Heel pressure management apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A sleep surface system comprising:
- a mattress including at least two bladders located adjacent a foot end, the bladders each having a predetermined, adjustable internal pressure; and
a pressure controller configured to reduce the pressure in at least one selected bladder independently from the remaining bladders to provide pressure relief on heels of a patient lying on the mattress when the heels are located above the at least one selected bladder, the pressure controller including a pressure .sensor and an air line coupled to each of the bladders and an air pump coupled to the air line to deflate the at least one selected bladder to a pressure of about zero psi, the pressure controller also including means for adjusting an air volume within the at least one selected bladder at a predetermined time interval to maintain the air volume within the at least one selected bladder at about 90% or greater of a total air volume of the at least one selected bladder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sleep support surface includes a mattress having at least two bladders located adjacent a foot end. The bladders each have a predetermined, adjustable internal pressure. The pressure in at least one of the bladders is selectively and independently reduced to provide pressure relief on the heels of the patient lying on the mattress. The pressure in a bladder located toward the head end of the mattress and adjacent the at least one bladder is increased. This pressure increase advantageously provides the lifting force under the calves of the patient to reduce further pressure on the patient'"'"'s heels. A visual indication of the location each of the at least two bladders in the mattress is provided to facilitate selection of the at least one bladder in which to reduce pressure during the pressure reducing step, thereby providing pressure relief on the heels of the patient lying on the mattress. The at least one bladder in which to reduce the pressure is selected based on a position of the patient'"'"'s heels on the mattress relative to the visual indication of the location of each of the bladders.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sleep surface system comprising:
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a mattress including at least two bladders located adjacent a foot end, the bladders each having a predetermined, adjustable internal pressure; and a pressure controller configured to reduce the pressure in at least one selected bladder independently from the remaining bladders to provide pressure relief on heels of a patient lying on the mattress when the heels are located above the at least one selected bladder, the pressure controller including a pressure .sensor and an air line coupled to each of the bladders and an air pump coupled to the air line to deflate the at least one selected bladder to a pressure of about zero psi, the pressure controller also including means for adjusting an air volume within the at least one selected bladder at a predetermined time interval to maintain the air volume within the at least one selected bladder at about 90% or greater of a total air volume of the at least one selected bladder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for providing pressure relief on heels of a patient lying on a bed, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a mattress including at least two air filled bladders located adjacent a foot end, the bladders each having a predetermined, adjustable internal pressure; selectively and independently reducing the pressure in at least one of the bladders to provide pressure relief on the heels of the patient lying on the mattress, the reducing step including the step of deflating the selected at least one bladder to a pressure of about zero psi; and adjusting an air volume within the at least one deflated bladder to maintain the air volume within the at least one deflated bladder at about 90% or greater of the total volume of the at least one deflated bladder. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A bed comprising:
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a mattress having a head end and a foot end, the mattress including a plurality of bladders, the bladders each having an independently adjustable internal pressure; a frame for supporting the mattress; a visual indicia located on the frame beneath at least two of the bladders adjacent the foot end of the mattress to provide a visual indication of the location of each of the at least two bladders in the mattress; and a pressure controller for selectively reducing pressure in at least one of the bladders located adjacent the foot end of the mattress based on the location of heels of a patient lying on the mattress relative to the visual indicia on the frame to provide pressure relief for on the heels of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A sleep surface system comprising:
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a mattress including at least two bladders located adjacent a foot end, the bladders each having a predetermined, adjustable internal air pressure; and a pressure controller configured to reduce the pressure in at least one selected bladder independently from at least one remaining bladder to provide pressure relief on heels of a patient when the heels are located on the mattress above the at least one selected bladder, the pressure controller including a pressure sensor and an air line coupled to each of the bladders, an air pump coupled to each air line to deflate the at least one selected bladder to a pressure of about zero psi, and means for adjusting an air volume within the at least one selected bladder at a predetermined time interval to maintain the air volume within the at least one selected bladder at about 90% or greater of a total air volume of the at least one selected bladder. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification