Abstract:
A microclimate system includes an air box, a disposable incontinence pad, and a mattress. The incontinence pad serves as an incontinent event detector. The disposable incontinence pad may be configured to conduct air along an interface of the disposable incontinence pad to withdraw heat and moisture from a patient and cools and dries the patient&#39;s skin in order to reduce the risk of bed sore formation. The mattress may include a microclimate management layer that provides conditioned air to withdraw heat and moisture from the disposable incontinence pad thereby keeping the patient&#39;s skin cool and dry in order to reduce the risk of bed sore formation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 62/206,484, filed Aug. 18, 2015, and 62/277,596, filed Jan. 12, 2016, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to bed mattresses for supporting patients and to incontinence pads that sense patient incontinence. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to disposable incontinence pads of hospital beds, medical beds, or other types of beds in which the disposable incontinence pads are designed to absorb liquid in case of incontinent events. 
         [0003]    In a care facility, such as a hospital or a nursing home, patients are often placed on patient support apparatuses for an extended period of time. Some patients who are positioned on the patient support apparatuses may have a risk of developing certain skin conditions, such as bed sores (also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers), due to heat and moisture present at the interface of the patient and the surface of a bed mattress. In an effort to mitigate or prevent such conditions, some bed mattresses have a built-in microclimate structure. While various microclimate management systems have been developed, in certain applications there is still room for improvement. Thus, a need persists for further contributions in this area of technology. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present application discloses one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter: 
         [0005]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a patient support structure comprises a mattress, a microclimate system, and a disposable incontinence pad. The mattress further includes a mattress inlet port and a mattress outlet port. The microclimate system further includes an air box and a controller, where the air box is coupled to the controller and is also coupled to the mattress. The disposable incontinence pad atop the mattress and comprises an upper layer, a lower layer, and a middle layer. The upper layer is vapor and liquid permeable, the lower layer is liquid impermeable, and the middle layer is air permeable. The middle layer further includes a pad inlet port and a side vent at the opposite side of the pad inlet port. The air box is coupled to the mattress, and the mattress outlet port is coupled to the pad inlet port of the disposable incontinence pad to conduct air. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the air box is further coupled to the mattress via a conduit. The conduit is configured to conduct the air from the air box to the mattress. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the mattress inlet port is coupled to the air box, and the mattress outlet port is coupled to the disposable incontinence pad. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the disposable incontinence pad comprises a disposable material. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the disposable incontinence pad is movable along a top surface of the mattress to underlie where the pelvic region of a patient lying supine on the patient support structure. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the mattress includes inflatable support bladders. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the middle layer of the disposable incontinence pad comprises a three-dimensional material configured to conduct air between the upper layer and the lower layer of the disposable incontinence pad. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, a conduit connecting the pad inlet and the mattress outlet port further includes a check valve to prevent moisture and liquid from overflowing into the conduit while providing the air to the disposable incontinence pad. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the controller of the microclimate system further detects the liquid level of the middle layer of the disposable incontinence pad. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the controller automatically shuts off the air from the air box when the liquid level exceeds a predetermined threshold level to prevent liquid from overflowing into the air box. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the controller activates an indicator to alert caretakers when the liquid level exceeds a predetermined threshold level. 
         [0016]    In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a patient support structure comprises a microclimate system and a disposable incontinence pad. The microclimate system further includes an air box and a controller, where the air box is coupled to the controller. The disposable incontinence pad atop the mattress and comprises an upper layer, a lower layer, and a middle layer. The upper layer is vapor and liquid permeable, the lower layer is liquid impermeable, and the middle layer is air permeable. The middle layer further includes a pad inlet port and a side vent at the opposite side of the pad inlet port. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the air box is directly coupled to the pad inlet port of the disposable incontinence pad via a conduit. The conduit is configured to conduct the pressurized air from the air box to the mattress. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the disposable incontinence pad is movable along a top surface of the mattress to underlie where the pelvic region of a patient lying supine on the patient support structure. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the middle layer of the disposable incontinence pad comprises a three-dimensional material configured to conduct air between the upper layer and the lower layer of the disposable incontinence pad. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, the conduit further includes a check valve to prevent moisture and liquid from overflowing into the conduit while providing the air to the disposable incontinence pad. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the controller of the microclimate system further detects the liquid level of the middle layer of the disposable incontinence pad. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the controller automatically shuts off the air from the air box when the liquid level exceeds a predetermined threshold level to prevent liquid from overflowing into the air box. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the controller activates an indicator to alert caretakers when the liquid level exceeds a predetermined threshold level. 
