Patient support structure
First Claim
1. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
- (a) a frame;
(b) a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks atop said frame;
(c) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supplying gas to same; and
(d) control means associated with said gas supply means and said sacks, for automatically and simultaneously controlling supply of gas to each of said sacks to maintain a predetermined equilibrium pressure profile across said plurality of sacks and according to a plurality of predetermined combinations of said sacks, each said combination of sacks defining a separate support zone having a separately determinable equilibrium pressure profile, said control means including a multi-outlet, variable flow gas valve having a separate variable valve flow path for each said predetermined combination of sacks defining a separate support zone, each said separate variable valve flow path being connected between said gas supply means and each said predetermined combination of sacks defining a separate support zone, said control means further including for each predetermined combination of sacks a separate valve control circuit for automatically controlling the flow setting of each separate variable valve flow path according to at least one predetermined pressure parameter for said predetermined combination of said sacks.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved patient support structure comprising an articulatable frame, a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks, some of the sacks having one or two comfort slots therein, a low pressure compressed air blower and a plurality of pipes for carrying gas from the blower to the sacks. A multi-outlet, variable flow, gas valve connects the blower to the pipes and comprises a housing defining an inlet and a passageway. The sacks rest atop a neoprene membrane which covers a planar upper surface of the frame. Operation of the motor of an exhaust valve is controlled by an electronic exhaust valve control circuit which balances the voltage from the potentiometer of the valve against a voltage output from a preset variable resistor. A zone valve control circuit similar to the exhaust valve control circuit, has a motor driven integrated circuit and a further integrated circuit which chooses between a plurality of preset step-wise thumbwheel switches based upon a signal from a step-wise linear switch which is mechanically connected to one of the articulatable sections of the frame. The sacks can be rapidly deflated via a plurality of solenoid valves. A plurality of pressure sensitive switches indicates when a substantially deflated condition exists in one or more of the sacks. A plurality of fabric panels is attached via a plurality of snap members to the ends of the sacks and to a portion of the frame.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
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(a) a frame; (b) a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks atop said frame; (c) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supplying gas to same; and (d) control means associated with said gas supply means and said sacks, for automatically and simultaneously controlling supply of gas to each of said sacks to maintain a predetermined equilibrium pressure profile across said plurality of sacks and according to a plurality of predetermined combinations of said sacks, each said combination of sacks defining a separate support zone having a separately determinable equilibrium pressure profile, said control means including a multi-outlet, variable flow gas valve having a separate variable valve flow path for each said predetermined combination of sacks defining a separate support zone, each said separate variable valve flow path being connected between said gas supply means and each said predetermined combination of sacks defining a separate support zone, said control means further including for each predetermined combination of sacks a separate valve control circuit for automatically controlling the flow setting of each separate variable valve flow path according to at least one predetermined pressure parameter for said predetermined combination of said sacks. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
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(a) a frame; (b) a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks atop said frame, at least one of said sacks including opposing side walls, opposing top and bottom walls, and opposing end walls, said opposing side walls defining opposing slits therein, each said slit extending from a top portion of said side wall in a perpendicular direction just short of the center of said side wall, said top wall being joined on two opposing edges thereof to the top perimeters of said side walls including said slits and forming a slot thereby; (c) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supplying gas to same; and (d) control means associated with said gas supply means and said sacks, for automatically and simultaneously controlling supply of gas to each of said sacks according to a predetermined pressure profile across said plurality of sacks and according to a plurality of predetermined combinations of said sacks, each said combination of sacks defining a separate support zone, said control means including a multi-outlet, variable flow gas valve having a separate variable valve flow path for each said predetermined combination of sacks defining a separate support zone, each said separate variable valve flow path being connected between said gas supply means and each said predetermined combination of sacks defining a separate support zone, said control means further including for each predetermined combination of sacks a separate valve control circuit for automatically controlling the flow setting of each separate variable valve flow path according to at least one predetermined pressure parameter for said predetermined combination of said sacks. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
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(a) a frame; (b) a plurality of elongated gas-inflatable sacks disposed side by side atop said frame, said sacks having opposing side walls, opposing top and bottom walls, and opposing end walls, said end walls having upper and lower attachment means thereon; (c) frame attachment means located on said frame near said end walls of said sacks; (d) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supplying gas to same; (e) control means associated with said gas supply means and said sacks, for controlling supply of gas to each of said sacks according to a predetermined pressure profile across said plurality of sacks and according to a plurality of predetermined combinations of said sacks, each said combination of sacks defining a separate support zone; and (f) sack retaining means for retaining said sacks in a disposition when inflated such that side walls of same are generally vertically oriented with side walls of adjacent sacks being in contact along at least a significant portion of the heights of same, said retaining means having attachment means thereon matable with said upper and lower sack attachment means for removable securement of said sacks thereto, said retaining means attachment means being matable with said frame attachment means whereby said sacks when inflated are generally maintained in said disposition irrespective of pressure variance between sacks. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
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(a) a frame, said frame being articulatable to vary the position of a patient lying on the support structure; (b) a plurality of elongated gas-inflatable sacks disposed side by side atop said frame, said sacks having opposing side walls, opposing top and bottom walls, and opposing end walls, said sacks assuming a disposition when inflated such that side walls of same are generally vertically oriented with side walls of adjacent sacks being in contact along at least a significant portion of the heights of same, said end walls having upper and lower attachment means thereon; (c) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supplying gas to same; (d) control means associated with said gas supply means and said sacks, for controlling supply of gas to each of said sacks according to a predetermined pressure profile across said plurality of sacks and according to a plurality of predetermined combinations of said sacks, each said combination of sacks defining a separate support zone; and (e) sack retaining means located along said frame adjacent said opposite ends of said sacks, said retaining means having attachment means thereon matable with said upper and lower sack attachment means for removable securement of said sacks thereto whereby said sacks when infalted are generally maintained in said disposition irrespective of any pressure variance between adjacent sacks.
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15. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
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(a) a frame, said frame including at least one articulatable section for varying the position of a patient lying on the support structure; (b) a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks atop said frame; (c) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supplying gas to same; (d) control means associated with said gas supply means and said sacks, for controlling supply of gas to each of said sacks according to a predetermined pressure profile across said plurality of sacks and according to a plurality of predetermined combinations of said sacks, each said combination of sacks defining a separate support zone; (e) means associated with said frame for sensing one of a plurality of degrees of articulation of one of said articulatable sections of said frame; and (f) said control means being operatively associated with said articulation sensing means to vary gas pressure in predetermined sacks, said control means varying the gas pressure according to the degree of articulation of said one of said articulatable sections of said frame, as determined by said articulation sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. said preset thumbwheel switch selection means comprises an integrated circuit communicating with said articulation sensing means, said integrated circuit selecting one of said preset thumbwheel switches according to the degree of articulation determined by said articulation sensing means.
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23. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
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(a) a frame, said frame being articulatable to vary the position of a patient lying on the support structure, said frame including an articulatable head section; (b) a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks atop said frame; (c) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supplying gas to same; (d) control means associated with said gas supply means and said sacks, for controlling supply of gas to each of said sacks according to a predetermined pressure profile across said plurality of sacks and according to a plurality of predetermined combinations of said sacks, each said combination of sacks defining a separate support zone; (e) means associated with said frame for sensing one of a plurality of degrees of articulation of said head section of said frame; and (f) said control means being operatively associated with said articulation sensing means to vary gas pressure in said sacks located generally beneath the buttocks area of the patient lying on the support structure, said control means varying the gas pressure according to the degree of elevation of the head section of the frame as determined by said articulation sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (25, 27, 29)
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24. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
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(a) a frame, said frame including at least one articulatable section to vary the position of a patient lying on the support structure, each said articulatable section defining a joint for articulating movement thereabout by each said articulatable section, said frame having a planar upper surface defining a plurality of openings, each said opening having a depressed portion therearound; (b) a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks atop said frame; (c) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supplying gas to same; (d) controls means associated with said gas supply means and said sacks, for controlling supply of gas to each of said sacks according to a predetermined pressure profile across said plurality of sacks and according to a plurality of predetermined combinations of said sacks, each said combination of sacks defining a separate support zone; (e) said gas supply means including an individual gas conduit means for each said sack, each said conduit means including a length of flexible pipe having a conduit connector means at one end thereof, each said connector means at leat partially passing through one of said openings of said frame upper surface and being completely received within said depressed portion surrounding said opening in said upper surface so as not to project above said planar upper surface; and (f) each said sack comprising a plurality of walls and having an inlet opening extending through one wall thereof and further comprising an adaptor attached to said inlet opening in a gas impervious manner, said adaptor forming a gas impervious seal when connected to one of said conduit connector means.
