Vibratory patient support system

• US 6,415,814 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Stolpmann, James R., Chambers, Kenith W., Hand, Barry D., Williamson, Donald E., Novack, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krishnamurthy, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US09/633,599
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 137/102, 137/487.5, 137/596.17, 137/625.65, 137/624.15, 571/3
• US Class Current: 137/487.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0527 Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/915 with vibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2544 Supply and exhaust type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86421 Variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86622 Motor-operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87217 Motor

Abstract

A pressure control apparatus includes a valve inlet configured to receive pressurized air from the pressurized air source, a valve stem coupled to the valve inlet and configured to engage the port of the manifold to form an airtight connection with the manifold and receive the pressurized air from the pressurized air source via the manifold, a valve outlet configured to permit exit of said pressurized air to the at least one air sack, a valve in fluid communication between said valve inlet and said valve outlet and configured to regulate flow of said pressurized air between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, and a controller coupled to said valve and configured to control said valve to regulate flow of said pressurized air through said valve.

Claims

1. A pressure control apparatus adapted for use in a bed that includes a pressurized air source coupled to an air manifold having at least one port and at least air sack configured to support a person thereon, the pressure control apparatus comprising:

a valve inlet configured to receive pressurized air from the pressurized air source;

a valve stem coupled to the valve inlet and configured to engage the port of the manifold to form an airtight connection with the manifold and receive the pressurized air from the pressurized air source via the manifold;

a valve outlet configured to permit exit of said pressurized air to the at least one air sack;

a valve in fluid communication between said valve inlet and said valve outlet and configured to regulate flow of said pressurized air between said valve inlet and said valve outlet; and

a controller coupled to said valve and configured to control said valve to regulate flow of said pressurized air through said valve.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said valve comprises

a valve housing that defines a chamber between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, and

a piston disposed in said chamber and configured to regulate flow of said pressurized air through said chamber and between said valve inlet and said valve outlet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising

a motor coupled to said piston and operable to rotate said piston within said chamber in response to first signals received from said controller in order to regulate flow of said pressurized air between said valve inlet and said valve outlet.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a pressure transducer coupled to said controller and in fluid communication with said valve, said pressure transducer operable to provide said controller with second signals that are indicative of air pressure applied to said valve outlet, wherein said controller is operable to receive said second signals that are indicative of air pressure and adjust said first signals sent to said motor based upon said second signals received from said pressure transducer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dump outlet hole in fluid communication with said valve, said valve being configured to regulate flow of said pressurized air from the at least one air sack to said dump outlet hole.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said valve comprises

a valve housing that defines a chamber between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, and

a piston disposed in said chamber and configured to regulate flow of said pressurized air through said chamber and between said valve outlet and said dump outlet hole.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising

a motor coupled to said piston and operable to rotate said piston within said chamber in response to first signals received from said controller in order to regulate flow of said pressurized air between said valve outlet and said dump outlet hole.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a pressure transducer coupled to said controller and in fluid communication with said valve, said pressure transducer operable to provide said controller with second signals that are indicative of air pressure applied to said valve outlet, wherein said controller is operable to receive said second signal that are indicative of air pressure and adjust said first signals sent to said motor based upon said second signals received from said pressure transducer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dump outlet hole in fluid communication with said valve, wherein said valve comprises

a valve housing that defines a chamber between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, and

a piston disposed in said chamber and configured to regulate flow of said pressurized air through said chamber, regulate flow of said pressurized air between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, and regulate flow of said pressurized air between said valve outlet and said dump outlet hole.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising

a motor coupled to said piston and operable to rotate said piston within said chamber in response to first signals received from said controller in order to regulate flow of said pressurized air between said valve inlet and said valve outlet and to regulate flow of said pressurized air between said valve outlet and said dump outlet hole.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a pressure transducer coupled to said controller and in fluid communication with said valve, said pressure transducer operable to provide said controller with second signals that are indicative of air pressure applied to said valve outlet, wherein said controller is operable to receive said second signal that are indicative of air pressure and adjust said first signals sent to said motor based upon said second signals received from said pressure transducer.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a valve housing that defines a chamber between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, the valve stem extending outwardly from the valve housing to permit removal and insertion of the valve stem the port of the manifold.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one O-ring seal coupled to the valve stem to engage with the port and form an airtight connection.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrical plug coupled to said controller and operable to be inserted into an electrical connection fitting of the manifold.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for providing percussion and vibration therapy to the at least one air sack.

16. A pressure control apparatus adapted for use in a bed that includes a pressurized air source and at least one air sack, the apparatus comprising:

a valve inlet configured to receive pressurized air from the pressurized air source;

a valve outlet configured to permit exit of said pressurized air to the at least one air sack;

a valve in fluid communication between said valve inlet and said valve outlet and configured to regulate flow of said pressurized air between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, the valve including a valve housing that defines a valve passage between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, said valve passage having a longitudinal axis that is in axial alignment with said valve inlet and that is perpendicular with respect to an axis of said valve outlet, a chamber between the valve inlet and a first end of said valve passage, and a piston disposed in said chamber and configured to regulate flow of said pressurized air through said chamber and between said valve inlet and said valve outlet; and

a controller coupled to said valve and configured to control said valve to regulate flow of said pressurized air through said valve.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising

a motor coupled to said piston and operable to rotate said piston within said chamber in response to first signals received from said controller in order to regulate flow of said pressurized air between said valve inlet and said valve outlet.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a pressure transducer coupled to said controller and in fluid communication with said valve, said pressure transducer operable to provide said controller with second signals that are indicative of air pressure applied to said valve outlet, where in said controller is operable to receive said second signals that are indicative of air pressure and adjust said first signals sent to said motor based upon said second signals received from said pressure transducer.

19. A pressure control apparatus adapted for use in a bed that includes a pressurized air source and at least one percussion and vibration sack, the apparatus comprising:

a valve inlet configured to receive pressurized air from the pressurized air source;

a valve outlet configured to permit exit of said pressurized air to the at least one percussion and vibration sack;

a valve stem coupled to the valve inlet and configured to engage with a bushing of a manifold of the bed that is coupled to the pressurized air source to form an airtight connection with the manifold and receive said pressurized air from the pressurized air source via the manifold;

a valve in fluid communication between said valve inlet and said valve outlet and configured to regulate flow of said pressurized air between said valve inlet and said valve outlet; and

a controller coupled to said valve and configured to control said valve to regulate flow of said pressurized air through said valve.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising

an electrical plug coupled to said controller and operable to be inserted into an electrical connection fitting of the manifold in order to receive electrical power and deliver said electrical power to said controller.