Abstract: A thermal energy transfer pad is disclosed. The thermal energy transfer pad has a first flexible, thermal energy transfer sheet and a second flexible, thermal energy transfer sheet. The first flexible, thermal energy transfer sheet (a) is made of a first fluid impervious material, (b) has a perimeter measurement of A prior to manufacturing and (c) has a first thermal energy transfer thickness. The first flexible, thermal energy transfer sheet is molded to form fluid path troughs defined by interior protuberances and the first sheet's perimeter edge. That molding alters the first flexible, thermal energy transfer sheet's perimeter measurement to B, which is less than A. The second thermal energy transfer sheet (a) is made of a second fluid impervious material, (b) has a perimeter measurement of B and (c) has a second thermal energy transfer thickness.

Abstract: A medical instrument device interconnection system decreases the vibrational effects on a hospital pole. The medical device is contained in a case and the case has a first clamping member, a first biasing apparatus, a second clamping member, a second biasing apparatus, and a pole receiving trench. Each clamping member has a preferred position, an attachment position and a maximum tension position. In the preferred position the respective biasing members position the respective clamping member's distal end as close to each other as possible which inhibits a conventional hospital pole from entering the pole receiving trench. To obtain the maximum tension position, the person positioning the medical instrument device on the hospital pole aligns the pole receiving trench with the hospital pole so the hospital pole contacts the clamping members' exterior surface in the preferred position.

Abstract: A rotational mattress has (a) a support surface and a rotating bladder object or (b) the support surface, the rotating bladder and a cushion material object. Depending on the embodiment used, the rotating bladder object and/or cushion material object has at least one longitudinal hinge; a longitudinal hinge extends from the object's head end toward the object's foot end. In one embodiment, the longitudinal hinge can be a shaped aperture and within the shaped aperture is a second cushion material. The second cushion material is less rigid than the cushion material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stand alone integrated mattress. The system has a self-contained mattress unit, at least one inflatable bladder, at least one fluid source, at least one dispersion unit and at least one control unit. The self-contained mattress unit has at least a head section and a foot section, and is capable of converting from a horizontal position or an inclined position to a chair-like conformation. There is at least one inflatable bladder in each section of the self-contained mattress unit. There is also at least fluid source. In addition there is at least one dispersion unit in each section and each dispersion unit provides a fluid, obtained from the fluid source, to a conduit which directs the fluid into the inflatable bladder positioned in the section of the dispersion unit. The control system is positioned in one of the sections and interconnected to each dispersion unit to control the dispersion of the fluid to the inflatable bladders in each section.

Abstract: The present invention is a vibratory patient support system. The support system has at least one bladder, at least one vibrational device, and first and second control units that respectively control (a) the inflation and deflation of the at least one bladder and (b) vibrational device. The at least one bladder (i) inflates when receiving a fluid at a faster rate than the fluid exiting the bladder; (ii) deflates when the fluid leaves the bladder at a faster rate than the fluid entering the bladder, and (iii) has a top surface that allows a user to apply pressure thereon and a bottom surface. The vibrational device (a) is positioned (i) under the bottom surface of the bladder, or (ii) within the bladder and below the top surface of the at least one bladder so it does not contact the top surface; and (b) generates a vibrational force. The first control unit can adjust the inflation of the at least one bladder. The second control unit can adjust the vibration forces generated from the vibration device.

Abstract: The present invention is a vibratory patient support system. The support system has at least one bladder, at least one vibrational device, and first and second control units that respectively control (a) the inflation and deflation of the at least one bladder and (b) vibrational device. The at least one bladder (i) inflates when receiving a fluid at a faster rate than the fluid exiting the bladder; (ii) deflates when the fluid leaves the bladder at a faster rate than the fluid entering the bladder, and (iii) has a top surface that allows a user to apply pressure thereon and a bottom surface. The vibrational device (a) is positioned (i) under the bottom surface of the bladder, or (ii) within the bladder and below the top surface of the at least one bladder so it does not contact the top surface; and (b) generates a vibrational force. The first control unit can adjust the inflation of the at least one bladder. The second control unit can adjust the vibration forces generated from the vibration device.

Abstract: The present invention is a vibratory patient support system. The support system has at least one bladder, at least one vibrational device, and first and second control units that respectively control (a) the inflation and deflation of the at least one bladder and (b) vibrational device. The at least one bladder (i) inflates when receiving a fluid at a faster rate than the fluid exiting the bladder; (ii) deflates when the fluid leaves the bladder at a faster rate than the fluid entering the bladder, and (iii) has a top surface that allows a user to apply pressure thereon and a bottom surface. The vibrational device (a) is positioned (i) under the bottom surface of the bladder, or (ii) within the bladder and below the top surface of the at least one bladder so it does not contact the top surface; and (b) generates a vibrational force. The first control unit can adjust the inflation of the at least one bladder. The second control unit can adjust the vibration forces generated from the vibration device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a therapeutic bed comprising a mattress. The mattress has a fluid cushion and a fluid pump. The fluid cushion has a fluid support surface, a retractable/deployable bolster, and a closure mechanism. The fluid support surface has a top surface designed to receive a patient thereon. The closure mechanism corresponds to the retractable/deployable bolster and allows the retractable/deployable bolster to be deployed or retracted. When the retractable/deployable bolster is deployed the retractable/deployable bolster protrudes from the top surface and is positioned about a portion of the patient's perimeter. When the retractable/deployable bolster is retracted the closure mechanism is positioned over the retractable/deployable bolster to prevent the retractable/deployable bolster from protruding from the top surface. And the fluid pump provides a fluid to the fluid cushion.

