Patent ID: 6676215
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: A47C,A61G,Y10S

Abstract:
A seating apparatus for supporting a lower body region of an immobilized person for avoidance and relief of decubitus ulcers, the seating apparatus providing regular intervals of seating pressure reduction below a predetermined seating pressure for at least a predetermined relief period, comprising:a plurality of rigid slats, said slats defining a support plane for supporting the lower body region of the immobilized person, each of said slats being movable between a first support position wherein each of said slats is coplanar with said support plane and a second displaced position wherein each of said slats is displaced a distance D from said support plane for the predetermined relief period whereby capillary blood pressure is reduced below the predetermined seating pressure in the unsupported portion of the lower body region, and wherein each of said slats supports a cushion for sitting thereon, said cushion being formed from a viscoelastic material; a cage for supporting said slats and configured to allow movement of each of said slats between said first and second position; a plurality of mechanisms for moving each of said slats between said first and second position; a controller for regulating movement of each of said slats between said first and second position in accordance with a predetermined program; wherein said cushion has a thickness T, a width W, a stiffness S, a maximum compression C and a recovery rate R, said thickness T and stiffness S being selected to allow said cushion to conform to the lower body region of the immobilized person to provide support therefor while minimizing an initial seating pressure Pi, and wherein said displacement D exceeds said maximum compression C, said maximum compression C being a function of thickness T, stiffness S and the body weight of the immobilized person; and wherein said recovery rate R of said cushion is no greater than said predetermined relief period.