An adjustable mattress is described herein. The adjustable mattress is comprised of one or more adjustable elements. The adjustable elements may, in some examples, be filled with air or other fluid in order to adjust the height and firmness of the adjustable mattress. The adjustable mattress may provide a user with assistance in rolling over or repositioning while using the adjustable mattress.

A method of rotating a subject includes arranging a lifting aid underneath the subject such that a midline of the subject is off center from a centerline of the lifting aid in a direction opposite of the rotation direction. The lifting aid includes a first loop extending in the rotation direction and a second loop extending in the opposite direction. The method further includes connecting the loops to a sling bar coupled to an overhead lift and directing the overhead lift to raise, where the subject rotates towards the direction of rotation due to the off center location of the subject. The method further includes repositioning the subject when the subject has rotated to a lateral recumbent position and directing the overhead lift to lower, thereby causing the subject to continue rotating.

A patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, communicates with an electronic medical record (EMR) system in healthcare facility. The hospital bed includes a patient support structure to support a patient, a graphical user interface coupled to the patient support structure, and control circuitry coupled to the graphical user interface. The graphical user interface displays at least one input that may be used by a caregiver to chart data into an electronic medical record (EMR) of a patient supported by the patient support structure.

A system and a method for managing patient therapy protocols are disclosed. The system includes a patient support apparatus for supporting a patient, a first input device for use by a first caregiver, a location system for determining a location of the first caregiver, and a therapy management system. The therapy management system receives a location of the first caregiver and a selection of a patient therapy protocol, which includes a location requirement. The therapy management system then determines whether the first caregiver location input signal satisfies the location requirement before initiating the selected patient therapy protocol or notifying the second caregiver if the location of the first caregiver does not satisfy the location requirement.

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.

The present invention relates to a mat for use in lateral positioning. The invention provides an inflatable mat for use in lateral positioning in angled lateral decubitus, the mat comprising: a mat foil with a longitudinal direction, the mat foil having an upper side and a first side extending in the longitudinal direction, and a second side extending in the longitudinal direction, a first longitudinal section, comprising one or more inflatable air chambers, being arranged on the upper side of the mat foil along the first side of the mat foil, and a second longitudinal section, comprising one or more inflatable air chambers, being arranged on the upper side of the mat foil along the second side of the mat foil, the mat foil having a centre in the longitudinal direction, one or more first transverse sections, each comprising one or more inflatable air chambers, being arranged successively in a row in the longitudinal direction, the first transverse sections extending from the centre out towards the first side, so that the one or more transverse sections are arranged lying above the first longitudinal section away from the mat foil, one or more second transverse sections, each comprising one or more inflatable air chambers, being arranged successively in a row in the longitudinal direction, the transverse sections extending from the middle out towards the second side, the transverse sections being arranged lying above the second longitudinal section away from the mat foil, wherein the first longitudinal section, the second longitudinal section and the one or more first transverse sections and the one or more second transverse sections are connected to one or more air ducts arranged in each of the inflatable air chambers of said longitudinal and transverse sections, wherein the longitudinal and transverse sections can be individually inflated, the first side of the mat having a total first lateral height, which is the sum of a height of the first longitudinal section in the inflated state and a height of the first transverse section in the inflated state, the second side of the mat having a total second lateral height, the second lateral height being the height of the second longitudinal section in the inflated state, or the second side of the mat having a total second lateral height, which is the sum of a height of the second longitudinal section in the inflated state and a height of the second transverse section in the inflated state, and the first side of the mat having a total first lateral height, the first lateral height being the height of the first longitudinal section in the inflated state.

A patient support system for providing customized user menus. The system comprises a patient support apparatus, a user interface configured to receive input from a user, and a display configured to display user menus or information. The user menus may comprise indicia representative of the operational functions of the patient support apparatus. A controller determines the customized user menu based on usage characteristics, a position of the user interface in proximity to the patient support apparatus, a location of the user interface within a facility, an identification of the user, and/or a patient condition. A touchscreen and/or a mobile device may comprise the user interface and the display. The mobile device may be removably coupled to the patient support apparatus. Methods for improving patient care by providing the customized user menu are also disclosed.

A valve for an inflatable device includes a pocket configured to be located in a cavity of the inflatable device. The pocket includes an entrance opening to receive air from an air output. The pocket further includes a first layer of material having at least a first aperture, wherein the first aperture is positioned entirely within the first layer of material, a second layer of material having at least a second aperture in fluid communication with the first aperture, wherein the second aperture is positioned entirely within the second layer of material. The first aperture and the second aperture are in fluid communication with the entrance opening and the cavity such that airflow passes through the valve by flowing from the entrance opening into the pocket, and out of the pocket and into the cavity through at least one of the first aperture or the second aperture.

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 apparatus for transferring a supine patient to a prone position on a patient support structure, and for rotating such a prone patient between prone and supine positions without removing the patient from the patient support structure.