Patient support

Abstract

A patient support includes a cover and a compressible layer that includes air flow passages extending laterally, longitudinally, and transversely through the layer. The cover envelopes the compressible layer and forms a patient support surface thereon and further is adapted to be liquid impermeable, yet allow moisture vapor flow through the cover into the compressible layer and also allow moisture vapor flow out of the cover at a location other than the interface between a patient's body and patient support surface so that together the cover and the compressible layer will transport away moisture from the patient's body at the interface at the patient support surface and direct the moisture vapor to the location other than the interface at the patient support surface.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application, entitled PATIENT SUPPORT, Ser. No. 61 / 138,354, and filed Dec. 17, 2008, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a support and, more particularly, a patient support, such as a mattress that is adapted for use on a patient bed used in a hospital or other patient care facilities, including long term care facilities or the like.[0003]When patients are hospitalized or bedridden for any significant amount of time, patients can develop pressure sores or ulcers. These pressure sores or ulcers can be exacerbated by the patient's own poor circulation, such as in the case of diabetic patients, but typically form as a result of prolonged immobility, which allows the pressure exerted on the patient's skin from the mattress to decrease circulation in the patient's tissue. Many attempts have been made to reduce the occurr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The present invention provides a patient support that provides improves immersion and envelopment of the patient into the surface of the patient support to thereby increase the contact surface area between the patient support and the patient, which reduces the pressure on the patient's body. Further, the patient support may incorporate a microclimate management system that improves air circulation at the interface between the patient and the patient support.

[0007]In one form of the invention, a patient support includes a cover and a compressible layer that includes air flow passages extending laterally and transversely through the layer. The cover envelopes the compressible layer and forms a patient support. The cover is adapted to allow moisture vapor, and optionally air, to pass through the cover and into the compressible layer at an interface between a patient and the patient support surface and also allow moisture vapor to flow out of the cover at a location other than the interface so that together the cover and compressible layer will provide enhanced air circulation and further wick away moisture from the patient's body at the interface at the patient support surface and optionally direct the moisture, and optionally air, to a location other than the interface at the patient support surface.

Problems solved by technology

When patients are hospitalized or bedridden for any significant amount of time, patients can develop pressure sores or ulcers.

Despite these efforts, pressure sores still remain a health issue.

In addition to reducing circulation in the patients' tissue, lack of mobility can also cause moisture build-up at the point of contact with the mattress.

Moisture build-up can cause maceration in the skin—which makes the skin more permeable and vulnerable to irritants and stresses, such as stresses caused by pressure or by shear, for example when a patient is moved across a mattress.

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