Patent Publication Number: US-2021177680-A1

Title: Selective air segment control for a patient support mattress

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/949,440, filed Dec. 17, 2019, entitled Selective Air Bladder Control for a Patient Support Mattress, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made a part hereof. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a patient support surface/mattress, and more specifically to a selective air segment/air cell/air bladder control system for a patient support mattress for a patient. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hospital beds are well known in the art. While hospital beds according to the prior art provide a number of advantageous features, they nevertheless have certain limitations. The present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     When patients lay prone on a bed for extended periods of time, a patient may be more susceptible to bed sores and other complications, especially in the head region of the patient&#39;s body. There is a need to selectively deflate portions of a mattress to provide a bridge and to help eliminate these potential bed sores and other complications for the patient. Specifically, there may be a need to selectively deflate and/or inflate horizontal air cells along a head or upper torso portion. These head or upper torso portion horizontal air cells may be, for example, located at a third position, fourth position, or fifth position along the mattress (starting from the head of the bed). 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Aspects of this disclosure may relate to a patient support mattress comprising a plurality of air segments at a head section of the patient support mattress that includes one or more individual horizontal air segments supporting a head portion of a body of a patient and an air control mechanism connected to the one or more individual horizontal air segments. The air control mechanism may selectively deflate and/or inflate each of the one or more individual air segments in the plurality of air segments. 
     In additional aspects of this disclosure, the one or more individual horizontal air segments may include a plurality of adjacent individual air segments. The plurality of adjacent individual air segments may include three adjacent individual air segments that are located at a third horizontal position, a fourth horizontal position, and a fifth horizontal position counting the plurality of air segments starting from the head portion of the patient support mattress. Each of the plurality of air segments may extend horizontally from a first side of the patient support mattress to an opposite second side of the patient support mattress. The air control mechanism may include one or more selector switches with each selector switch connected to one of the individual horizontal air segments to allow a user to manually selectively control inflating and deflating the individual horizontal air segments. The one or more selector switches may be rotational switches, rotating from a first position for inflating the individual horizontal air segments to a second position for deflating the individual horizontal air segments. The air control mechanism may include one or more air valve assemblies with each air valve assembly connected to one of the individual horizontal air segments to selectively control inflating and deflating the individual horizontal air segments. Each air valve assembly may include an air control valve, a valve spool to connect the air valve assembly to the individual horizontal air segments, and one or more o-rings to ensure a secure air connection between the air control mechanism and the individual horizontal air segments of the patient support mattress. The air control mechanism may include an electric air control system to electrically activate and deactivate the air control mechanism and provide selective air segment control for deflating and inflating the individual horizontal air segments of the patient support mattress. The electric air control system may include a remote control with a plurality of buttons to remotely activate and deactivate the air control mechanism and provide selective air segment control for deflating and inflating the individual horizontal air segments of the patient support mattress. The air control mechanism may include an air inlet supply port connected to the individual horizontal air segments, an air outlet port connected to an air control system that provides air to the plurality of air segments, and an air evacuation port. 
     Other aspects of this disclosure may relate to a patient support mattress comprising a plurality of air segments at a head section of the patient support mattress that includes three adjacent individual air segments supporting a head portion of a body of a patient and a selective air control mechanism connected to the three adjacent individual air segments of the plurality of air segments. The three adjacent individual air segments may extend horizontally across the patient support mattress, with a first individual air segment located at a third horizontal position, a second individual air segment located at a fourth horizontal position, and third individual air segment located at a fifth horizontal position counting the plurality of air segments starting from the head portion of the patient support mattress. The selective air control mechanism may include one or more selector switches with each selector switch connected to one of the adjacent individual air segments to manually selectively control inflating and/or deflating the three adjacent individual air segments. 
