Abstract: A patient turning apparatus (10), for laterally rotating a patient (30), the apparatus including an air supply, a pair of inflatable bladders (14), each having a tab (18) extending from one end, wherein the tab (18) is in communication with the bladder (14), a connector (17) extending from each tab (18) and in communication therewith, tubes connecting the connectors to the air supply, a pair of sleeves (12) adapted to house pair of inflatable bladders (14) and adjustably maintain bladders (14) in an overlapping configuration, a head pad (37) removably attached to the bladders (14), wherein the head pad (37) is adapted to accommodate variously sized patients, a calf raiser (42) adapted to accommodate variously sized patients, removably attached to the sleeves (12), a pair of bolster retainers (52) removably attached to the sleeves (12) each having a flap portion (54) and a retaining loop (58), a pair of bolsters (50), adapted to slidably fit into the retaining loops (58), a removable body pad (32) attached to

Abstract: First and second air cell units 2 and 3, respectively, are divided into their right and left air cells 2a, 3a, 2b and 3b, respectively, and central bent sections 2c and 3c. Each of the bent section 2c and 3c connects associated right and left air cells together at offset relationship in the direction of the mat length. The first and the second air cell units are alternately inflated and deflated, so that the air cells are inflated asymmetrically to thereby support a patient lying thereon at asymmetrical portions. The bent sections 2c and 3c are configured to gently deform the respective air cells so as to allow the bent sections to abut closely on the patient's back without a sense of incompatibility with the air cells. The air mat may thus provide well-balanced and well-distributed supporting forces for the patient, which is suitable for preventing decubitus of the patient.

Abstract: An alternating pressure pad includes a first series and a second series of inflatable cells. The first and second series of inflatable cells are interleaved, with one series within the other series. Each cell of the first series of inflatable cells and each cell of the second series of inflatable cells extends transversely across the alternating pressure pad and defines a non-linear and non-repeating path, with the path defined by substantially all of the cells of the first series being identical to the path defined by substantially all of the cells of the second series.

Abstract: A medical table includes a base. The medical table also includes a number of rollers, supported by the base, which collectively define a bed surface for supporting a patient, wherein each roller of the number of rollers (1) defines a fluid impervious bag having a void therein, and (2) contains a plurality of beads within the void of the fluid impervious bag, and further wherein the number of rollers includes a prime roller having a shaft extending therefrom. The medical table further includes a motor mechanically coupled to the shaft of the prime roller. The medical table also includes a vacuum source in fluid communication with each void of the number of rollers. A method of moving a patient from a first position to a second position is also disclosed.

Abstract: A portable patient torso support and rotating system mattress overlay having a base sheet sized to fit under a patient with means to secure it to the support surface of a mattress, and two side by side pairs of inflatable and deflatable bladders attached to the base sheet and sized and positioned to fit under each side of the torso of a patient lying thereon and structured, when fully inflated, to rotate the patient up to 90 degrees to turn on their hip.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for preventing bed sores in a bedridden patient. A patient-supporting low air loss bed includes a frame, a first set of air bags for supporting a patient thereon mounted transversely on the frame, and a second set of substantially rectangular air bags for supporting a patient thereon mounted substantially transversely on the frame, and all of the air bags are connected to a gas source. The configuration of the air bags is such that when the first set of air bags is inflated, the patient supported thereon in moved toward the first side of the frame of the low air loss bed and when the second set of air bags is inflated while the first set of air bags is deflated, the patient is moved toward the second side of the low air loss bed. The configuration of the air bags also retains the patient on the top surface of the air bags when the patient is rolled in one direction or the other.

Abstract: The mattress includes a main assembly, a pair of bolsters, and a bottom assembly. The main assembly is adapted to overlay the conventional mattress of the bed, and has opposing longitudinal sides, and comprises a plurality of cells that are selectively inflatable for moving the patient in the preselected ways so as to prevent the patient from having the skin breakdowns. The pair of bolsters are replaceably attached to, and extend along, the opposing longitudinal sides of the main assembly, and are inflatable, and when inflated, form barriers that prevent the patient from falling off the bed when the patient is turning. The bottom assembly is adapted to overlay the conventional mattress of the bed and underlie the main assembly, and when inflated, forms a static air space between the main assembly and the conventional mattress of the bed that prevents the patient from bottoming out on the low side of the turning, while suspending the patient in the cushion of static air if the power to the main assembly fails.

