Support apparatus with a plurality of thermal zones providing localized cooling

• US 6,210,427 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Augustine Medical, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Augustine, Scott D., Arnold, Randall C., Iaizzo, Paul Anthony, Johnson, Paul Steven, Sparrow, Ephraim M.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, RYAN CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US09/473,325
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 607/104, 607/108-112, 607/114, 297/284.6, 297/452.21, 297/452.27, 297/452.41, 297/452.57, 297/458-459, 5/421-423, 5/449-455
• US Class Current: 607/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0298 with a section for heating and a section for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/10 Cooling bags, e.g. ice-bags

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting a human or animal body, while selectively cooling weight-bearing areas of the body in order to prevent or reduce damage from ischemia includes a cooling layer that is partitioned into a plurality of zones, and a surface disposed over the cooling layer to support the body. Each zone of the cooling layer is disposed for cooling a respective portion of the surface. Means are provided to selectively operate one or more zones of the plurality of the zones to cool a portion of the surface that receives pressure from a weight-bearing surface of the body being supported.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a human or animal body, while selectively cooling weight-bearing areas of the body, the apparatus comprising:

a cooling layer having a plurality of zones;

a surface disposed over the cooling layer;

each zone of the cooling layer being disposed for cooling a respective portion of the surface; and

means for selectively operating more than one zone of the plurality of zones to cool a portion of the surface that receives pressure from a weight-bearing area of the body.

2. A method for cooling a body that is disposed on a supporting surface, comprising:

identifying a zone of the support surface that supports a weight-bearing portion of the body; and

cooling the zone in response to identifying that the zone supports the weight bearing portion of the body.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying includes:

sensing a pressure at the zone; and

comparing the magnitude of the pressure to a threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein cooling includes:

if the magnitude exceeds the threshold, cooling the zone with a cooled fluid.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cooling fluid is a liquid.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the cooled fluid is a fluid selected from the group including water, a glycol-water mixture, an alcohol-water mixture, and air.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein cooling is manually controlled.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein cooling includes cooling the zone with a cooled fluid.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the cooled fluid is a liquid.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the cooled fluid is a fluid selected from the group including water, a glycol-water mixture, an alcohol-water mixture, and air.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the supporting surface is a surface of a mattress.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the supporting surface is a surface of a cot.