Body positioning mattress

Abstract

A method of positioning a patient or person 0 to 90 degrees in an upright position or greater in a supine or prone position while maintaining neutral skeletal alignment (non flexed position) with a body positioning mattress capable of applying a vacuum process to remove air; molding the mattress around the body to maintain position. A means to place the support mattress onto a manual or motorized bed frame to position and maintain a patient or person 0 to 90 degrees or greater in the supine or prone position.

1 . A method of positioning a patient or person on a mattress 0 to 90 degrees in an upright position or greater in a supine or prone position while maintaining neutral skeletal alignment (non-flexed position), through a process which comprises a mattress that conforms to a human body's shape and a method of controlling or adjusting patient positioning either through a manual or motorized bed frame.  
   
   
       2 . A body positioning mattress comprising: a conforming contour mattress comprised of material capable of molding to the shape of the human body, contained within a mattress cover; and means for applying a vacuum process to remove air; with means for simultaneously creating and shaping a mold around the body form within the mattress; and means to place the support mattress on a manual or motorized bed frame to position and maintain a patient or person 0 to 90 degrees or greater in the supine or prone position.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  comprises a) a mattress that allows the human body to create a depression into the mattress shaping the human body's form; b) the application of suction to create further shaping of the body within the mattress; c) ability to elevate and maintain a patient or person 0 to 90 degrees upright or greater in the supine or prone position.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  where the mattress is comprised of a substance capable of conforming or molding to the human body.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  where the mattress is encased within a cover comprised of layers of expandable material with the ability to create individual compartments between material, cover and vacuum sections.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2  where suction may be applied to the mattress cover through a valve which removes air through a vacuum process producing a molding shape of the mattress around the body.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2  where air may be applied through a valve system producing a reversal of the molding properties reversing the depression of the body's form into the mattress.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  where compartments may include a layer of porous material.