Mattress
A mattress including side cushions configured to retain a patient thereon.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/402,123, filed Aug. 8, 2002, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to patient supports, such as hospital beds. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mattress for retaining patients in hospital beds.
In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a mattress includes a base cushion, a first side cushion positioned horizontally adjacent to the base cushion and having a height greater than the base cushion, and an accessory cushion positioned vertically above the base cushion and horizontally adjacent to the first side cushion. The accessory cushion is selectively inflatable.
In a further illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a method of assisting egress and retention from a patient support includes the steps of providing a base cushion, providing a plurality of side cushions having an upper surface positioned vertically above and horizontally adjacent to the base cushion, and providing an accessory cushion above the base cushion and intermediate the side cushions. The illustrated method further includes the steps of inflating the accessory cushion to assist patient egress from the patient support, and deflating the accessory cushion to assist in patient retention on the patient support.
In another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a mattress includes a base cushion having opposing first and second sides, a first side cushion positioned laterally adjacent the first side of the base cushion and extending vertically higher than the base cushion, and a second side cushion positioned laterally adjacent the second side of the base cushion and extending vertically higher than the base cushion. The first and second side cushions include bending relief members.
Illustratively, the first and second side cushions are formed of substantially stiff foam and the bending relief members each comprise at least one slit.
Further illustratively, the mattress is configured to be located on an articulating deck, and the bending relief members comprise a plurality of slits formed in sets within the first and second side cushions and positioned such that each set is located above a pivot point on the articulating deck.
Further illustratively, the first and second side cushions have a stiffness greater than the base cushion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
A patient support 10 according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown in
Referring now to
In the illustrative embodiment, the indention force deflection (IFD), or stiffness, of the base cushion 22 is less than the IFD of the edge cushions 26. The lower IFD of the base cushion 22 allows compression thereof upon the weight of the patient, while the higher IFD of the edge cushions 26 tends to resist displacement thereof. Each edge cushion 26 has a bottom 28, an inner side 30 coupled to bottom 28, an outer side 32 longer than inner side 30 and also coupled to bottom 28, and a top or upper surface 34 extending between inner side 30 and outer side 32. Inner sides 30 of edge cushions 26 abut base cushion 22 and have a height slightly greater than a height of base cushion 22. Upper surface 34 angles upwardly as it extends in a direction from inner side 30 toward higher outer side 32. In an illustrative embodiment, base cushion 22 has a height, or thickness, of approximately seven inches while outer sides 32 of edge cushions 26 have a height, or thickness, of approximately eight inches.
Higher outer sides 32 assist in retaining a patient above mattress 16. A patient purposefully or inadvertently rolling near a side of mattress 16 encounters edge cushions 26. Movement by the patient so as to encounter edge cushions 26 causes the patient to either increase his height, thereby increasing the potential energy of the patient and absorbing the kinetic energy of the patient movement, or compress the edge cushion 26 which also absorbs energy of the patient. The absorption of the patient's kinetic energy makes it less likely that the patient will continue to move in the undesired direction. The increase in patient height or compression of edge cushion 26 also stores a portion of the absorbed energy and can then be used to urge the patient in a lateral direction back towards the center of mattress 16, either by allowing the patient to lower or by allowing the edge cushion 26 to assume its equilibrium position, both of which are allowed by the patient moving toward the center of mattress 16. Higher outer sides 32 also serve to narrow any gaps that may be present between mattress 16 and siderails 21 attached to frame 12 or deck 14. Mattress 16 of the present invention may be used with any number of types of siderails to reduce or eliminate gaps therebetween as discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/225,780, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Accessory cushion 24 illustratively comprises a fluid fillable bladder coupled to base cushion 22. A controller 25 controls operation of a blower 27 that is fluidly coupled to the accessory cushion 24 as shown in
Base cushion 22, accessory cushion 24 and edge cushions 26 may all be received within a conventional outer cover or ticking (not shown). The ticking illustratively comprises a stretchable, breathable thermoplastic which is impervious to bacteria.
A further illustrative embodiment mattress 16′ including an accessory cushion 38 having a top surface 40 is shown in
Another illustrative embodiment mattress 16″ including an accessory cushion 44 is shown in
Another illustrative embodiment of the mattress is also envisioned wherein base cushion 22 and edge cushions 26 are located within a bladder of an accessory cushion. In a first deflated position, accessory cushion would conform to the walls of base cushion 22 and edge cushions 26. In a second inflated position, accessory cushion would expand away from at least top walls 50 and 34 of base cushion 22 and edge cushions 26. Bladder of accessory cushion may be separate or integral with the outer sides 32 of edge cushions 26 and bottoms of base cushions 22 and edge cushions 26.
