Air mattress system with inflatable limb chamber

Abstract

A system and method for controlling the flow of fluid for an inflatable mattress having multiple, non-interconnected inflatable chambers and a moveable inflatable limb elevation chamber. Each inflatable chamber can be selectively inflated and deflated to vary the pressure exerted from the mattress surface to selected areas of a human body, thereby preventing the formation of decubitus ulcers. The limb elevation chamber may also be selectively inflated and deflated as well being positioned at any desired portion of the inflatable mattress in order to raise one or more human limbs off the surface of the mattress.

1 . An inflatable mattress system comprising:
 a plurality of inflatable chambers assembled to define a support surface to support an occupant having at least one limb, each of said inflatable chambers having at least one wall member forming an interior volume, said wall member being made from a flexible material selected to retain fluid, each of said plurality of inflatable chambers having a chamber connector for fluid communication with said interior volume, said at least one wall member being deflectable between a first inflated position and a second inflated position different from said first inflated position;   a plurality of deflectable resistors each of which predictably varies its electrical resistance upon deflection from a first configuration to a second configuration, each of said plurality of deflectable resistors being attached to said at least one wall member of an inflatable chamber of said plurality of inflatable chambers to deflect between said first configuration and said second configuration upon movement of said at least one wall member between said first inflated position and said second inflated position to generate a deflection signal upon application of electrical power to said deflectable resistors reflective of said inflatable chamber movement;   an inflatable limb elevation chamber configured for positioning on said support surface to support a limb of said occupant, said inflatable limb elevation chamber including at least one elevation chamber wall member having an elevation chamber interior volume, said elevation chamber wall member being made from a flexible material selected to retain fluid, said at least one elevation chamber wall member being deflectable between a first inflated elevation chamber position and a second inflated elevation chamber position different from said first inflated elevation chamber position, said elevation chamber having an elevation chamber connector for fluid communication with said elevation chamber interior volume;   a fluid source for supplying a fluid under pressure into each interior volume of said plurality of inflatable chambers and into said elevation chamber interior volume;   a first conduit means connected to each of said chamber connectors and said elevation chamber connector for communicating fluid to and from said interior volume and said elevation chamber interior volume;   a second conduit means connected to said fluid source for communicating fluid to and from said fluid source;   a discharge means for communicating fluid away from said interior volume and said elevation chamber interior volume;   a valve connected to said first conduit means, said second conduit means and said discharge means, said valve being operable among a first position in which said valve places said first conduit means in communication with said second conduit means for supplying fluid from said fluid source to said interior volume and said elevation chamber interior volume, a second position in which said valve places said first conduit means in fluid communication with said discharge means, and a third position in which said first conduit means is inhibited from communicating fluid to and from said interior volume and said elevation chamber interior volume; and   a controller connected to each of said plurality of deflectable resistors for supplying an electrical signal thereto and for receiving said deflection signal therefrom, said controller being configured to generate operating commands for operating said valve among said first position, said second position and said third position, said controller being connected to said valve to supply said operating commands to said valve.   
     
     
         2 . The limb elevation chamber of  claim 1 , wherein said elevation chamber is removable from said support surface. 
     
     
         3 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 1 , wherein said controller includes a processor having a set of instructions for receiving said deflection signals and deriving an amount of said inflatable chamber movement and directing said controller to deliver said operating commands for placing said valve in said first position, said second position, and said third position. 
     
     
         4 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 3 , wherein said controller further comprises a valve controller, communicatively coupled to said processor and said valve, said valve controller configured to receive an operating command to select at least one of said plurality of inflatable chambers and said elevation chamber in response to a command from said processor. 
     
     
         5 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 4 , wherein said controller further comprises a reading device, communicatively coupled to said processor and said plurality of deflectable resistors, said reading device configured for receiving said deflection signal and transmitting said deflection signal to said processor. 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 5 , wherein said controller further comprises a fluid controller, communicatively coupled to said processor and said fluid source, said fluid controller configured for actuating said fluid source in response to an operating command from said processor. 
     
     
         7 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 1 , in which said inflatable limb elevation chamber has at least one elevation chamber deflectable resistor that predictably varies its electrical resistance upon deflection from a first elevation chamber configuration to a second elevation chamber configuration when an electrical signal is applied thereto, said elevation chamber deflectable resistor being attached to said at least one elevation chamber wall member of said elevation chamber to deflect therewith upon movement of said at least one elevation chamber wall member between said first inflated elevation chamber position and said second inflated elevation chamber position for generating an elevation chamber deflection signal reflective of said elevation chamber movement, said elevation chamber deflectable resistor connected to said controller for supplying an electrical signal thereto and for receiving said elevation chamber deflection signal therefrom. 
     