         [0024]    In a third aspect of the present disclosure, a patient support structure comprising a disposable incontinence pad, a source of pressurized air, a conduit, and a microclimate system. The disposable incontinence pad further comprises an upper layer, a lower layer, and a middle layer. The upper layer is vapor and liquid permeable, the lower layer is liquid impermeable, and the middle layer is air permeable. The conduit is configured to conduct the pressurized air through the middle layer of the disposable incontinence pad. The microclimate system further includes an air box and a controller. The controller is configured to detect the liquid level of the disposable incontinence pad. The controller automatically shuts off the airflow when a predetermined threshold level is reached to prevent liquid from overflowing into the air box. 
         [0025]    In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a patient support structure comprising a mattress having a microclimate management layer, a disposable incontinence pad, and a microclimate system including an air box, a controller, and a sensor. The disposable incontinence pad is configured to be positioned between the microclimate management layer of the mattress and a patient. The air box is coupled to the controller and the microclimate management layer of the mattress. The sensor is configured to determine a condition of the disposable incontinence pad and transmit information regarding the condition of the disposable incontinence pad to the controller. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the sensor is configured to determine a condition of the disposable incontinence pad by detecting a presence of liquid in the disposable incontinence pad. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the sensor is configured to communicate with the controller via a wireless network. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the sensor is configured to directly communicate with the controller via a wired connection. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the controller is configured to adjust the air box to provide a lower airflow in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating that the disposable incontinence pad is dry. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, the controller is configured to increase a flow rate of air from the air box in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating that the disposable incontinence pad is wet. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, the controller is configured to increase a temperature of air from the air box in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating that the disposable incontinence pad is wet. 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, the controller is configured to adjust the air box to provide airflow to the microclimate management layer at a first flow rate if incontinence pad is dry. The controller is configured to provide airflow to the microclimate management layer at a second flow rate, greater than the first flow rate, if the disposable incontinence pad is wet. 
         [0033]    Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims, may comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]    The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0035]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view from a foot end on a patient&#39;s left of a first embodiment of a patient support structure with a disposable incontinence pad atop a mattress, and an air box indirectly coupled to the disposable incontinence pad through a mattress; 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view from the foot end on the patient&#39;s left of a second embodiment of the patient support structure with the disposable incontinence pad atop the mattress, and the air box is directly coupled to the disposable incontinence pad; 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the disposable incontinence pad showing a microclimate inlet port; 
           [0038]      FIG. 4  is a cross section taken along section lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  showing three layers of the disposable incontinence pad, the microclimate inlet port, and a side vent; 
           [0039]      FIG. 5  is a cross section taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3  showing the three layers of the disposable incontinence pad; 
           [0040]      FIG. 6  is a side view taken from a patient&#39;s left side showing the microclimate inlet port of the disposable incontinence pad; 
           [0041]      FIG. 7  is a cross section of the patient support structure showing the air box connected to the disposable incontinence pad and inflatable support bladders of the mattress; 
           [0042]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram schematic of a second embodiment of a patient support apparatus; and 
