Abstract: A cushion promotes healthy blood flow within the body when the patient is sitting/lying down. A pressure controlling support automatically balances user weight, detects application of user weight, or otherwise detects when the user is at-risk for pressure sores. Pressure is dynamically redistributed by inflation/deflation of individual bladders, rebalancing user support. The cushion prevents the user from applying their weight to impede their blood flow at an at-risk location or from cramping their musculature. The cushion also massages the user's musculature, by moving a pressure difference about selected bladders, promoting blood flow and reducing seating fatigue. The cushion detects changes in pressure at each bladder, to detect/predict user fidgeting/movement and adjust pressure in response thereto, to support the user's new position.

Abstract: A method for controlling a cushion is disclosed. The method involves receiving digital data that corresponds to signals from at least one pressure transducer that is pneumatically coupled to a bladder of a cushion, determining that the digital data includes an indication of at least one of a heart beat and breathing, determining that a person is sitting on the cushion in response to determining that the digital data includes an indication of at least one of a heart beat and breathing, and applying a control signal within the controller in response to determining that a person is sitting on the cushion.