Heel pressure management apparatus and method

• US 6,351,863 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schuman, Richard J., Branson, Greg W., Meyer, Eric R., Ulrich, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US09/654,121
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 562/4, 564/8, 593/7, 571/0, 571/3, 571/5, 572/7, 573/4, 561/2
• US Class Current: 5/713
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers

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.

Claims

1. A support surface apparatus adapted for supporting a patient and for providing pressure relief for heels of the patient, the support surface apparatus comprising

a mattress having a head end, a foot end, and at least two bladders located adjacent the foot end, the at least two bladders each adapted to include an internal pressure, and

a pressure controller including means for reducing the pressure in at least one selected bladder independently from the remaining bladders to provide pressure relief for heels of a patient lying on the mattress when the heels are located above the at least one selected bladder.

2. The support surface of claim 1, further comprising a frame configured to support the mattress and at least two heel zone labels positioned on the frame, each heel zone label providing a visual indication of the location of at least one of the bladders in the mattress to facilitate selection of the at least one selected bladder in which to reduce pressure to provide pressure relief for the heels of a patient lying on the mattress.

3. The support surface of claim 2, wherein the pressure controller includes a pressure sensor, 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.

4. The support surface of claim 1, wherein the pressure controller includes a pressure sensor, 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.

5. The support surface of claim 2, wherein the pressure controller includes 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.

6. The support surface of claim 5, wherein the adjusting means includes means for inflating the at least one selected bladder to a predetermined pressure at which the sensor can accurately measure the pressure in the at least one selected bladder, and means for deflating the at least one selected bladder back to about zero psi.

7. The support surface of claim 5, wherein the predetermined time interval is about ten minutes.

15. The support surface of claim 4, wherein the pressure controller includes 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.

16. The support surface of claim 15, wherein the adjusting means includes means for inflating the at least one selected bladder to a predetermined pressure at which the sensor can accurately measure the pressure in the at least one selected bladder, and means for deflating the at least one selected bladder back to about zero psi.

17. The support surface of claim 15, wherein the predetermined time interval is about ten minutes.

8. A support surface apparatus adapted for supporting a patient and for providing pressure relief for heels of the patient, the support surface apparatus comprising

a mattress having a head end, a foot end, and at least two bladders located adjacent the foot end, the at least two bladders each adapted to include an internal pressure,

a pressure controller configured to reduce the pressure in at least one selected bladder independently from the remaining bladders to maintain the reduced pressure in the at least one selected bladder to provide pressure relief for heels of a patient lying on the mattress when the heels are located above the at least one selected bladder, and

means for increasing the pressure in a bladder located adjacent the at least one selected bladder and located toward a head end of the mattress.

9. The support surface of claim 8, further comprising a frame configured to support the mattress and at least two heel zone labels positioned on the frame, each heel zone label providing a visual indication of the location of at least one of the bladders in the mattress to facilitate selection of the at least one selected bladder in which to reduce pressure to provide pressure relief for the heels of a patient lying on the mattress.

10. The support surface of claim 8, wherein the pressure controller includes a pressure sensor, 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.

11. A support surface apparatus adapted for supporting a patient and for providing pressure relief for heels of the patient, the support surface apparatus comprising

a mattress having a head end, a foot end, and at least two bladders located adjacent the foot end, the at least two bladders each adapted to include an internal pressure, and

a pressure controller including means for adjusting the pressure in at least one selected bladder independently from the remaining bladders to provide pressure relief for heels of a patient lying on the mattress when the heels are located above the at least one selected bladder.

12. The support surface of claim 11, further comprising a frame configured to support the mattress and at least two heel zone labels positioned on the frame, each heel zone label providing a visual indication of the location of at least one of the bladders in the mattress to facilitate selection of the at least one selected bladder in which to adjust pressure to provide pressure relief for the heels of a patient lying on the mattress.

13. The support surface of claim 12, wherein the pressure controller includes a pressure sensor, 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.

14. The support surface of claim 11, wherein the pressure controller includes a pressure sensor, 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.

18. A support surface apparatus adapted for supporting a patient and for providing pressure relief for heels of the patient, the support surface apparatus comprising

a mattress having a head end, a foot end, and at least two bladders located adjacent the foot end, the at least two bladders each adapted to include an internal pressure,

a pressure controller configured to adjust the pressure in at least one selected bladder independently from the remaining bladders to maintain the adjusted pressure in the at least one selected bladder to provide pressure relief for heels of a patient lying on the mattress when the heels are located above the at least one selected bladder, and

means for increasing the pressure in a bladder located adjacent the at least one selected bladder and located toward a head end of the mattress.

