Patient support surfaces

• US 6,223,369 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Span-America Medical Systems Inc. (Savaria Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Span-America Medical Systems Inc. (Savaria Corp.)
• Inventors: Maier, Edmund K., Chastain, Mark D., Raburn, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hewitt, James M
• Application Number:
  US09/191,579
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 5/706, 5/710, 5/713, 5/739, 5/903, 5/727, 5/730, 5/731, 5/732, 5/734, 5/736
• US Class Current: 5/713
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05707 with integral, body-bearing projections or protuberances
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers

Abstract

Multiple varieties of patient support surfaces are presented with a common modular assembly primarily including a perimeter chassis and integrated upper support element. Perimeter bolsters provide relatively firmer support for gently prompting a patient towards the center of the bed, without obstructing regular entry and egress. The added stability facilitates safer transfers and better sitting at the edge of the bed. Pressure redistribution air cylinders (turned either longitudinally or laterally) are captured by shaped, slotted inner bolsters aid underside arches of an integral foam topper. All such features work collectively to cradle and surround the air cylinders. The resulting interlocking, integrated design provides flexible progressive support while maximizing structural integrity. Different arrangements of air cylinders and static or dynamic performance thereof, either non-powered or powered, permit different embodiments to be created using the same modular assembly approach. Each foam topper integrally incorporated may include a sloping heel pressure relief section for redistributing load to relatively more pressure-tolerant lower legs and calves. At external valving arrangement for a static non-powered embodiment permits practice of a “recharging” technique using an air pump and self-calibrated valve, to return the air pressure in static air cylinders to their original manufactured specifications.

Claims

1. A modular patient support assembly, comprising:

plural patient support air cylinders;

a resilient foam perimeter surrounding said air cylinders;

supplemental inner bolsters provided within an inside perimeter defined by said resilient foam perimeter;

an upper foam topper covering said air cylinders and including underside multiple curved projections interoperative with said air cylinders for positional stabilizing; and

a surrounding cover.

2. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 1, wherein said supplemental inner bolsters have inwardly facing curved surfaces for capturing perimeter lateral excursions of said air cylinders.

3. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 1, wherein said air cylinders are positioned generally longitudinally.

4. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 1, wherein said air cylinders are positioned generally laterally.

5. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 1, wherein said air cylinders are received in mixed positions, with some generally laterally positioned and others generally longitudinally positioned.

6. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 1, wherein said underside multiple curved projections include a plurality of downwardly facing arches respectively mated with said plurality of air cylinders and including inverted contoured generally triangular-shaped elements interposed between adjacent air cylinders.

7. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 1, wherein said air cylinders include relatively wide welds between adjacent air cylinders for establishing respective separations therebetween.

8. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 1, wherein said air cylinders are static, and wherein said assembly further includes pneumatic valving to said air cylinders for selectively introducing air and removing air therefrom, so that said air cylinders may be selectively and periodically recharged to a desired initial air pressure while otherwise providing a static, unpowered assembly.

9. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 8, wherein said assembly further includes a faceplate situated in said foam perimeter, with a valved opening supported therein for introducing air to said air cylinders and for removing air therefrom.

10. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 1, wherein said air cylinders are actively adjustable, and wherein said assembly further includes at least one resiliently actuated reservoir interconnected with at least one of said air cylinders for automatically adjusting air pressure therein, such that a dynamic, unpowered assembly is provided.

11. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 1, wherein said air cylinders are actively adjustable, and wherein said assembly further includes air pressure adjustment means, located externally to said foam perimeter but operatively connected therethrough, for powering changes to air pressure level in at least one of said air cylinders.

12. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 11, wherein said air pressure adjustment means is interoperative with all of said air cylinders and includes selectable settings and selectable modes of operation including alternating various pressure increases and decreases in said air cylinders.

13. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 1, wherein said air cylinders are actively adjustable, and wherein said assembly further includes air pressure adjustment means, located within said foam perimeter, for powering changes to air pressure level in at least one of said air cylinders.

14. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 13, wherein said air cylinders are positioned generally laterally.

15. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 14, wherein said air pressure adjustment means is interoperative with all of said air cylinders, said air cylinders are arranged in plural zones longitudinally along said assembly, and wherein said air pressure adjustment means includes selectable settings and selectable modes of operation including alternating various pressure increases and decreases in said air cylinders and for automatically adapting adjustment control based on at least one longitudinal zone along said assembly.

16. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 15, wherein said assembly further includes an exterior control input pendant, situated outside said foam perimeter and operatively interconnected with said air pressure adjustment means for remotely varying settings and modes thereof.

17. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 13, wherein said air cylinders are positioned generally longitudinally.

18. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 17, wherein said air pressure adjustment means is interoperative with all of said air cylinders, and wherein said air pressure adjustment means includes selectable settings and modes of operation including automatically alternating pressure increases and decreases selectively in said air cylinders and automatically alternating air cylinders so as to laterally rotate a patient up to 30 degrees, for pressure relief.

19. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 18, wherein said assembly further includes an exterior control input pendant, situated outside said foam perimeter and operatively interconnected with said air pressure adjustment means for remotely varying settings and modes thereof.

20. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 13, wherein said air cylinders are received in mixed positions, with some generally laterally positioned and others generally longitudinally positioned.

21. A modular patient support assembly as in claim 2, wherein said supplemental inner bolsters comprise resilient foam, and the resilient foam of said foam perimeter is relatively more dense than that of said supplemental inner bolsters, which in turn are relatively more dense than that of said upper foam topper, such that a patient is guided towards a safer, more inward location.

22. A patient support surface configuration providing for modular completion and usage of alternative constructed combinations constituting a line of related products, comprising:

a main chassis defined by a perimeter bolster;

supplemental inner bolsters provided within an inside perimeter defined by said perimeter bolster;

a plurality of elongated air cylinders received within said perimeter bolster inside perimeter and within said supplemental inner bolsters;

a body of resilient foam, defining an upper support surface, and covering said air cylinders, said resilient foam body redistributing pressure among said air cylinders while cooperating with said supplemental inner bolsters for maintaining each of said air cylinders in a respective position while said main chassis provides basic structural integrity for said patient support surface; and

a cover surrounding said main chassis, said inner bolsters, said air cylinders and said body of resilient foam.

23. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 22, wherein said perimeter bolster and said inner bolsters are comprised of resilient foam, with foam of said perimeter bolster being relatively more dense than that of said inner bolsters.

24. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 23, wherein the foam of said inner bolsters is relatively more dense than that of said body of resilient foam.

25. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 22, wherein said body of resilient foam includes a plurality of downwardly facing concave surfaces, for maintaining said plurality of air cylinders in their respective positions.

26. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 25, wherein said inner bolsters are arranged along opposite lateral sides of said configuration and include respective inwardly facing concave surfaces for laterally capturing said air cylinders.

27. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 22, wherein said body of resilient foam defines said upper support surface so as to have decreasing angled support adjacent one longitudinal end of said upper support surface, for improved pressure reduction to a patient'"'"'s lower legs and feet received on said one longitudinal end of said upper support surface.

28. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 22, wherein:

said air cylinders are sealed so as to be statically maintained during operation; and

wherein said configuration further includes normally closed valving mechanisms for pneumatically accessing said sealed air cylinders for periodically selectively venting excess air pressure therefrom and recharging air pressure of said air cylinders without any load thereon to a predetermined initial value by selectively introducing additional pressure thereto through said valving mechanisms.

29. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 22, wherein said configuration further includes air tubing associated with said air cylinders for dynamic control thereof.

30. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 29, wherein said configuration further includes at least one resiliently actuated reservoir, associated with said air tubing, for automatically equalizing air pressure in at least one of said air cylinders.

31. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 29, further including powered air pressure control means, associated with said air tubing, for automatically equalizing air pressure in a least one of said air cylinders.

32. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 31, wherein said air pressure control means are positioned outside of said surrounding cover.

33. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 31, wherein:

said air pressure control means are positioned inside of said surrounding cover; and

said configuration further includes a control pendant positioned outside of said surrounding cover and operatively associated with said air pressure control means for remotely controlling settings and modes of operation of said air pressure control means.

34. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 32, wherein at least some of said air cylinders are positioned laterally in said configuration.

35. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 34, wherein at least some of said laterally positioned air cylinders are respectively grouped so as to form longitudinally defined support zones for a patient.

36. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 22, wherein at least some of said air cylinders are positioned longitudinally in said configuration.

37. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 36, wherein said air cylinders comprise four longitudinal air cylinders, and said body of resilient foam includes four corresponding arcuate longitudinal channels opposite said upper support surface thereof for corresponding receipt of said four longitudinal air cylinders.

38. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 36, wherein at least some of said air cylinders are positioned laterally in said configuration, so that said configuration includes a combination of both generally longitudinal and generally lateral air cylinders.

39. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 26, wherein said inwardly facing concave surfaces each include respective additional longitudinal slots for increasing loading response of said inner bolsters.

40. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 39, wherein said slots comprise respective curved longitudinal slots.

41. A patient support surface configuration as in claim 33, wherein said inner bolsters are arranged along opposite lateral sides of said configuration and each include respective inwardly facing concave surfaces with respective additional longitudinal slots for receipt of said air tubing while said concave surfaces laterally capture at least some of said air cylinders.

42. A rechargeable static air mattress system, comprising:

a plurality of air cylinders;

a foam chassis receiving and surrounding said air cylinders;

a cover surrounding said chassis and said air cylinders;

an air valve positioned for access thereto while said cover surrounds said chassis and said air cylinders;

air tubing connecting at least one of said air cylinders with said air valve, such that air pressure via said air valve may be selectively bled off from such at least one air cylinder and alternatively introduced thereto for recharging such at least one air cylinder to a predetermined unloaded air pressure rating; and

wherein said air valve comprises a normal closed air valve defining an aperture for receipt of a needle valve member for opening such normally closed air valve.

43. A rechargeable static air mattress system as in claim 42, wherein all of said air cylinders are connected for selected air pressure bleeding and recharging thereof, while still received with said foam chassis in said cover.

44. A rechargeable static air mattress system as in claim 43, further including an additional air valve, with the respective air valves connected with respective groupings of said plurality of air cylinders.

45. A rechargeable static air mattress system as in claim 44, wherein there are four air cylinders generally longitudinally disposed, and connected in respective pairs with said respective air valves.

46. A rechargeable static air mattress system as in claim 42, wherein at least some of said air cylinders are positioned longitudinally.

47. A rechargeable static air mattress system as in claim 42, wherein at least some of said air cylinders are positioned laterally.

48. A rechargeable static air mattress system as in claim 42, wherein there is a combination of air cylinder positions, with at least some generally longitudinally positioned and at least some generally laterally positioned.

49. A rechargeable static air mattress system as in claim 42, wherein said foam chassis includes a foam perimeter bolster having a first predetermined foam density rating, and a pair of supplemental foam inner bolsters having a second predetermined foam density rating, with said first predetermined foam density rating being higher than said second predetermined foam density rating.

50. A rechargeable static air mattress system as in claim 42, wherein said system includes an integrated upper foam support element, situated within said cover and above said air cylinders.

51. A rechargeable static air mattress system as in claim 50, wherein said integrated upper foam support element includes a plurality of underside arches corresponding with said plurality of air cylinders for receipt and stable positioning thereof.

52. A rechargeable static air mattress system as in claim 50, wherein said integrated upper-foam support element includes decreased angled support adjacent one longitudinal end thereof, for improved pressure reduction on a patient'"'"'s lower legs and feet.

53. A rechargeable static air mattress system as in claim 42, further including lateral webbing interconnecting between adjacent pairs of said air cylinders.

