Abstract:
A system and procedure for preventing and enhancing healing of Decubiti ulcers on patients, comprising the steps of placing the patient on a web adapted to support the patient, the web having a patient contacting portion and a non-patient contacting portion, the web having an opening through the web, positioned so that the opening surrounds the ulcer and prevents contact of the web with the ulcer, and using a web support system adapted to support the web by attachment only to the non-patient contacting portion, to solely support the web with a patient on it. The procedure may also include a step wherein a rocking device is used that acts through the web support system to selectively tilt the web and thereby to tilt the patient on the patient contact portion of the web, so that the pressure between the patient and the web is cyclically altered.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. section 119(e) of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/978,981 filed Oct. 10, 2007, and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. section 120 of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/287,708 filed Oct. 10, 2008, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    This invention has been created without the sponsorship or funding of any federally sponsored research or development program. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention involves a system for treatment of decubiti ulcers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A Decubiti ulcer/pressure sore/bed sore is formed when a reduction in capillary blood flow within the human tissue results in pressure from weight or bone in a patient that is unable to change position over a prolonged period of time resulting in necrosis; ulceration and inability to self heal. 
         [0006]    Decubiti ulcers are an extremely serious condition. The ulcer itself can cause the patient extreme discomfort. Furthermore, the other ulcer or ulcer itself can have significant medical complications because it can result in serious and irreversible tissue destruction. In addition, the open sore aspect of the ulcer and its direct exposure to bedding that itself may be soaked with urine, fecal matter, and other bodily fluids can easily result in secondary infections including developing strains of antibiotic resistance bacteria and virus forms. These complications can be very destructive and even fatal, especially in transplant patients with suppressed immune systems or other patients with suppressed immune systems. 
         [0007]    Decubiti ulcers are extremely common. Any bedridden population, especially patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and homebound situations, have a very high likelihood of experiencing Decubiti ulcers, even under the best of circumstances. Patience in less then perfect environments are essentially guaranteed of suffering from this condition. 
         [0008]    Medical management of Decubiti ulcers is very challenging. The standard of care for Decubiti ulcer is rotation of the patient every 2 hours, minimize shearing of the skin and minimize risk of infection, and very frequent changing of soiled bedding. Because the presence medical management of Decubiti ulcers is currently an entirely manual operation, imposing huge physical and time burdens on nursing staff, and because the constant changing of soiled bedding increases the laundry management load, the management of Decubiti ulcers places on an enormous burden on the facility in which the patient resides. In facilities and in situations where economic and staffing issues become significant, there is a very high likelihood that constantly maintaining the highest standard of care in connection with Decubiti ulcers can be impossible, as a practical matter. 
         [0009]    These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention. 
         [0010]    It is, therefore, an outstanding object of some embodiments of the present invention to provide a decubiti ulcer treatment system that achieves the highest possible level of medical effectiveness. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of some embodiments of the invention to provide a decubiti ulcer treatment system that achieves the highest level of patient comfort. 
         [0012]    It is a still further object of some embodiments of the invention to provide a decubiti ulcer treatment system that provides the facility and staff with the highest level of convenience, effectiveness, and efficiency. 
         [0013]    With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Generally, some embodiments of this invention are a patient support system adapted to support a patient, comprising a web adapted to support the patient, the web having a patient contacting portion and a non-patient contacting portion, a web support system adapted to support the web by attachment only to the non-patient contacting portion, and a rocking device that acts through the web support system to selectively tilt the web and thereby to tilt the patient on the patient contact portion of the web, so that the pressure between the patient and the web is cyclically altered. The patient support system may also include an opening having a outer boundary and formed through the web and positioned to surround a wounded part of the patient&#39;s body so that the web does not contact the wounded part of the patient&#39;s body. 
         [0015]    Some embodiments of this invention are a patient support system adapted to support a patient with a wound, comprising a web adapted to support the patient, the web having a patient contacting portion and a non-patient contacting portion, a web support system adapted to support the web by attachment only to the non-patient contacting portion of the web, and an opening having a outer boundary and formed through the web and positioned so that the boundary surrounds the wounded part of the patient&#39;s body so that the web does not contact the wounded part of the patient&#39;s body. 
