A mattress and adjustable foundation selection system and process generally includes a mattress having a pressure sensor pad configured to detect localized pressure changes on a sleeping surface as a function of a subject lying on the mattress optionally while the comfort of said mattress is adjusted by means of one or more fluid filled chambers; an adjustable foundation adjustably supporting the mattress and configured to change the mattress from a planar configuration to a non-planar configuration; and a display for displaying a contour map associated with the localized pressure changes. The method includes positioning a subject in a sleeping position on a planar surface of a mattress operatively coupled to an adjustable foundation; displaying to the subject a contour map of localized pressure changes as a function of positioning the subject on the mattress planar surface; adjusting the adjustable foundation and changing the planar surface to a non-planar surface; and displaying to the subject a contour map of the localized pressure changes associated with the mattress non-planar surface.

Disclosed is an inflation valve enabling a user to quickly inflate and deflate an inflatable object. The inflation valve can include an inflation chamber that is an adequate size to capture a breath of air blown by a user from a distance away from an outside opening of the inflation chamber. This allows surrounding air into the area of low pressure created by the moving air, thereby greatly increasing the amount of air entering the inflatable object. To prevent air from escaping the inflatable object, the inflation valve can include a non-invertible one-way valve and/or an invertible one-way valve. Each valve can prevent air from escaping the inflation chamber until adequate pressure is applied from the outside opening of the inflation chamber, for example, as a result of a user blowing air into the inflation chamber. The invertible one-way valve can be inverted to reverse the properties of the valve.

A surgical pad to support a patient on an operating room table, including a gel-infused polyurethane visco-elastic foam configured to support a patient on an operating room table, and an optional perineal cut-out to permit access to the patient's perineum when the patient is lying in a supine position on the surgical pad, and methods of making and using such a surgical pad during surgery.

A patient support system includes a scale system, an air system, and a lift system. The patient support system also includes a control system configured to graphically communicate information about the scale system, the air system, and the lift system to a user.

An article of manufacture includes an inflatable body comprising a first core member cut from a single slab of core material and a second core member cut from the single slab of core material and coupled to the first core member.

A height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags includes at least two airbags, where the airbags each receive and retain therein an elastic body. One of the airbags includes an air control unit connected thereto for controlling air filling and discharge of the airbags. The airbags are provided, in surfaces thereof that opposes each other, with corresponding passage holes and joint sections formed around circumferences of the passage holes. The joint sections are jointed so that the airbags are directly connected with no additional medium between the airbags and allowing the airbags to share the same air control unit to achieve flowability of air between the airbags, whereby advantages of efficient air filling and discharge of the airbags, being easy to manufacture, and reducing manufacture costs can be achieved.

A height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags includes at least two airbags, where the airbags each receive and retain therein an elastic body. One of the airbags includes an air control unit connected thereto for controlling air filling and discharge of the airbags. The airbags are provided, in surfaces thereof that opposes each other, with corresponding passage holes and joint sections formed around circumferences of the passage holes. The joint sections are jointed so that the airbags are directly connected with no additional medium between the airbags and allowing the airbags to share the same air control unit to achieve flowability of air between the airbags, whereby advantages of efficient air filling and discharge of the airbags, being easy to manufacture, and reducing manufacture costs can be achieved.

A sheet, an inflatable product including the sheet, a sheet manufacturing apparatus, and a sheet manufacturing method are provided. The sheet includes layers of first and second polymer materials, the first polymer material having a higher melting point than the second polymer material, and a fabric layer laminated to the first polymer material by adhesive. The apparatus includes feeding devices outputting the first and second polymer materials in a flowable state; a sheet extrusion die converging the first and second polymer materials into a formed material sheet including a barrier layer and a welding layer formed from the first and second polymer materials; and a lamination device using an adhesive to laminate a fabric sheet to the barrier layer of the formed material sheet, and outputting a laminated material sheet including a fabric layer, an adhesive layer, and a substrate layer including the formed material sheet.

A patient support system includes a patient support apparatus and a support surface mounted on the patient support apparatus. The patient support apparatus is reconfigurable among a plurality of different configurations for supporting a patient on the support surface in a plurality of positions. The support surface is mounted on the patient support apparatus to move in response to reconfiguration of the patient support apparatus.

A mattress includes a generally rectangular prismatic foam body, having a length, a width, and a thickness, having a top surface, a plurality of slits in the top surface of the foam body extending across the width of the body to divide the top surface into a plurality of adjacent slats. An elongate chamber extends through the body, parallel to and aligned with each slit. At least one fluid filled cell disposed in each of the elongate chambers to support the edges of adjacent slats.