Abstract: An air support bed having a plurality of air support sacks forming a support for a patient, with pressure selection means for adjusting and maintaining pressures in the sacks to a desired pressure profile. A movement overlay is placed on the sacks for producing movement of the patient at selected times by introduction and removal of air from selected compartments in the overlay, for producing flexing of the legs, rolling the patient from side-to-side and/or flexing of the patient's feet.

Abstract: An air movement overlay system including a pair of parallel main rolling chambers arranged under the patient's torso. Auxiliary rolling chambers overlie each main rolling chamber. Constant pressure inflation head rest, leg separation chamber, and outrigger chambers are provided. The system is automatically controlled to establish the patient alternately in roll right and roll left positions, interspersed with neutral positions. In preparation for rolling, both main rolling chambers are inflated to a pressure of at least about 65% of the maximum main rolling chamber inflation pressure. The main rolling chambers are spaced apart and connected by a central uninflated web.

Abstract: Airtight sacks are installed in parallel array to support a patient on a bed. A blower supplies air to the sacks through a function control valve system and a multi-tap high flow pressure selector. The pressure selector defines discrete zones of air pressure between its inlet and its exhaust to atmosphere. An adjustable tap communicating with each sack may be selectively placed in communication with any of the pressure zones to independently establish the pressure maintained in each sack. The sacks connect to the line from the pressure tape at a check valve connector. The function control valve system permits, in addition to normal operation, rapid inflation of the sacks, rapid pump-down of the sacks, and closing of the sacks to retain air pressure for transportation. A detector and indicator of the patient's depth of deflection is provided for at least one sack.

Abstract: Airtight sacks are installed in parallel array to support a patient. A blower supplies air to the sacks through a function control valve system and a multi-tap high flow pressure selector. The pressure selector defines discrete zones of air pressure between its inlet and its exhaust to atmosphere. An adjustable tap communicating with individual sacks or group of sacks may be selectively placed in communication with any of the pressure zones to independently establish the pressure maintained in the corresponding sacks. The sacks may be connected to the line from the pressure tap at a single valve. The slide valve has one state permitting communication between the blower and the sacks, a second state sealing all sacks and third state venting all sacks. A detector and indicator of the patient's depth of deflection is provided for at least one sack. The blower may be used also to operate adjunctive air devices such as air pillow overlays for imparting desired movement to a patient.