Abstract: A bed signalling apparatus signals a caregiver an out of bed condition and a bottoming condition of a patient. Signalling of patient location within a bed is also provided. The bed signalling apparatus includes a fluid supplying member connected to at least one resilient member to supply fluid under pressure thereto, such fluid flowing from an inlet of the resilient member to an outlet of the resilient member. At least one switching member is connected between the resilient member and the fluid supplying member for controlling at least one indicating member attached to the switching member in response to changes in pressure within the resilient member.

Abstract: A failsafe feedback control system of the type including transducers for measuring a characteristic of some object and emitting a signal representative of such measurement to a controlled apparatus the operation of which is responsive to such signal. The apparatus includes a first switch for detecting when any two transducers have failed and a second switch for detecting when any one transducer has failed. The responsiveness of the circuitry of each transducer can be set independent of that of all of the other transducers.

Abstract: An apparatus for the infrared heating and warming of post-anesthetic surgical patients is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of infrared heat lamps controlled by plural patient temperature sensors in a closed-loop control system for providing safe, controlled warming of a patient following anesthesia and surgery. Signals from the temperature sensors are averaged and compared against an average temperature setpoint to provide control signals for the heat lamp control network. Low and high temperature alarms are provided for patient safety.

Abstract: A pneumatic cushion having preinflated sealed cells with pressure compensators for distributing air between cells in response to loads placed thereon, the pneumatic cushion having a mid sheet with top and bottom surfaces, a top layer of preinflated sealed cells attached to the top surface of the mid sheet, a bottom layer of preinflated sealed cells attached to the bottom surface of the mid sheet, and pressure compensators affixed to the mid sheet and in communication with each top and bottom cell whereby upon uneven loading of the sealed cells air is stepwise transferred by the pressure compensators from a cell of high pressure on a first layer to a cell on a second layer and then to another cell on the first and so on to smooth out the uneven pressure.