Patient support device with lower extremity raiser

Abstract

A patient support device includes a mattress including an inflatable plenum, an inflatable torso support chamber located on one end portion of the mattress to elevate the upper torso of a patient with respect to the lower torso and legs, the torso support chamber being isolated from the plenum so as to be separately inflatable, and an inflatable lower extremity support chamber located on an opposite end portion of the mattress to elevate one or more lower extremities of a patient with respect to the upper torso and lower torso, the lower extremity support chamber being isolated from the plenum and the torso support chamber so as to be separately inflatable.

1 . A patient support device comprising:
 a mattress including an inflatable plenum;   an inflatable torso support chamber located on one end portion of the mattress to elevate the upper torso of a patient with respect to the lower torso and legs; and   an inflatable lower extremity support chamber located on an opposite end portion of the mattress to elevate one or more lower extremities of a patient with respect to the upper torso and lower torso, the lower extremity support chamber being isolated from the plenum and the torso support chamber so as to be separately inflatable.   
     
     
         2 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the mattress is a transfer mattress having a perforated bottom sheet to provide a cushion of air for moving the mattress across a surface when the plenum is inflated. 
     
     
         3 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the leg support chamber includes a right side chamber and a left side chamber that are selectively and separately inflatable. 
     
     
         4 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extremity support chamber includes a lower leg raiser positioned so as to support one or both legs of a patient below the knee. 
     
     
         5 . The patient support device of  claim 4 , wherein the lower extremity support chamber further includes a hip raiser centrally located between the hips. 
     
     
         6 . The patient support device of  claim 5 , wherein the lower extremity support chamber further includes a central buttocks raiser connecting the lower leg raiser and the hip raiser. 
     
     
         7 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extremity support chamber further includes a hip raiser centrally located between the hips. 
     
     
         8 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extremity support chamber includes a leg raiser positioned so as to support one or both legs of a patient above the knee so that the lower portion of the one or both legs below the knee can be freely pivoted about the knee. 
     
     
         9 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extremity support chamber has a wedge shape. 
     
     
         10 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extremity support chamber has a concave upper surface. 
     
     
         11 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extremity support chamber has a convex upper surface. 
     
     
         12 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extremity support chamber includes a leg raiser, a pair of hip raisers separated by a lower spinal gap, and a central buttocks raiser connecting the leg raiser to the pair of hip raisers. 
     
     
         13 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extremity support chamber is integrally formed with the mattress. 
     
     
         14 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extremity support chamber is removably fastened to the mattress. 
     
     
         15 . The patient support device of  claim 14 , wherein two or more of the lower extremity support chambers can be fastened to the mattress, in combination, to selectively lift portions of a patient's anatomy. 
     
     
         16 . The patient support device of  claim 1 , wherein the torso support chamber is isolated from the plenum so as to be separately inflatable