Lateral slits 66 are illustratively provided in three sets 68, 70, 72 of four slits 66 each. Each set 68, 70, 72 is located in edge cushion 64 so as to vertically align with one of the pivot points 15a, 15b, 15c of the articulating deck 14. During articulation, the slits 66 will either widen or contract depending on the direction of articulation. The slits 66 thereby give flexibility to the otherwise substantially stiff foam and facilitate bending or articulation of the mattress 60 without undesirable bunching or creasing of the edge cushions 64.
While lateral slits 66 are illustrated in
Although the present invention has been described in terms of the forgoing embodiment, such description has been for exemplary purposes only and, there will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, many alternatives, equivalents, and variations of varying degrees that will fall within the scope of the present invention. That scope, accordingly, is not to be limited in any respect by the foregoing description, rather, it is defined only by the claims which follow.
Claims
1. A mattress including:
- a base cushion;
- a first side cushion positioned horizontally adjacent to the base cushion and having a height greater than the base cushion; and
- an accessory cushion positioned vertically above the base cushion and horizontally adjacent to the first side cushion, the accessory cushion being selectively inflatable.
2. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the first side cushion is configured to urge retention of a patient positioned on the patient support.
3. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the accessory cushion, when inflated, assists a patient in egress from the mattress over the first side cushion.
4. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the first side cushion includes at least one bending relief member.
5. The mattress of claim 4, wherein the bending relief member includes a slit formed in the first side cushion and located such that when the mattress is positioned on an articulating frame the slit is above a pivot point of the articulating frame.
6. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the mattress is configured to be positioned on an articulating frame, and the first side cushion includes a plurality of slits at each position that is configured to be located above a pivot point of the articulating frame.
7. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the inflatable cushion, when inflated, provides a substantially flat patient support surface having a height substantially level with the first side cushion.
8. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the first inflatable cushion, when inflated, provides an arced patient support surface having a crest substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the mattress.
9. The mattress of claim 1, further including a second side cushion positioned horizontally adjacent the base cushion and laterally spaced from the first side cushion.
10. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the first side cushion has a stiffness greater than the base cushion.
11. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the first side cushion is formed from substantially non-compressible foam.
12. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the accessory cushion is coupled to the base cushion.
13. A method of assisting egress and retention from a patient support, the method including the steps of:
- providing a base cushion;
- providing a plurality of side cushions having an upper surface positioned vertically above and horizontally adjacent to the base cushion;
- providing an accessory cushion above the base cushion and intermediate the side cushions;
- inflating the accessory cushion to assist patient egress from the patient support; and
- deflating the accessory cushion to assist in patient retention on the patient support.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the upper surfaces of the side cushions increase in height as the distance from the base cushion increases.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the side cushions include at least one bending relief member.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the bending relief member includes a plurality of sets of slits formed in each of the side cushions, the slits positioned and sized to allow the side cushions to flex.
17. A mattress including:
- a base cushion having opposing first and second sides;
- a first side cushion positioned laterally adjacent the first side of the base cushion and extending vertically higher than the base cushion; and
- a second side cushion positioned laterally adjacent the second side of the base cushion and extending vertically higher than the base cushion, the first and second side cushions including bending relief members.
18. The mattress of claim 17, wherein the first and second side cushions are formed of substantially stiff foam and the bending relief members each comprise at least one slit.
19. The mattress of claim 18, wherein the slits are positioned and sized to allow the mattress to flex when placed on an articulating deck.
20. The mattress of claim 17, wherein the side cushions include an angled upper surface that increases in height as the distance from the base cushion increases.
21. The mattress of claim 17, wherein the mattress is configured to be located on an articulating deck, and the bending relief members comprise a plurality of slits formed in sets within the first and second side cushions and positioned such that each set is located above a pivot point on the articulating deck.
22. The mattress of claim 17, wherein the first and second side cushions have a stiffness greater than the base cushion.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 8, 2003
Publication Date: Feb 10, 2005
Inventor: Reza Hakamiun (Charleston, SC)
Application Number: 10/637,391