Abstract: A patient support apparatus is convertible between a bed position, having a generally horizontal sleeping surface upon which a person lies in a supine position, and a chair egress position, allowing a person to exit the support from a sitting position. The patient support comprises a deck, a foot panel coupled to the deck, and an inflatable bladder assembly coupled to the foot panel. The inflatable bladder assembly is coupled to the foot panel and both the foot panel and inflatable bladder assembly are removable from the deck.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating sleep is disclosed. Embodiments of the sleep system receive a person's lower arm in an arm cavity of a person laying in a sleep-on-side position. An exemplary sleep system has a trunk rest and head rest. Two separated cantilevered supports extending outwardly from the base portion of the head rest are in contact with and supported by a top edge of the trunk rest, thereby defining an arm aperture that receives the person's lower arm when laying in a sleep-on-side position. An arm cavity is defined by lower surfaces of the two cantilevered supports and a trunk rest cantilevered arm cavity surface that extends generally downward and inward.

Abstract: A positioning system for a body comprises a flexible bag of a gas-impermeable material/including a valve to permit evacuation of the interior thereof, the bag containing a flowable granular material and at least one bolster. The body can be at least part of a human form, such as a patient. Systems are generally provided for specific body regions such as the hip or thorax, and for the whole body. The bolster is larger than the grains of the granular material. A size dimension of the bolster is therefore preferably at least 5 times the- size dimension of the granular material, although it sill usually be one or more orders of magnitude larger. Various forms of bolster are possible. A bolster that includes a generally flat section and an upstanding section extending therefrom can be used to locate a shoulder region of the patient in a reproducible yet comfortable form. A bolster that is generally cylindrical in shape can be used to support various areas of a patient such as the neck or knee.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating spinal alignment is disclosed. The contoured sleep system facilitates alignment of a person's spine along the Sagittal plane when laying in a sleep-on-side position. An exemplary contoured sleep system has a unibody trunk rest, head rest and spacing member.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating sleep is disclosed. Embodiments of the sleep system receive a person's lower arm in an arm cavity of a person laying in a sleep-on-side position. An exemplary sleep system has a trunk rest and head rest. Two separated cantilevered supports extending outwardly from the base portion of the head rest are in contact with and supported by a top edge of the trunk rest, thereby defining an arm aperture that receives the person's lower arm when laying in a sleep-on-side position. An arm cavity is defined by lower surfaces of the two cantilevered supports and a trunk rest cantilevered arm cavity surface that extends generally downward and inward.

Abstract: A foam core for a pressure reduction healthcare mattress is disclosed. It includes a top layer made of memory retention foam, a middle layer made of foam and having a convex shape that is higher along a longitudinal center line than along the two sides, and a lower support layer made of foam. The top layer is made of a torso piece and a softer foot/lower leg piece. The middle layer includes a heel pillow that fits into a heel pillow cavity in the foam, the heel pillow including layers of fiber material over a crown shaped foam insert. The lower support layer has a sloped portion in a lower leg section that slopes down toward a heel end of the foam core. Also disclosed is a pressure reduction healthcare mattress that includes the foam core and a cover.

Abstract: An adjustable air mattress device comprising a main air mattress component having an inflatable inner cavity; a first torso elevation component disposed on a top surface of the main air mattress component at a front end having art inflatable inner cavity; a second torso elevation component disposed on a top surface of the first torso elevation component having an inflatable inner cavity; a first leg elevation component disposed on the top surface of the main air mattress component at a back end having an inflatable inner cavity; and a second leg elevation component disposed on a top surface of the first leg elevation component having an inflatable inner cavity; wherein the user can independently inflate the main air mattress component, the first torso elevation component, the second torso elevation component, the first leg elevation component, the second leg elevation component, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A patient support surface including a cover defining an interior region, a layer of three dimensional material, located at the interior region, and an air circulation device disposed adjacent the layer of three dimensional material. The patient support surface includes at least one of a percussion device and a vibration device, located at the interior region.