           [0043]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram schematic of a third embodiment of a patient support apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]    An illustrative patient support apparatus  10  embodied as a hospital bed is shown in  FIG. 1 . The patient support apparatus  10  includes a frame  16 , a patient support structure  70  supported on the frame  16 , a microclimate system  36 , and an air box  26 . The patient support structure  70  is adapted to support a patient  42  lying on the patient support apparatus  10 . The patient support structure  70  further includes a disposable incontinence pad  30  and a mattress  22  which supports the disposable incontinence pad  30 . The mattress  22  includes a plurality of inflatable support bladders  40  (see  FIG. 7 ). In some embodiments, the mattress  22  may include foam paddings instead of the inflatable support bladders  40 . The microclimate system  36  has a user interface  38  that is configured to receive user inputs. The user interface  38  includes a display screen  37  and a plurality of buttons  39  for inputting patient information and for controlling operation of the air box  26  and the support surface  24 . Particularly, the user interface  38  allows a user to adjust the flow of air provided by the air box  26  to the disposable incontinence pad  30  and to adjust the temperature of air provided by the air box  26  to the disposable incontinence pad  30 . Specifically, in some embodiments, the user interface  38  may include a patient information input panel, an alarm panel, a lateral rotation therapy panel, an inflation mode panel, a normal inflation control panel, and a microclimate control panel. Accordingly, the user inputs are used to control the microclimate system  36  to cool and dry the interface between the patient  42  and the disposable incontinence pad  30  to promote skin health by removing patient heat, moisture, and liquid along the interface when the patient  42  is supported on the patient support apparatus  10 . 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the disposable incontinence pad  30  is positioned between the patient  42  supported on the patient support apparatus  10  and an occupant side or support surface  24  of the mattress  22 . The disposable incontinence pad  30  is configured to conduct air along an interface between a top surface  46  of the disposable incontinence pad  30  and the patient  42  to cool and dry the patient&#39;s skin. Particularly, the disposable incontinence pad  30  is designed to underlie the patient&#39;s pelvic region where a local climate control is mostly needed. Having the disposable incontinence pad  30  positioned at the patient&#39;s pelvic region will further allow the disposable incontinence pad  30  to absorb any liquid in case of an incontinent event. Because each patient  42  has a different body shape and size, the disposable incontinence pad  30  is movable along the support surface  24  of the mattress  22  to provide an effective climate control and absorption tailored to an individual patient  42  supported on the patient support apparatus  10 . 
         [0046]    In the illustrative embodiment, the disposable incontinence pad  30  is indirectly coupled to the air box  26  of the microclimate system  36  through the mattress  22 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . In such embodiment, the mattress  22  includes a mattress inlet port  50  at a foot end  14  of the mattress  22  and a side panel  28  at the side of the mattress  22  which has a mattress outlet port  52 . A box outlet port  48  of the air box  26  is connected to the mattress inlet port  50  of the mattress  22  by a first conduit  32 . Inside of the mattress  22 , the mattress inlet port  50  is connected to the mattress outlet port  52  by a second conduit  33 . Lastly, the mattress outlet port  52  is connected to a microclimate inlet port  54  of the disposable incontinence pad  30  by a third conduit  34 . The microclimate inlet port  54  is mounted on one side of the disposable incontinence pad  30  and is in communication with the disposable incontinence pad  30 , as will described in more detail below. Accordingly, the air from the air box  26  exits the air box  26  at the box outlet port  48  and is directed to the mattress inlet port  50  of the mattress  22  via the first conduit  32 . The air flows through the mattress  22  via the second conduit  33  and exits the mattress  22  at the mattress outlet port  52 . The air then flows into the disposable incontinence pad  30  via the third conduit  34  and exits the disposable incontinence pad  30  through a side vent  68  located at the opposite side of the microclimate inlet port  54 . In other embodiments, the vent may be located in other positions on the pad. 
         [0047]    In other embodiments, the air box  26  may be directly coupled to the disposable incontinence pad  30  via only one conduit  35  without having to flow through the mattress  22 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, the conduit  35  connects the box outlet port  48  directly to the microclimate inlet port  54 , thereby allowing the air from the air box  26  to directly flow into the disposable incontinence pad  30 . 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the disposable incontinence pad  30  includes an upper layer  56 , a middle layer  58 , and a lower layer  60 . In the illustrative embodiment, the upper layer  56  is liquid permeable, the middle layer  58  is air permeable, and the lower layer  60  is liquid impermeable. Generally, the pressurized air from the air box  26  enters the middle layer  58  of the disposable incontinence pad  30  and is pushed through the upper layer  56  so that moisture is carried away by evaporation from the top surface  46  of the upper layer  56 . However, if the patient secrets body exudates faster than the rate of which the moisture from the top surface  46  of the upper layer  56  can evaporate, the patient moisture may transfer into the middle layer  58 . 
         [0049]    Illustratively, the upper layer  56  includes urethane coated nylon weave cover in which the pin-hole perforations are formed; however, in some embodiments, the holes may be larger and/or distributed over a different sized area. The pin-hole sized perforations of the upper layer  56  allow air to be pushed through the top surface  46  while preventing a large volume of air loss at the same time. The upper layer  56  further permits the transmission of any patient moisture or liquid, such as sweat, or urine in the case of an incontinent event to the middle layer  58 . In some embodiments, the pin-hole perforations are omitted from the upper layer  56  and all of the air forced into the incontinence pad  30  is pushed out of the side vent  68 , or any other vent which may be formed in the incontinence pad  30  in other embodiments. In still other embodiments, the side vent  68  may be omitted and all of the air may be forced through the upper layer  56 . 
         [0050]    The middle layer  58  includes the microclimate inlet port  54  on a patient&#39;s left side  64  of the disposable incontinence pad  30  and the side vent  68  on a patient&#39;s right side  66  of the disposable incontinence pad  30 . The middle layer  58  further comprises a three-dimensional material between the microclimate inlet port  54  and the side vent  68 . The three-dimensional material is air permeable and allows air from the air box  26  to flow along the middle layer  58  from the microclimate inlet port  54  to the side vent  68 , as indicated by arrows  62  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The side vent  68  is defined by the three-dimensional material exposed on the patient&#39;s right side  66  of the middle layer  58  of the disposable incontinence pad  30 . This allows air and moisture to exit the disposable incontinence pad  30 . Other than the side vent  68  surface of the middle layer  58  of the disposable incontinence pad  30 , the side surfaces of the middle layer  58  are coated with a moisture, liquid, and air impermeable material. This prevents air loss during the air flow from the microclimate inlet port  54  to the side vent  68 . In some embodiments, a microclimate inlet port  54  may be on a patient&#39;s right side  66  and the side vent  68  may be on a patient&#39;s left side  64 . Other inlet port and outlet designs may be used. 
         [0051]    Once the moisture reaches the middle layer  58 , the moisture is carried away from evaporation by air flowing through the middle layer  58  of the disposable incontinence pad  30 . As described above, the air from the air box  26  flows laterally across the middle layer  58  from the microclimate inlet port  54  to the side vent  68 . Accordingly, the cooled-vapor from evaporation is directed toward the side vent  68  to exit the disposable incontinence pad  30 . In addition, because the air box  26  provides pressurized air, the cooled-vapor from evaporation may be pushed upwardly toward the upper layer  56  of the disposable incontinence pad  30 . This not only removes the moisture at the top surface  46  of the disposable incontinence pad  30 , but also facilitates to cool and dry the patient&#39;s skin around the interface of the patient&#39;s skin with the top surface  46  of the disposable incontinence pad  30 . Further, the pressure from the air box  26  allows the air to maintain its flowpath, thus preventing the moisture from reverse flow into the air box  26 . 
         [0052]    In case of an incontinent event, liquid permeates through the upper layer  56  into a middle layer  58 . To prevent liquid from leaking through the lower layer  60  to the support surface  24  of the mattress  22 , the lower layer  60  comprises a liquid impermeable material. In addition, the third conduit  34  connecting the mattress outlet port  52  and the microclimate inlet port  54 . The incontinence pad  30  includes a check valve  55  with ball-type shutter near the microclimate inlet port  54 , which automatically prevents liquid from overflowing into the air box  26  while providing the air through the microclimate inlet port  54 . In other embodiments, other types of check valve may be used. In other embodiments, the check-valve  55  may be omitted. 
         [0053]    The microclimate system  36  includes a sensor (not shown) which is in electrical communication with the controller  82 . The sensor detects the liquid level in the middle layer  58  of the disposable incontinence pad  30 . If the sensor detects the liquid level exceeding a predetermined threshold level, the controller  82  automatically shuts off the air from the air box  26 , thereby closing the check valve  55  to prevent liquid from overflowing into the connected conduit. In some embodiments, the check valve  55  is configured so that an excessive level of liquid will cause the check valve  55  to close, preventing flow from the air box  26 . The air box  26  detects that the flow is occluded and shuts off the air flow. Subsequent to shutting off the air, the microclimate system  36  activates the indicator to alert caretakers to dispose the current disposable incontinence pad and provide a new disposable incontinence pad. In one embodiment, the LED light on the user interface  38  of the microclimate system  36  is used as an indicator. When the indicator is activated, the LED light on the on the user interface  38 , for example, changes from green to red. The disposable incontinence pad  30  can be removed by disassembling the third conduit  34  from the microclimate inlet port  54 . When the caretaker replaces the disposable incontinence pad and the controller  82  detects the liquid level not exceeding the predetermined threshold level, the controller  82  deactivates the indicator. When the indicator is deactivated, the LED light on the user interface  38 , for example, changes from red to green. The indicator may accompanied by an alert sound. During the changing process, the third conduit  34  may be further disassembled from the mattress outlet port  52 , and be cleaned and dried to ensure that the liquid has not overflowed into the third conduit  34 . 
         [0054]    In some embodiments, the mattress  22  comprises closed cell foam (not shown). In other embodiments, the mattress  22  comprises one or more inflatable support bladders  40 . In yet other embodiments, the mattress  22  may comprise of any combination of foam, polymeric material and/or inflatable support bladders  40 . In the illustrative embodiment of the patient support apparatus  80 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , includes the mattress  22  comprising of a foam layer  72  and the inflatable support bladder  40 . The foam layer  72  atop the inflatable support bladder  40 . The inflatable support bladders  40  require air to support the support surface  24  and the disposable incontinence pad  30  also requires air to cool and dry the interface between the patient  42  and the disposable incontinence pad  30 . Accordingly, the air box  26  is connected to the mattress  22  via the first conduit  32 . Inside of the foam layer  72  of the mattress  22 , the first conduit  32  is divided into two conduits  74 ,  76 . To provide air efficiently to the disposable incontinence pad  30 , the one of the two conduits  74  is directly connected to the microclimate inlet port  54  of the disposable incontinence pad  30 . The other conduit  76  is connected directly to the inflatable support bladders  40  to provide pressurized air to support the support surface  24  of the patient support apparatus  80 . 
         [0055]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , other embodiments of a patient support apparatus are shown in block diagram schematics. The embodiments of  FIGS. 8 and 9  include many of the same features described above in regard to  FIGS. 1-7 . The same reference numbers are used in  FIGS. 8 and 9  to identify features that are the same or similar to those described above in regard to  FIGS. 1-7 . In this embodiment, a disposable incontinence pad  130  is not coupled to the air box  26 . Instead, the air box  26  is directly coupled to a microclimate management layer  124  of a mattress  122 , as will be discuss in detail below. 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the patient support apparatus  100  may include the mattress  122 , the disposable incontinence pad  130 , a sensor  132 , and a pneumatic control system  126 . The mattress  122  further includes the microclimate management layer  124  and may include a plurality of inflatable support bladders  40 . In some embodiments, the mattress  122  may include foam padding. The incontinence pad  130  is supported on top of the mattress  122  and is coupled to the sensor  132 . It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, sensor  132  is locating in or on pad  130 . As described in greater detail below, the sensor  132  is configured to determine the condition of the disposable incontinence pad  130  by detecting the presence of liquid in the disposable incontinence pad  130  and report the condition of the disposable incontinence pad  130  to the pneumatic control system  126 . In one embodiment, the disposable incontinence pad  130  is substantially the same as one or more of those that are shown and described in U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/255,592, filed Nov. 16, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0057]    The pneumatic control system  126  is configured to cool and dry the interface between the patient  42  and the disposable incontinence pad  130  by adjusting the air to the microclimate management layer  124  to promote patient&#39;s skin health. The pneumatic control system  126  includes the air box  26  and a controller  182 . The controller  182  of the pneumatic control system  126  is configured to adjust the flow of air from the air box  26  in response to the condition of the disposable incontinence pad  130 . The air box  26  is capable of operating at various speeds and is coupled to the microclimate management layer  124  of the mattress  122  to push air toward the surface of the mattress  122 . The controller  182  is configured to receive the pad information from the sensor  132  via a remote system  134  to control the air box  26 . The controller  182  adjusts the flow of air provided by the air box  26  to the microclimate management layer  124  and may also adjust the temperature of air provided by the air box  26  to the microclimate management layer  124 . In some embodiments, the pneumatic control system  126  may further include a graphical user interface (not shown) to receive a user input from a microclimate control displayed on the graphical user interface. 
