A method for adjusting the pressure of one or more cushions in a human transport system is disclosed. The one or more cushions include a plurality of inflatable chambers and a plurality of pressure sensors associated with the cushions. The pressure sensors may be surface pressure sensors or chamber pressure sensors. A processor associated with the human transport system obtains pressure measurements from the plurality of pressure sensors. Based on the pressure measurements, the processor identifies one or more of the plurality of inflatable chambers whose pressure requirements adjustment. The processor then sends commands that cause the human transport system to adjust the pressure in the one or more inflatable chambers. Systems including cushions and processors are also disclosed.

There is disclosed a method and system for determining the partial pressure of at least one gas in a mixture of gasses contained in a pressure vessel, the mixture being pressurised to a level which is above local atmospheric pressure. The method comprises the steps of positioning a gas analysis sensor (14) within a pressure vessel (10); exposing the sensor to the mixture of gasses at the pressure level found in the pressure vessel; operating the sensor to measure the actual partial pressure of the at least one gas in the mixture contained in the vessel; and periodically calibrating the sensor by directing a calibrating gas mixture (20, 22) to the sensor in the chamber, the calibrating gas mixture being breathable by a human being.

Patient transport apparatus with defined transport height comprises a support structure and a litter that are interconnected by a lift mechanism. The support structure comprises a base frame and a plurality of articulable support members or legs. The litter comprises a litter frame and a patient support surface with articulating back and leg sections. The lift mechanism may comprise one or more actuators configured to raise and lower the litter between a lowered position and one or more defined raised positions. The Patient transport apparatus may further comprise a controller coupled to one or more sensors and the lift mechanism. The controller may be configured to define a transport height for the litter based, at least in part, on a characteristic detected by the one or more sensors, and to manipulate the lift mechanism to adjust the litter to the defined transport height.

A ball combination module capable of detecting and regulating a posture pressure has the requirement of regulating individual independent ball pressures and lifting and lowering functions and mainly includes one or multiple sets of pressure controlling ball modules. Each pressure controlling ball module is connected to a cylinder connected to an external pressure source and is configured with an independent inflating/deflating electromagnetic valve set including a pressure-sensing intake control electromagnetic valve of controlling inflation, a deflation control electromagnetic valve of regulating deflation and a pressure sensor. The external pressure source has a pressure regulator providing a stable pressure gas source. A main gas supply conduit connected to multiple shunts provides inflation and deflation for all the pressure controlling ball modules. The pressure controlling ball modules are combined to constitute a large-area support region and achieve the dot-like pressure regulating and lifting and lowering functions for the comprehensive single ball.

Active comfort controlled bedding systems include a variable firmness control and/or variable climate control. The active comfort controlled bedding systems generally include a plurality of air bladders, each one of the plurality of air bladders includes a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure within a respective air bladder. A control unit configured to selectively operate a pump and valves to sequentially adjust a pressure in two or more of the plurality of the air bladders having an applied load of an end user thereon to provide a repeating pattern within the two or more plurality of the air bladders, wherein the repeating pattern is defined by a pressure increase and subsequent decrease in a selected one of the plurality of the air bladders followed by a pressure increase and subsequent decrease in a selected other one of the plurality of the air bladders to provide a massaging action.

Apparatus and methods related to an underbody support for supporting a body of a being, such as during surgery to prevent contact pressure injuries. In certain embodiments, the underbody support may include one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume. At least one of the inflatable chambers may include one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, and the one or more compression sensitive switches may be located within the inflatable chamber. In some embodiments the one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the said inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume.

There is described methods of monitoring a patient on a bed. An exemplary method includes receiving one or more sensory outputs from sensors associated with the bed, analysing the one or more sensory outputs and determining a plurality of features of the patient therefrom, and receiving the plurality of patient features and determining a health assessment by inputting the patient features into a statistical model.

A patient support apparatus comprises a base supported by caster assemblies with each caster assembly comprising a stem, a caster wheel, and a caster wheel axle. A patient support surface is coupled to the base and is configured to receive a load. One or more load sensors are integrated with at least one of the stem, the caster wheel, or the caster wheel axle for measuring the load. One or more of the caster assemblies can be coupled to a steering motor, which controls orientation of the caster assembly. A controller can control the steering motors based on analyzing the measurements of the load sensor. The load sensors can produce measurements indicative of both vertical load and non-vertical load applied to the caster assembly. The controller can also analyze the measurements of the load sensor to determine the load received by the patient support surface by negating the non-vertical load.

A mattress including: an elastic body; a sheet that is disposed at least above the elastic body and made of any of a conductive sheet and a conductive fiber; and a measurement unit that is configured to measure a change of capacitance of the sheet observed when the elastic body is deformed.

An inflatable cushion for body support is described. The inflatable cushion can be adjusted to manually/automatically set the proper pressure distribution, remove pressure from sensitive regions, alternate pressure, facilitate moisture removal, automatically detect leakage and avoid bottom down, communicate leakage and other problems with the user/caregiver, detect wrong positioning and facilitate position correction. The inflatable cushion can be used either as a chair cushion such as for example as a cushion for wheelchair or as a bed mattress.