         [0016]    Some embodiments of this invention are a procedure for preventing Decubiti ulcers on patients, comprising the steps of placing the patient on a web adapted to support the patient, the web having a patient contacting portion and a non-patient contacting portion, using a web support system adapted to support the web by attachment only to the non-patient contacting portion, to solely support the web with a patient on it, and using a a rocking device that acts through the web support system to selectively tilt the web and thereby to tilt the patient on the patient contact portion of the web, so that the pressure between the patient and the web is cyclically altered. 
         [0017]    Some embodiments of this invention are a procedure for enhancing healing of Decubiti ulcers on patients, comprising the steps of placing the patient on a web adapted to support the patient, the web having a patient contacting portion and a non-patient contacting portion, the web having an opening through the web, positioned so that the opening surrounds the ulcer and prevents contact of the web with the ulcer, and using a web support system adapted to support the web by attachment only to the non-patient contacting portion, to solely support the web with a patient on it. The procedure may also include a step wherein a rocking device is used that acts through the web support system to selectively tilt the web and thereby to tilt the patient on the patient contact portion of the web, so that the pressure between the patient and the web is cyclically altered. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0018]    The character of the invention, however, may best be understood by reference to one of its structural forms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic plan view of an embodiment of the present decubiti ulcer treatment invention, showing the patient outlining dashed lines. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 , in which the web is substantially horizontal. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 , in which the web is configured to tilt the patient. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The device, generally denominated in the figures by the  10 , we have developed for Decubiti ulcer patients (such as the patient  11  shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1  and solid lines in the other figures) will rotate a patient  11 , preferably, at least every 2 hours, mechanically and automatically, on a disposable pad or web  20  that will allow a hole  21  to be cut in the pad underlying the area of ulceration  22  to further minimize any pressure, maximize air flow for healing, and decrease the risk of infection. 
         [0023]    The preferred embodiment of the invention is a hammock-like device that can be installed over and around a hospital bed  12 . The fundamental concept of this system to assist patients with or at risk of getting Decubiti ulcers is to raise the patient&#39;s body from a bed mattress  13 , position the body  11  (as viewed from hip to hip) at an angle from the horizontal (up to 90 degrees, but typically not more than 25-30 degrees), to provide the patient with this support while lying on a disposable pad  20 . The pad  20  can be cut with scissors or a knife to provide a hole  21  where the ulcer  22  can be exposed to air, when the pad is raised above the mattress  13 . 
         [0024]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention, an independent device frame  30  is located around the perimeter of the patient&#39;s bed frame  14 . The device frame  30  can be adjusted in height, and can be supported from the floor by pads or casters. The frame  30  of the Decubiti bed system is assembled in four (or other quantity) of sections  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34  around the circumference of an existing bed  12 . Each piece of the device frame can be connected with the other pieces of the device frame others, at the corners, with a pin arrangement, a nut/bolt, or other type of snap connection. The frame, once assembled, is maintained above the floor level with a leg near each corner. Each leg has either a pad or caster wheel at the bottom. This leg may be adjusted in length by a pin/hole arrangement, or a hand crank/gearing system. The purpose of this adjustment is to raise the device frame relative to the top of the bed mattress, and to adjust the angle of the bed frame relative to the horizontal plane. This, in turn, adjusts the horizontal tubes  35  and  36  or other structures that support the pad or web  20  on which the patient is lying. 
         [0025]    In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the device frame holds two pairs of arms pivotally  37 ,  38 ,  39 , and  40  mounted to the device frame  30 . Each pair of arms supports one of two co-axial tubes  35  and  36  that are positioned along each side the bed  12 , lengthwise or longitudinally. Thus one of the coaxial tubes  35  and  36  are positioned along each side the bed mattress  13 , in the head to foot direction. In the preferred embodiment, the inner tube  41  and  42  of each coaxial tube is a structural support, with each end connected to one of the four arms. Each pair of arms that are associated with a specific coaxial tube includes a driving arm  43  and  44  and a follower arm  45  and  46 . The driving arm  43  and  44  can be located at the foot of the bed  12 , and the follower arm  45  and  46  is located at the head end of the bed. The driving arm  43  and  44  is pivoted by mechanisms described below, and the follower arm  45  and  46  is essentially driven by the action of the driving arm  43  and  44 , acting through the inner arm  41  and  42  of the coaxial tubes  35  and  36 . 