Abstract: Air mattresses primarily intended for hospitals, long-term care facilities and in-home use are described. The mattress includes multiple foam layers and an air sector having multiple resilient foam filled air cylinders. The air cylinders at different locations are filled with foam having different density (firmness); some are filled with multiple layers of foam. Each air cylinder has an air inlet connected to the atmosphere by an inlet valve and an air outlet. The air outlets are either connected to one or more restricted internal check outlet valves in a non-powered air mattress, or connected to a pump via hose connectors in a powered air mattress. The restricted outflow of air from the cylinders in a non-powered air mattress allows the patient to slowly settle into the supportive foam layers for optimal interface pressure distribution. The air cylinders re-inflate when the patient adjusts position or is vacated from the surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating spinal alignment is disclosed. The contoured sleep system facilitates alignment of a person's spine along the Sagittal plane when laying in a sleep-on-side position. An exemplary contoured sleep system has a trunk rest having a trunk rest surface and a trunk rest face.

Abstract: A full-body support cushion supports a person essentially prone in either a face-up orientation or a face-down orientation, with the person's head, neck, upper torso, lower torso and legs maintained in comfortable longitudinal alignment. Upper body and lower body segments of fast-drying reticulated synthetic polymeric foam material include head and leg recesses for accommodating the person's head and legs when the person is relaxed in either orientation. An air passage provides an airway to the head recess. A pillow segment of similar foam material is coupled with the upper body segment for selective movement to close the head recess and prop up the person's head when desired for reading or other observations while in the face-up orientation.

Abstract: A standard child swing apparatus with a holder for supporting a baby on its abdomen. A vibration unit is also included within the holder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating spinal alignment is disclosed. The contoured sleep system facilitates alignment of a person's spine along the Sagittal plane when laying in a sleep-on-side position. An exemplary contoured sleep system has a trunk rest having a trunk rest surface and a trunk rest face, the trunk rest surface operable to support a trunk of a person laying in a sleep-on-side position; and a head rest having a head rest surface and a head rest face, such that when placed in operative relation to the trunk rest, the head rest face opposes the trunk rest face and is separated from the trunk rest face by a separation distance such that the trunk rest and the head rest cooperate to define a cavity to receive a lower arm the person laying in the sleep-on-side position.

Abstract: A bed apparatus having a base and two inflatable members for elevating the torso and legs of a user is provided. The inflatable members are removably attachable to the base and can be selectively spaced apart, making the bed spatially adjustable. The extent to which a user's body is elevated is controlled by inflation of the inflatable members, making the bed vertically adjustable.

Abstract: A foam core cushion mattress assembly provides semi-independent foam pillars on the upper surface of the mattress. The mattress may be unitary, or comprise multiple cushioning components, possibly base, body support and foot cushions. The body support cushion is constructed from a flat, rectangular solid, foam element whose upper surface is cut into an array of rectangular solid pillars, preferably by a hot wire cutting method. The array of rectangular solid pillars is grouped into a central array comprising pillars with generally square top surfaces and edge rows of rectangular solid pillars having rectangular top surfaces. The depth of the hot wire cuts into the surface of the body support cushion is preferably approximately one-half the overall thickness of the body support cushion or approximately three fourths of the length of the shortest face of the pillar. A zippered fabric cover removeably envelops the assembled cushioning components.

Abstract: Multiple varieties of patient support surfaces are presented with a common modular assembly primarily including a perimeter chassis and integrated upper support element. Perimeter bolsters provide relatively firmer support for gently prompting a patient towards the center of the bed, without obstructing regular entry and egress. The added stability facilitates safer transfers and better sitting at the edge of the bed. Pressure redistribution air cylinders (turned either longitudinally or laterally) are captured by shaped, slotted inner bolsters and underside arches of an integral foam topper. Each foam topper integrally incorporated may include a sloping heel pressure relief section for redistributing load to relatively more pressure-tolerant lower legs and calves.

Abstract: A bed for a person is provided. The bed includes a frame, a deck, a mattress, a pair of head end siderails, and a pair of foot end siderails. The deck includes a retractable foot section. The mattress includes a foot portion positioned over the retractable foot section. The foot portion includes a calf support portion and a heel-pressure relief portion.

