Mattress having a retractable foot section

• US 6,611,979 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Branson, Gregory W., Welling, Jeffrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/750,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 518/1, 518/4, 562/4, 573/1, 573/4, 574/0, 571/3, 571/5, 560/0
• US Class Current: 5/624
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 19/045 with entire frame height or inclination adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/16 Touchpads
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/40 for distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/726 for automatic deactivation, e.g. deactivation of actuators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/74 for anti-shear when adjusting furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/00 Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons stretchers with facilities for picking up patients or disabled persons A61G1/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/002 having adjustable mattress frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/005 tiltable around transverse horizontal axis, e.g. for Trendelenburg position rocking beds for physical therapy A61H1/003; hanging patient inclined downwardly for drawing him out A61H2203/0493
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/008 tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 : Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0506 : Head or foot boards head or foot boards for comfort or ergonomics A47C19/022
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 : Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 : sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/051 : pivoting sideward
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0513 : covering particular sections of the bed, e.g. one or more partial side-rail sections along the bed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 : mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/052 : characterised by safety means, e.g. to avoid injuries to patient or caregiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 : characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0527 : Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0528 : Steering or braking devices for castor wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/053 : Aids for getting into, or out of, bed, e.g. steps, chairs, cane-like supports
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05715 : with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 : with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0755 : for the legs or feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 : Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/445 : in a horizontal position

Abstract

A bed for a person is provided. The bed includes a frame, a deck, a mattress, a pair of head end siderails, and a pair of foot end siderails. The deck includes a retractable foot section. The mattress includes a foot portion positioned over the retractable foot section. The foot portion includes a calf support portion and a heel-pressure relief portion.

Claims

1. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a deck supported by the frame, and

a mattress supported by the deck, the mattress including a retractable foot portion configured to have an adjustable length, the retractable foot portions including a foam portion and a heel-pressure relief portion.

2. The patient support of claim 1, wherein foam portion of the retractable foot portion of the mattress includes a cavity and the heel-pressure relief portion is positioned in the cavity.

3. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the retractable foam portion of the mattress includes an upwardly facing surface, a downwardly facing surface, a plurality of transversely extending slots formed in the upwardly facing surface, and a plurality of transversely extending slots formed in the downwardly facing surface.

4. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the heel-pressure relief portion includes an air bladder and an air supply coupled to the air bladder.

5. The patient support of claim 4, wherein the air supply is a compressor.

6. The patient support of claim 4, wherein the air supply includes a valve configured to move between first and second positions, the bladder is at a first pressure when the valve is in the first position, and the bladder is a second lower pressure when the valve is in the second position.

7. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the heel-pressure relief portion is coupled to the foam portion.

8. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the mattress further includes a head portion and a seat portion coupled to the head and foot portions, the foot portion is configured to move relative to the head and seat portions during adjustment of the length of the foot portion of the mattress.

9. A mattress configured to support a patient, the mattress comprising

a head portion,

a seat portion, and

a retractable foot portion, the head, seat, and foot portions cooperating to define a patient rest surface, the retractable foot portion having an adjustable length, the retractable foot portion having a main body and a heel-pressure relief portion, the main body having a cavity sized to received the heel-pressure relief portion.

10. The mattress of claim 9, wherein main body of the foot portion of the mattress is made of a foam material.

11. The mattress of claim 9, wherein the main body includes an upwardly facing surface, a downwardly facing surface, a plurality of transversely extending slots formed in the upwardly facing surface, and a plurality of transversely extending slots formed in the downwardly facing surface.

12. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the slots formed in the upwardly facing surface are positioned longitudinally between the slots formed in downwardly facing surface.

13. The mattress of claim 9, wherein the heel-pressure relief portion includes a bladder and an air supply coupled to the bladder.

14. The mattress of claim 13, wherein the air supply is a compressor.

15. The mattress of claim 13, wherein the air supply includes a valve configured to move between first and second positions, the bladder is at a first pressure when the valve is in the first position, and the bladder is a second lower pressure when the valve is in the second position.