         [0058]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the sensor  132  communicates with the pneumatic control system  126  via the remote system  134 . The remote system  134  is configured to receive the pad information from the sensor  132  regarding the condition of the disposable incontinence pad  130  and transmit that pad information to the pneumatic control system  126 . The remote system  134  includes one or more transceivers that receive and transmit the pad information from and to the patient support apparatus  100  via a network of a healthcare facility. In some embodiments, the pad information may be transmitted via a cellular wireless network. In the illustrated embodiment, the remote system  134  includes a receiver  140 , a transmitter  142 , networks  144 ,  146 , and a remote computer  148 . It should be appreciated that the receiver  140  and the transmitter  142  may be the same transceiver. 
         [0059]    The sensor  132  of the patient support apparatus  100  is configured to determine the condition of the disposable incontinence pad  130  and report that condition to a remote system  134  wirelessly through an antenna  136 . The receiver  140  of the remote system  134  receives the condition of the disposable incontinence pad  130  and transmits that pad information to the remote computer  148  over the network  144 . The remote computer  148  then forwards the condition of the disposable incontinence pad  130  to the transmitter  142  over the network  146 . The networks  144 ,  146  are connected to the patient support apparatus  100  through a wireless data link. In some embodiments, the remote computer  148  may be linked to a hospital information system. In other embodiments, the remote computer  148  may be coupled to a traditional nurse call system such that the alert condition is transmitted to a nurse&#39;s station over a traditional nurse call cable in case of an incontinent event. 
         [0060]    Subsequently, the transmitter  142  transmits the pad information to the controller  182  of the pneumatic control system  126 . The controller  182  receives the pad information through an antenna  138  and is configured to adjust the air box  26  depending on the pad information it receives regarding the disposable incontinence pad  130 . It should be appreciated that the networks  144 ,  146  may be connected to the patient support apparatus  100  through a wired data link. In some embodiments, the remote system  134  may share one network such that the network  144  and the network  146  are one in the same and/or share the same medium. 
         [0061]    In the absence of detecting the liquid in the disposable incontinence pad  130 , the air box  26  is operating at a low energy consumption mode. During the low energy consumption mode, the air box  26  operates at a slower operating speed to provide air at a lower flow rate to the microclimate management layer  124 . Alternatively or additionally, the controller  182  decreases the temperature of the air provided by the air box  26 . Providing low airflow at lower temperature to the microclimate management layer  124  facilitates the withdrawal of heat and moisture from the incontinence pad  130 . The lower temperature of air removes the heat away from the incontinence pad  130  and the low flow of air constantly moves the air surrounding the incontinence pad  130  to remove the moisture from the incontinence pad  130 . It should be appreciated that the slower flow rate of air may be manually entered using the graphical user interface (not shown) depending on the patient&#39;s need. 
         [0062]    In case of an incontinent event, the sensor  132  detects the presence of liquid in the incontinence pad  130  and determines that the disposable incontinence pad  130  is wet. When the sensor  132  determines that the disposable incontinence pad  130  is wet, the sensor  132  transmits the pad information to the controller  182  to operate the air box  26  at a higher energy consumption mode. At the higher energy consumption mode, the air box  26  operates at a faster operating speed to provide higher airflow and/or higher temperature air to the microclimate management layer  124 . 
         [0063]    Specifically, the sensor  132  transmits the pad information to the receiver  140  of the remote system  134  through the antenna  136  indicating that the disposable incontinence pad  130  is wet. The receiver  140  then transmits that pad information to the remote computer  148  over the network  144 . The pad information may be stored in memory (not shown) and transferred to the hospital information system. In some embodiments, the pad information may be transferred over the network  144  to the hospital information system by the remote computer  148  in real time, or may be stored in memory and transferred to the network  144  on an intermittent basis. In other embodiments, when the pad information is stored on the remote computer  148 , the hospital information system may be operable to query the remote computer  148  to receive the most recent pad information stored by remote computer  148  in memory. The remote computer  148  may subsequently transmit that pad information to the transmitter  142  over the network  146 . As mentioned previously, in some embodiments, the remote computer  148  may receive and transmit the pad information through the same network. 