19. The support surface of claim 18, further comprising a frame configured to support the mattress and at least two heel zone labels positioned on the frame, each heel zone label providing a visual indication of the location of at least one of the bladders in the mattress to facilitate selection of the at least one selected bladder in which to adjust pressure to provide pressure relief for the heels of a patient lying on the mattress.

20. The support surface of claim 18, wherein the pressure controller includes a pressure sensor, 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.

21. A method of providing pressure relief for heels of a patient lying on a support surface, the method comprising the steps of

providing a mattress having a head end, a foot end, and at least two bladders located adjacent the foot end, the bladders each being adapted to have an internal pressure,

providing means for reducing the pressure in at least one of the bladders, and

maintaining the reduced pressure in the at least one bladder for a period of time to provide pressure relief for the heels of the patient lying on the mattress when the heels are located above the at least one selected bladder.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of providing a visual indication of the location of each of the at least two bladders in the mattress to facilitate selection of the at least one bladder in which to reduce pressure during the pressure reducing step, thereby providing pressure relief for the heels of the patient lying on the mattress.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of selecting in which of the at least two bladders to reduce the pressure in the reducing step 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.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least two bladders are air filled bladders and wherein the reducing step includes the step of deflating the selected at least one bladder to a pressure of about zero psi.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of 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.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the adjusting step includes the steps of inflating the at least one bladder to a predetermined pressure at which the pressure inside the at least one bladder can be accurately measured, and then deflating the at least one bladder back to about zero psi.

36. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step or providing a visual indication of the location of each of the at least two bladders in the mattress to facilitate selection of the at least one bladder in which to adjust pressure during the pressure adjusting step, thereby providing pressure relief on the heels of the patient lying on the mattress.

27. A method of providing pressure relief for heels of a patient lying on a support surface, the method comprising the steps of

providing a mattress having a head end, a foot end, and at least two bladders located adjacent the foot end, the bladders each being adapted to have an internal pressure,

reducing the pressure in at least one of the bladders,

maintaining the reduced pressure in the at least one bladder to provide pressure relief for the heels of the patient lying on the mattress when the heels are located above the at least one selected bladder, and

increasing the pressure in at least one of the at least two bladders located toward a head end of the mattress and adjacent the at least one bladder in which the pressure was reduced during the first reducing step.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of providing a visual indication of the location of each of the at least two bladders in the mattress 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.

29. A method of providing pressure relief for heels of a patient lying on a support surface, the method comprising the steps of

providing a mattress having a head end, a foot end, and at least two bladders located adjacent the foot end, the bladders each being adapted to have an internal pressure,

providing means for adjusting the pressure in at least one of the bladders, and

maintaining the adjusted pressure in the at least one bladder to provide pressure relief for the heels of the patient lying on the mattress when the heels are located above the at least one selected bladder.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing a visual indication of the location of each of the at least two bladders in the mattress to facilitate selection of the at least one bladder in which to adjust pressure during the pressure adjusting step, thereby providing pressure relief for the heels of the patient lying on the mattress.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of selecting in which of the at least two bladders to adjust the pressure in the adjusting step 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.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least two bladders are air filled bladders and wherein the adjusting step includes the step of deflating the selected at least one bladder to a pressure of about zero psi.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of 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.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of adjusting air volume includes the steps of inflating the at least one bladder to a predetermined pressure at which the pressure inside the at least one bladder can be accurately measured, and then deflating the at least one bladder back to about zero psi.

35. A method of providing pressure relief for heels of a patient lying on a support surface, the method comprising the steps of

providing a mattress having a head end, a foot end, and at least two bladders located adjacent the foot end, the bladders each being adapted to have an internal pressure,

adjusting the pressure in at least one of the bladders,

maintaining the adjusted pressure in the at least one bladder to provide pressure relief for the heels of the patient lying on the mattress when the heels are located above the at least one selected bladder, and

adjusting the pressure in at least one of the at least two bladders located toward a head end of the mattress and adjacent the at least one bladder in which the pressure was adjusted during the first adjusting step.