A high-performance, low-cost modular cushion using range of novel dynamically responsive materials has been designed and developed for use in seating pressure relief. The use of individual contained spheres creates a localized area of gel to minimize both flattening under pressure, and inflating in areas without contact while the elastic nature of the polymers creates a durable system that recovers rapidly from deformation. Gel balls of varying densities have been developed to optimize performance. Quantification of individual ball mechanical properties has been completed which provides load-deflection curves to inform optimal ball array layout based on user interface pressure distributions. A fitting algorithm is proposed which will employ the patient's seating interface pressure distribution to design a personalized modular cushion layout which will evenly distribute contact pressure across seating support interface and maximize contact pressure area.

The present invention is a mattress comprising a first layer of cushion members secured to a layer of coil pockets. The layer of coil pockets comprises first and second coil pockets. Each of the first and second coil pockets comprise a pocket and a coil spring disposed in the pocket. The first layer of cushion members comprises an attachment member and first and second cushion members engaged with said attachment member. The attachment member is engaged with the layer of coil pockets such that the first and second cushion members act directly upon the first and second coil pockets, respectively. The first cushion member is free standing from the second cushion member thereby causing a pumping action to occur upon depression of the first cushion member and circulation of air.

This disclosure provides a patient support for supporting a patient. The patient support comprises a lattice of cells each having a base, a top disposed opposite the base, and one or more buckling elements having a thickness and extending from the base to the top to form a column.

A patient support includes a conformable layer having a lattice of cells. Each cell having a base and extending to a top portion disposed opposite the base to form a column, and at least some of the cells within the lattice having a fluid passage extending from the base through the top portion of the cell. The patient support having a fluid flow path defined by a port connector configured to direct a fluid to a low air loss manifold, the low air loss manifold configured to direct and release the fluid towards the fluid passages of the conformable layer with the fluid passages configured to direct the fluid into a reduced zone having a surface area, and a spacer layer configured to receive the fluid in the reduced zone and disperse the fluid underneath a cover across a surface area larger than the surface area of the reduced zone.

A mattress includes a first, phase changeable component and a thermal management system adapted to control the temperature of the phase changeable component in order to change the firmness of the mattress. In one embodiment the phase changeable component includes two dimensional lattices separated from each other and a spring element extending between the lattices. Some embodiments of the mattress include an optional single phase component. The firmness can be made spatially and/or temporally uniform or nonuniform, and can be controlled based on one or more sensed parameters.

Modular mattress systems and methods are described. For example, a modular mattress can include a fabric cover configured to surround at least two foam layers. The fabric cover can include an opening to allow access to an interior region of the fabric cover. The mattress can include a first foam layer positioned within the interior region of the fabric cover, and an encasement layer positioned below the first foam layer. The encasement layer can include a recess configured to receive one or more modular support sections. The mattress can also include a plurality of modular support components received within the recess of the encasement.

The subject invention is a device intended for use where support, pressure offloading/pressure relief, and pressure redistribution of the spine is needed. (AHRQ/NPUAP, Number 15Pressure Ulcer Treatment)

A valve for an inflatable device includes a pocket configured to be located in a cavity of the inflatable device. The pocket includes an entrance opening to receive air from an air source and an exit opening to deliver air to the cavity. The exit opening is spaced apart from the entrance opening, such that airflow passes through the valve by flowing from the entrance opening, through the pocket, and out through the exit opening to enter the cavity. The pocket may include a second exit opening spaced from the entrance opening and the exit opening, and may include a first branch and a second branch extending away from each other, and wherein the exit opening is located on the first branch and the second exit opening is located on the second branch.

An occupant support structure for supporting an occupant includes an orientation adjustable torso section, a lower body section, and a control system. The lower body section includes a heel region subsection which supports the heel region of an occupant of the occupant support. The control system is adapted to A) cause the heel region subsection to temporarily substantially disengage from the heel region of the occupant in response to a change of angular orientation of the torso section which begins at a time t.sub.0, and B) cause the heel region subsection to subsequently re-engage with the heel region of the occupant, the re-engagement occurring at a time t.sub.B which is later than t.sub.0.

Firmness control for a self-adjusting, non-powered smart response technology mattress includes a body support device; one or more layers overlaying the body support device and a side rail assembly circumscribing a perimeter of the body support device; and the firmness control. The body support device includes a plurality of fluid support cells, wherein each fluid support cell includes an envelope and a reforming element disposed within the envelope; and a non-powered manifold system including a manifold conduit fluidly coupled to at least two of the fluid support cells, and intake and exhaust valves fluidly coupled to the manifold conduit configured to dynamically open and close in response to a weight load. The firmness control includes a pressure relief valve fluidly connected to the manifold conduit via a conduit and configured to selectively permit a controlled amount of fluid flow out from the fluid support cells. Also disclosed are processes for adjusting firmness.