         [0064]    When the transmitter  142  receives the pad information from the remote computer  148 , the transmitter  142  forwards that pad information to the controller  182  of the pneumatic control system  126  of the patient support apparatus  100 . In response to receiving the pad information indicating that the disposable incontinence pad  130  is wet, the controller  182  increases the airflow rate from the air box  26  to the microclimate management layer  124 . Alternatively or additionally, the controller  182  may increase the temperature of the air from the air box  26  to the microclimate management layer  124 . Providing higher airflow at higher temperature to the microclimate management layer  124  facilitates the moisture withdrawal from the incontinence pad  130 . Particularly, increasing the temperature of the air to the microclimate management layer  124  provides heated air to the incontinence pad  130 . The heated air surrounding the incontinence pad  130  may accelerate the evaporation of liquid in the incontinence pad  130 . Further, increasing the airflow rate helps to disperse the air surrounding the incontinence pad  130  to remove the moisture away from the incontinence pad  130 . In some embodiments, the lower layer  60  of the disposable incontinence pad  130  may be made of an air permeable material. This may allow the heated air from the microclimate management layer  124  to flow upwardly through the lower layer  60  of the disposable incontinence pad  130  to evaporate the moisture and/or liquid from the disposable incontinence pad  130  to keep the patient&#39;s skin dry. 
         [0065]    When the sensor  132  subsequently determines that the disposable incontinence pad  130  is dry, the sensor  132  may communicate with the controller  182  via the remote system  134  to revert back to the low energy consumption mode to provide lower airflow at lower temperature to the microclimate management layer  124 . This allows the air box  26  to operate at the slower operating speed such that the air box  26  does not consume energy when the higher flow and/or higher temperature of air is not needed. Therefore, the communication between the sensor  132  and the controller  182  regarding the condition of the disposable incontinence pad  130  allows the controller  182  to efficiently and effectively withdraw heat and moisture along an interface between the patient&#39;s skin and the disposable incontinence pad  130  to keep the patient&#39;s skin dry. 
         [0066]    In some embodiments, the sensor  132  may directly communicate with the controller  182  via a wired connection, as shown in  FIG. 9 . In case of an incontinent event, the sensor  132  detects the presence of liquid in the incontinence pad  130  and transmits the pad information directly to the controller  182  through a wired connection to operate the air box  26  at the higher energy consumption mode. As described above, the higher energy consumption mode provides higher airflow and/or higher temperature air to the microclimate management layer  124  to withdraw moisture along the interface between the patient&#39;s skin and the disposable incontinence pad  130 . Similarly, when the sensor  132  subsequently determines that the disposable incontinence pad  130  is dry, the sensor  132  directly communicates with the controller  182  via the wired connection to revert back to the low energy consumption mode to provide lower airflow and/or lower temperature air to the microclimate management layer  124  to keep the patient&#39;s skin dry. 
         [0067]    Air box  26  includes an air source such as a blower, pump, compressor or the like which operates to produce the air flow to mattress  22 , mattress  122 , and/or pad  30  depending upon the embodiment. Air box  26  also includes associated pneumatic components such as one or more valves, manifolds, conduits, pneumatic connectors, and the like to direct the air flow from the air source to the bladders of mattresses  22 ,  122  and pad  30  as the case may be. Air box  26  further includes electrical circuitry coupled to user interface  38  and to the valves of air box  26 , for example. The electrical circuitry includes one or more sensors such as pressure sensors, flow sensors, rotational speed sensors, and temperature sensors as well as heating elements and cooling elements in some embodiments. Thus, when it is stated that higher airflow or lower airflow is provided by air box  26 , it should be appreciated that a speed of a shaft of the air source in air box  26  is adjusted so as to be faster or slower, respectively, than its previous speed. The speed of the shaft of the air source may be controlled based on feedback to the electrical circuitry of air box  26  from one or more of the pressure sensors, flow sensors, and/or rotational sensors, for example, so as to achieve a target pressure or flow rate in a portion of mattress  22 , mattress  122  and pad  30 , as the case may be. 
         [0068]    Although certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detail above, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of this disclosure as described and as defined in the following claims.