Abstract: This multilayer low friction pad for reducing shear and friction forces on a person's body, and for preventing and treating sores on a person's body caused by shear forces, friction, pressure, chafing and moisture, has a first layer made of soft, flexible foam material which is thick enough to serve as a shock absorber, facilitate handling, and prevent wrinkling and crumpling of the pad. A second layer bonded to the foam layer has a very slippery surface on which is a third layer composed of a slippery lubricant cooperating with the second layer to reduce shear forces and provide a working surface having a negligibly small coefficient of friction. The first layer has an exposed side rough enough to prevent frictionally displacement of the pad while in use. A nonporous fourth layer can be bonded between the first and second layers to serve as a moisture barrier. One or more drain holes can be provided in the pad underlaid by a highly absorbent mat attached to the exposed side of the first layer.

Abstract: This invention involves a multilayer low friction ambulatory pad for treating or preventing bedsores and pressure sores, and for managing fluids discharged from a person's body. The pad may have the form of a diaper with panels fittable to a person's body. The pad has a first slippery nonporous layer on which is a moisture absorbent second layer. A slippery, thin, porous third layer is on the second layer. The three layers are peripherally bonded to form a nonpenable seam which permits unbonded areas of the layers to slide slightly with respect to each other. The third layer may be sprayed with a filmy, dry, slippery fourth layer. A fifth layer of lubricating material which may be a microencapsulated lubricant or a free lubricant is applied to the third and fourth layers to form a very slippery top surface. The fourth and fifth layers do not clog the pores of the third layer to pass air and fluids to the absorbent second layer. In other pads, the absorbent layer is omitted.

Abstract: A bed pad structure is provided for the prevention of bed sores or pressure ulcers. The bed pad includes a pouch portion having an upper layer formed from a porous low friction material and a lower layer formed from a flexible impervious sheet material. The pouch portion is further constructed to enable easy insertion and removal of a lubricated insert in between the upper and lower layers. Lubrication from the insert can flow through the porous upper layer. The low friction characteristics of the upper layer plus the presence of the lubricant adjacent the patient substantially prevents friction and related wear which are contributing factors to the occurrence of bed sores.