Air control system for therapeutic support surfaces
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A patient support surface comprising:
- a cover defining an interior region;
a plurality of inflatable zones located in the interior region;
a plurality of air control nodes located in a non-inflatable portion of the interior region adjacent each of the inflatable zones, each node being associated with a zone, each node including an air supply pneumatically coupled to one of the zones, a power supply which powers the air supply, a processor operable to execute programming logic configured to control air flow between the air supply and the zone, and a network interface configured to receive data or control signals directly from one or more other air control nodes; and
control circuitry configured to enable communication between any of the air control nodes and an external bed network relating to a condition of a bed frame, wherein each control node communicates data indicating a condition of the associated inflatable zone to the bed network to enable the bed frame to respond to the condition of the inflatable zone.
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Abstract
This disclosure describes a patient support surface having a cover defining an interior region, with a plurality of inflatable zones and a plurality of control nodes located within the interior region. Each control node comprises an air control system including an air supply and a processor.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A patient support surface comprising:
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a cover defining an interior region; a plurality of inflatable zones located in the interior region; a plurality of air control nodes located in a non-inflatable portion of the interior region adjacent each of the inflatable zones, each node being associated with a zone, each node including an air supply pneumatically coupled to one of the zones, a power supply which powers the air supply, a processor operable to execute programming logic configured to control air flow between the air supply and the zone, and a network interface configured to receive data or control signals directly from one or more other air control nodes; and control circuitry configured to enable communication between any of the air control nodes and an external bed network relating to a condition of a bed frame, wherein each control node communicates data indicating a condition of the associated inflatable zone to the bed network to enable the bed frame to respond to the condition of the inflatable zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A mattress assembly comprising:
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a cover defining interior region, the interior region comprising a plurality of inflatable zones including a head zone configured to support an upper body portion of a patient and a seat zone configured to support a seat portion of a patient, each of the zones having a first side and a second side transversely spaced from the first side, and a non-inflatable support member positioned adjacent one of the sides of the inflatable zones along a longitudinal axis of the mattress assembly, the non-inflatable support member comprising a plurality of non-inflatable zones, wherein the non-inflatable support member includes at least one control node located in an interior region of each non-inflatable zone of the non-inflatable support member and operably coupled to at least one of the zones to control air flow in the at least one inflatable zones. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An air control system for a patient support surface having a plurality of bladder assemblies, the air control system comprising:
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a first control node including a first memory, a first node identifier stored in the first memory, a first pneumatic coupling configured to couple the first control node to a first bladder assembly of a patient support surface, a first air supply configured to supply air flow to the first bladder assembly via the first pneumatic coupling, a first processor configured to receive air control data, apply first air control logic to the air control data, and control operation of the first air supply in consideration of the air control data, and a first network interface; a second control node including a second memory, a second node identifier stored in the second memory, the second node identifier being different than the first node identifier, a second pneumatic coupling configured to couple the second control node to a second bladder assembly of a patient support surface, a second air supply configured to supply air flow to the second bladder assembly via the second pneumatic coupling, a second processor configured to receive air control data, apply second air control logic to the air control data, and control operation of the second air supply in consideration of the air control data, and a second network interface configured to receive data or control signals from the first network interface; a non-inflatable support member comprising a plurality of non-inflatable zones, the first and second control nodes each being located in different non-inflatable zones of the non-inflatable support member; and a communication link configured to permit electronic communication between the first control node and the second control node. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a mattress including a plurality of inflatable bladder assemblies, an air control system operably coupled to the mattress, the air control system including a plurality of control nodes, wherein each control node includes an air supply, a power supply which powers the air supply, a processor configured to control air flow between the air supply and one of the bladder assemblies, a network interface configured to provide data communication among the control nodes, and a non-inflatable support member positioned adjacent a side of at least one of the inflatable bladder assemblies, the non-inflatable support member comprising a plurality of non-inflatable zones, the control nodes each being located in an interior region of different non-inflatable zones. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification