Support apparatus with a plurality of thermal zones providing localized cooling
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for cooling a human or animal body, the apparatus comprising:
- a cooling layer having a plurality of zones;
a support structure including a frame and a mesh supported by the frame, the mesh having a support surface disposed over the cooling layer each zone of the cooling layer being disposed for cooling a respective portion of the support surface;
a plurality of sensors acting between the frame and the mesh; and
a zone controller connected to the plurality of sensors and to the plurality of zones for operating one or more of the zones in response to signals produced by the sensors.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
104 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for cooling a human or animal body, the apparatus comprising:
-
a cooling layer having a plurality of zones;
a support structure including a frame and a mesh supported by the frame, the mesh having a support surface disposed over the cooling layer each zone of the cooling layer being disposed for cooling a respective portion of the support surface;
a plurality of sensors acting between the frame and the mesh; and
a zone controller connected to the plurality of sensors and to the plurality of zones for operating one or more of the zones in response to signals produced by the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
the frame and the mesh form a cot-like structure; and
the plenum structure includes at least one longitudinal air plenum and a plurality of transverse air plenums in communication with the at least one longitudinal air plenum.
-
-
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors comprises a piezoelectric sensor.
Specification