     Yet other aspects of this disclosure may relate to a patient support mattress comprising a plurality of air cells that includes three adjacent individual air cells located at a head portion of the patient support mattress on a patient bed and a selective air control mechanism connected to the three adjacent individual air cells. The three adjacent individual air cells may support a head portion of a body of a patient, with a first individual air cell located at a third horizontal position, a second individual air cell located at a fourth horizontal position, and third individual air cell located at a fifth horizontal position counting the plurality of air cells starting from the head portion of the patient support mattress. The selective air control mechanism may include an electric air control system with a plurality of buttons to electrically activate and deactivate the selective air control mechanism and provide selective air cell control for deflating and/or inflating the adjacent individual air cells of the patient support mattress. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D  are perspective views of one embodiment of a selective air control mechanism for a patient support mattress in an inflated configuration in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C  are perspective views of the selective air control mechanism for the patient support mattress with a covering in the inflated configuration in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective views of the selective air control mechanism for the patient support mattress with one cell in a deflated configuration in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are perspective views of the selective air control mechanism for the patient support mattress with two cells in the deflated configuration in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective views of the selective air control mechanism for the patient support mattress with three cells in the deflated configuration in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a selective air control mechanism with the patient support mattress in the inflated configuration in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the selective air control mechanism with the patient support mattress in the deflated configuration in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E  are close-up views of an air manifold for the selective air control mechanism with the patient support mattress in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are front views of a front plate to the air manifold for the selective air control mechanism with the patient support mattress in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 8C  is a back view of a back plate to the air manifold for the selective air control mechanism with the patient support mattress in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 9A  is an exploded view of the air manifold for the selective air control mechanism with the patient support mattress in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 9B  is an exploded view of one air valve of the air manifold for the selective air control mechanism with the patient support mattress in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D  are various views of the air manifold for the selective air control mechanism with the patient support mattress in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 11A  is an exploded view of one embodiment of a rotational low-air loss mattress for a patient support bed in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 11B  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a low-air loss mattress section for a low-air loss mattress for a patient support bed in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a pump and manifold enclosure for a patient support bed in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic of a valve configuration for one embodiment of a low-air loss mattress for a patient support bed in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a main air manifold and valve control system for a low air loss mattress for a patient support bed in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the main air manifold and valve control system of  FIG. 14  in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a CPR air manifold for a patient support bed in accordance with aspects of this invention. 
     
    
    
     Further, it is to be understood that the drawings may represent the scale of different components of one single embodiment; however, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to that particular scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
     In various embodiments, a patient support surface or patient support mattress  100  may be provided on a patient support bed. Each bed may generally comprise one or more of the following: a base frame assembly, an intermediate frame assembly coupled to the base frame assembly, a weigh frame assembly coupled to the intermediate frame assembly, and a patient support assembly supported on the weigh frame assembly. 
     A bed may include a patient support assembly preferably comprises a support deck assembly and a mattress  100 , however, either component may be identified as the patient support. The mattress  100  may be an air cell mattress, such as a closed air-cell mattress, inflatable mattress, low-air loss mattress, or rotation mattress or any other type of air cell mattress known in the art, including a mattress made of a combination of the aforementioned. 
     When patients lay prone on a bed for extended periods of time, a patient may be more susceptible to bed sores and other complications. There is a need to selectively deflate portions of a mattress to help eliminate these potential bed sores and other complications for the patient. Specifically, there may be a need to selectively deflate horizontal air cells along a head or upper torso portion. These head or upper torso portion horizontal air cells may be located, for example, at a third position, fourth position, or fifth position along the mattress (starting from the head of the bed). For example, the mattress may support the forehead of a patient laying in a proning position to bridge the gap between the forehead and the chin or other locations, such as supporting the trunk of the patient or supporting the upper thigh of the patient. 
       FIGS. 1A through 10D  illustrate a selective air cell/air bladder control for a patient support mattress  100 . The selective air cell/air bladder control for the patient support mattress  100  may allow users to manually deflate individual sections/air cells/air bladders  120  of the patient support mattress  100  selectively. The selective air cell/air bladder control for a patient support mattress  100  may also allow users to manually inflate individual sections/air cells/air bladders  120  of the patient support mattress  100  selectively. Specifically,  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D  illustrate various views of the selective air cell for the patient support mattress  100  in an inflated configuration.  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C  illustrate various perspective views of the selective air cell/air bladder control for the patient support mattress  100  with a mattress cover  110  in the inflated configuration. 
     Specifically, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1D , a patient support mattress  100  may include a plurality of air cells  120  that individually extend horizontally from a first side of the patient support mattress  100  to an opposite second side of the patient support mattress  100 . Without departing from this invention, as known and used in the art, air cells  120  may include terms such as air sections, air segments, air bladders, and other such terms known and used in the art. Throughout the rest of this description, air cells  120  will be used to describe this feature. The group of plurality of air cells  120  may extend lengthwise along the bed and patient support mattress  100  from a head end  12  of the bed to a foot end  14  of the bed. The patient support mattress  100  may include any number of air cells  120 . For example, as illustrated in the figures, the patient support mattress  100  may include approximately twenty individual air cells  120 . There may be more or less than twenty individual air cells  120  without departing from this invention. 