         [0026]    In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the external tube  47  and  48  of the coaxial tube  45  and  46  is rotated by a motor/gear arrangement  49  mounted to the device frame  30 . Each external tube  47  and  48  carries one side of the web  20 , and has that side of the web attached to the corresponding external tube. As each external tube  47  and  48  is separately commanded to rotate upon the structural tube  41  and  42 . When one or both of the external tubes  47  and  48  is rotated to wrap the web around the tube, the suspended portion of the web  20  is decreased, thus raising the patient above the bed mattress  13 . When one or both of the external tubes  47  and  48  is rotated to unwrap the web  20  from around the tube  35  and  36 , the length of the suspended portion of the web is increased, thus lowering the patient toward or onto the bed mattress  13 . 
         [0027]    The co-axial  35  and  36  tubes can be independently raised or lowered by changing the angle of the driving arms  37 ,  38 ,  39 , in  40  with reference to the device frame  30 . Each end of each coaxial tube  35  and  36  is connected to an arm that is (in a preferred embodiment of the invention) pivotally mounted to the device frame  30 . There are two arms  37  and  38  at the foot and two arms  39  and  40  at the head of the bed  12 . A motor driver arrangement  49  is mounted to the device frame  30  and adapted to raise or lower the co-axial tubes  35  and  36  by rotating the driving arms  37  and  38  about their pivot axes. The non-driven or “follower” arms  39  and  40  at the other end of the bed, which provide a connection point for the associated coaxial tubes  35  and  36  and the movement of the follower arms  39  and  40  is achieved by the driving arms  37  and  38  acting through the structural tube  41  and  42  of the coaxial tubes  35  and  36 , but the “follower” arms  37  and  38  are not directly driven by a motor. However, a motor/gearbox, etc. type of system can be installed to operate the “follower” arms, if desired. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the end of each arm  37 ,  38 ,  39 , and  40  that is not connected to the co-axial tubes  35  and  36  is pivotally connected to the system frame  30  and provides a pivot point for raising/lowering the co-axial tubes. 
         [0028]    One of the two opposite edges of a soft, sheet like web  20  is attached to exterior of each of the two co-axial tubes  35  and  36  and creates a hammock over the bed mattress. The soft, sheet like web  20  is placed under the patient, and over the bed mattress  13 . The sides of the web  20 , alongside the length of the mattress  13 , are connected to the exterior co-axial tube  35  and  36  on each side. 
         [0029]    The external co-axial tubes  47  and  48  are rotated about the internal or structural coaxial tubes  41  and  42  by motors to provide a means for winding the edges of the web on or off the external coaxial tubes  47  and  48 . The edges of the web are attached to the external coaxial tubes  47  and  48 . The coaxial tubes  47  and  48  are rotated by an appropriate motor, gearing, or gearbox arrangement mounted to the device frame  30 . 
         [0030]    The soft web material web  20  can be attached to the co-axial tubes  35  and  36  before wind-up (rotation) by a VELCRO® fastener, double sided sticky tape, a clamp on the tube, or a chemical-based glue that provides sufficient adhesion of the web to the tubes, but allows the web to be removed from the tube went desired. This is the preferred mechanism of attaching the pad or web  20  to the co-axial tubes  35  and  36 . Any type of friction system or string tie method where the web  20  is fixed to the surface of the coaxial tube  47  and  48  as the co-axial tube  47  and  48  is rotated until the pad goes over itself is an acceptable method of attachment. 
         [0031]    The structural or internal tube  41  and  42  of the co-axial tubes  35  and  36  is used to transmit force from the arm  37  and  38  located at one end (for example, the foot) of the bed to the arm  39  and  40  located at the other end (for example, the head) of the bed. The non-driving arms  39  and  40  at the end of the co-axial tubes provides support in order for the tube  35  and  36  to maintain a desired generally horizontal position with reference to the floor. 
         [0032]    The independent arms  37  and  38  located at the driven (and preferably be foot) of the bed  12  are each driven by a separate motor  50  and  51  or by independent drivetrains powered by a single motor. The driving mechanism  50  and  51  for each arm  37  and  38 , which raises/lowers the co-axial tubes  35  and  36  by rotating the arm  37  and  38  about its pivot, is a motor/gearbox, or lead screw drive system  49 . 
