A medical mattress for temporarily receiving a bed pan for use by a patient, comprising a mattress body of hospital grade mattress foam having a mattress cavity therein. Removable interior and exterior mattress inserts fit in the mattress cavity. The interior insert can be replaced by a bed pan. Hand grips on the interior and exterior inserts assist with removal and replacement of the inserts. Interlock fasteners are provided for temporarily securing the interior and exterior inserts in the mattress cavity for support of the patient. Methods of using and making the mattress are provided.

The inventive subject matter provides a modular mattress system wherein the mattress surface may be adjusted for positioning of a user's body. The mattress system deploys a number of interconnected mattress cells. The mattress cells may have varying characteristics, and combinations of mattress cells may be interconnected to form a complete mattress. The proximal surface is formed of padding material and collectively form the entire mattress surface when connected. At least one actuator is mechanically coupled to padding material and an actuator controller in communication therewith directs movement of the actuator to position the padding material. A mattress cell communication interface is communicably coupled to the actuator controller and configured to communicably couple with at least one external device.

A non-powered mattress including a cover enclosing a frame structure and a bladder assembly, the cover adapted to engage an articulated frame to control movement of portions of the foam frame and the bladder assembly in response to movement of the articulated frame.

A patient support for supporting a patient includes an inflatable mattress defining a support surface and a pneumatic system for inflating the inflatable mattress. The pneumatic system includes a pressurized reservoir for holding pressurized air and selectively releases pressurized air from the reservoir to the mattress.

A back cushioning device is configured for pressure redistribution each of a cervical region, a thoracic region, a lumbar region, a sacral region, and a coccyx region of a spine of an individual with a medical condition or deformity. The back cushioning device includes a cushioning support matrix with a first end configured to be disposed adjacent to the cervical region of the individual and a tapered second end configured to be disposed adjacent to the coccyx region of the individual. A vertical channel is formed along a length of the cushioning support matrix. The vertical channel is spaced apart from the first end and extends to the second end of the cushioning support matrix. The vertical channel is configured to receive the spine of the individual. A horizontal channel is formed along a width of the cushioning support matrix, the horizontal channel is perpendicular to the vertical channel.

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.

A three-dimensional net-like structure is provided that has a soft cushioning property and less variations of hardness and is less expensive.

The three-dimensional net-like structure is made from a thermoplastic resin including a mixture of a polypropylene copolymer (a) and a polypropylene copolymer (b) and has a spring structure formed by bonding continuous filaments partly in random in loops. The polypropylene copolymer (a) has a flexural modulus that is different from a flexural modulus of the polypropylene copolymer (b).

Shear-reduction cushioning devices are provided for the prevention of shear related wounds. Cushioning devices include upper and lower cushioning layers that contact each other through at least one internal shear reduction layer provided between the cushioning layers and extending over a shear reduction region, such that dynamic relative translation of the two cushioning layers is permitted within the shear reduction region while absorbing friction and shear internally. The interface between the cushioning layers (where the shear reduction layer is provided) may be angled relative to an external surface of the cushioning device. The cushioning layers may be attached or attachable to one another beyond the shear reduction region, to limit an amount of relative translation of the cushioning layers and to re-center or reset the cushioning layers after use.

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.

The present invention provides devices and system useful for transporting infants, minimizing vibrations, noise, and associated with transport. Devices of the invention include a head gear assembly, one or more body support rolls for elevating portions of the infants body, and a mattress system with a removable insert. The invention further provides methods of use associated with such devices, including methods of stabilizing a position of an infant, reducing shock or vibration to an infant during transportation, reducing shock, vibration, or noise exposure to an infant during transportation, reducing shock or vibration while providing elevation to specific portions of an infant during transportation, and reducing the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage and/or persistent pulmonary hypertension to an infant during transportation.