A patient rotation system for rotating the body of a patient comprises an air inflatable cushion having two elastic exterior surfaces, e.g. of stretch material, wherein one of said two elastic surfaces of said cushion forms the top surface, and the other one forms the bottom surface. In deflated state the cushion has a flat shape and in inflated state the two elastic surfaces bulge away from each other, such that inflation of the cushion causes the cushion to assume a wedge shape thereby rotating the body around said rotation axis. The cushion is embodied as a unitary, semi-rigid, portable board when in its deflated state, which enables the sliding of the deflated cushion in between the body of the patient and a horizontal surface, on which the body is lying in supine position, until its posterior support points are being supported by the cushion at its top elastic surface.

A system for supporting and positioning a person. A flexible cover layer defines a support surface for the person, and a formable layer is coupled to the flexible cover layer. The formable layer includes a sealed bladder adapted to be in fluid communication with a vacuum source, and particles disposed within the sealed bladder. The system is operable in a first configuration in the absence of the vacuum, and a second configuration in the presence of the vacuum. In the first configuration, the particles are substantially movable relative to one another such that a contour may be provided to the support surface. In the second configuration, substantially immovable relative to provide rigidity to the formable layer to maintain the contour. A controller coupled to sensors may control the vacuum source to move said system between the first and second configurations. Methods of supporting and positioning the person are also disclosed.

An automated system and methods are provided for coordinating a transfer of a patient between patient support apparatuses. The method can include establishing communication between a transferring patient support apparatus and a receiving patient support apparatus. The method can further include adjusting a position of at least one of the receiving patient support apparatus and the transferring patient support apparatus. The method can include locating and aligning the receiving patient support apparatus adjacent the transferring patient support apparatus.

Inflatable coveralls provide individuals, who fall frequently, with protection and independence. The coveralls consist of pads on the shoulders and hips to reduce the impact of a fall on the person. When worn and located underneath the fallen person, the coveralls can be inflated with air into a chair, creating a higher platform from which the person can more easily get up. This reduces the dependence these individuals have on a care-giver. Users can fasten the coveralls using velcros, instead of buttons or zippers, because it is easier to wear and they automatically open from the increase in air pressure of the inflated coveralls. Made of light-weight and air impermeable material, the inflatable coveralls pads the fall of individuals, and elevated the fallen individual so that they can more easily rise, allowing them to gain independence.

A combination patient-transfer air-inflated pad and intraoperative heater device has first and second interlocking chambers laterally fused together. The air-inflated pad has a top surface and a bottom surface formed by way of the first and second interlocking chambers. The first interlocking chamber is formed as a comb-type structure having a main spine with two or more prongs alternately separated by valleys. The second interlocking chamber is a mirror comb-type structure to the first interlocking chamber. The device is fabricated from two thin layers of plastic material, selectively configured and fused. With this construction, the bulk of the device, as well as the cost of manufacture, are reduced. The device is affordable for single use, obviating the difficulty and possible incompleteness of sterilization between uses. The first interlocking chamber has an inlet appointed to be supplied with regulated, controlled low pressure and controlled temperature heated or cooled air. The second interlocking chamber has a plurality of air venting apertures in said bottom surface of said air-inflated pad. The second interlocking chamber has an inlet appointed to be supplied with ambient air at a regulated, controlled pressure to facilitate lifting and lateral displacement during patient transfer. The device may be easily re-employed when the patient is transferred from one location to another and may function as an alternating pressure mattress if needed.

Various implementations include a device for moving a person on a support apparatus. The device includes a base, an expandable volume, and a sheet. The base has a first side, a second side, and a support apparatus coupler for coupling the device to a support apparatus. The expandable volume is disposed on a surface of the base between the first side and the second side and is actuatable from a first position to a second position. The sheet has a first portion that is stationary with respect to the base and a second portion. The sheet extends from the first portion, over the second side, over the expandable volume, and over the first side. Actuation of the expandable volume from the first position to the second position increases a length of the sheet extending from the second side of the base to the first side of the base.

Apparatus and methods for providing therapeutic treatment for symptoms associated with GERD and/or other digestive disorders and/or other medical conditions are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a support element that has a first end portion and a second end portion and a top surface disposed at an angle relative to a bottom surface of the support element. The second end portion has a height greater than the first end portion. A riser element is configured to be coupled proximate to the second end portion of the support element. A body element is configured to be disposed on at least one of the support element or the riser element. The body element has a first arm and a second arm connected together by an arc portion.

A patient turning device for a patient support apparatus. The patient turning device includes a first and second bladder assembly each including a plurality of layers and seals defining a bladder volume. The bladder volumes are selectively inflatable with fluid to expand the respective bladder assembly, and consequently move a patient support surface of the patient support apparatus. A portion of a lower layer of the first bladder assembly and a portion of an upper layer of the second bladder assembly define an overlapping region of the bladder volumes. The patient turning device is coupled to an underside of a carrier sheet and positioned between a crib assembly and a bottom cover. An augmenting feature is configured to resiliently expand as at least one of the first and second bladder assemblies receives the fluid to move at least a portion of the crib assembly away from a patient support deck.

A support apparatus for a person includes a main cushion having a bottom surface, a top surface to form a support surface for a person supported on the main cushion, and a length having a perimeter that has longitudinal and lateral sides extending around the perimeter. In addition, the support apparatus has at least one sleeve located along one of the sides of the man cushion. The sleeve is configured between a stowed state, where the sleeve is closely adjacent to the one side, and a deployed state, where the sleeve forms an extension of the top surface of the main cushion to thereby increase the width or the length of the support surface.

Apparatus and methods for providing therapeutic treatment for symptoms associated with GERD and/or other digestive disorders and/or other medical conditions are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a support element and a conformable riser element adjacent the support element. The riser element and the support element collectively form a body support member configured to support a user and define a receiving portion configured to receive a portion of the user's arm. The riser element and the support element are each disposed within a casing formed at least in part with a stretch material. In some embodiments, the riser element includes a polyester filler material and the stretch material includes a four-way stretch material. The four-way stretch material in combination with the polyester filler material enables the riser element to be conformable.