Vibrational and pulsating cushioning device

• US 7,322,947 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gaymar Industries Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Legler, Patrick, Flick, Roland E., Pepe, Greg, Thompson, Jeffery Joseph, Paolini, Raymond P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US10/728,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 601/13, 601/41, 601/44, 601/48, 601/49, 601/55, 601/56, 601/77, 601/148, 601/149, 601151-152, 601/46
• US Class Current: 601/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0443 substantially horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776

Abstract

The present invention is a vibratory patient support system. The support system has at least one bladder, at least one vibrational device, and first and second control units that respectively control (a) the inflation and deflation of the at least one bladder and (b) vibrational device. The at least one bladder (i) inflates when receiving a fluid at a faster rate than the fluid exiting the bladder; (ii) deflates when the fluid leaves the bladder at a faster rate than the fluid entering the bladder, and (iii) has a top surface that allows a user to apply pressure thereon and a bottom surface. The vibrational device (a) is positioned (i) under the bottom surface of the bladder, or (ii) within the bladder and below the top surface of the at least one bladder so it does not contact the top surface; and (b) generates a vibrational force. The first control unit can adjust the inflation of the at least one bladder. The second control unit can adjust the vibration forces generated from the vibration device. The first and second control units can operate in conjunction with each other to provide the desired vibrational application to the user.

Claims

1. A vibratory patient support system comprising:

at least one bladder that inflates upon receiving a fluid at a greater rate than fluid exiting the bladder, deflates when the fluid leaves the bladder at a faster rate than fluid entering the bladder, and has a top surface that allows a user to apply pressure thereon and a bottom surface;

a vibrational pad device positioned (a) immediately adjacent to or within the at least one bladder and (b) below and not contacting the top surface of the at least one bladder when the vibrational pad device generates a vibrational force;

a fluid control unit that can adjust the volume of fluid in the at least one bladder;

a vibration control unit that can adjust the vibration forces generated from the vibration pad device;

wherein when the vibrational pad device is generating a vibrational force, the inflation control unit does not allow the at least one bladder to become deflated to a point wherein the vibrational pad device contacts the user.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the vibrational device is incorporated into the at least one bladder.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the vibrational device is below the at least one bladder.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid in the bladder is a liquid.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid in the bladder is a gas.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the gas is air.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein a temperature pad is used with the system.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein a wave bladder is used with the system.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the vibratory device receives the fluid.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid'"'"'s temperature is controlled by a fluid temperature control apparatus.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a heating element.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first control unit capable of directing the fluid to the at least one bladder.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising &

second control unit capable of receiving the fluid from a first control unit and directing fluid to the vibratory device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the second control unit has a double diaphragm system that directs a predetermined quantity of fluid to the vibratory device.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the vibratory device has at least two chambers.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein each chamber has a shape selected from the group consisting of a finger design, a serpentine design or combinations thereof, to generate a desired vibratory force.

17. A vibratory patient support system comprising:

a first control unit that draws a fluid into the system and directs the fluid to at least a second control unit positioned within the system;

at least one bladder that inflates upon receiving the fluid at a greater rate than fluid exiting the bladder, deflates when the fluid leaves the bladder at a faster rate than fluid entering the bladder, and has a top surface that allows a user to apply pressure thereon and a bottom surface;

a vibrational pad device positioned (a) immediately adjacent to or within the at least one bladder and (b) below and not contacting the top surface of the at least one bladder when the vibrational pad device generates a vibrational force, and the vibrational pad device is designed to receive a fluid from a double diaphragm system contained within a second control unit;

a fluid control system that can adjust the volume of fluid in the at least one bladder;

a vibration control system that can adjust the vibration forces generated from the vibration pad device;

wherein when the vibrational pad device is generating a vibrational force, the inflation control system does not allow the at least one bladder to become deflated to a point wherein the vibrational pad device contacts the user or the top surface.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the vibrational device is incorporated into the at least one bladder.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the vibrational device is below the at least one bladder.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the fluid in the bladder is a liquid.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the fluid in the bladder is a gas.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the gas is air.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the vibratory pad has at least two chambers and each chamber has a design selected from the group consisting of finger shape, serpentine shape and combinations thereof.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein the fluid'"'"'s temperature is controlled by a fluid temperature control apparatus.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the first control unit is positioned at the foot of the system and the second control unit is positioned at the head of the system.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the second control unit receives the fluid from the first control unit.

27. The system of claim 17 wherein the vibratory device has at least two chambers.

28. A method of using vibratory patient support system comprising at least one bladder that inflates upon receiving the fluid at a greater rate than fluid exiting the bladder, deflates when the fluid leaves the bladder at a faster rate than fluid entering the bladder, and has a top surface that allows a user to apply pressure thereon and a bottom surface;

a vibrational pad device positioned (a) immediately adjacent to or within the at least one bladder and (b) below and not contacting the top surface of the at least one bladder and generates a vibrational force;

a first control system that can adjust the volume of fluid in the at least one bladder;

a second control system that can adjust the vibration forces generated from the vibration device;

wherein when the vibrational pad device is generating a vibrational force, the first control system does not allow the at least one bladder to become deflated to a point wherein the vibrational pad device contacts the user or the top surface;

comprising;

operating the first and second control systems in conjunction with each other to provide the desired vibrational application to the user.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the vibrational device is incorporated into the at least one bladder.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the vibrational device is outside the at least one bladder.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the fluid in the bladder is a liquid.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the fluid in the bladder is a gas.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the gas is air.

34. The method of clam 28 wherein the vibratory device receives the fluid.

35. A vibratory patient support system comprising:

at least one bladder that inflates upon receiving a fluid at a greater rate than fluid exiting the bladder, deflates when the fluid leaves the bladder at a faster rate than fluid entering the bladder, and has a top surface that allows a user to apply pressure thereon and a bottom surface;

a vibrational pad device (i) positioned (a) adjacent to or within the at least one bladder and (b) below and not contacting the top surface of the at least one bladder when the vibrational pad device generates a vibrational force, and (ii) receives the fluid;

a fluid control unit that can adjust the volume of fluid in the at least one bladder;

a vibration control unit that can adjust the vibration forces generated from the vibration pad device;

a second control unit capable of receiving the fluid from a first control unit and directing fluid to the vibratory pad device

wherein when the vibrational pad device is generating a vibrational force, the inflation control unit does not allow the at least one bladder to become deflated to a point wherein the vibrational pad device contacts the user.

36. A vibratory patient support system comprising:

a first control unit that draws a fluid into the system and directs the fluid to at least a second control unit positioned within the system;

at least one bladder that inflates upon receiving the fluid at a greater rate than fluid exiting the bladder, deflates when the fluid leaves the bladder at a faster rate than fluid entering the bladder, and has a top surface that allows a user to apply pressure thereon and a bottom surface;

a vibrational pad device positioned (a) adjacent to or within the at least one bladder and (b) below and not contacting the top surface of the at least one bladder when the vibrational pad device generates a vibrational force, and the vibrational pad device is designed to receive a fluid from a double diaphragm system contained within a second control unit;

a fluid control system that can adjust the volume of fluid in the at least one bladder;

a vibration control system that can adjust the vibration forces generated from the vibration pad device;

wherein when the vibrational pad device is generating a vibrational force, the inflation control system does not allow the at least one bladder to become deflated to a point wherein the vibrational pad device contacts the user or the top surface

wherein the first control unit is positioned at the foot of the system and the second control unit is positioned at the head of the system.