Patents by Inventor Jean-Louis B. Viard

Jean-Louis B. Viard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patient support apparatus and method
    Patent number: 5560374
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supporting a patient. The apparatus includes a support device with inflatable chambers having a support top face and a bottom face. A detector measures the distance between the top face of the chamber and its bottom face. A servo-controller is provided for controlling the initial pressure inside the chamber to provide a relatively short predetermined reference distance between said top face of the chamber and said bottom face of the chamber. The apparatus also includes a controller coupled to the servo-controller to keep the distance between the top face and the bottom face of the chamber substantially constant while the patient is being supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Louis B. Viard