A patient support includes a plurality of stacked layers of cushioning material, at least two of the layers comprising foam, each of the at least two layers having a different firmness, and at least one of the layers comprising a gel-based cushioning layer.

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.

A system for changing the width of a person support apparatus includes a bed controller for receiving a command signal indicating a command for width alteration, a first motor controlled by the bed controller for driving an extension of a first deck section of the support apparatus thereby altering the width of the first deck section, and a second motor controlled by the bed controller for driving an extension of a second deck section of the support apparatus thereby altering the width of the second deck section. The bed controller controls the first motor and the second motor in a manner that causes the first deck section to reach a first deck section width alteration limit at a first time and the second deck section to reach a second deck section width alteration limit at a second time, wherein the first time and the second time are not equal.

An air distribution pad comprises an upper layer, a lower layer, and a spacer material located between the upper layer and the lower layer, the spacer material configured to allow air to pass therethrough. An air distributor is configured to distribute air to the spacer material, wherein the air distributor comprises a port configured to receive an air hose, wherein the port is directed laterally sideways from the air distributor. At least one joining structure is coupled to the upper layer and the lower layer, the at least one joining structure providing one or more channels formed through the spacer material in fluid communication with the air distributor. The one or more channels are configured to direct generally laterally flowing air from the port of the air distributor to a generally longitudinal direction along the at least one channel.

An air supply supplies air to multiple different inflatable devices. The air supply includes an air compressing device, and at least two pressure valves. The air supply operates to introduce air from the first pressure valve to a first inflatable device at a first pressure that is within a first air pressure range. The air supply also operates to introduce air, on demand, from the second pressure valve to a second inflatable device at a second pressure within a second air pressure range while continuing to supply air to the first inflatable device at a pressure within the first air pressure range. The second pressure and/or the second pressure range is different from the first pressure and/or the first pressure range.

A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, operating table, recliner, or the like, includes a litter frame, a support deck supported on the litter frame and adapted to support a mattress thereon, a touchscreen and a controller configured for carrying out various functions and to display various screens on the touchscreen, including screens for controlling a mattress function or for controlling a non-mattress function of the patient support apparatus. A notification regarding the status of a mattress function can be displayed on various screens. Status indications can be provided as a banner across a portion of the touchscreen.

A low air loss mattress to provide a variable pressure to an individual who is confined to a bed. The mattress has an air plenum and a motor driven blower to inflate the air plenum. The blower is housed within a pull-out and interchangeable pump cartridge that is received within a pump cartridge receptacle inside the mattress. The pump cartridge is removable from the pump cartridge receptacle to permit the blower to be repaired or replaced without having to discard the mattress. Ambient air is supplied to the blower by way of a tuned air pump inlet path that winds between a pair of sound absorbing blocks. Air is blown front the blower to the air plenum by way of a tuned air manifold that is located inside the mattress to inflate the air plenum. Bluetooth compatible sensors located inside the mattress are responsive to physical parameters to which the mattress is subjected.

A patient support includes a conformable layer having a lattice of cells. Each cell having a base and extending to a top portion disposed opposite the base to form a column, and at least some of the cells within the lattice having a fluid passage extending from the base through the top portion of the cell. The patient support having a fluid flow path defined by a port connector configured to direct a fluid to a low air loss manifold, the low air loss manifold configured to direct and release the fluid towards the fluid passages of the conformable layer with the fluid passages configured to direct the fluid into a reduced zone having a surface area, and a spacer layer configured to receive the fluid in the reduced zone and disperse the fluid underneath a cover across a surface area larger than the surface area of the reduced zone.

A patient support apparatus pneumatic system may include a mattress defining an interior and a pneumatic enclosure in fluid communication with the interior and comprising an inlet and an outlet. A blower may be in fluid communication with the interior and the pneumatic enclosure. A pressure sensor may be configured to detect a pressure at the outlet. A controller may be configured to monitor a speed of the blower and the pressure at the outlet for detecting at least one of an intake blockage condition and an exhaust blockage condition.