Mattress cover for convalescing patient

Abstract

There is provided an inflatable mattress and coverlet used to reduce and treat decubitus ulcers. The mattress is an air inflatable mattress and is particularly adapted for use on a bed in a hospital, nursing home, health care facility or the like. The air inflatable mattress has a series of apertures on the top allowing small amounts of air to pass through to the underside of the coverlet. According to one aspect of the invention the coverlet is placed over the top of air inflatable mattress in the central portion thereof between the head of the bed and the foot of the bed. The coverlet is of sufficient length to extend under the weight bearing portions of the patient. The coverlet has as a first layer a moisture wicking fabric, such as a polyester, and on one side of the moisture wicking fabric there is attached a microporous polymeric member which allows air from the mattress to pass through the coverlet to the patient. Adjacent the polymeric member is another layer comprising a spacer fabric. The side edges of the coverlet form a drip edge and may be attached to the mattress by suitable means.

1 . A coverlet having a top end, a bottom end and a pair of edges for use on a mattress or chair to reduce and treat decubitus ulcers comprising:
 (a) a moisture wicking fabric;   (b) a microporous polymeric membrane attached to one side of said moisture wicking fabric; and   (c) a spacer fabric adjacent the other side of said polymeric membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The coverlet according to  claim 1  wherein said moisture wicking fabric is polyester. 
     
     
         3 . The coverlet according to  claim 1  wherein said polymeric membrane is a member of the group selected from polytetrafluoroethlene, polyurethane, polyacrylate, polyester and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The coverlet according to  claim 1  wherein said polymeric membrane is a polyurethane 
     
     
         5 . The coverlet according to  claim 1  wherein said spacer fabric has at least one side mesh three dimensional warp knit fabric and is between 0.60 and 1.0 inches thick. 
     
     
         6 . The coverlet according to  claim 1  wherein said moisture wicking fabric;
 and said spacer fabric are sealed on the top and bottom ends.   
     
     
         7 . The coverlet according to  claim 1  further comprising means to attach said coverlet edges to an inflatable mattress. 
     
     
         8 . A coverlet having a top end, a bottom end and a pair of edges for use on an inflatable mattress or chair to reduce and treat decubitus ulcers comprising:
 (a) a moisture wicking polyester fabric;   (b) a microporous polymeric membrane is a member of the group selected from polytetrafluoroethlene, polyurethane, polyacrylate, and polyester attached to one side of said moisture wicking fabric; and   (c) a spacer fabric adjacent the other side of said polymeric membrane.   said moisture wicking fabric; and said spacer fabric are sealed on the top and bottom ends.   
     
     
         9 . An inflatable mattress and coverlet having a top end, a bottom end and a pair of edges to reduce and treat decubitus ulcers, said coverlet comprising:
 (a) a moisture wicking fabric;   (b) a microporous polymeric membrane attached to one side of said moisture wicking fabric; and   (c) a spacer fabric adjacent the other side of said polymeric membrane, and said inflatable mattress being connected to means for supplying air above ambient air pressure; wherein said means for supplying air includes an air compressor and controller, whereby air is passed through apertures in said mattress and said coverlet.   
     
     
         10 . The inflatable mattress and coverlet according to  claim 9  wherein said moisture wicking fabric is polyester. 
     
     
         11 . The inflatable mattress and coverlet according to  claim 9  wherein said polymeric membrane is a member of the group selected from polytetrafluoroethlene, polyurethane, polyacrylate, polyester, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The inflatable mattress and coverlet according to  claim 9  wherein said polymeric membrane is a polyurethane 
     
     
         13 . The inflatable mattress and coverlet according to  claim 9  wherein said spacer fabric has at least one side mesh three dimensional warp knit fabric and is between 0.60 and 1.0 inches thick. 
     
     
         14 . The inflatable mattress and coverlet according to  claim 9  wherein said moisture wicking fabric; and said spacer fabric are sealed on the top and bottom ends. 
     
     
         15 . The inflatable mattress and coverlet according to  claim 9  wherein the edges of said coverlet from a drip and said edges further comprise means to attach said coverlet to a support surface. 
     
     
         16 . The inflatable mattress and coverlet according to  claim 9  wherein said air compressor includes a second air supply to an alternating pressure inflatable mattress. 
     
     
         17 . An inflatable mattress and coverlet having a top end, a bottom end and a pair of edges to reduce and treat decubitus ulcers, said coverlet comprising:
 (a) a moisture wicking polyester fabric;   (b) a microporous polymeric membrane is a member of the group selected from polytetrafluoroethlene, polyurethane, polyacrylate, polyester, and combinations thereof, attached to one side of said moisture wicking fabric;   (c) a spacer fabric adjacent the other side of said polymeric membrane, and said inflatable mattress being connected to means for supplying air above ambient air pressure; wherein said means for supplying air includes an air compressor and controller, whereby air is passed through apertures in said mattress and said coverlet.