Fluidized patient support apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An improved patient support structure comprising:
- (a) an open top container means;
(b) a mass of granular material received within said container means;
(c) means for supporting said granular material within said container means, said support means being porous to fluid pressure and impervious to passage of granular material;
(d) means for generating fluid pressure beneath said support means for fluidizing said granular material above said support means;
(e) means for sequentially directing at least a portion of said fluid under pressure, said means for sequentially directing being located beneath predetermined portions of said support means for fluidizing granular material thereabove; and
(f) flexible means atop said granular material for receipt of a patient thereon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A patient support structure that employs fluid pressure to fluidize granular material for patient support. Fluidizable granular material is received within the structure atop a fluid diffuser surface. Separate plenum chambers are located below the diffuser surface with each plenum chamber being associated with valved fluid manifolds. Operators are associated with the valves and a control system for sequential or otherwise opening and closing of the valves to permit controlled fluidization of the granular material over a selected portion of the diffuser surface according to a predetermined arrangement.
156 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An improved patient support structure comprising:
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(a) an open top container means; (b) a mass of granular material received within said container means; (c) means for supporting said granular material within said container means, said support means being porous to fluid pressure and impervious to passage of granular material; (d) means for generating fluid pressure beneath said support means for fluidizing said granular material above said support means; (e) means for sequentially directing at least a portion of said fluid under pressure, said means for sequentially directing being located beneath predetermined portions of said support means for fluidizing granular material thereabove; and (f) flexible means atop said granular material for receipt of a patient thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An improved patient support structure comprising:
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(a) an open top container means; (b) a support means located within said container means and defining a plurality of separate plenum chambers therealong; (c) fluid diffuser means located atop said support means; (d) a mass of granular material received within said container means atop said diffuser means; (e) means for pressurizing fluid and introducing said fluid under pressure into said separate plenum chambers according to a predetermined arrangement; and (f) flexible sheet means located above said granular material for receipt of a patient thereon. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An improved patient support structure comprising:
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(a) an open top container, said container having side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall; (b) support means located within said container, said support means defining a plurality of separate open top plenum chambers therealong, each of said plenum chambers having a fluid manifold in communication therewith, each said fluid manifold having valve means associated therewith; (c) fluid diffuser means located atop said support means; (d) a mass of granular material received atop said fluid diffuser means; (e) fluid pressurizing means in communication with said plenum chamber fluid manifolds for introducing fluid under pressure thereto; (f) means for sequentially operating said fluid manifold valve means according to a predetermined arrangement so that fluid under pressure is supplied to each plenum chamber when the valve means therefor is open and fluidizes granular material thereabove and is precluded from introduction to each plenum chamber where the valve means therefor is closed; and (g) flexible sheet means received atop said granular material for receipt of a patient thereon. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification