Continuous airflow patient support with automatic pressure adjustment
First Claim
1. An apparatus for automatically regulating the support pressure in at least one inflatable chamber forming at least part of the support surface of a patient support device supplied with inflating air via an air supply conduit, the inflatable chamber having a base disposed generally opposite the support surface of the chamber, the apparatus comprising:
- a means for exhausting air from the air supply conduit;
a means for varying the flow of air exhausted from the air supply conduit by said air exhausting means; and
a means for sensing when a portion of the patient is exceeding a predetermined degree of penetration into the support surface of the patient support device, said penetration sensing means being configured with a portion having an elongated shape for disposition parallel to and along the base of at least one inflatable chamber, said penetration sensing means being connected in communication with said exhaust flow varying means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A patient support device includes a patient support surface formed of chambers continuously inflated with air from a blower. A sensor in the form of either a tubular member or pressure sensitive switch is configured to be disposed at the base of at least one of the individual inflatable chambers of the patient support device and can be configured to be disposed in the interstice between two adjacent chambers in a manner so that normal support of the patient'"'"'s body on the chamber(s) does not put the patient'"'"'s body in contact with such sensor or deform the adjacent chamber(s) sufficiently to cause such chamber(s) to apply pressure to such sensor. The flow of air exhausted from the chambers can be varied by a variable flow valve or by a flexible gasket that variably engages an outlet tube. The flow permitted through the valve or by the gasket can be controlled by a controller based on signals from the sensor. The controller also can control the speed of the blower based on signals from the sensor.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for automatically regulating the support pressure in at least one inflatable chamber forming at least part of the support surface of a patient support device supplied with inflating air via an air supply conduit, the inflatable chamber having a base disposed generally opposite the support surface of the chamber, the apparatus comprising:
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a means for exhausting air from the air supply conduit; a means for varying the flow of air exhausted from the air supply conduit by said air exhausting means; and a means for sensing when a portion of the patient is exceeding a predetermined degree of penetration into the support surface of the patient support device, said penetration sensing means being configured with a portion having an elongated shape for disposition parallel to and along the base of at least one inflatable chamber, said penetration sensing means being connected in communication with said exhaust flow varying means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for automatically regulating the support pressure in at least one inflatable chamber forming at least part of the support surface of a patient support device supplied with inflating air via an air supply conduit, the inflatable chamber having a base disposed generally opposite the support surface of the chamber, the apparatus comprising:
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a means for exhausting air from the air supply conduit; a means for varying the flow of air exhausted from the air supply conduit by said air exhausting; a means for sensing when a portion of the patient is exceeding a predetermined degree of penetration into the support surface of the patient support device, said penetration sensing means being connected in communication with said exhaust flow varying means, wherein said penetration sensing means includes at least one tubular member, said tubular member being configured to be disposed at the base of at least one of the individual inflatable chambers of the patient support device so that above a predetermined threshold penetration of the patient into at least one of the chambers, a change in pressure is applied to at least one tubular member; and a plurality of tubular members configured to form with said at least one tubular member, an interconnected tubular grid that is configured to be disposed with each said tubular member at the base of one of the individual inflatable chambers of the patient support device so that an increase in pressure on the inflatable chamber produces an increase in pressure on at least one of said tubular members.
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15. An apparatus for automatically regulating the support pressure in at least one inflatable chamber forming at least part of the support surface of a patient support device supplied with inflating air via an air supply conduit, the inflatable chamber having a base disposed generally opposite the support surface of the chamber, the apparatus comprising:
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a means for exhausting air from the air supply conduit; a means for varying the flow of air exhausted from the air supply conduit by said air exhausting means; a means for sensing when a portion of the patient is exceeding a predetermined degree of penetration into the support surface of the patient support device, said penetration sensing means being connected in communication with said exhaust flow varying means, wherein said penetration sensing means includes at least one tubular member, said tubular member being configured to be disposed at the base of at least one of the individual inflatable chambers of the patient support device so that above a predetermined threshold penetration of the patient into at least one of the chambers, a change in pressure is applied to at least one tubular member; and a means for supplying said penetration sensing means with air from the air supply conduit of the device without returning air from said penetration sensing means to the air supply conduit of the device, wherein said air supplying means includes a push button valve.
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16. An apparatus for automatically regulating the support pressure in each of a plurality of individual inflatable chambers forming the support surface of a patient support device supplied with inflating air via an air supply conduit, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one tubular member configured to be disposed at the base of one of the individual inflatable chambers of the patient support device so that said tubular member is subjected to a change in pressure when the patient is being supported with more than a predetermined degree of penetration of the patient into the support surface of the patient support device; a plenum having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said inlet opening being connected in communication with the air supply conduit of the device; a bellows disposed inside said plenum with the interior of said bellows being connected in communication with said at least one of said tubular members; a rigid member having one end pivotally mounted and having a portion disposed against said bellows; a means for biasing said portion of said rigid member against said bellows; an outlet tube disposed through said outlet opening in said plenum and having an entrance end; a flexible gasket carried by said rigid member and configured and disposed to variably engage said entrance end of said outlet tube; and a means for supplying said penetration sensing means with air from the air supply conduit of the device without returning air from said penetration sensing means to the air supply conduit of the device. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification