A multi-purpose system for a bed is disclosed. The system may include a number of vertically movable lifting members that are parallel and spaced-apart elongated parts transversally connected to the bed. Furthermore a mattress assembly that has spaced-apart transversal accommodating spaces thereon that are sized to receive the corresponding movable lifting members therein, and an actuating mechanism coupled with the movable lifting members to vertically move the lifting members between a lowered position and a raised position.

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 smart sleep system comprising a mattress including a plurality of pressure zones, each pressure zone separately adjustable for firmness, a sensor to sense a user's position on the mattress, a processing system to determine pressure for each of the plurality of pressure zones based on data from the sensor, and a controller to adjust one or more of the pressure zones based on the determination.

A patient support includes a bladder layer with a plurality of bladders, a pneumatic supply system, and a plurality of tubes in fluid communication with pneumatic supply system. The tubes are coupled to and guided by the bladder layer so that the tubes and bladder layer may remain in close registry when being handled, for example, either during the assembly process or cleaning process.

A patient support includes a mattress with an inflatable bladder, where the inflatable bladder has a cavity and an upper bladder wall forming an outwardly facing side for facing and supporting the patient on the patient mattress and forming an inwardly facing side facing into the cavity. The patient support further includes a light transmitter operable to emit light through the cavity to impinge on the inwardly facing side of the upper bladder wall and a light receiver operable to detect a reflection of the light off the inwardly facing side of the bladder wall, with the light receiver generating a signal responsive to detecting the reflection. A controller is in communication with the light transmitter and is operable to determine immersion of a patient into the mattress based on the signal from the light receiver.

An apparatus and method are adapted for characterizing human tissue type. A plurality of inflatable bladders enable the application of kinetic energy to the human tissue. Collected data responsive to the applied kinetic energy differentiates between different tissue types and patient loading. The data can be routed via a network to a remote location.

A seat cushion assembly includes a base defining a leg support and a support portion recessed relative to the leg support, and an air pad assembly positioned on the recessed support portion, the air pad assembly including a plurality of independent air support zones that are configured to be separately inflated and deflated.

An inflatable device for lifting a patient includes an inflatable body having a top sheet and a bottom sheet attached along opposing side edges and forming at least one cavity there between, and a plurality of connecting members extending outwardly from the opposing side edges of the inflatable device. The inflatable device is configured to be inflated while being lifted by the hoist.

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for controlling the pressurization of a support structure for handling of a person, the support structure comprising: a body comprising a row of at least two elongated sections adapted to be pressurized; a carrier plate, wherein, in a pressurized loaded condition of one or more of the elongated sections, the carrier plate is adapted to form an at least partially concavely curved front surface; a power unit adapted to pressurize one or more parts of the support structure individually via a respective valve; one or more sensors adapted to measure movements of the person and/or variations or deviations in pressurized parts of the support structure; and a controller configured to control the power unit to pressurize each part of the support structure that is adapted to be pressurized individually, based at least on sensor measurement data from the one or more sensors.

An air mattress includes a first air cell, a second air cell, a plurality of third air cells, and a body-lifting air cell. The second air cell includes a first air chamber, a second air chamber, and a structurally-weakened region. The body-lifting air cell is below the second air cell and at least one of the third air cells. The body-lifting air cell is inflated by an air source controlled by a control system. When the body-lifting air cell is inflated, a vertical distance between the top of second air cell and the bottom of air mattress is greater than a vertical distance between the top of first air cell and the bottom of air mattress. When the body-lifting air cell is inflated, the second air cell has a lower structural strength than the other air cells to have a cushioning effect against external forces.