Introduced here are pressure-mitigation apparatuses for mitigating the pressure applied to a human body by the support surface of an object. The pressure-mitigation apparatus can include a series of chambers that can be individually controlled to vary the pressure therein. By varying the chamber pressure, the main point of pressure applied by the support surface to the human body may be moved across the surface of the human body. An attachment apparatus may be used to securely adhere the pressure-mitigation apparatus to the support surface.

Methods and systems of patient offloading include positioning an inflatable transfer mattress in a first position with respect to a surface supporting the inflatable transfer mattress. At least one inflatable positioning wedge is positioned in a second position with respect to the surface. The inflatable transfer mattress is positioned in a third position in which a portion of the inflatable transfer mattress overlaps a portion of the at least one inflatable positioning wedge. The at least one inflatable positioning wedge is inflated to transition the portion of the inflatable transfer mattress overlapping the portion of the at least one inflatable positioning wedge to a non-zero angle with respect to the surface.

An air valve assembly includes a housing defining an internal channel, a plunger member positioned in the internal channel and configured to slide relative to the housing, a biasing member positioned in the internal channel and configured to apply a biasing force onto the plunger member, a sealing member defining a first inflation aperture, the plunger member slidably received by the first inflation aperture, a second deflation aperture defined by the housing and in fluid communication with the internal channel, and a deflation control member slidably connected to the housing, the deflation control member configured to selectively seal the second deflation aperture.

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 mattress including air cells that are located on both sides of a user, in which the air cells each have a convex shape on a first side surface, and the air cells are arranged so that the convex shapes thereof are respectively located near shoulder blade outer edges of the user.

A mattress has a first support portion configure to receive and support a first user and a second support portion configured to receive and support a second user. The first support portion and the second support portion are adjacent to each other such that the first user is capable of rolling over from the first support portion to the second support portion while sleeping on the first support portion. A sensor is configured to sense first pressure in the first support portion and sense second pressure in the second support portion. The sensor is further configured to transmit data of the first pressure and the second pressure. The controller is configured to receive the data and from the data of the first pressure and the second pressure, determine if the first user has rolled over from the first support portion to the second support portion.

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.

A patient positioning apparatus (200) for use with a mattress comprises a first lateral tilt bladder (10) and a third lateral tilt bladder (14) configured to underlie a first side of the mattress, and a second lateral tilt bladder (12) and a fourth lateral tilt bladder (16) configured to underlie a second side of the mattress. The tilt bladders are inflatable to alter the position of a patient lying on the mattress, and inflation and/or deflation of the lateral tilt bladders is controllable by a controller (120). The first lateral tilt bladder is configured to tilt the patient's sternum towards the second side of the mattress when inflated, the second lateral tilt bladder is configured to tilt the patients sternum towards the first side of the mattress when inflated, the third lateral tilt bladder is configured to tilt the patients pelvis towards the second side of the mattress when inflated, and the fourth lateral tilt bladder is configured to tilt the patients pelvis towards the first side of the mattress when inflated. A first check valve (28) is configured to allow fluid communication in one direction from the third lateral tilt bladder to the first lateral tilt bladder, and a second check valve (30) is configured to allow fluid communication in one direction from the fourth lateral tilt bladder to the second lateral tilt bladder. In a preferred aspect, the first and second lateral tilt bladders extend in a longitudinal direction from a waist portion towards a head end of the patient positioning apparatus and have a length of between 690 mm and 950 mm. A mattress and mattress system are also provided.

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.

A mattress topper system, and a method of controlling the system, including an upper sheet and a lower sheet coupled together so as to define an interior volume divided into a plurality of zones, each of the zones having a plurality of cells of which adjacent cells are in fluid communication with one another inside the respective zones, and at least one air pump configured to regulate pressure in the cells of each respective zone such that the pressure in at least a first one of the zones is different from the pressure in at least a second one of the zones.