plate defining a plurality of mounting openings therein;(d) a plurality of spacer means received within said container and being located between said perforated plate and said bottom wall of said container means, whereby a plenum chamber is defined between said plate and said bottom wall;
spacer means being located beneath each mounting opening in said plate and secured to said plate thereat;(e) a fluid diffuser means received atop said perforated plate and secured thereto, said diffuser means being generally uniformly pervious to passage of fluid under pressure therethrough; (f) sealing means received between the outer periphery of said diffuser means and an inside of said sidewalls of said container means; (g) a mass of granular material received within said container atop said diffuser means; (h) flexible sheet means located atop said granular material and being removably secured completely around edges of same at an upper end of said side walls, said sheet means being pervious to passage of fluid therethrough while being impervious to the passage of granular material; and (i) means to generate fluid pressure in said plenum chamber adequate to diffuse through said diffuser means and fluidize said granular material sufficient to support a patient thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An improved patient support system comprising:
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(a) an open ended tank having a bottom wall and side walls, an upper end of said side walls defining a rim having inside and outside legs that define a recess therebetween, said inside leg having a projection over said recess defining a shoulder therebeneath; (b) fluid diffuser means located within said tank above said bottom wall and defining a plenum chamber therebetween; (c) fluidizable granular material located atop said diffuser means; (d) fluid pressure generator means for generating adequate fluid pressure in said plenum chamber below said diffuser means that said fluid passes through said diffuser means and fluidizes said granular materials thereabove; (e) flexible sheet means received above said granular material, said sheet means being pervious to fluid and impervious to said granular material, edges of said sheet means being received within said recess of said rim of said side walls around said tank and located below said inside wall shoulder; and (f) a resilient rim cover removeably securable to said rim to secure said edges of said sheet means within said recess adequate to permit said sheet means to support a patient thereon when said granular material is in a fluidized or a non-fluidized state, said rim cover having a body with a smooth upper contour located above and about at least a portion of an exterior of said rim and having a central protrusion extending downwardly from said body within said rim recess, said central protrusion having a tip portion locatable below said inside wall shoulder and cooperating therewith to secure said sheet means therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An improved mobile patient support system comprising:
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(a) an oval tank having a bottm wall, sidewalls, and an open top, said sidewalls having an upper rim that extends laterally outwardly therefrom to a maximum dimension that is less than the width of a passageway through which said system is designed to be used; (b) an oval shaped support element received within said tank and supported above said bottom wall by a plurality of spacer means; (c) an oval shaped fluid diffuser means located atop said oval support element; (d) sealing means received between an outer periphery of said diffuser means and an inside of said sidewalls adjacent thereto; (e) a mass of granular material received within said tank atop said diffuser means; (f) a flexible sheet removably secured completely around its edges at said sidewall rims, said sheet draping loosely into said tank atop said granular material when said granular material is in a non-fluidized state; (g) wheeled support housing means received beneath said tank and being secured thereto; (h) fluid pressure generating means received within said housing means and being in communication with the space inside said tank beneath said oval shaped support elements, and being actuatable for generating fluid pressure therein adequate to diffuse through said diffuser means and fluidize said granular material thereabove sufficient to support a patient thereon; (i) at least one step pivotably associated with said housing means for movement between a down extended position where it will support medical personnel and an up position where it resides beneath said tank and within said maximum width dimension; and (j) at least one side rail assembly pivotally secured to at least one of said tank sidewalls and being located below said tank in the down position and moveable to a locked raised position where it restricts patient movement from said system, whereby during movement of said system, no appurtenance to same extends laterally beyond the maximum width dimension of said tank, fostering maneuverability and mobility of same.
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Specification