Abstract: A cushion for use as an overlay for providing pressure relief so that pressure ulcers may be eliminated or retarded. The cushion includes a pair of inflatable side-by-side upper cells, a pair of individually inflatable side-by-side lower bladders, a crib, and a manifold all disposed within a cover. The manifold, which has inlet hoses connectable to a pump and outlet hoses connectable to the cells, bladders, and, if inflatable, the crib, is reusable, and the other components may be made inexpensively to be disposable so that the expense of cleaning and sanitizing after patient use may be avoided. For inclining the cushion upper surface to one side, one of the bladders is inflated while the other is uninflated.

Abstract: A surgical table includes a base, a vertical support member extending vertically upwardly from the base, a frame extending outwardly from the support member, and a mattress supported by the frame and positioned to lie above the frame. The mattress is configured to support a patient and has at least one bladder configured to receive a medium. The surgical table also includes a power pack positioned to lie within the base and configured to supply the medium to the mattress to change the shape of the mattress.

Abstract: An improved inflatable medical patient transfer apparatus has a combination of transverse partition members and a raised perimeter section to reduce deleterious ballooning and uneven inflation as well as quick emergency deflation and provide additional security for a patient supported upon such transfer apparatus. Additional differentially inflatable patient rolling chambers are preferably supplied on the top of the transfer apparatus to provide assistance to medical personnel in beginning to roll patients reclining or lying upon the transfer apparatus particularly in a deflated condition on a hospital bed. An improved air inlet arrangement is also provided along with certain indicia upon the surface of the transfer apparatus to expedite use by hospital personnel.

Abstract: A patient support includes an alternating pressure pad having separate sets of alternately inflatable cells and at least one further inflatable cell under the pad, with a support for the head of a patient lying thereon, and a control mechanism arranged to maintain alternate inflation and deflation of the cells of the pad to deflate the cells at the head end of the pad and also to inflate the cells under the pad in order to raise the level of the chest of a patient supported on the pad.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which supports a patient on an inflatable structure. The inflatable structure preferably has two components: a) lower inflatable layer which is selectively operable to provide basic support for the patient and which includes a plurality of laterally offset zone which may be independently inflatable to control rotation of the patient. Further, a second inflatable layer includes a plurality of zones for establishing optimal patient interface pressures and patient comfort levels, and may also include sufficiently independent inner chambers to facilitate the providing of specific therapies such as alternation of primary pressure contact areas, or percussion or vibration of the patient through inner cell inflation.

Abstract: An inflatable mattress having multiple compartments which may be selectively inflated and deflated to produce variable contact of the mattress with the occupant's body. Some of the compartments may be active, and others inactive, with the active compartments of the mattress controlled by automatic controls to cyclically inflate and deflate the compartments. The device may be operated manually to allow the operator to deflate the necessary compartments for placement of a bedpan, or other access to the occupant. Multiple foam rubber wedges are inserted into deflated compartments, then inflated to turn the occupant on his or her side. Various embodiments are inflated by air, nitrogen or water. A water-to-air heat pump, or an air-to-air heat pump may be used to control the temperature.

Abstract: An air mattress includes a plurality of inflatable sacs juxtapositionally connected together in a mattress envelope; an air pump for inflating or deflating the sacs for cushioning a patient ridden thereon; a leg bending device consisting of a plurality of inflatable sacs transversely juxtapositioned at a leg section of the mattress envelope and formed as arcuate shape when inflated for cushioning a patient's bending leg; a body turning device consisting of a plurality of inflatable sacs longitudinally juxtapositioned at a right and left side of a torso section and a head section of the mattress envelope, and alternatively inflated and deflated at the right and left sides for turning the patient's body leftwardly and rightwardly; and a head lifting device consisting of a plurality of inflatable sacs gradually decreasing in height from a head portion to a patient's shoulder or neck portion for cushioning the patient's head, thereby forming an air mattress for ergonomically cushioning different body portions of

Abstract: A surface pad system for a surgical table includes a cover having an upwardly-facing patient-support surface defining an interior region of the surface pad system, and a vacuum bead bag received in the interior region. The vacuum bead bag includes a flexible cover defining an interior region containing compressible beads including a lower layer of compressible beads and an upper layer of compressible bead separated from the lower layer of compressible beads by a membrane made from a flexible material. The system also includes a bladder received in the interior region of the cover and positioned to lie beneath the vacuum bead bag. The bladder defines an interior region and is inflatable when pressurized fluid is received in the interior region of the bladder so that the vacuum bead bag conformingly engages the patient on the patient-support surface when the bladder is inflated.