54. A patient support surface with a perimeter safety feature, comprising:

a foam perimeter bolster having a first predetermined density;

supplemental inner bolsters received inside of said perimeter bolster and having a second predetermined density;

a plurality of air cylinders received within said inner bolsters; and

a covering surrounding said perimeter and inner bolsters and said air cylinders;

wherein said perimeter bolster guides a patient supported on said air cylinders away from the perimeter of said support surface for improved safety of such patient.

55. A patient support surface as in claim 54, wherein said first predetermined density is greater than said second predetermined density.

56. A patient support surface as in claim 54, wherein said inner bolsters include inwardly facing concave surfaces having respective longitudinal slots within such curved surfaces, such that said inner bolsters have a greater degree of collapse under loading than does said perimeter bolster.

57. A patient support surface as in claim 54, further including an upper support foam topper received within said covering and positioned above said air cylinders, said foam topper having a third predetermined density which is less than said first predetermined density.

58. A patient support surface as in claim 57, wherein said third predetermined density is less than said second predetermined density.

59. A patient support surface as in claim 57, wherein said foam topper includes a plurality of underside arches corresponding with said plurality of air cylinders for controlled positioning thereof.

60. A patient support surface as in claim 57, wherein said foam topper includes a decreasing angled support section adjacent one longitudinal end thereof for improved pressure reduction of a patient'"'"'s lower legs and heels received therein.

61. A patient support surface with improved structural stability, comprising:

a plurality of air cylinders situated in a predetermined grouping;

a foam topper having an upperside forming a patient support region and having an underside with corresponding interlocking members for receipt on top of said air cylinders for engaging and capturing said air cylinders, for improved patient support surface integrity and performance;

wherein at least some of said air cylinders are generally longitudinally positioned along said patient support surface; and

said patient support surface further includes a pair of foam inner bolsters respectively disposed along adjacent lateral sides of said patient support surface with said air cylinders received therebetween.

62. A patient support surface as in claim 61, wherein said foam topper underside interlocking members comprise a plurality of corresponding adjacent arches, with generally inverted contoured triangular-shaped projections formed between respective pairs of arches, said arches at least partially surrounding said respective air cylinders with said projections at least partially interposed between respective pairs of said air cylinders.

63. A patient support surface as in claim 61, wherein said foam inner bolsters each include inwardly facing concave surfaces for laterally capturing said air cylinders.

64. A patient support surface as in claim 63, wherein said inwardly facing concave surfaces respectively include further longitudinal slots therein for controlled collapse of said inner bolsters during loading.

65. A patient support surface as in claim 61, further including a foam perimeter bolster, generally four-sided and surrounding said inner bolsters, said foam perimeter bolster and said foam inner bolsters having respective foam densities such that said foam perimeter bolster generally has a higher foam density than that of said foam inner bolsters.

66. A patient support surface as in claim 65, further including a cover surrounding said air cylinders, said foam topper and said inner and perimeter bolsters.

67. A patient support surface as in claim 61, wherein said foam topper upperside includes a decreasing angled area adjacent one longitudinal end thereof, for improved pressure reduction of a patient'"'"'s lower legs and heels received thereon.

68. A patient support surface as in claim 61, further including webbing between adjacent pairs of said air cylinders for improved stability thereof.

69. A patient support surface as in claim 61, wherein at least some of said air cylinders are positioned laterally.

70. A patient support surface as in claim 61, wherein at least some of said air cylinders are positioned longitudinally.

71. A patient support surface as in claim 61, wherein said air cylinders include a combination of relative positions, including both generally longitudinal and lateral positions thereof.

72. A modular patient support assembly, comprising:

plural patient support air cylinders;

a resilient foam perimeter surrounding said air cylinders;

an upper foam topper covering said air cylinders and including underside multiple curved projections interoperative with said air cylinders for positional stabilizing; and

a surrounding cover;

wherein said foam topper includes a lower leg and foot supporting area having decreasing angled support in such area, for improved pressure reduction to a patient'"'"'s lower legs and feet.