A remote control for a bed system is described. The remote control includes a case, a display screen, a first input area, at least one capacitive button, and a communications module. The case has a base surface, a display surface, and an upper surface. The display screen is on the display surface. The first input area is on the display surface. At least one capacitive button is separate from the first input area. The communication module allows communication between the remote control and a separate controller of the bed system.

A patient support apparatus is provided with selective stiffening features. The patient support apparatus may include a support substrate defining a patient support surface. The support substrate may include a magnetorheological material providing selective reinforcement support of at least a portion of the patient support surface to redistribute pressure about a surface of a patient. The magnetorheological material may include a distribution of ferromagnetic particles disposed within a polymeric material and exhibits a shape conforming, variable stiffness in response to exposure to a magnetic field. A controller may be provided and configured to create a correlation of patient specific data with an optimal stiffness or inflection force deflection (IFD) of the patient support surface, and generate a strength of the magnetic field based on the correlation.

A customer’s affinity towards a plurality of mattresses displayed in a brick and mortar store is determined. The probability of the customer purchasing at least one of the displayed mattresses is extrapolated based on the customer’s affinity towards each of the mattresses. Customer engagement with each of the mattresses is determined based on the pressure data obtained from embedded pressure sensors responsive to the body pressure. The pressure data and the information indicative of a total number of positions taken up by the customer on each of the mattresses, time spent by the customer on each of the mattresses in each of the positions, and the total time spent by the customer on each of the mattresses are fed to a neural network as inputs, with the neural network determining an affinity score indicative of the customer’s affinity towards each of the mattresses.

A bedding system uses machine vision to makes adjustments for comfort and/or support. In one aspect, a pressure mapping engine measures a two-dimensional pressure image of a sleeper on the bedding system while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system. A machine vision process analyzes the pressure image. A comfort and support engine adjusts a comfort and/or support of the bedding system based on the machine vision analysis.

A mattress overlay apparatus is provided for use with a mattress. The mattress overlay apparatus includes an overlay configured for placement atop the mattress and having a plurality of inflatable bladders, a blower, and first and second rotary plate valves pneumatically coupled to the plurality of bladders and the blower. The first and second rotary plate valves are arranged in series between the plurality of bladders and the blower. The first and second rotary plate valves and the blower are operated to provide the overlay with percussion and vibration (P&V), left and right turn assist, and microclimate management (MCM) functionality.

A seating apparatus cushioned for providing comfortable seating of a body for living room, office and other seating environments. The seating apparatus includes a frame for a seat, a back component, arms and legs and includes one or more supports fixed with respect to the frame and extending from the seating apparatus to provide stationary anchors for use by the body in exercising and for ingress and egress from the seating apparatus.

A patient support, such as a mattress, includes a plurality of inflatable bladders. Depth sensors are included in the support that measure the degree of penetration of a patient into the mattress. An air pressure sensor is also included that measures the pressure inside at least one bladder. A suitable inflation level of the mattress is determined by monitoring the rate of change of the depth with respect to air pressure as the bladder is either inflated or deflated. By detecting an inflection point in the graphical relationship of the depth and pressure outputs, a suitable inflation point for the bladders is determined that reduces interface pressures experienced by the patient, yet does not overly sink the patient into the mattress to a degree of discomfort. Analyzing the outputs of the depth and pressure sensors can also be used to detect a patient's heart rate and respiration rate.

A bed has a mattress to support a user laying on the bed. A first balistocardiograph (BCG) sensor is configured to collect first-BCG data from a first location of the user laying on the bed due to pressure applied to the bed by the user. A second BCG sensor is configured to collect second-BCG data from a second location of the user. A computer-system may include a process and memory, the computer-system configured to: receive the first BCG-data and the second-BCG data and determine one or more blood-pressure (BP) values for the user.

An air bed system including a plurality of peripheral devices and a pump unit configured to adjust a firmness of an air mattress, the pump unit including a pump. The system further includes a controller configured to execute instructions that cause the pump unit to wirelessly pair with at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices. The pump unit is configured to receive at least one control signal addressed to the at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices, and transmit the at least one control signal to the addressed device.

A patient support is provided. The patient support may include a plurality of inflatable members. The plurality of inflatable members may include a core including a resilient material. The patient support may be controlled with a first controller positioned within an envelope of the patient support. The patient support may include a detector to detect when an external controller is coupled to the patient support, the patient support being controlled by the second controller when the second controller is present.