Abstract: An improved patient support structure comprising an articulatable frame, a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks, some of the sacks having one or two comfort slots therein, a low pressure compressed air blower and a plurality of pipes and manifolds for carrying gas from the blower to the sacks. The sacks are connected to the gas supply pipes and manifolds so as to be easily detachable thereform. Each manifold has a variable muffler to control gas exhaust. An automatic switching circuit determines whether to power the brushless DC electric motor from a rectified AC power source or DC power supplied by batteries carried unobtrusively by the support structure. A multi-outlet, variable flow, gas valve connects the blower to the pipes and comprises a housing defining at least two cylinder chambers and a discrete outlet for each cylinder chamber. A primary silencer is connected to each discrete outlet. The sacks rest atop a neoprene membrane which covers a planar upper surface of the frame.

Abstract: An improved patient support structure comprising an articulatable frame, a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks, some of the sacks having one or two comfort slots therein, a low pressure compressed air blower and a plurality of pipes and manifolds for carrying gas from the blower to the sacks. The sacks are connected to the gas supply pipes and manifolds so as to be easily detachable therefrom. Each manifold has a variable muffler to control gas exhaust. An automatic switching circuit determines whether to power the brushless DC electric motor from a rectified AC power source or DC power supplied by batteries carried unobtrusively by the support structure. A multi-outlet, variable flow, gas valve connects to the blower to the pipes and comprises a housing defining at least two cylinder chambers and a discrete outlet for each cylinder chamber. A primary silencer is connected to each discrete outlet. The sacks rest atop a neoprene membrane which covers a planar upper surface of the frame.

Abstract: An improved fluidizable patient support system including an oval tank, a perforated plate received in the tank atop a plurality of spacers, a diffuser board located atop the perforated plate and sealed around its edge, a mass of granular material received atop the diffuser board, a flexible sheet removably secured around upper edges of the tank by snap fitting elements, a wheeled support pedestal for the tank which has a fluid pressure generator therewithin. Pivotal steps and side rails may be associated with the pedestal and tank respectively. A support frame may also be secured to the tank, extending thereabove to receive treatment apparatus.

Abstract: A multi-outlet, variable flow, gas valve connects a blower to the pipes and comprises a housing defining an inlet and a passageway. The valve housing further defines at least two cylinder chambers communicating with the passageway and a discrete outlet for each cylinder chamber communicating therewith. A piston is substantially non-rotatably disposed inside each cylinder chamber and has a threaded opening through the center thereof which receives a threaded portion of a rotatable shaft therethrough. One end of the shaft is rotated by a motor, and the other end of the shaft is connected to an axle of a potentiometer.

Abstract: An improved patient support structure comprises an articulatable frame, a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks, a low pressure compressed air blower and a plurality of pipes for carrying gas from the blower to the sacks. A multi-outlet, variable flow, gas valve comprises a housing defining an inlet and a passageway. The valve housing further defines at least two cylinder chamber communicating with the passageway and a discrete outlet for each cylinder chamber communicating therewith. A piston is substantially non-rotatably disposed inside each cylinder chamber and has a threaded opening through the center thereof with receives a threaded portion of a rotatable shaft therethrough. One end of the shaft is rotated by a motor, and the other end of the shaft is connected to an axle of a potentiometer.

Abstract: An improved fluidizable patient support system including an oval tank, a perforated plate received in the tank atop a plurality of spacers, a diffuser board located atop the perforated plate and sealed around its edge, a mass of granular material received atop the diffuser board, a flexible sheet removably secured around upper edges of the tank by snap fitting elements, a wheeled support pedestal for the tank which has a fluid pressure generator therewithin. Pivotal steps and side rails may be associated with the pedestal and tank respectively. A support frame way also be secured to the tank, extending thereabove to receive treatment apparatus.

Abstract: An improved patient support structure comprising an articulatable frame, a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks, some of the sacks having one or two comfort slots therein, a low pressure compressed air blower and a plurality of pipes for carrying gas from the blower to the sacks. A multi-outlet, variable flow, gas valve connects the blower to the pipes and comprises a housing defining an inlet and a passageway. The sacks rest atop a neoprene membrane which covers a planar upper surface of the frame. Operation of the motor of an exhaust valve is controlled by an electronic exhaust valve control circuit which balances the voltage from the potentiometer of the valve against a voltage output from a preset variable resistor.

Abstract: An improved patient support structure comprises an articulatable frame, a plurality of elongated inflatable sacks, a low pressure compressed air blower and a plurality of pipes for carrying gas from the blower to the sacks. The sacks rest atop a neoprene membrane which covers a planar upper surface of the frame. A variable autotransformer supplies power to the air blower and is adjustable by an electric motor mechanically connected to the autotransformer. Operation of the motor is controlled by an electronic circuit which balances the autotransformer voltage against a voltage output from a preset variable resistor. A multi-outlet, variable flow, gas valve comprises a housing defining an inlet and a passageway. The sacks can be rapidly deflated via a plurality of solenoid valves, and the pipes from the blower can be directed alternatively to different sacks by opening and closing a plurality of manually operated valves.

Abstract: An improved fluidizable patient support system including an oval tank, a perforated plate received in the tank atop a plurality of spacers, a diffuser board located atop the perforated plate and sealed around its edge, a mass of granular material received atop the diffuser board, a flexible sheet removably secured around upper edges of the tank by snap fitting elements, a wheeled support pedestal for the tank which has a fluid pressure generator therewithin. Pivotal steps and side rails may be associated with the pedestal and tank respectively. A support frame may also be secured to the tank, extending thereabove to receive treatment apparatus.

Abstract: A patient support structure that employs fluid pressure to fluidize granular material for patient support. Fluidizable granular material is received within the structure atop a fluid diffuser surface. Separate plenum chambers are located below the diffuser surface with each plenum chamber being associated with valved fluid manifolds. Operators are associated with the valves and a control system for sequential or otherwise opening and closing of the valves to permit controlled fluidization of the granular material over a selected portion of the diffuser surface according to a predetermined arrangement.

Abstract: An improved fluidizable patient support system including an oval tank, a perforated plate received in the tank atop a plurality of spacers, a diffuser board located atop the perforated plate and sealed around its edge, a mass of granular material received atop the diffuser board, a flexible sheet removably secured around upper edges of the tank by snap fitting elements, a wheeled support pedestal for the tank which has a fluid pressure generator therewithin. Pivotal steps and side rails may be associated with the pedestal and tank respectively. A support frame may also be secured to the tank, extending thereabove to receive treatment apparatus.