16. The mattress of claim 9, wherein the foot portion is configured to move relative to the head and seat portions during adjustment of the length of the foot portion.

17. A mattress configured to support a patient, the mattress comprising

a head portion,

a seat portion, and

a foot portion having an adjustable length, the head, seat, and foot portions cooperating to define a patient rest surface having an adjustable length, the foot portion including an adjustable length foam portion and a heel-pressure relief portion having a stiffness less than the stiffness of the foam portion.

18. The mattress of claim 17, wherein the foam portion includes a cavity and the heel-pressure relief portion is positioned in the cavity.

19. The mattress of claim 17, wherein the foam portion includes an upwardly facing surface, a downwardly facing surface, a plurality of transversely extending slots formed in the upwardly facing surface, and a plurality of transversely extending slots formed in the downwardly facing surface.

20. The mattress of claim 17, wherein the heel-pressure relief portion includes a bladder and an air supply coupled to the bladder.

21. The mattress of claim 20, wherein the air supply is a compressor.

22. The mattress of claim 20, wherein the air supply includes a valve configured to move between first and second positions, the bladder is at a first pressure when the valve is in the first position, and the bladder is a second lower pressure when the valve is in the second position.

23. The mattress of claim 17, wherein the foot portion is configured to move relative to the head and seat portions during adjustment of the length of the foot portion.

24. A method of supporting a patient on a patient support, the method comprising the steps of

providing a patient support having an adjustable length, a foam calf support, and a heel-pressure relief portion that has a stiffness less than the stiffness of the foam calf support and

adjusting the length of the patient support to position the foam calf support under a patient'"'"'s calves and the heel-pressure relief portion under a patient'"'"'s heels.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the heel-pressure relief portion includes a bladder and further comprising the step of adjusting the pressure of the bladder to lower the stiffness of the heel-pressure relief portion.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the foam calf support includes a plurality of transversely extending slots that narrow during the adjusting step.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the overall length of the foam calf support changes during the adjustment step.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the overall width of the heel-pressure relief portion remains substantially constant during the adjustment step.

29. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a deck supported by the frame, the deck including a head section, a seat section, and a foot section, the head section being configured to raise and lower relative to the frame, and

a mattress supported by the deck, the mattress having a head portion positioned over the head section of the deck and a foot portion having a heel-pressure relief portion, the position of the heel-pressure relief portion corresponding to the position of the head section relative to the frame.

30. The patient support of claim 29, wherein the heel-pressure relief portion is moved away from the seat section when the head section of the deck is raised.

31. The patient support of claim 29, wherein the heel-pressure relief portion includes a pressurized volume that provides reduced surface pressure for the patient'"'"'s heel.

32. The patient support of claim 31, wherein the pressurized volume is moved away from the seat section of the deck as the head section is raised.

33. The patient support of claim 31, wherein the pressurized volume is defined by a single air bladder.

34. A method of maintaining heel-pressure relief of a patient, the method comprising the step of

providing a patient support including a frame, a deck supported by the frame and having a foot section and a head section movable between first and second positions relative to the frame, and a mattress having a foot portion positioned over the foot section of the deck and a head section positioned over the head section of the deck, the foot portion having a heel-pressure relief portion configured to reduce the surface pressure on a patient'"'"'s heel and

corresponding the position of the heel-pressure relief portion of the mattress with the position of the head section of deck to maintain the position of the heel-pressure relief portion under the patient'"'"'s heel.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the corresponding step is performed by a controller.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the foot section of the deck has a length that is adjusted during the corresponding step.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the length of the foot section of the deck is increased during raising of the head section of the deck to correspond the position of the heel-pressure relief portion of the mattress with the position of the head section of the deck.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the length of the foot section of the deck is decreased during lowering of the head section of the deck to correspond the position of the heel-pressure relief portion of the mattress with the position of the head section of the deck.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the length of the foot section is automatically adjusted with a change in position of the head section relative to the frame.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the heel-pressure relief portion includes a pressurized volume and the pressurized volume is moved during the corresponding step.