Abstract: A method for tracking a change in tissue status includes receiving at least some demographic information regarding an individual being monitored, receiving information regarding a first tissue status for the individual, comparing the received information with a threshold tissue status selected at least in part based on the at least some demographic information regarding the individual, and providing an alert indicative of a change in tissue status in response to determining that the received information exceeds the threshold tissue status. A system for implementing the methods of various embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a patient support apparatus includes a mattress having an air bladder system configured to sense pressure levels along the mattress surface and perform unloading of mattress areas corresponding to specific patient body areas to relief loading to the area, and to perform unloading independently or in combination with lateral rotation. The air bladder system may include a support bladder system and a rotation bladder system.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a microclimate system includes a topper and an air box. The topper is configured to conduct air along a surface of the topper so that heat and moisture from a patient lying on the topper are drawn away from the surface. The air box includes a blower coupled to the topper to provide air to the topper to be conducted along the surface of the topper. The air box may also include an environmental sensor unit coupled configured to detect environmental information corresponding to the environment around the microclimate system.

Abstract: A topper for a patient support surface includes an actively-cooled region that is positioned to deliver air flow under a specific area to provide localized treatment and/or moisture removal to a patient supported on the topper.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface to support a patient. The patient support surface has at least one air bladder that is inflated and/or deflated to achieve a turn assist function and/or a therapy function of the patient support surface. A graphical user interface (GUI) is configured to receive user inputs from a caregiver to initiate the turn assist or therapy functions. The patient support apparatus has control circuitry coupled to the GUI. The GUI is controlled by the control circuitry to display information indicating that the patient is improperly positioned on the patient support surface for either the turn assist function or the therapy function. Alternatively or additionally, the control circuitry indicates that the patient is improperly positioned for raising a head section of a bed frame.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface to support a patient. The patient support surface has at least one air bladder that is inflated and/or deflated to achieve a turn assist function and/or a therapy function of the patient support surface. A graphical user interface (GUI) is configured to receive user inputs from a caregiver to initiate the turn assist or therapy functions. The patient support apparatus has control circuitry coupled to the GUI. The GUI is controlled by the control circuitry to display information indicating that the patient is improperly positioned on the patient support surface for either the turn assist function or the therapy function. Alternatively or additionally, the control circuitry indicates that the patient is improperly positioned for raising a head section of a bed frame.

Abstract: A topper (38) for a bed extends in longitudinal and lateral directions and includes a fluid flowpath (60) for channeling fluid through the topper from an inlet (62) to an outlet (64). The flowpath is configured to distribute the fluid to a preferred target region (50) of the topper. A bed which includes the topper has a blower (72) connected to the topper inlet for supplying air (88) to the flowpath.

Abstract: A patient support surface includes a cushion and an inflatable patient positioning unit. The cushion is adapted to support a patient. The inflatable patient positioning unit is arranged over a portion of a top side of the cushion at a foot end of the cushion. The inflatable patient positioning unit includes a plurality of positioner bladders shaped so that when inflated a distal end of each positioner bladder is taller than a proximal end of the positioner bladder.

Abstract: A bed comprises a mattress and a topper resting atop the mattress and extending in longitudinal and lateral directions. The topper has a fluid flowpath having an inlet and an outlet. The flowpath exhibits a nonuniform resistance to fluid flow in at least one of the longitudinal and lateral directions. The bed also includes a blower connected to the inlet for supplying air to the flowpath. The resistance may be a monotonically varying resistance to fluid flow in at least one of the longitudinal and lateral directions and configured to preferentially drive fluid flow through the topper so that a larger proportion of the fluid flowing through the topper flows under a target region and a relatively smaller portion bypasses the target region.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a surface and a pneumatic system cooperating to provide a microclimate system for reducing moisture at the interface of a patient and the surface. The patient support apparatus further includes a graphical user interface and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to adjust operation of the microclimate system in response to sensor outputs from sensors included in the microclimate system and caregiver inputs from the graphical user interface.

Abstract: An occupant support includes a turn assist layer which includes left and right side arrays of two or more longitudinally distributed turn assist members. Each array member comprises one or more longitudinally distributed turn assist bladders. At least two of the array members on the left side are longitudinally spaced from each other by a left intermember reach-in space having a left intermember dimension. At least two of the array members on the right side are longitudinally spaced from each other by a right intermember reach-in space having a right intermember dimension. A support layer resides above the turn assist layer. The support layer includes a collapsible zone at least part of which overlies the intermember spaces. The occupant support also includes a user interface for enabling a user to operate the turn assist layer.

Abstract: A patient support surface includes a cushion and an inflatable patient positioning unit. The cushion is adapted to support a patient. The inflatable patient positioning unit is arranged over a portion of a top side of the cushion at a foot end of the cushion. The inflatable patient positioning unit includes a plurality of positioner bladders shaped so that when inflated a distal end of each positioner bladder is taller than a proximal end of the positioner bladder.

Abstract: A topper for a patient support surface includes an actively-cooled region that is positioned to deliver air flow under a specific area to provide localized treatment and/or moisture removal to a patient supported on the topper.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a microclimate system includes a topper and an air box. The topper is configured to conduct air along a surface of the topper so that heat and moisture from a patient lying on the topper are drawn away from the surface. The air box includes a blower coupled to the topper to provide air to the topper to be conducted along the surface of the topper. The air box may also include an environmental sensor unit coupled configured to detect environmental information corresponding to the environment around the microclimate system.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a control system that measures changes in the pressure of one or more zones of a patient supporting surface and utilizes the changes in pressure to determine the mobility of a person supported on the patient supporting surface. The mobility of the person may be measured using one of several methods. The mobility measurement results in the determination of a mobility score. The mobility score is graphically displayed on a user interface that is interactive and allows a user to view additional information besides the mobility score.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a surface and a pneumatic system cooperating to provide a microclimate system for reducing moisture at the interface of a patient and the surface. The patient support apparatus further includes a graphical user interface and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to adjust operation of the microclimate system in response to sensor outputs from sensors included in the microclimate system and caregiver inputs from the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface to support a patient. The patient support surface has at least one air bladder that is inflated and/or deflated to achieve a turn assist function and/or a therapy function of the patient support surface. A graphical user interface (GUI) is configured to receive user inputs from a caregiver to initiate the turn assist or therapy functions. The patient support apparatus has control circuitry coupled to the GUI. The GUI is controlled by the control circuitry to display information indicating that the patient is improperly positioned on the patient support surface for either the turn assist function or the therapy function. Alternatively or additionally, the control circuitry indicates that the patient is improperly positioned for raising a head section of a bed frame.