         [0033]    The patient&#39;s body  11 , lengthwise, can be manually tilted at an angle from zero degrees (for example, when the patient is laying flat on his back), to an angle of 90 or −90 degrees (for example when the patient is fully rolled over onto his side). 
         [0034]    The freedom of movement of each arm  37 ,  38 ,  39 , and  40  covers a wide arc. Each arm  37 ,  38 ,  39 , and  40  can be individually positioned such that it is below the level of the mattress (generally horizontal), the arm can be positioned so that it is 90 degrees from the reference top of the mattress (generally vertical), and any positions between those extremes. 
         [0035]    The patient  11  is strapped into the web  20  for safety reasons, that is, so that the patient is unable to fall off of the web  20 . The patient  11  is restrained on the web between the two co-axial tubes  37  and  38  by a strap arrangement, or large scale fish net material, to prevent injury due to falling out of the sling type of arrangement. 
         [0036]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the arms  37  and  38  that control the position and rotational angle of the outer co-axial tubes  35  and  36  can be manually controlled by a switch panel at the foot of the bed. There are a number of methods to control the rotation of the external co-axial tube  47  and  48  and arm position. An appropriate switch panel will be mounted at the foot-of-the-bed portion of the system frame to provide manual operation. The wind-up of the web  20  material on the coaxial tubes  47  and  48  can be manually controlled by a switch panel at the foot of the bed. An appropriate multi-function foot switch design can provide a manual method of system control, co-axial tube rotation, and arm position. The control of the system can be with a foot pedal arrangement near the bed. 
         [0037]    The controlling foot pedal arrangement can also be connected by a long cable, so that it can be placed at any position around the system frame  30 . 
         [0038]    Rotation angle of the patient  11  is completely under the control of the operator. The adjustment of patient  11  rotation is under the control of the system operator, and not the patient. 
         [0039]    When a patient  11  with a Decubiti ulcer is positioned on the web  20  in the desired position and orientation, the portion of the web  20  that would be in contact with the ulcer  22  is identified and marked. Then, an opening  21  can be cut in the web  20 , in an appropriate manner, to fully expose the Decubiti ulcer, and to remove all contact between the ulcer  22  and the web  20 , and all pressure on the wound  22 . The method of exposing the Decubiti ulcer  22  to the air for proper healing is to cut an appropriate sized hole  21  in the web to allow the ulcer  22  to not touch the web nor the mattress, once the web  20  is lifted off of the mattress  13 . 
         [0040]    The soft, sheet like, disposable web  20  is formed of a material that will support the size of the hole without tearing. In the preferred embodiment, the web material is manufactured with a non-directional weave pattern so as to not tear when a hole is cut to expose the Decubiti ulcer  22 . 
         [0041]    A donut shaped pillow can be inserted around the ulcer, between the patient  11  and the web  20 . If necessary, a donut shaped supporting pillow, or additional pad can be placed around the Decubiti ulcer for additional support, and to provide a “dam” to keep body fluids (incontinence) from coming in contact with, and irritating or infecting, the ulcer. 
         [0042]    The system has a control button to expedite the lowering of the patient on to the mattress if a medical emergency develops (‘coding’). A single control button will lower the patient onto the bed mattress in the event that emergency medical care is necessary. 
         [0043]    The system has appropriate electrical stops for safety of movement for the patient and the operator. Each direction of movement will have a maximum position of travel (end stop) to control the limits of movement. 
         [0044]    The preferred embodiment of the invention does not affect, in any way, the tilting utility of the hospital bed. The Decubiti ulcer treatment system surrounds a generic hospital bed and does not affect or render unusable any of the standard bed movement functions. 
         [0045]    An RFID or bar code tag can be inserted into each web  20  to track usage. Each pad  20  can be provided with an industry standard RFID tag to catalog usage. The system electronics will read and record the pad RFID tags to keep an accounting of usage. The standard frame positioning system will be able to read and store the RFID tag information. 
         [0046]    In an alternative embodiment, an accessory frame will be provided which can hold a mattress, independent of a bed frame within the standard frame design. The Decubiti system is designed to function in conjunction with a standard hospital bed, or twin bed size mattress/frame for home health care implementation. An accessory frame can be connected to the frame, which will support a twin size bed mattress, so that a conventional bed is not necessary to the operation of this device. 
         [0047]    The electronics system will have a battery back-up feature to lower the patient onto the bed in the case of primary power failure. The electronics system will have a battery back-up feature, in the event that prime power is lost, which will allow the patient to be lowered onto the mattress. 
         [0048]    Although the operation of the present device can be controlled manually, computer control is also possible. The positioning of the motor driven co-axial tubes can be accomplished under computer control. The rotation and re-positioning of a patient can be done completely by computer control (programming algorithm) without operator intervention. The vertical height of the co-axial tubes can be adjusted manually, or under computer control. The rotation and re-positioning of a patient can be done completely by computer control (programming algorithm) without operator intervention. The rotation sequence can be stored in computer memory for later print-out, or can be transmitted to a remote site using standard networking (internal network or Internet) technology. The rotation sequence can be driven from a remote site using standard network technology. 
         [0049]    This system can be used for patient care without a conventional hospital bed, by providing and employing an accessory mattress support frame as part of the device frame. 
         [0050]    Motors controlling the arms  37 ,  38 ,  39  and  40  connected to the co-axial tubes  35  and  36  can be installed at one end of the bed or at both the head and foot of the bed. 
         [0051]    This entire rotational parts (assembly) can be connected to the bed frame, eliminating the need for the standard independent frame  30 . 
         [0052]    The system can be used with a standard, non-tilting bed, such as a standard twin bed mattress and frame. Thus, the system can be used in a health care facility or at home. Use of the device is location and facility independent. 
         [0053]    The web  20  can also be attached to the device frame with strings, or web netting. These are alternative methods to attach the pad to the co-axial tube frame. 
         [0054]    The tilt angle of the patient can rotate to 90 degrees in each direction, that is, if the patient starts out lying on his back, the device can roll a patient over completely onto his right side (90°) or completely onto his left side (90°), for a total cycle of 180°. 
         [0055]    The arm  37 ,  38 ,  39 , and  40  end stop position can be adjusted from 0 degrees to a full 90 degrees of movement. 
         [0056]    In an alternative embodiment of this invention, all motors in this invention can be replaced with hand cranks, so that the device can be operated without electricity. 
         [0057]    The switch panel can be located in other positions, besides or in addition to the foot of the bed. The switch panel can be located anywhere around the bed on the frame system. 
         [0058]    The system can be broken down into sections of rotation along the patients longitudinal axis, where each section can be raised or lowered independently from each other (like a hospital bed where the head can be raised/lowered and not affecting the remainder of the bed. 
         [0059]    An alternative design of the co-axial tubes can include one or more universal joint hinges that can allow the patient&#39;s head area to be elevated relative to the foot area, or vice versa. This system could have the equivalent movement of independently raising/lowering the head, mid body, and feet positions, relative to one another. 
         [0060]    The switch panel can be implemented by using a device such as a laptop or palm computer, or equivalent. The switch panel can be replaced with a lap-top computer, PDA device, or other hand held computer system in lieu of discrete switches for adjustment control. The system can be controlled by a remote wireless device, equivalent in concept to a tv remote control, and be offered to the patient for personal minor adjustment. Adjustment control can be implemented with the same concept as a wireless remote control device (such as a tv remote). 
         [0061]    The entire assembly can be tilted up or down (the head can be raised higher than the foot portion, or the foot portion is raised higher than the head). 
         [0062]    The standard design can be implemented to adjust the head/foot height above the floor, independently. 
         [0063]    A camera can be attached to a support on the invention to remotely monitor the patient for comfort and positioning. A camera system with network or Internet interface, can be installed to monitor the position of the web and the position of the patient on the way. This could allow remote adjustment of the patient position. 
         [0064]    The system has a UPS supply (battery back-up) to maintain patient control in the event of a limited power outage. 
         [0065]    The system has an electronic key card, memory chip, or other similar device that will enable/disable all functional operation. For rental applications, a method will be provided to enable or disable full operation, depending upon the rental agreement. The system will also be able to be enabled/disabled from an internet connection. The method of system enable/disable can be updated thru an Internet communication connection. 
         [0066]    The system software will be able to be updated from an Internet connection. System software upgrades will be able to be completed thru an Internet down load connection. 
