Microclimate management system

Abstract

A microclimate management system ( 10 ) comprises a mattress ( 16 ), a topper ( 18 ), and a control system ( 14 ). The topper ( 18 ) is coupled to the mattress ( 16 ) and is supported thereon. The topper ( 18 ) defines an interior region ( 42 ) and a person contacting surface ( 52 ). The control system ( 14 ) is configured to maintain at least one of a surface temperature, a relative surface humidity, and a heat withdrawal capacity of at least a portion of the person contacting surface ( 52 ) within a predetermined operating

1 . A microclimate management system comprising:
 a support device including a person contacting surface;   a fluid supply coupled with the support device and supplying fluid to the support device; and   a controller operatively coupled to the fluid supply and including an instruction set, the instruction set causing the controller to regulate at least one of the rate the fluid is supplied by the fluid supply and temperature of the fluid supplied by the fluid supply to maintain a heat withdrawal capacity of at least a portion of the person contacting surface below about 140 W/m 2 .   
     
     
         2 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat withdrawal capacity of at least a portion of the person contacting surface is maintained above about 50 W/m 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat withdrawal capacity of at least a portion of the person contacting surface is maintained between about 60 W/m 2  and about 125 W/m 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the person contacting surface is maintained below about 35.8° C. (96.5° F.). 
     
     
         5 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the person contacting surface is maintained above about 31.1° C. (88° F.). 
     
     
         6 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the person contacting surface is maintained between about 32.2° C. (90° F.) and about 35.3° C. (95.5° F.). 
     
     
         7 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the relative humidity of the person contacting surface is maintained below about 95%. 
     
     
         8 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the relative humidity of the person contacting surface is maintained above about 20%. 
     
     
         9 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the relative humidity of the person contacting surface is maintained between about 55% and about 90%. 
     
     
         10 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1  further comprising sensors operatively coupled to the controller, the sensors being configured to provide a signal indicative of one of the temperature and humidity of the person contacting surface. 
     
     
         11 . The microclimate management system of  claim 10 , wherein support device includes a cover defining an interior region and a portion of the cover defining the person contacting surface, the sensors being integrated into the cover. 
     
     
         12 . The microclimate management system of  claim 10 , wherein the sensors are positioned within the interior region proximate the person contacting surface. 
     
     
         13 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the support device includes at least one fluid bladder therein, the controller being configured to regulate the pressure of the fluid within the fluid bladder. 
     
     
         14 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply includes at least one of a heating element and a cooling element. 
     
     
         15 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the support device includes a mattress and a topper coupled on the mattress, the topper includes a cover defining an interior region and a portion of the cover defining the person contacting surface. 
     
     
         16 . The microclimate management system of  claim 15 , wherein the topper includes a support layer positioned within the interior region. 
     
     
         17 . The microclimate management system of  claim 16 , wherein the support layer is a three-dimensionally engineered spacer. 
     
     
         18 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1  further comprising an input device configured to receive an input from a person indicative of a person's comfort level. 
     
     
         19 . The microclimate management system of  claim 18 , wherein the instruction set causes the controller to further regulate the fluid supply as a function of the input from the input device. 
     
     
         20 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat withdrawal capacity of at least a portion of the person contacting surface is maintained below about 140 W/m 2  for less than about 6 hours. 
     
     
         21 . The microclimate management system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat withdrawal capacity of at least a portion of the person contacting surface is maintained below about 140 W/m 2  for more than about 6 hours. 
     
     
         22 - 197 . (canceled) 
     
     
         198 . A method of manufacturing a microclimate management system, comprising:
 providing a support device in communication with a fluid supply, the support device including:   a cover defining an interior region and at least a portion of the cover defining a person contacting surface, the cover also defining a fluid permeability parameter, a thermal conductivity parameter, and a thickness parameter, and a spacer positioned within the interior region, the spacer defining a fluid resistance parameter, a fluid permeability parameter, a thermal conductivity parameter, and a thickness parameter; and   varying at least one of the fluid permeability parameter of the cover, the thickness parameter of the cover, the thermal conductivity of the cover, the fluid resistance parameter of the spacer, the fluid permeability parameter of the spacer, the thermal conductivity parameter of the spacer, and the thickness parameter of the spacer to cooperate with the fluid supply to maintain a heat withdrawal capacity of at least a portion of the person contacting surface below about 140 W/m 2 .   
     
     
         199 - 229 . (canceled)