A disinfecting cover for use in disinfecting a weight bearing upper surface of a resilient medical patient pressure redistribution support includes a thin barrier membrane drapable on top of the weight bearing upper surface of the resilient support, and a peripherally-extending edge terminating between the peripherally-extending side of the resilient support between the weight bearing upper surface and the bottom surface of the support. The thin barrier membrane comprises an anti-microbial disinfectant, and being non-fibrous, and impervious to the transfer of fluid from the first main surface to the second main surface. The thin barrier membrane comprises a thickness operable to maintain the weight distribution of a patient on the weight bearing upper surface of the resilient medical patient pressure redistribution support substantially the same compared to the weight distribution without the thin barrier membrane.

An object is to provide a hygienic cushion that has an adequate thickness to provide the repulsive force of or above a specified level and the body-holding property, is light in weight, has excellent air permeability and is washable with water. The core material for cushion 1 comprising the three-dimensional net-like structure, which is comprised of a polyethylene thermoplastic resin, a polyester thermoplastic elastomer or a mixture of a polyethylene thermoplastic resin and a polyethylene thermoplastic elastomer. The three-dimensional net-like structure has a first layer that includes a thermoplastic resin and a second layer that is stacked on a single surface or both surfaces of the first layer and includes a thermoplastic resin different from the thermoplastic resin of the first layer. The three dimensional net-like structure has an impact resilience of not lower than 13 cm, a hysteresis loss of not higher than 34% and not lower than 13%, and a thermal expansion rate of 0 to 8% in the longitudinal direction before and after a hot-air drying test that is performed at a temperature of 90 C. for 30 minutes with regard to the polyethylene thermoplastic resin, that is performed at a temperature of 130 C. for 30 minutes with regard to the polyester thermoplastic elastomer and that is performed at a temperature of 90 C. for 30 minutes with regard to the mixture of the polyethylene thermoplastic resin and the polyethylene thermoplastic elastomer.

A medical pad includes a piece of substrate with a major surface and an electric circuit on the major surface, a sensor connected with the electric circuit for measuring the electrical resistance of the electric circuit, and a wireless data transceiver or a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag electrically connected with the sensor for receiving results of the measuring from the sensor for subsequent transmission. The system carries out real time self-calibration to adaptively monitor the condition of a medical pad even in the face of changing environment and changing material properties.

An inflatable positioner includes a low coefficent of friction (COF) on a top surface and a high COF on a bottom surface. The inflatable positioner is slid under the patient and then inflated by an air pump. At least two positioners can be inflated and deflated with the air pump and a timer. A non-inflatable positioner may be inserted into a positioner bag with a high COF outer surface. An inflatable gusseted or non-gusseted positioner may be created from a single sheet of material or from two sheets of material. A tail may be attached to a positioner to allow thereof to be pulled under a patient's body. A strap may be attached to the positioner to allow the positioner to be secured to another object. The sheet of material may be breathable or non-breathable. A plurality of breathable vent perforations are formed through the non-breathable sheet of material.

A mattress system with at least two inflatable bladders located within a tub compartment of a foam encasement is enclosed. The bladders are surrounded on all sides by foam layers and the bladders are inflated and deflated by a control unit. The control unit is positioned within the tub compartment near the foot of the mattress and centered between the two bladder assemblies. The control unit is adhered to the foam encasement.

Disclosed herein are a metastructure having a zero elastic modulus zone, which can experience constant stress in a predetermined strain zone, and a method for designing the same. The metastructure includes a first unit and a second unit, wherein the first unit has a structure capable of buckling and has a stress-strain relation having a zone corresponding to a negative elastic modulus, the second unit is disposed adjacent to the first unit and has a stress-strain relation having a zone corresponding to a positive elastic modulus, and the metastructure has zero elastic modulus in a predetermined target strain zone through synthesis of the negative elastic modulus of the first unit with the positive elastic modulus of the second unit.

A patient positioning system for use with a patient on a bed includes an inflatable patient support device, and optionally, other components such as one or more wedges and/or an absorbent pad. The device includes top and bottom sheets, where the top sheet is connected to the bottom sheet to define a cavity, such that the top and bottom sheets form top and bottom walls of the cavity in use. The device further has passages extending from the cavity to an exterior of the device, through the bottom sheet, and gussets connected to the top and bottom sheets and extending across the cavity. The passages permit air to pass from the cavity to the exterior of the device and to flow between the bottom surface of the device and the surface supporting the device. Selective glide assemblies may be used to resist sliding of these components in certain directions.

A patient positioning system for use with a patient on a bed includes an inflatable patient support device, and optionally, other components such as one or more wedges and/or an absorbent pad. The device includes top and bottom sheets, where the top sheet is connected to the bottom sheet to define a cavity, such that the top and bottom sheets form top and bottom walls of the cavity in use. The device further has passages extending from the cavity to an exterior of the device, through the bottom sheet, and gussets connected to the top and bottom sheets and extending across the cavity. The passages permit air to pass from the cavity to the exterior of the device and to flow between the bottom surface of the device and the surface supporting the device. Selective glide assemblies may be used to resist sliding of these components in certain directions.

A cushioning device for supporting a user in seated or recumbent posture, e.g., in a wheelchair, comprises a resiliently compressible foam base layer with an upper surface formed of a configuration generally conforming to the user's body and defining a fluid drainage path to a fluid drainage and collection area in case of incontinence episodes, an absorbent layer disposed in association with the fluid collection area for collection and holding fluids draining to the collection area, a fluid-impermeable bottom layer covering the underside of the base layer, and a non-absorbent top layer covering the upper surface of the base layer. Together, the fluid permeability and non-absorbent character of the top layer and the compressible resiliency and drainage configuration of the foam base layer for draining fluids to the absorbent layer, mitigate pressure, heat, moisture, shear and friction conditions that are the main contributing causes to formation of decubitus ulcers.