Abstract: The present invention provides a therapeutic bed which comprises:(a) a trolley frame (1) having floor-engaging feet or wheels (2),(b) an attitude frame (3) pivotably mounted on the trolley frame so as to be pivotable through a predetermined arc about an axis extending longitudinally of the bed,(c) operating means (62, 67 & 64) for causing the attitude frame to pivot in one direction and then the other through said predetermined arc,(d) a plurality of air sacs (14) supported on said attitude frame and inflatable to a pressure sufficient to provide a resilient surface for supporting a patient thereon, said air sacs together forming a shaped cavity (31, 32, 33) within which the patient's body can be nested and supported so that the patient does not slide off the bed during turning, and(e) microprocessor control means for causing the turning movement of the attitude frame to be arrested when reaching the end of the predetermined movement in one direction and causing the operating means to reverse the direction of

Abstract: A patient support appliance is provided of the kind formed from a plurality of inflatable air sacs, mounted on an articulating base and extending transversely of the base so as to provide, when inflated, a surface for supporting a person thereon. The base is divided into sections lengthwise of the appliance and the air sacs arranged in groups corresponding to said sections. An airblower for supplying air to the sacs is suspended from said base or mounted on a supporting frame. Air from the blower is fed to the appliance by a main air supplying conduit via a distribution chamber and individual air supply tubes lead from the distribution chamber to the groups of sacs. Pressure regulating valves are provided to regulate individually the pressure of air in the air supply tubes so that the pressure of air in each group can be regulated independently of the others. Means are provided for exhausting air rapidly from the distribution chamber, e.g.