Abstract: A pillow (or several pillows depending upon need/size configuration) having unique shapes for placing between an individual's back, head, backside, legs, arms (or any combination thereof) and the floor, ground, bed, table or other surface to provide anatomical support as opposed to simply providing cushioning between the body on the underlying surface. When the individual is lying on his or her back, the pillow provides for proper alignment of the body to relieve pressure on joints, nerves, muscles and skin. Its unique posturing permits the body to relax and rest more comfortably and also potentially increase blood flow and nerve transmission throughout the body or through specific areas of the body.

Abstract: A foam core cushion mattress assembly provides semi-independent foam pillars on the upper surface of the mattress. The mattress may be unitary, or comprise three cushioning components: a base, a body support cushion, and a foot cushion insert. A removable fabric cover envelops the mattress assembly. The body support cushion is constructed from a flat, rectangular solid, foam element whose upper surface is cut into an array of rectangular solid pillars, preferably by a hot wire cutting method. The array of rectangular solid pillars is grouped into a central array comprising pillars with generally square top surfaces and edge rows of rectangular solid pillars having rectangular top surfaces. The depth of the hot wire cuts into the surface of the body support cushion is preferably approximately one-half the overall thickness of the body support cushion or approximately three fourths of the length of the shortest face of the pillar. A zippered fabric cover removably envelops the assembled cushioning components.

Abstract: A therapeutic support is configured for recumbent elevation of a patient's upper torso such that the patient's spine is downwardly inclined at an angle within a range of 5° through 20°, with the patient's head elevated in the order of nine through twelve inches above the gluteus maximus. From the lowest elevation of the upper torso section, the support includes a reverse slope section which supports the gluteus maximus and thighs of the patient. The reverse slope section extends at an angle within a range of 15° to 25°. From the upper limit of the reverse slope section, the support includes a lower leg support section which extends horizontally to beyond the patient's feet. The reverse slope section assures that the patient rests comfortably in a supine recumbent position and will slip downwardly from the upper torso section. The mattress can be fabricated from a suitable foam, e.g.

Abstract: A cushion is provided for use on a foot section of an articulating deck of a bed to support the legs of a person on the bed. The foot section of the deck is movable from a generally horizontal bed position to a generally vertical chair position. The cushion includes an air bladder configured to be inflated when the deck is in its horizontal bed position and deflated when the deck is in its generally vertical chair position, a cover surrounding the air bladder, and an elastic cord coupled to the cover. The elastic cord is configured to gather the cover and the air bladder toward the foot section of the deck as the air bladder is deflated.

Abstract: A massage device disclosed consists of a rigid flat base (30), which when configured with contoured modules (34, 36, 38) and rigid pressure nibs (10, 12, 14) or blades (20, 24, 26, 28) contours the length of an adult human body. The device operates by arranging the massage elements including buttocks, back, shoulder, and neck modules with pressure nibs or blades to match the contoured surface of the backside of person. The person then lies upward facing on the device with massage pressure applied across the entire body for the desired therapeutic effect. The device includes adjustments for body size and shape and therapeutic intensities according to pain relief requirements.

Abstract: A portable orthopedic bed for the correct orthopedic support of a patient has a longitudinally adjacent array of laterally extending air inflatable chambers wherein the array has a first set of chambers and a second set of chambers. A set of chambers has a lower back supporting chamber adjacent a midpoint between the first and second sets of chambers, the lower back chamber also adjacent an upper back supporting chamber on an opposed side of the lower back supporting chamber from the midpoint, an upper foundation chamber adjacent the upper back supporting chamber on an opposed side of the upper back supporting chamber opposed to the lower back supporting chamber, wherein the upper foundation chamber is generally triangular in longitudinal cross section to thereby provide a buttressing foundation for the upper back supporting chamber.

Abstract: A sound sleep system and provides a full body length orthopedic posture pillow that maintains correct spinal posture during supine, side lying, and prone sleep positions.