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26. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
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(a) a mobile frame, said frame including at least one articulatable section to vary the position of the patient lying on the support structure, said frame having a planar upper surface, each said articulatable section defining a joint for articulating movement thereabout by each said articulatable section; (b) a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks atop said frame; (c) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supplying gas to same; (d) a flexible fluid impervious membrane received atop said upper surface of said frame and extending across said upper planar surface at least in the vicinity of each joint of each section thereof; (e) at least one force sensitive switch for detecting a bottoming condition produced by excessive deflation of at least a predetermined one of said plurality of sacks, each said switch being disposed between said planar upper surface and said membrane.
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28. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
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(a) a mobile frame, said frame including at least one articulatable section to vary the position of a patient lying on the support structure, each said articulatable section defining a joint for articulating movement thereabout by each said articulatable section, said frame having a planar upper surface defining a plurality of openings, each said opening having a countersunk portion therearound; (b) a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks atop said frame; (c) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supplying gas to same; (d) said gas supply means including an individual gas conduit means for each said sack, each said conduit means including a length of flexible pipe having conduit connector means at one end thereof, each said connector means passing through one of said openings of said frame surface and being completely received within said countersunk portion surrounding said opening in said upper surface so as not to project above said planar upper surface; control means associated with said gas supply means and said sacks, for controlling supply of gas to each of said sacks according to a predetermined pressure profile across said plurality of sacks and according to a plurality of predetermined combinations of said sacks each said oombination of sacks defining a separate support zone; (e) each said sack having an inlet opening and further comprising an adaptor attached at said inlet opening in a gas impervious manner, said adaptor forming a gas impervious seal when connected to one of said conduit connector means; and (f) a flexible fluid impervious membrane received atop said upper surface of said frame and extending across each said joint thereof, said membrane defining a plurality of openings therethrough coincident with said openings in said upper surface of said frame.
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30. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
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(a) a frame, said frame having a planar upper surface; (b) a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks atop said frame; (c) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supply of gas to same; (d) control means associated with said gas supply means and said sacks, for controlling supply of gas to each of said sacks according to a predetermined pressure profile across said plurality of sacks and according to a plurality of predetermined combinations of said sacks, each said combination of sacks defining a separate support zone; and (e) at least one force sensitive switch for detecting a bottoming condition produced by excessive deflation of at least a predetermined one of said plurality of sacks, each said switch being disposed atop said planar upper surface and beneath said predetermined ones of said sacks.
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31. An improved patient support structure, comprising:
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(a) a frame; (b) a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks atop such frame; (c) gas supply means in communication with each of said sacks for supplying gas to same; (d) gas control means associated with gas supply means and said sacks, for controlling supply of gas to each of said sacks according to a predetermined pressure profile across said plurality of sacks and according to a plurality of predetermined combinations of said sacks, each said combination of sacks defining a separate support zone; (e) said gas control means comprising; (i) a housing defining an inlet and a passageway, said inlet communicating with said passageway, (ii) at least one cylinder chamber defined within said housing and communicating with said passageway, (iii) a discrete outlet for each said cylinder chamber, each said outlet being defined in said housing and communicating with said cylinder chamber, and (iv) means for variably controlling communication of said inlet with each said outlet through said passageway and each said cylinder chamber.
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Specification