Patient support system

Abstract

A pressure control apparatus for use in a bed including a pressurized air source, an inflatable air sack, and an independently inflatable cell located adjacent the inflatable air sack. A controller is operable to regulate the pressure in the air sack and to independently alternately pressurize and vent the inflatable cell at a selected frequency.

1 . A bed for supporting a patient, comprising: 
 a bed frame; and    an inflatable patient support assembly supported on the bed frame, the assembly having at least one inflatable zone including:    first and second interlaced sets of generally adjacent inflatable air sacs defining a patient support surface, each air sac in the first set inflating collectively with other sacs in the first set, each air sac in the second set inflating collectively with the other sacs in the second set, the first set of air sacs being inflated independently relative to second set of air sacs, and    a vibrational therapy system configured to impart a vibrational force to the patient support surface.    
     
     
         2 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one zone has first and second sets of generally adjacent inflatable air sacs, each air sac in the first set inflating collectively with other sacs in the first set, each air sac in the second set inflating collectively with the other sacs in the second set, the first set of air sacs of the at least one zone being inflated independently relative to the second set of air sacs of the at least one zone.  
     
     
         3 . The bed of  claim 1 , further including a controller having software to alternately inflate the first set and second set of air sacs.  
     
     
         4 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrational therapy system includes an impact cell.  
     
     
         5 . The bed of  claim 4 , wherein the impact cell is positioned within an air sac.  
     
     
         6 . A bed for supporting a patient, comprising: 
 an inflatable patient support assembly, the assembly having:    first and second interlaced sets of generally adjacent inflatable air sacs defining a patient support surface, and    a controller including a pulsating mode of operation where air pressures within the first set of air sacs and the second set of air sacs are successively and alternately pulsated, and a rotational mode of operation where the patient support surface is laterally rotated.    
     
     
         7 . The bed of  claim 6 , wherein the controller further includes a vibrational therapy mode where a vibrational force is imparted to the patient support surface.  
     
     
         8 . The bed of  claim 7 , further comprising an impact cell in communication with the controller and configured to provide the vibrational force to the patient support surface.  
     
     
         9 . The bed of  claim 6 , wherein the controller further includes a pressure relief mode where the first set of air sacs and the second set of air sacs are maintained at a substantially constant pressure to support the patient in a relatively static condition.  
     
     
         10 . A method of providing therapy to a patient, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an inflatable patient support assembly having first, second, third, and fourth generally adjacent inflatable air sacs and a controller;    providing alternating pressure therapy by inflating the first and third air sacs and at least partially deflating the second and fourth air sacs; and    providing lateral rotation therapy by providing inflation to a first chamber of the air sacs that is greater than the inflation provided to a second chamber of the air sacs.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the patient support assembly includes a plurality of independently controlled zones, each including first, second, third, and fourth generally adjacent inflatable air sacs.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing vibrational therapy by imparting a vibrational force to a patient support surface defined by the air sacs.  
     
     
         13 . A method of providing therapy to a patient including the steps of: 
 providing an inflatable patient support assembly having first, second, third, and fourth generally adjacent inflatable air sacs defining a patient support surface;    providing alternating pressure therapy by inflating the first and third air sacs and at least partially deflating the second and fourth air sacs; and    providing vibrational therapy by imparting a vibrational force to the patient support surface.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the patient support assembly includes a plurality of independently controlled zones, each including first, second, third, and fourth generally adjacent inflatable air sacs.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of providing lateral rotation therapy by altering inflation levels of the air sacs.  
     
     
         16 . A patient support apparatus for use with a source of pressurized air, comprising: 
 a first support zone and a second support zone, each support zone including a plurality of inflatable bladders for supporting a portion of the patient, the plurality of inflatable bladders in each support zone configured such that every alternate bladder is coupled together in a first group and every other alternate bladder is coupled together in a second group;    a plurality of pressure control valves, each pressure control valve associated with a respective group of inflatable bladders, each respective pressure control valve configured to regulate the pressure of the respective group of inflatable bladders; and    a microprocessor configured to control the plurality of pressure control valves such that:    the first support zone is inflated to a first reference pressure and subsequently pulsating the pressure in the first group and the second group in the first support zone; and    the second support zone is inflated to a second reference pressure which is substantially maintained in the first group and the second group of the second support zone.    
     
     
         17 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured to control the pressure control valves such that a first chamber of the air sacs have a pressure greater than a second chamber of the air sacs.  
     
     
         18 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a vibrational therapy system controlled by the microprocessor.  
     
     
         19 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the vibrational therapy system includes an impact cell.  
     
     
         20 . The patient support apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the impact cell is positioned within an air sac.