Bed, hospital bed and resilient support structure for bed

Abstract

There is described support structures for a bed, and various embodiments of a bed for use in a hospital. In an example, a support structure comprises a plurality of sections, each configured to support a respective part of a body, and a plurality of resilient members that extend in a longitudinal direction from an upper end of the support structure to a lower end of the support structure, wherein a shape and/or profile of the support structure is determined by a shape and/or profile of the resilient members.

1 . A mattress for a support structure for a human or animal, the mattress comprising:
 a plurality of sections, wherein each section is movable relative to each other section and is configured to support a respective part of a body when the mattress is in use; and   a plurality of resilient members, each resilient member extending in a longitudinal direction from an upper section of the mattress to a lower section of the mattress, wherein each resilient member is spaced apart from an adjacent resilient member in a transverse direction;   wherein a shape or profile of the mattress corresponds to a shape or profile of the plurality of resilient members.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resilient members are elongated and have a wavy shape or profile conformable to a shape of a body. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resilient members are biased between an upper holding member and a lower holding member, and are attached or connected to an at least one additional holding member between the upper and lower holding members, so as to form a predefined shape or profile, wherein the shape or profile of each of the plurality of resilient members changes upon relative movement of the plurality of sections due to the biasing between the upper and lower holding members and attachment or connection to the at least one additional holding member. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resilient members comprises at least 5 resilient members located in a parallel array across the mattress. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of resilient members is an elongate spring extending from the upper section of the mattress to the lower section of the mattress. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress of  claim 4 , wherein the mattress is movable between a first configuration and second configuration, wherein the shape or profile of the mattress in the first configuration is different than the shape or profile of the mattress in the second configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress of  claim 4 , wherein the mattress is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration by relative movement of the plurality of sections, wherein the shape or profile of the mattress in the first configuration is different than the shape or profile of the mattress in the second configuration, wherein the shape or profile of the mattress is governed or controlled by movement of the plurality of sections and via the plurality of resilient members. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress of  claim 7 , wherein the first configuration corresponds to a substantially flat or lying configuration, and the second configuration corresponds to an upright or seated configuration, wherein in the flat or lying configuration, the plurality of resilient members exhibit at least one concave and/or convex portion. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress of  claim 7 , further comprising a control system, the control system comprising a processor configured to rotate one or more of the plurality of sections of the mattress so as to change a longitudinal profile of the plurality of resilient members such that the mattress moves between the first configuration and the second configuration, wherein the plurality of resilient members are biased so as to form a predefined shape and/or profile upon rotation of the plurality of sections of the mattress. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress of  claim 9 , wherein a longitudinal profile of the mattress corresponds to the longitudinal profile of the plurality of resilient members in a lengthwise direction along the mattress throughout the movement of the mattress from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein throughout any movement of the plurality of sections, the plurality of resilient members are configured to exhibit at least one concave and/or convex portion in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors connected to one or more of the plurality of resilient members, and configured to determine one or more characteristics of the plurality of resilient members. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 the mattress of  claim 12 ; and   a control system comprising a processor configured to monitor the one or more characteristics of the plurality of resilient members over time via the one or more sensors, and output an alert or flag based on an analysis of the one or more characteristics.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the control system is configured to output the alert or flag if the one or more characteristics (i) varies by more than a predetermined amount, (ii) remains outside a predetermined range of values for a predetermined time, or (iii) remains within a predetermined range of values for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more characteristics includes a tension of the plurality of resilient members. 
     
     
         16 . A bed comprising the mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the mattress extends along the entire length of the bed and the plurality of resilient members provide primary support for a person or animal lying on the bed. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system comprises a bed comprising the mattress, wherein the mattress extends along the entire length of the bed and the plurality of resilient members provide primary support for a person or animal lying on the bed. 
     
     
         18 . The bed of  claim 16 , wherein a first of the plurality of sections is configured to support an upper body portion, a second of the plurality of sections is configured to support an upper leg portion, and a third plurality of sections is configured to support a lower leg portion. 
     
     
         19 . A mattress for a human or animal, the mattress comprising:
 a plurality of sections, wherein each section is movable relative to each other section and is configured to support a respective part of a body when the mattress is in use; and   a plurality of resilient members, each resilient member extending in a longitudinal direction from an upper section of the mattress to a lower section of the mattress, wherein each resilient member is spaced apart from an adjacent resilient member in a transverse direction;   wherein a shape or profile of the mattress corresponds to a shape or profile of the plurality of resilient members,   wherein the plurality of resilient members are biased between an upper holding member and a lower holding member, and attached or connected to an at least one additional holding member between the upper and lower holding members, so as to form a predefined shape or profile, wherein the shape or profile of each of the plurality of resilient members changes upon relative movement of the plurality of sections due to the biasing between the upper and lower holding members and attachment or connection to the at least one additional holding member.   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising a mattress for a human or animal and a control system, the mattress comprising:
 a plurality of sections, wherein each section is movable relative to each other section and is configured to support a respective part of a body when the mattress is in use; and   a plurality of resilient members, each resilient member extending in a longitudinal direction from an upper end of the mattress to a lower end of the mattress, wherein each resilient member is spaced apart from an adjacent resilient member in a transverse direction;   wherein a shape or profile of the mattress corresponds to a shape or profile of the plurality of resilient members,   wherein the mattress further comprises one or more sensors connected to one or more of the plurality of resilient members, and configured to determine one or more characteristics of the plurality of resilient members,   wherein the control system comprises a processor configured to monitor the one or more characteristics of the plurality of resilient members over time via the one or more sensors, and output an alert or flag based on an analysis of the one or more characteristics.