Abstract: An anti-decubitus pneumatic mattress adapted to replaceably overlay a conventional mattress of a bed and have a patient move in preselected ways so as to prevent the patient from having skin breakdowns, and from falling off the bed when the patient is turning, and from bottoming out on a low side of the turning, while being suspended in a cushion of static air, if power to the anti-decubitus pneumatic mattress fails. The mattress includes a main assembly, a pair of bolsters, and a bottom assembly. The main assembly is adapted to overlay the conventional mattress of the bed, and has opposing longitudinal sides, and comprises a plurality of cells that are selectively inflatable for moving the patient in the preselected ways so as to prevent the patient from having the skin breakdowns.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tool is provided for gripping an object while in another embodiment, the tool is provided for supporting or tuning a person or object resting on a bed or other support. The tool is comprised of a hollow body which can be deformed under a pressure-loaded condition into a concavely curved main surface with an opposite convexly curved back surface. The hollow body has a plurality of parallel chambers on opposite sides of a housing which is transversed to the chambers so as to receive a pressurized medium via the housing. When pressure medium is applied to the chamber, the chamber deforms from a rectilinear condition into a curved condition.

Abstract: An air sac for use on a low air loss bed. The air sac is provided with a releasable connector for retaining the air sac to the low air loss bed and with a nipple for receiving air from a gas supply source to inflate the air sac. The air sac is also provided with a cutout which allows the patient to be rolled toward one end of the air sac when the air sac is inflated. A pillar is provided on the end of the air sac toward which the patient is rolled when the air sac is inflated to retain the patient on the air sac. The air sacs are arranged in sets with every other sac mounted to the frame of the low air loss bed in alternating arrangement whereby the patient is rolled first in one direction when the air sacs of one set are inflated and then back in the other direction when the air sacs in the first set are deflated and the air sacs in the second set are inflated.

Abstract: A rotational therapy apparatus is provided for use on a bed having a base frame, a deck coupled to the base frame, a support surface located on the deck, an air handling unit, an electrical communication network, and a rotation control module including a controller coupled to the communication network. The rotational therapy apparatus includes a normally deflated rotation air bladder located between the support surface and the deck. The rotation air bladder remains deflated during normal use of the bed. The rotation air bladder is coupled to the rotation control module for selectively inflating and deflating the rotation air bladder to provide rotational therapy to a body located on the support surface. The apparatus also includes a graphical interactive display coupled to the electrical communication network.

Abstract: A medical table includes a base. The medical table also includes a number of rollers, supported by the base, which collectively define a bed surface for supporting a patient, wherein each roller of the number of rollers (1) defines a fluid impervious bag having a void therein, and (2) contains a plurality of beads within the void of the fluid impervious bag, and further wherein the number of rollers includes a prime roller having a shaft extending therefrom. The medical table further includes a motor mechanically coupled to the shaft of the prime roller. The medical table also includes a vacuum source in fluid communication with each void of the number of rollers. A method of moving a patient from a first position to a second position is also disclosed.

Abstract: A turn mattress includes a plurality of inflatable sacs juxtapositionally connected together within a mattress envelope, each inflatable sac being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the mattress and having a right cell and a left cell separated by a central diaphragm and respectively communicated with an air distributing system to be alternatively inflated or deflated for turning a patient ridden on the mattress from side to side, and a pair of restoring air bags each inherently formed and constantly inflated in each cell, whereby upon deflation of either cell, the restoring air bag as inflated will serve as a side guard for preventing a slipping of the patient away from the mattress laid on a hospital bed.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a lateral rotation therapy mattress system for a patient, including: a plurality of side-by-side longitudinal air cells, the air cells being divided into first and second side-by-side groups, wherein decreasing the pressure of pressurized air in the second group will cause the patient to rotate in the direction of the second group; and first and second pairs of solenoid valves connected to provide, respectively, the pressurized air to the first and second groups, wherein opening one of the solenoid valves in a the first and second pairs of solenoid valves will provide a desired low air pressure level and opening both of the solenoid valves in a the first and second pairs of solenoid valves will provide a desired high air pressure level, the low air pressure levels providing partial turn of the patient and the high pressure levels providing full turn of the patient.