         [0067]    All system positional information will be stored within the device control computer and will be able to be up loaded to a remote site, stored on a current technology storage device (CD or memory stick, etc). 
         [0068]    In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the system can be created by designing individual vertical lift points at the four corners of the bed, rather than employing the arm movements. 
         [0069]    The system will have the ability to ‘weigh’ the patient by calculating weight from the forces measured by the web attached to the lifting roller tubes. This feature will allow medical personal to determine weight gain, which can be used as an indication of fluid build-up in the patient. 
         [0070]    The system will have, as an option, a small humidifier/dehumidifier, air fan, and short hose system that can be located under a wound. The purpose of this airflow is to gently bathe the wound with either warm/cold air, at a preset humidity to assist in the healing process. 
         [0071]    This invention has a number of benefits. First, the Decubiti ulcer (sore) is completely lifted from the mattress and is exposed to the air to promote healing (pad cut out). Second, the hammock angle can be adjusted by manual or power-assisted operator action, or by computer control. Third, the rotational sequence can be stored in computer memory for later retrieval. Fourth, the system can be remotely monitored and controlled. Fifth, the soft “sheet like” web is disposable. Six, the patient can be cared for and the rotating process carried out by a single medical attendant. 
         [0072]    From one perspective, the Decubiti ulcer management system of the present invention can have two different modes of operation. In prevention mode, the purpose of the operation is to prevent ulcers. In the treatment mode, the purpose of the operation is to enhance the healing of an existing ulcer. 
         [0073]    In the prevention mode, the web  20  could be unwound from the left to  35  and lowered to the bed mattress  13 . Simultaneously, the arms  37  and  39  could be rotated so that their outer ends become adjacent to the floor thereby allowing easy patients access to web  25  years position on the top of the bed. The patient  11  would be placed on the web  20 . Then, the arms  37  and  39  would be rotated so that their outer arms are elevated above the top of the bed  12 , in the Web  20  would be wound on the tubes  35  and  36  so that the web  20  would be lifted off the mattress  13 , and so that the patient  11  would be supported entirely by the web  20 , as the web  20  is positioned above and separated from the mattress  13 . This position is shown in  FIG. 2 . Then, the outer ends of the arms  37 ,  38 ,  39 , and  40  would raise and lower the tubes  35  and  36  so that the web  20  would be manipulated through a slow cyclic pattern and so that the patient  11  the patient would go through a slow cycle of being rotated onto one side of the patient and over to the other side of the patient, so the weight of the patient would be continuously moved from one part of the patient&#39;s body to another. In this way, no one part of the patient would be continuously exposed to the pressure of the patient&#39;s weight, blood circulation throughout the exterior of the patient would be encouraged, and the incidence of Decubiti ulcers would be significantly reduced.  FIG. 3  shows the point in the cycle in which the Web  20  is rolled onto the tube  36  as the arms  38  and  40  are pivoted counterclockwise and the tube  36  is moved upward. This results in the patient being tipped counterclockwise so that the pressure caused by the weight of the patient  11  is transferred toward the right side of the patient. At the other end of the cycle, the Web would be unrolled from the tube  36  as tube  36  is lowered and web  20  would be rolled on to tube  35  as tube  35  is raised. This would tip the patient on to the patient&#39;s&#39;s left side. When it is time to remove the patient from the bed and equipment, the system could be returned to its original position to allow the patient to be easily removed from the bed and equipment. 
         [0074]    in the treatment mode, the process would be essentially the same as in the prevention mode except that an opening  21  would be cut in the portion of the Web  20  that surrounds the ulcer  22  so that the pressure caused by the weight of the patient would not exist in the area of the ulcer  22 , since the ulcer  22  would not be in contact with the supporting web  20 . Not only would the ulcer  22  be free of contact with any supporting surfaces, and also free of the pressure of the patients weight, but also the ulcer would be exposed to air, and blood circulation would not be inhibited. Thus, the hole in the supporting web, by itself, would encourage the healing of the ulcer. By including the slow and cyclic tilting of the patient as in the prevention mode, not only what additional ulcers be prevented, but the split circulation that would be encouraged by the tilting motion would also enhance the healing process of the ulcer. 
         [0075]    While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are calculated adequately to fulfill the object and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification, and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims. It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.