Abstract: The present invention involves a patient support system. The support system has a fluid bladder and a container. The container has an air pump, a manifold and a CPR dump system. The CPR dump system has a manifold aperture, a plug positioned in the manifold's aperture, a rod interconnected to the plug and protruding from the container's opening, a magnetized alignment apparatus, and a magnetized stop mechanism. The magnetized stop mechanism fastens to the rod and magnetically attaches to the magnetized alignment apparatus which insures the plug is lodged in the manifold's aperture. When a user wants to expeditiously deflate the inflatable fluid bladder, the user pulls on the distal end with sufficient force to detach the magnetized stop mechanism from the magnetized alignment apparatus thereby the plug dislodges from the manifold aperture and allows the inflatable fluid bladder to deflate within a predetermined time frame.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a blanket having at least one snap stick inserted into or onto the blanket to maximize the surface area of the blanket that contacts the user.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluid warming container (a.k.a., cassette) having an integrated heating element attached to the container, not the warming device as conventionally done. The heating element provides thermal energy to the fluid contained in the container. The fluid contained in the container is designed to be injected and/or delivered, eventually and normally immediately, into a patient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a patient transfer system. The patient transfer system is positioned on a support area of a first underlying surface's top surface. The support area (a) receives a patient and (b) is defined by a head end, a foot end, a first side and a second side. The patient transfer system has a base sheet, a transfer sheet a support sheet, a first attachment mechanism, and a second attachment mechanism. The base sheet covers the support area and has (a) a pivot line positioned near or at the first side and (b) a transition line positioned near or at the second side. The transfer sheet has (a) a proximal end that connects to the base sheet at pivot line and (b) a distal end that extends to the transition line. The support sheet has (a) a proximal end that connects to the transfer sheet above the transition line and (b) a distal end that extends at least to the pivot line.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mattress overlay being an inflatable body support formed from a pair of plastic sheets joined together to form a non-inflatable periphery. The non-inflatable periphery defines an air pressurizable chamber therebetween. The chamber provides an air cushion for supporting a person positioned thereatop that dissipates at least pressure to decrease the onset of pressure sores and ulcers. The periphery has a distal end, a proximal end, a first side and a second side. The improvement of the present invention relates to the corner strap system. There is at least one non-inflatable corner strap system that extends from at least one end of the periphery. A center section, at least two side sections positioned on opposite sides of the center section, and a hold down section having at least two elbow-shaped slits or perforations positioned between the center section and each side section form the first non-inflatable corner strap system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to at least one tie strap positioned on an inflatable blanket. These tie straps, when being used with the blanket, are positioned not on the non-inflatable periphery sections of the inflatable blanket, but on non-periphery sections, like an inflatable section, of the inflatable blanket. This is being done to provide the desired control of the blanket's movement and, if desired, the inflation of the blanket in certain areas of the inflatable blanket. Controlling the inflation of the blanket is obtained by the present straps ability to alter the size of at least a portion of an inflatable chamber within the inflatable blanket. The present ties also provide greater movement control because the tie straps provide desired pressure to at least one section of the inflatable blanket. The tie straps of the present invention are also an integral part of the blanket which means supplemental materials, like tape or ropes, are not needed to control the blanket with the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cushioning device. The present cushioning device has many attributes that are common with many cushions. Some of these common attributes are at least one bladder having a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one side surface positioned between the top and the bottom surfaces. Another common attribute is a bladder cavity being defined by the top surface, the bottom surface and the at least one side surface. The present invention differs from other bladders in that there is a first conductive material and a second conductive material are positioned within the bladder cavity, positioned away from the bottom surface of the bladder, and capable of acting like a switch for a reactive device. The reactive device is electrically interconnected with the first and second conductive materials. When the first and second conductive materials contact each other the reactive device is capable of responding by sounding an alarm and/or re-inflating the bladder cavity with a fluid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to diminish the material's creep problem found in inflatable bladders. This is accomplished by positioning an anti-creep zone within a bladder. The anti-creep zone is separated from the remainder of the bladder by a fluid barrier. The fluid barrier can have various embodiments that prevent and/or allow predetermined amounts of fluid into the anti-creep zone.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluid warming cassette. The cassette has two polymeric films and at least two guide rails. A difference between this fluid warming cassette and those of the prior art is that this fluid warming cassette has a tongue section thereon. This tongue section assists the user insert the cassette into a warming unit's aperture. That aperture is relatively narrow because the heating elements of the warming unit must be sufficiently close to the cassette to alter the temperature of the fluid in the cassette to a desired temperature. In addition, the user can confirm if the cassette is properly inserted into the warming device's aperture by seeing that the tongue portion is sticking out of the other end of the warming device's aperture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a parenteral fluid warming system. The system has at least first and second fluid warming bags and a warmer device. Each of the at least first and second fluid warming bags have an inlet, an outlet, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a fluid path extending between the inlet and the outlet. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the outlet from the first bag directs the fluid into the inlet of the second bag. In an alternative version of the first embodiment, the first bag and the second bag are a interconnected to each other. The warmer device has at least first and second energy reservoirs that correspond with the number of fluid warming bags. Each energy reservoir also has at least one heater unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a first conformable material having a three-dimensional shape and a first hypothermia and/or hyperthermia device. This invention is used as a pad for sleeping, lying down, or sitting, to maintain a desired temperature to the contacting surface of a body to the pad.

Abstract: A cushioning device has a flexible container and a plurality of polymeric beads within the flexible container which flows under a slight force and shears easily. The cushioning device is capable of receiving a physical object that applies a force to the cushion. When the force is initially applied to the cushioning device, the cushioning device is deformed to conform to the physical object from its original shape. When the physical object is not applying the force, the cushioning device reverts to a shape that is close to but not identical to the original shape, except for a limited number of materials such as molded elastomeric materials. In addition, the pressure exerted by the cushion on the physical object will reduce pressure that would cause tissue damage and lead to decubitus ulcers.