     
         8 . An inflatable mattress system comprising:
 a plurality of inflatable chambers assembled to define a support surface having a width and a central axis, said support surface being sized to support an occupant having at least one limb, each of said inflatable chambers having at least one wall member forming an interior volume, said wall member being made from a flexible material selected to retain fluid, each of said plurality of inflatable chambers having a chamber connector for fluid communication with said interior volume, said at least one wall member being deflectable between a first inflated position and a second inflated position different from said first inflated position;   a plurality of deflectable resistors each of which predictably varies its electrical resistance upon deflection from a first configuration to a second configuration, each of said plurality of deflectable resistors being attached to said at least one wall member of an inflatable chamber of said plurality of inflatable chambers to deflect from said first configuration to said second configuration upon movement of said at least one wall member between said first position and said second position to generate a deflection signal reflective of said inflatable chamber movement upon application of electrical power to said deflectable resistors;   an inflatable limb elevation chamber configured for positioning on said support surface to support a limb of said occupant, said elevation chamber including at least one elevation chamber wall member forming an elevation chamber interior volume, said elevation chamber wall member being made from a flexible material selected to retain fluid, said at least one elevation chamber wall member being deflectable between a first inflated elevation chamber position and a second inflated elevation chamber position different from said first inflated elevation chamber position, said elevation chamber having an elevation chamber connector for fluid communication with said elevation chamber interior volume, and said elevation chamber being sized to extend substantially normal to said central axis for positioning proximate the feet of the occupant;   a fluid source for supplying a fluid under pressure into each interior volume of said plurality of inflatable chambers and into said elevation chamber interior volume;   a first conduit means connected to said chamber connector and said elevation chamber connector for communicating fluid to and from said interior volume and said elevation chamber interior volume;   a second conduit means connected to said fluid source for communicating fluid to and from said fluid source;   a discharge means for communicating fluid away from said interior volume and said elevation chamber interior volume;   a valve connected to said first conduit means, said second conduit means and said discharge means, said valve being operable among a first position in which said valve places said first conduit means in communication with said second conduit means for supplying fluid from said fluid source to said interior volume and said elevation chamber interior volume, a second position in which said valve places said first conduit means in fluid communication with said discharge means; and   a controller connected to each of said plurality deflectable resistors for supplying an electrical signal thereto and for receiving said deflection signal therefrom, said controller being configured to generate operating commands for operating said valve between said first position and said second position said controller being connected to said valve to supply said operating commands to said valve.   
     
     
         9 . The inflatable mattress system of  claim 8  wherein said limb elevation chamber has a support surface that is arcuate. 
     
     
         10 . The inflatable mattress system of  claim 8  wherein said limb elevation chamber has means for securing said elevation chamber to said support surface. 
     
     
         11 . The inflatable mattress system of  claim 10  wherein said means for securing is a member on hook and pile fastener 
     
     
         12 . The inflatable mattress system of  claim 8  wherein said limb elevation chamber has multiple compartments. 
     
     
         13 . The inflatable mattress system of  claim 8  wherein said limb elevation chamber extends substantially the width of said support surface. 
     
     
         14 . An inflatable limb elevation chamber configured for positioning on a support surface to support a limb of an immobile person on said support surface, said support surface having a width and an axis, said inflatable elevation chamber comprising:
 an elevation chamber wall member forming an elevation chamber interior volume, said elevation chamber wall member being made from a flexible material selected to retain fluid, said at least one elevation chamber wall member being deflectable between a first inflated elevation chamber position and a second inflated elevation chamber position different from said first inflated elevation chamber position said elevation chamber being sized to extend substantially normal to said central axis for positioning under the limb of the immobile person thereon;   an elevation chamber connector positioned in a chamber wall for fluid communication with said elevation chamber interior volume and connectable to a source of fluid and a vent to vent fluid from said elevation chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The inflatable limb elevation chamber of  claim 14  wherein said elevation chamber interior volume has multiple interior chambers with an elevation chamber connector positioned for fluid communication with each of said multiple interior chambers. 
     
     
         16 . The inflatable limb elevation chamber of  claim 14  wherein said elevation chamber wall member has a deflectable resistor positioned thereon which predictably varies its electrical resistance upon deflection of said elevation chamber wall member from a first configuration to a second configuration to generate a deflection signal reflective of said deflection upon application of electrical power to said deflectable resistor. 
     
     
         17 . The inflatable limb elevation chamber of  claim 14  wherein said inflatable limb elevation chamber has opposite ends with said elevation chamber wall attached thereto and extending therebetween. 
     
     
         18 . The inflatable limb elevation chamber of  claim 17  further including a strap extending from each of said opposite ends. 
     
     
         19 . The inflatable limb elevation chamber of  claim 18  further including securing means attached to each of said straps to secure said inflatable limb elevation chamber to said support surface. 
     
     
         20 . The inflatable limb elevation chamber of  claim 18  wherein each of said straps is sized to extend from its respective opposite end under said support surface. 
     
     
         21 . The inflatable limb elevation chamber of  claim 19  wherein said securing means includes one of hook or pile member of a hook and pile fastener affixed to each of said straps and the other of said hook or pile member affixed to said support surface.