Abstract: A bed includes a base frame, a deck coupled to the base frame, an electrical communication network, an air handling unit mounted on the base frame, a plurality of air therapy devices located on the bed, and a plurality of control modules. Each control module includes a connector for coupling a corresponding air therapy device to the air handling unit and to the electrical communication network. Each control module also includes a controller for operating the corresponding air therapy device with the air handling unit based on command signals received from the electrical communication network.

Abstract: A mattress for recumbent prophylaxis, which has a plurality of support elements in sequence relative to one another, with each support element having at least two air-inflatable double chambers or inflatable members connected together by a fillet. Each double chamber or inflatable member has a bottom hollow body connected to an opposite, top hollow body by a common partition wall with at least one opening. The support elements are detachably connectable with one another and are arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mattress. Each of the bottom hollow bodies are connectable by a short connecting piece through hose connections to an air pump assembly in such a manner that the different chamber systems which are not communicating with one another can be acted upon with air alternately.

Abstract: An apparatus adjusts the pressures of a therapeutic mattress surface in accordance with the angular position of that surface. The apparatus comprises an angular position sensor and a rotation sensor which are housed together in an enclosure having a top surface in the form of a circular plate. The circular plate mounts either on the surface of the mattress or on the bottom of a bed frame supporting the mattress. The angular position and rotation sensors measure the horizontal plane referenced perpendicular to the direction of the force of gravity. The apparatus further comprises a controller blower valve assembly which processes data received from the angular position and rotation sensors to maintain, increase, or decrease the pressures within the mattress.

Abstract: An inflatable air mattress positioner is provided for use with a casket, coffin or alternative container. The assembly includes a partially pneumatic pillow with a chamber in which is disposed a plurality of air chambers, each one of which has a corresponding air tube and valve assembly in communication therewith. A cushion material is also included in the pillow. The cushion material coacts with the air bladders to position the head, upper arm, chest and shoulder region of a cadaver so that the cadaver chin is disposed in an acceptable proper height in relation with the chest according to that which is acceptable to the mortician and mourners. In addition, the assembly includes an inflatable air mattress having a plurality of air chambers which are independently inflatable to position a cadaver at an appropriate height and angle in the casket for mourner viewing.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which supports a patient on an inflatable structure. The inflatable structure preferably has two components: a) lower inflatable layer which is selectively operable to provide basic support for the patient and which includes a plurality of laterally offset zone which may be independently inflatable to control rotation of the patient. Further, a second inflatable layer includes a plurality of zones for establishing optimal patient interface pressures and patient comfort levels, and may also include sufficiently independent inner chambers to facilitate the providing of specific therapies such as alternation of primary pressure contact areas, or percussion or vibration of the patient through inner cell inflation.

Abstract: By providing position control means cooperatively associated with a support pad with said control means being constructed for arcuately moving the support pad in response to activation by the user, with the position control means and pad peripherally surrounded by a cover, a unique, portable, self-contained, unitary, movably adjustable support assembly is attained whereby individuals are able to position the support pad in any desired location or on any surface while also being able to automatically raise and/or lower the support pad to any position for comfort and support. In the preferred embodiment, the movably adjustable support assembly is constructed with expandable shroud means integrally connected with the cover in association with the position control means for expanding in response to the arcuate movement of the position control means while being automatically retracted into a folded configuration when the control means are returned to its original position.

Abstract: A turning air mattress serving to facilitate the therapeutic benefits of turning a bed ridden patient includes a combination of elongated transverse and longitudinal air cells disposed on a base and encompassed by a cell liner. The air cells are attached to a plurality of cell manifolds in communication with a control system. A top cover covering the air cells is attached to the base, and a fleece and top sheet are fittedly retained over the air cells.The control system having a microprocessor monitors the pressure within the air cells, along with overall system functions. The control system also enables a patient to be rotated from side to side, and leveled after being turned, in a smooth transition from a level position to a turned position, or from a turned position to a level position, while substantially maintaining spinal alignment.