Apparatus and methods for adjusting a support to a body are described in which a portable support assembly may be worn or used by a bed-stricken or wheel-chair restricted individual around particular regions of the body where pressure ulcers tend to form. The portable support assembly may generally include adjustable supports which conform the assembly to the patient's body and which also help to distribute one or more fluid pad assemblies relative to the body. The support assembly may be incorporated into a design for a wheelchair or a bed.

A fluid source comprises a connector assembly for connecting a fluid supply device to either a first therapy device or to a second therapy device. A controller automatically provides a first configuration of a user interface associated with a first therapy when a supply connector is operatively coupled to the first therapy device and provides a second configuration of the user interface associated with a second therapy, different than the first configuration, when the supply connector is operatively coupled to the second therapy device. A hanger assembly is provided to hang the fluid source on different support structures. The fluid source also comprises a housing with a watershed region to shed liquid away from the user interface.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus and/or method involving respective sets of interleaved pressure cells, which operate to inflate and deflate independently of one another. The pressure cells further provide shear relief by deflecting along a direction of movement, such as along a shear direction of an upper surface coupled to the pressure cells. Such deflection may, for example, be implemented with elongated pressure cells and along a direction that is perpendicular to a length thereof. Shear relief in this regard may be facilitated by undercut regions of the respective pressure cells, at which location the pressure cells are coupled to an underlying surface and which is smaller in dimension relative to an overlying portion of the pressure cell.

A portable patient turning device is provided comprising an inflatable mattress cover having a planar surface configured to substantially cover the surface of a bed, and a control unit connected to the inflatable mattress cover by one or more air hoses. The inflatable mattress cover further comprises a first inflatable chamber proximate to and extending along a left edge of the planar surface, a second inflatable chamber proximate to and extending along a right edge of the planar surface, and a spine cushion positioned between the first inflatable chamber and the second inflatable chamber and extending along a middle portion of the planar surface for at least a portion of the length of the first inflatable chamber and second inflatable chamber.

Described herein are systems and apparatuses for enhanced comfort through contact pressure reduction. In particular, the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein prevent or otherwise mitigate pressure by actively orienting a patient over an anatomy-specific pressure-mitigating contact surface on which the patient rests. A pressure-mitigating contact portion of the contact surface includes a plurality of independently pressurized chambers configured in a specific geometric pattern that is designed to mitigate contact pressure between a support surface (e.g., bed or chair) and a specific anatomic region of a patient’s body when the specific anatomic region of the patient’s body is oriented over an epicenter of the geometric pattern. Additionally, a plurality of elevated side support portions and a wedge interconnected on the base material are configured to actively orient the specific anatomic region of the patient’s body over the epicenter of the geometric pattern.

A person support system including a person support surface. The person support surface may include a blower subassembly and a surface foundation layer. The person support surface may further include a turn assist bladder layer, a working cushion layer, and a support cushion layer positioned between a first lateral side bolster and a second lateral side bolster of the surface foundation layer, a foot bladder layer positioned proximally adjacent the surface foundation layer, and a microclimate management (MCM) layer, where the blower subassembly may be configured to supply air to the MCM layer. A top encasement portion of the person support surface may be removably coupled to a bottom encasement portion of the person support surface to enclose such included components within the person support surface.

Introduced here are methods, apparatuses, and systems for mitigating the contact pressure applied to a human body by the surface of an object, such as a chair, bed, or table. A pressure-mitigation apparatus can include a series of chambers whose pressure can be individually varied. When placed between a patient and a contact surface, a controller can vary the contact pressure on the human body by controllably inflating one or more chambers, deflating one or more chambers, or any combination thereof. By monitoring the pressure in each chamber over time, the controller can also gain an enhanced understanding of movement(s) performed by the human body when positioned on the pressure-mitigation apparatus.

An apparatus, method for the apparatus, and system for using the apparatus that comprises an air bladder formed of a baffle assembly with a plurality of equal-length flaps secured to the inside of an impermeable flexible outer layer and having a port secured to the outer layer to allow air to flow into and out of the air bladder, such that when the air bladder is inflated, the baffle assembly supports the shape of the air bladder.

A user module for a patient support apparatus is provided. The user module has a user interface operably coupled thereto. The user interface includes an input device and an output device. The output device includes a visual display including textual and non-textual elements. The non-textual elements include enhanced, graphical, and animated portions relating to one or more operational features of the patient support or to a person positionable on the patient support. The input device includes one or more touch sensors corresponding to defined regions of the visual display.

This invention relates to a pressure relieving mattress including an elongate support 11 having a base 12, a pressure relieving overlay 15 and an inflatable inlay 16. The inlay 16 has a plurality of laterally extending inflatable cells 23. At least some of the cells, in at least their un-inflated state, have an inflatable volume which is wider adjacent its ends than its mid portion. This reduces the likelihood of gaps appearing between the pressure overlay and the walls of the tray.