Patent ID: 6820640
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: A61G,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A pressure control apparatus for use in a bed that includes a pressurized air source and at least one air sack, the apparatus comprising:a valve inlet configured to receive pressurized air from a pressurized air source; a valve outlet configured to permit exit of the pressurized air to the at least one air sack; a first valve in fluid communication between the valve inlet and the valve outlet and configured to regulate flow of the pressurized air between the valve inlet and the valve outlet; a second valve disposed between the pressurized air source and an independently inflatable cell adjacent an air sack, the second valve when in a first state couples the pressurized air source to the inflatable cell in order to pressurize the inflatable cell and when in a second state couples the inflatable cell to atmosphere in order to vent the inflatable cell; and a controller operably coupled to the first valve and configured to control the first valve to generally maintain the pressure of the air sack and operably coupled to the second valve to alternately actuate the second valve between the first state and the second state at a frequency in order to alternately pressurize and vent the inflatable cell at the frequency.