Support apparatus which cradles a body portion for application of localized cooling to high contact-pressure body surface areas
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for supporting at least a portion of a human or animal body (“
- body portion”
), while cooling a weight-bearing area of the body portion, the apparatus comprising;
a weight-bearing article;
a surface on the article, the surface including a shaped portion corresponding to a shape of the body portion for fitting to the body portion; and
means for circulating air through a zone of the shaped portion, the zone receiving pressure from a weight-bearing area of the body portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A weight-bearing apparatus such as a cushion, prosthetic device, or bed mattress includes a support surface having a shaped or sculpted portion that conforms to the shape of a body portion being supported. The shaped portion fits to the body portion, thereby to position the body portion so as to situate one or more weight-bearing parts of the body portion over specific zones of the support surface that are cooled below normal body temperature. The reduced temperature applied to the zones of the support surface removes heat from the weight-bearing areas, thereby reducing the risk of injury to tissue in those areas.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supporting at least a portion of a human or animal body (“
- body portion”
), while cooling a weight-bearing area of the body portion, the apparatus comprising;a weight-bearing article;
a surface on the article, the surface including a shaped portion corresponding to a shape of the body portion for fitting to the body portion; and
means for circulating air through a zone of the shaped portion, the zone receiving pressure from a weight-bearing area of the body portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- body portion”
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10. An apparatus for supporting at least a portion of a human or animal body (“
- body portion”
), while cooling a weight-bearing area of the body portion, the apparatus comprising;a weight-bearing article;
a surface on the article; and
the surface including a shaped portion corresponding to a shape of the body portion for fitting to the body portion; and
at least one cooler positioned to cool a zone of the shaped portion that receives pressure from a weight-bearing area of the body portion, the zone including an air permeable material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
a means for circulating air through the air permeable material.
- body portion”
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12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for circulating air includes a fan.
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13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the air permeable material is a mesh.
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14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is a cushion.
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15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the zones that are defined by two voids extending through the shaped portion includes two apparatus.
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16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the air permeable material covers the two voids extending through the apparatus.
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17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:
a means for circulating air within the two voids toward the air permeable material.
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18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for circulating air is positioned within the two voids.
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19. A cushion for supporting at least a portion of a human or animal body (“
- body portion”
), comprising;a surface;
the surface including a means for cradling the body portion on the surface; and
means for circulating air through a zone of the surface that receives pressure from a weight-bearing area of the body portion. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- body portion”
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26. A method for supporting a body on a weight-bearing article that includes a surface, while selectively cooling areas of the body in contact with the article, comprising the steps of:
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retaining a portion of the body (“
body portion”
) on a shaped portion of the surface corresponding to a shape of the body portion for fitting to the body portion, the shaped portion having a zone including an air permeable material; and
circulating air through the air permeable material.
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Specification