Described herein are systems and apparatuses for enhanced comfort through contact pressure reduction. In particular, the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein prevent or otherwise mitigate pressure by actively orienting a patient over an anatomy-specific pressure-mitigating contact surface on which the patient rests. A pressure-mitigating contact portion of the contact surface includes a plurality of independently pressurized chambers configured in a specific geometric pattern that is designed to mitigate contact pressure between a support surface (e.g., bed or chair) and a specific anatomic region of a patient's body when the specific anatomic region of the patient's body is oriented over an epicenter of the geometric pattern. Additionally, a plurality of elevated side support portions and a wedge interconnected on the base material are configured to actively orient the specific anatomic region of the patient's body over the epicenter of the geometric pattern.

Disclosed herein is a pressure-relief mattress comprising: a plurality of inflatable bladders; a pressure sensor pad arranged to detect pressure exerted on a subject, the pressure sensor pad comprising a plurality of pressure sensor cells being arranged in a matrix with at least one row and at least one column; a pressure-sensing electronic unit electrically connected with the plurality of pressure sensor cells; and a pressure-control electronic unit communicatively connected with the pressure-sensing electronic unit; wherein the pressure-sensing electronic unit is configured for generating a measurement result indicative of a pressure exerted upon the subject at one or more of the pressure sensor cells, the pressure control electronic unit is configured for controlling operation of one or more of the inflatable bladders according to the pressure measurement result.

An assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle roof and a vehicle floor spaced from the vehicle roof. The assembly includes a post elongated from the vehicle floor to the vehicle roof. The post being slidable along the vehicle roof and the vehicle floor in a vehicle-longitudinal direction. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the post.

There is disclosed a method and system for determining the partial pressure of at least one gas in a mixture of gasses contained in a pressure vessel, the mixture being pressurised to a level which is above local atmospheric pressure. The method comprises the steps of positioning a gas analysis sensor (14) within a pressure vessel (10); exposing the sensor to the mixture of gasses at the pressure level found in the pressure vessel; operating the sensor to measure the actual partial pressure of the at least one gas in the mixture contained in the vessel; and periodically calibrating the sensor by directing a calibrating gas mixture (20, 22) to the sensor in the chamber, the calibrating gas mixture being breathable by a human being.

A system configured to enclose a premature fetus within an extracorporeal environment to promote growth of the fetus and increase viability of the fetus. The system includes a chamber having an interior space configured to enclose the fetus, a first fluid circuit that delivers sterile fluid to the chamber, and a second fluid system that transfers oxygen to the fetus. The system chamber includes a stop mechanism including a clamp and an actuator, the clamp positioned in the interior space, the actuator coupled to the clamp such that movement of the actuator moves the clamp, and the actuator positioned at least partially outside the interior space.

A person support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, cot, recliner, or the like, includes an exit detection system having a plurality of force sensors that support the weight of an occupant positioned on a support surface and obstruction detection system having one or more obstruction sensors. The force sensors are part of an exit detection system that issues an alarm when the occupant exits, or is about to exit, the person support apparatus. The bed exit system can react to detection of an obstacle. The distribution of weight applied to the force sensors is used to determine if the occupant is about to exit the person support apparatus. Compensation is made to the exit detection system for changes in the weight distribution that are not caused by movement of the occupant. Such changes may be due to not only movement of the person support apparatus or components thereof, but obstacles encountered by the person support apparatus or components thereof.

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.

There is described support structures for a bed, and various embodiments of a bed for use in a hospital. In an example, a support structure comprises a plurality of sections, each configured to support a respective part of a body, and a plurality of resilient members that extend in a longitudinal direction from an upper end of the support structure to a lower end of the support structure, wherein a shape and/or profile of the support structure is determined by a shape and/or profile of the resilient members.

A patient positioning system comprising a wedge comprising a wedge body and a plurality of sensors coupled to the wedge body, wherein the wedge body is configured to deform in response to a pressure applied to the wedge body, the plurality of sensors coupled to the wedge body, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to sense pressure applied to the wedge body.

An inflatable mattress that has multiple chambers is disclosed that includes a first section with a first pressure valve, and a second section that has a plurality of collapsible airtight vertical cylindrical chambers displaced across the first section and which defines a top surface and each vertical chamber includes valves, controlled by a central controller that is programmable and controls the flow of air in and out of each chamber, thereby providing a method to alter the vertical dimension of each chamber and affect movement to a person on the top surface mattress.