Apparatus and methods related to an underbody support for supporting a body of a being, such as during surgery to prevent contact pressure injuries. In certain embodiments, the underbody support may include one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume. At least one of the inflatable chambers may include one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, and the one or more compression sensitive switches may be located within the inflatable chamber. In some embodiments the one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the said inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume.

The present disclosure provides an inflatable bed. The inflatable bed includes a tensioning assembly and an air valve, and further includes an upper piece, a bottom piece, a left piece, a right piece, a front piece, and a rear piece which cooperatively form an inflatable cavity. A left ring frame and a right ring frame are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the upper piece. The tensioning assembly is connected to the inner wall of the inflatable cavity. The air valve is communicated with the inflatable cavity. The inflatable bed of the present disclosure is simple in structure and more economical under the premise of preventing turning sideways.

In an aspect, an inflatable object includes an object body enclosing a chamber to receive air, and a valve mounted to the inflatable object body, including a valve body defining a passageway between the chamber and an ambient environment. The valve body has a shoulder. The valve body defines an outside end, which opens to the ambient environment, and an inside end, which opens into the chamber. The valve includes a one-way flap that is movable between an open position to permit fluid communication between the chamber and the ambient environment through the passageway, and a closed position. The one-way flap is biased to the closed position with a closing force selected to be overcomable to move the one-way flap to the open position by an airflow having a speed that is less than about 48 m/s, and which is at a pressure lower than 1 atmosphere.

An inflatable product includes an inflatable chamber and an elongated element. The inflatable chamber includes fusion portions. The elongated element is flexible, is disposed in the inflatable chamber, includes enlarged portions, and is connected to the inflatable chamber with the enlarged portions constrained by the fusion portions. The elongated element is in tension for controlling expansion of the inflatable chamber to a desired shape when the inflatable chamber is inflated to expand. The enlarged portions are constrained by the fusion portions to avoid separation of the elongated element from the inflatable chamber when the inflatable chamber is inflated to expand.

Device (10, 110, 210) including at least one flexible pouch (12, 21, 22) delimiting an interior volume, one air inlet opening (13) per flexible pouch to allow air to pass into an interior volume of the pouch, a closure for closing the air inlet in an airtight manner, the closure including two flexible strips (14, 16) located at the periphery of the air inlet opening, the strips being connected at their ends and adapted to be pressed against one another. A rigid movable part (24, 25, 26) is pivotally connected to one of the ends of the strips so that the movable part can be positioned around the strips in a closed position in which the two strips are kept clamped together so as to prevent air from escaping the device.

A transfer mattress includes a top panel, a bottom panel, an outer stringer and an inner stringer. The top panel has a perimeter including a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein a central longitudinal axis extends from the proximal edge to the distal edge. The bottom panel has a plurality of perforations and a perimeter including a proximal edge and a distal edge coupled to the perimeter of the top panel. The outer stringer and inner stringer each have a superior edge coupled to the top panel and an inferior edge coupled to the bottom panel and a longitudinal portion that is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis. The inner stringer is positioned between the central longitudinal axis and the outer stringer.

An integrated user support system includes a point pressure support surface overlay disposed upon and integrated with an underlying support surface. The support surface overlay may permanently or removably enclose the support surface and/or be permanently or removably attached to the support surface.

The present invention provides an inflatable panel (10) comprising an inflatable first part (12) having an internal compartment (13); an inflatable second part (14) having an internal compartment (15); and a third part (16) connecting the first part (12) to the second part (14) at a periphery of the first and second parts (12, 14). The first, second, and third parts (12, 14, 16) together define a sealed enclosure (18) therebetween. The inflatable panel (10) also includes means for evacuating air from the sealed enclosure (18), and said sealed enclosure is configured to increase thermal insulation between the first part (12) and the second part (14).

A vacuum pump includes a hollow container that has a vacuum port and internal chamber walls. The vacuum port opens to an exterior of the container and the chamber walls define chambers that are in fluid communication with the vacuum port. There are flexible bladders disposed in the chambers. The flexible bladders include vents that open through the container to the exterior. A plunger in the container includes arms that extend into the chambers such that each of the flexible bladders is situated between one of the arms and one of the chamber walls. The plunger is moveable between a home position and an upstroke position to compress and deflate the flexible bladders via the vents and thereby change the volume of the flexible bladders. The change in the volume draws a vacuum through the vacuum port.

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.