Pressure relief valve vent line mattress system and method
First Claim
1. A pressure relief valve vent line mattress system, comprising:
- a mattress body including at least one patient air support bladder having a bladder air input port;
air supply pump means, with a pump air supply output port, for outputting a predetermined positive flow of air at said pump air supply output port thereof;
a first air tube interconnecting said pump air supply output port with said bladder air input port so that said predetermined positive flow of air is supplied to said patient air support bladder;
at least one air distribution manifold received within said mattress body and having a manifold air input port for receiving and dispersing air supplied thereto;
a second air tube interconnecting with said first air tube in parallel therewith and interconnecting with said manifold air input port; and
a first pressure relief valve operatively received in said second air tube, having a set point established such that overflow pressure from said patient air support bladder is dispersed within said mattress body as low air loss via said manifold for patient cooling and drying effects while the pressure level within said patient air support bladder is automatically controlled by venting via said manifold such bladder overflow pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure relief valve vent line mattress system utilizes a self-adjusting approach with a single air source to obtain in combination a low air loss feature for beneficial cooling and drying of a patient'"'"'s skin. A single air supply source outputs a predetermined positive flow of air into one or more patient air support bladders. An air distribution manifold received within a mattress body receives and disperses overflow pressure routed thereto from the patient air support bladders via an air passageway having a first pressure relief valve with an established set point. A second pressure relief valve is associated with a pump return line adjunct to the constant air flow pump. The net effect is to disperse overflow pressure from the mattress bladders (tending to keep such bladders at a constant pressure) while providing low air loss through the mattress for patient cooling and drying effects, all utilizing a single air flow source.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A pressure relief valve vent line mattress system, comprising:
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a mattress body including at least one patient air support bladder having a bladder air input port; air supply pump means, with a pump air supply output port, for outputting a predetermined positive flow of air at said pump air supply output port thereof; a first air tube interconnecting said pump air supply output port with said bladder air input port so that said predetermined positive flow of air is supplied to said patient air support bladder; at least one air distribution manifold received within said mattress body and having a manifold air input port for receiving and dispersing air supplied thereto; a second air tube interconnecting with said first air tube in parallel therewith and interconnecting with said manifold air input port; and a first pressure relief valve operatively received in said second air tube, having a set point established such that overflow pressure from said patient air support bladder is dispersed within said mattress body as low air loss via said manifold for patient cooling and drying effects while the pressure level within said patient air support bladder is automatically controlled by venting via said manifold such bladder overflow pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A methodology for a pressure relief valve vent line mattress, comprising:
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providing a mattress body including at least one patient air support bladder having a bladder air input port; applying via a first air tube a predetermined positive flow of air to said patient air support bladder via said port thereof; providing at least one air distribution manifold received within said mattress body and having a manifold air input port for receiving and dispersing air supplied thereto; and routing overflow pressure from said patient air support bladder, via a second air tube through a first pressure relief valve having an established set point, to said manifold so as to disperse such overflow pressure within said mattress body as low air loss for patient cooling and drying effects while the pressure level within said patient air support bladder is automatically controlled by venting such bladder overflow pressure via said manifold. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A self-adjusting pressure relief patient support apparatus with low air loss function, comprising:
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a main support body for receiving a patient thereon, and having at least one adjustable air support bladder with air therein; constant air flow pump means, in pneumatic communication with said air support bladder, for automatically supplying said bladder a generally constant predetermined air flow regardless of changing patient loading on said main support body; and overflow pressure manifold means, operatively associated with said air support bladder for dispersing overflow pressure air therefrom through said main support body as a low air loss, so that bladder air pressure is automatically controlled as patient cooling and drying effects are provided with the low air loss derived from such overflow pressure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An air bladder mattress system providing automatic air pressure equalization combined with low air loss function achieved from a single air flow source, said system comprising:
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a main patient support mattress having respective foam and air bladder support elements, including a plurality of air bladders each of which have respective bladder air input ports; an air flow pump having a generally constant air flow output; a first section of air tubing directing said pump air flow output commonly into said respective bladder air input ports; at least one bleeder tube residing within said main patient support mattress, and having a plurality of low air loss holes formed therealong so that air fed to one end of such bleeder tube is dispersed within said mattress via said tube holes; and a second section of air tubing and a pressure relief valve with a predetermined set point, collectively forming a vent line between said first section of air tubing and said bleeder tube, so that air pressure within said plurality of air bladders greater than that of said predetermined set point is dispersed via the low air loss holes so as to automatically control such bladder air pressure while providing patient cooling and drying effects, thereby utilizing said air flow pump as a single source of air flow for operating both such functions. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification