Abstract: A system for fluidizing a fluidizable medium includes a person support structure, fluid supply, sensor, and controller. The person support structure includes a chamber containing a fluidizable medium and a plenum in fluid communication with the chamber. The fluid supply is in fluid communication with the plenum. The sensor is configured to sense a pressure of fluid in the plenum. The controller is configured to control the operation of the fluid supply as a function of the fluid pressure within the plenum to achieve a desirable level of fluidization of the fluidizable medium.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes an air supply and an air fluidization therapy bed including a fluidization space and a fluidizable medium positioned in the fluidization space. The air fluidization therapy bed receives a flow of pressurized air from the air supply. The flow of pressurized air operable to fluidize the fluidizable medium. The patient support apparatus is configured to provide other therapies, such as pulmonary therapies, in addition to the air fluidization therapy.

Abstract: A method of detecting a change in occupancy status of a fluidizable bed (10) includes determining (102) an unloaded plenum pressure value corresponding to the absence of a load on the bed, determining (104) a loaded plenum pressure value corresponding to the presence of an occupant on the bed, and establishing a reference (PREF) as a function of at least one of the unloaded plenum pressure value and the loaded plenum pressure value. A signal (116, 120) is issued in response to a relationship between the reference and a value (PMON) representative of actual pressure in the plenum. The bed also includes a pressure sensor (60) for monitoring a pressure value representative of pressure in the plenum and a controller (50) for issuing a signal (116, 120) responsive to a relationship between the monitored value and a reference value.

Abstract: A varying depth fluidized bed comprises a tank assembly containing fluidizable medium. The tank assembly comprises at least one step such that the depth of fluidizable medium is greater in one region of the tank assembly relative to another.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for optimizing a level of fluidization of a fluidizable medium in a fluidized person support apparatus.

Abstract: A fabric diffuser for use with a fluidized person support apparatus is disclosed. A fluidized bed comprises a tank assembly containing fluidizable medium. The tank assembly comprises a fabric diffuser through which fluid is introduced into the fluidizable medium.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes an air supply and an air fluidization therapy bed including a fluidization space and a fluidizable medium positioned in the fluidization space. The air fluidization therapy bed receives a flow of pressurized air from the air supply. The flow of pressurized air operable to fluidize the fluidizable medium. The patient support apparatus is configured to provide other therapies, such as pulmonary therapies, in addition to the air fluidization therapy.

Abstract: A varying depth fluidized bed comprises a tank assembly containing fluidizable medium. The tank assembly comprises at least one step such that the depth of fluidizable medium is greater in one region of the tank assembly relative to another.

Abstract: A fluid management system comprises an impeller module which discharges fluid to a fluid destination, a motor module, and a coolant flowpath which services the motor module and exhausts coolant to a coolant destination different from the fluid destination. A fluidizable bed comprises impeller and motor modules, a fluidizable medium, and a fluid conditioning system. The fluid conditioning system is a fluid destination for fluid discharged from the impeller module and also conveys the discharged fluid to the fluidizable medium. A coolant flowpath for the motor module exhausts coolant to a coolant destination which differs from the fluid destination. A method of heat management comprises directing a stream of fluidizing medium to the fluidizable medium, urging a stream of coolant to flow past the motor, and proportioning the coolant stream downstream of the motor between first and second coolant destinations as a function of temperature of the fluidizable medium.

Abstract: A method of detecting a change in occupancy status of a fluidizable bed (10) includes determining (102) an unloaded plenum pressure value corresponding to the absence of a load on the bed, determining (104) a loaded plenum pressure value corresponding to the presence of an occupant on the bed, and establishing a reference (PREF) as a function of at least one of the unloaded plenum pressure value and the loaded plenum pressure value. A signal (116, 120) is issued in response to a relationship between the reference and a value (PMON) representative of actual pressure in the plenum. The bed also includes a pressure sensor (60) for monitoring a pressure value representative of pressure in the plenum and a controller (50) for issuing a signal (116, 120) responsive to a relationship between the monitored value and a reference value.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for optimizing a level of fluidization of a fluidizable medium in a fluidized person support apparatus.

Abstract: A transient improvement circuit is disclosed for cathode ray tube (CRT) amplifiers with automatic kinescope bias feedback circuits. An NPN transistor and a PNP transistor are provided, each having a collector, an emitter and a base. A video input signal is applied to the base of the NPN transistor. A first collector resistor is connected between the collector of the NPN transistor and a power supply voltage, the collector of the NPN transistor also being connected to the base of the PNP transistor. A first emitter resistor is connected between the emitter of the NPN transistor and ground, and the first emitter resistor has, connected in parallel therewith, a filter capacitor and a second emitter resistor connected in series with the filter capacitor.

Abstract: A picture in picture (PIP) video signal is applied to a display device via a non-linear processor that is enabled during display of a main picture component and disabled during display of an inset picture component responsive to a PIP identification signal. The non-linear processor is formed in an integrated circuit which includes a pin for connection to a capacitor that stores peak levels of the PIP video signal. The PIP identification signal is subjected to a voltage level translation for varying the pin voltage over a range of values, .DELTA.V, for facilitating ON/OFF operation of the non-linear processor and is applied to a selected plate of the capacitor for varying the pin voltage without substantial alternation of charge stored within the capacitor whereby only a single pin is required for both capacitor storage and on/off control of the non-linear processor and undesirable visual artifacts, such as "trailing contrast bars", are avoided.

Abstract: A composite video input signal is delayed by a delay element and the delayed composite signal is applied to luminance and chrominance inputs of a picture processor for received signals of an NTSC format. For received signals of a PAL format, the delayed composite signal is applied only to the luminance input of the picture processor and the chrominance component of the received signal is transcoded to the NTSC format and applied, without passing through the composite signal delay element, to the chrominance input of the picture processor. The delay of the delay element for the composite video signal is selected to be equal to the transcoding delay whereby luminance and chrominance components of received signals of either NTSC or PAL format are delay compensated.

Abstract: A network combines luminance and chrominance signals to provide a composite video signal wherein the chrominance signal is subjected to band pass filtering to reject low frequency noise and the luminance signal is subjected to filtering by a predetermined amount at the color subcarrier frequency to reject color dots. In a preferred implementation, the filter is realized with only one inductor and one capacitor thereby preventing displayed artifacts with the economic and reliability benefits of minimal parts count.