     Additionally, the patient support mattress  100  may also include a selective air cell control mechanism  130 . The selective air cell control mechanism  130  may be an air cell control assembly or an air manifold assembly without departing from this invention. The selective air cell control mechanism  130  may act as a selective air cell control panel to allow users to selectively deflate and bridge a section of the body of a patient on the patient support mattress  100 . The selective air cell control mechanism  130  may include one or more of the following: an air manifold, air hoses, air valves, one-way valves, two-way valves, and/or other air control devices to selectively deflate and/or inflate one or more of the plurality of individual air cells  120 . The selective air cell control mechanism  130  may be connected to one or more specific air cells from the plurality of individual air cells  120 . In the exemplary illustration of the figures, the selective air cell control mechanism  130  may be connected to a third position air cell  122 , a fourth position air cell  124 , and a fifth position air cell  126 . The third position air cell  122  may be the third individual air cell counting the air cells  120  by starting at the head end  12  of the bed. The fourth air cell  124  may be the fourth individual air cell counting the air cells  120  by starting at the head end  12  of the bed. The fifth air cell  126  may be the fifth individual air cell counting the air cells  120  by starting at the head end  12  of the bed. The selective air cell control mechanism  130  may be connected to various other positional air cells  120  throughout the entire length of the mattress  100  without departing from this invention. Additionally, the selective air cell control mechanism  130  may be connected to multiple or groups of air cells  120  without departing from this invention. 
     The selective air cell control mechanism  130  may include one or more selector switches that control one or more air cells. The one or more selector switches may include a first selector switch  132 , a second selector switch  134 , and a third selector switch  136 . In the exemplary illustration of the figures, the first selector switch  132  may control the inflation and deflation of the third position air cell  122 , the second selector switch  134  may control the inflation and deflation of the fourth position air cell  124 , and the third selector switch  136  may control the inflation and deflation of the fifth position air cell  126 . 
     Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 1C , the patient support mattress  100  may also include an air controller  180 . The air controller  180  may supply/provide air to the patient support mattress  100  and the plurality of air cells  120 . The air controller  180  may be connected via air connections to the patient support mattress  100  and the air cells  120 . The air controller  180  may also be connected via air connections to the selective air cell control mechanism  130 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate perspective views of the selective air cell control for the patient support mattress  100  with one air cell in a deflated configuration. Specifically,  FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the third air cell  122  connected to the first selector switch  132  and the third air cell  122  in the deflated configuration with the first selector switch  132  of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  in the deflated position. Additionally, the fourth air cell  124  connected to the second selector switch  134  is in the inflated configuration with the second selector switch  134  of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  in the inflated position. Lastly, the fifth air cell  126  connected to the third selector switch  136  is in the inflated configuration with the third selector switch  136  of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  in the inflated position. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate perspective views of the selective air cell control for the patient support mattress  100  with two air cells in the deflated configuration. Specifically,  FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the third air cell  122  connected to the first selector switch  132  and the third air cell  122  in the deflated configuration with the first selector switch  132  of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  in the deflated position. Additionally, the fourth air cell  124  connected to the second selector switch  134  is in the deflated configuration with the second selector switch  134  of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  in the deflated position. Lastly, the fifth air cell  126  connected to the third selector switch  136  is in the inflated configuration with the third selector switch  136  of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  in the inflated position. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate perspective views of the selective air cell control for the patient support mattress with three air cells in the deflated configuration. Specifically,  FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate the third air cell  122  connected to the first selector switch  132  and the third air cell  122  in the deflated configuration with the first selector switch  132  of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  in the deflated position. Additionally, the fourth air cell  124  connected to the second selector switch  134  is in the deflated configuration with the second selector switch  134  of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  in the deflated position. Lastly, the fifth air cell  126  connected to the third selector switch  136  is in the deflated configuration with the third selector switch  136  of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  in the deflated position. 
     While  FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate one air cell in a deflated configuration and  FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate two air cells in the deflated configuration and  FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate three air cells in the deflated configuration, it should be understood that any combination of these air cells may be deflated/inflated as necessary. For example, the third air cell  132 , fourth air cell  134 , and fifth air cell  136  may be inflated or deflated individually. In another example, any combination of two air cells of the third air cell  132 , fourth air cell  134 , and fifth air cell  136  may be inflated or deflated together. 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates a perspective view of a selective air cell control mechanism  130  connected to a plurality of adjacent air cells  122 ,  124 ,  126  of the patient support mattress  100  in the inflated configuration.  FIG. 6B  illustrates a perspective view of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  connected to the plurality of adjacent air cells  122 ,  124 ,  126  with the patient support mattress  100  in the deflated configuration. As illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the selective air cell control mechanism  130  may include one or more switches to inflate and deflate the specific connected air cells  122 ,  124 ,  126 . Specifically, the one or more switches may be in a vertical position to inflate the air cells  122 ,  124 ,  126  or in a horizontal position to deflate the air cells  122 ,  124 ,  126 . 
       FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E  illustrate close-up views of selective air cell control mechanism  130  connected to a plurality of adjacent air cells  122 ,  124 ,  126  of the patient support mattress  100 . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate front views of a front plate  140  to the selective air cell control mechanism  130  may include one or more switches  132 ,  134 ,  136  connected to one or more air cells of the patient support mattress  100 . Specifically,  FIG. 8A  illustrates the one or more switches  132 ,  134 ,  136  in the ON or INFLATED position and  FIG. 8B  illustrates the one or more switches  132 ,  134 ,  136  in the OFF or DEFLATED position. The switches  132 ,  134 ,  136  may be rotational switches as illustrated in the figures. Additionally, the switches  132 ,  134 ,  136  may be other switches known and used in the art. The selector switches  132 ,  134 ,  136  may be rotated from a first position to a second position. The first position may be an inflated position to fully inflate a single air cell of the patient support mattress  100 . The second position may be a deflated position to fully deflate the same single air cell of the patient support mattress  100 . Additionally, the switches  132 ,  134 ,  136  may be connected to the selective air cell control mechanism  130  and control one or more air cells within the patient support mattress  100 . In another embodiment of this invention, the selector switches  132 ,  134 ,  136  may include functionality to be rotated to various positions between the inflated position and the deflated position to inflate or deflate the air cells to configurations between the fully inflated position and the fully deflated position. 
       FIG. 8C  illustrates a back view of a back plate  150  to the selective air cell control mechanism  130  connected to the patient support mattress  100 . Additionally,  FIG. 8C  illustrates the back plate  150  that may connect an air supply from the air controller  180  and air outlets to the air cells in the patient support mattress  100 . The selective air cell control mechanism  130  may include one or more different air connection ports that each include a primary air inlet supply  152 , an air outlet  154  from the air cell mattress  100 , and an air evacuation port  156 . In an exemplary configuration the selective air cell control mechanism  130  may include three different air connection ports.  FIG. 8C  illustrates a mechanical valve manifold. The selective air cell control mechanism  130  and invention can also include with an electrical/mechanical valve system. The selective air cell control mechanism  130  may support and be connected to independent air cells, independent zones, or multiple combinations of independent air bladders and/or independent zones. 
       FIG. 9A  illustrates an exploded view of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  and specifically one or more air valves  162 ,  164 ,  166 .  FIG. 9B  illustrates an exploded view of an air valve assembly  160  of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  connected to the patient support mattress  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9A , the selective air cell control mechanism  130  for the selective air cell control may include one or more different air control valves  162 ,  164 ,  166  that correspond to the one or more switches  132 ,  134 ,  136 . In one exemplary configuration, the selective air cell control mechanism  130  for the selective air cell control may include three different air control valves  162 ,  164 ,  166 . There may be more or less than three different air control valves  162 ,  164 ,  166  as part of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  without departing from this invention.  FIG. 9B  illustrates an air valve assembly  160  showing each of the potential components of each individual air valve assembly  160 . The air valve assembly  160  from the selective air cell control mechanism  130  may include the following parts: a prone housing block  162  to cover the air valve assembly  160 , a valve spool  164  to connect the selective air cell control mechanism  130  to one or more of the air hoses of the air cells, one or more valve springs  166 , one or more valve seats  168 , one or more screws  170 , one or more o-rings  172  to ensure a secure air connection between the selective air cell control mechanism  130  and the air cells  122 ,  124 ,  126  in the patient support mattress  100 , a front plate  140  with a switch or selector  132 ,  134 ,  136 , and a prone cap block  174 . 
       FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D  are various views of the selective air cell control mechanism  130  of the patient support mattress  100 . 
     In another embodiment, more than three or less than three air cells may be connected to the selective air cell control mechanism  130 . Additionally, air cells at different locations along the patient support mattress  100  may be connected to the selective air cell control mechanism  130  for the selective air cell control, for example to support the trunk, legs, or feet of the patient. 
     The selective air cell control for a patient support mattress may be activated and deactivated via mechanical switches as illustrated in the figures. In another embodiment, the selective air cell/air bladder control for the patient support mattress may also be activated and deactivated with an electric air control system or air supply control box. The air control system or air supply control box may utilize push buttons. The air control system or air supply control box may also utilize remote controls via buttons on a remote system. 
     An example patient support mattress  100  for the bed  10  utilized for the selective air cell control is shown in  FIG. 11A . One or more portions of the example mattress may be utilized or not utilized in coordination with the selective air cell control. The patient support mattress  100  of  FIG. 11A  comprises a closed air-cell mattress, however, other mattress with additional or fewer capabilities may be employed. The patient support mattress  100  is provided on the deck plates of the head deck, seat deck and foot deck sections  202 ,  204 ,  206 . Though the patient support mattress  100  is a single component in many embodiments, it will be identified as having a head mattress portion  850 , a seat mattress portion  852  and a foot mattress portion  854 . For example, in one embodiment the head and seat mattress portions  850 ,  852  may be connected together and the foot mattress portion  854  may be separated. The head and seat mattress portions  850 ,  852  may be connected to the head and seat deck sections  202 ,  204 , and the separate foot mattress portion  854  may be connected to the foot deck section  206 . Additionally, the patient support mattress  100  includes an encasing  856  that generally covers and/or encloses the entire patient support mattress  100 , or multiple encasings may be provided to cover different sections of the mattress, and the encasing(s) may be strapped or otherwise connected to the various sections of the bed  10 . In an alternate mattress, the patient support mattress  100  may comprise a combination of air and foam sections and inserts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11A , the patient support mattress  100  may include a low air loss mattress  900  with rotational capabilities. This mattress may provide dynamic alternating pressure capabilities. Dynamic alternating pressure capabilities may be achieved by alternately inflating and deflating different air cells periodically. In one embodiment, structure for rotational capabilities of the low air loss mattress  900  comprises a bottom encasement  902  that mates with a top encasement  904  to enclose a turning bladder kit  906 . The turning bladder kit provides two independent turning bladders  908  for the head section  202  (one for each side of the head section) of the bed, and two independent turning bladders  910  for the seat section  204  of the bed (one for each side of the seat section). The bladders include a first side seat rotation bladder  716 , a second side seat rotation bladder  718 , a first side head rotation bladder  720  and a second side head rotation bladder  722 . In one embodiment the cross-sectional geometry of the rotation bladders is generally circular. In an alternate embodiment the cross-sectional geometry of the rotation bladders is generally triangular such that the tall portion of the rotation bladder is toward the edge of the patient support deck and the portion of the rotation bladder that approaches the baseline is toward the middle of the patient support deck. The top encasement  904  is zippered to the bottom encasement  902 . Further, a plurality of independent low air loss and alternating pressure mattress sections  913  are provided as a low air loss and alternating pressure bladder system  909  within a top and bottom encasement  912 ,  914 . The low air loss and alternating pressure bladder system  909  is preferably positioned above the rotation portions of the mattress. In one embodiment, the low air loss and alternating pressure mattress sections  913  comprise independent mattress sections that extend the width of the bed. In one embodiment, the mattress sections  913  have a foam member (not shown) placed inside a bladder  915  filled with air as shown in  FIG. 11B . Further, in one embodiment, preferably located at the head and seat sections where rotation may be utilized, the foam member may be split into two separate foam members, with a gap between the two foam members in the middle of the mattress section  913 , and the bladder  915  may have a notch  917  to facilitate easy rotation of the mattress section  913  at the head and seat sections. Generally, however, if no rotation is provided at the foot section, the foam members within the mattress sections  913  at the foot section of the bed may unitary and extend from one side of the mattress section  913  to the other side of the mattress section  913  without any break or gap. The mattress sections  913  in the foot deck may have two notches, similar to notch  917  shown in  FIG. 11B . The air cell sections  913  may be supported in the bottom encasement  914  with retaining loops  919 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11A , an optional foam support  911 , preferably with a plastic backing, may be provided above the top encasement  904  to support the air cell sections  913  of the low air loss and alternating pressure portion of the mattress. In one embodiment, the foam support  911  comprises separate or hingeable head and seat sections for each side of the bed. The low air loss and alternating pressure bladder system  909  is provided in a top and bottom encasement  912 ,  914  above the top encasement  904  of the rotational bladders and above the foam supports  911 . In one embodiment, as show in  FIG. 13 , the alternating bladder system  909  includes six bladders  913  in the head section  202  of the mattress and each extending from one side of the mattress to the opposite side of the mattress, four bladders  913  in the seat section  204  of the mattress and each extending from one side of the mattress to the opposite side of the mattress, and six bladders  913  in the foot section  206  of the mattress and each extending from one side of the mattress to the opposite side of the mattress. Additionally, in one embodiment the bottom encasement  914  comprises a manifold system to provide air to each of the mattress section  913  bladders of the mattress. In one embodiment, each separate mattress section  913  has fasteners to maintain each mattress section  913  in the proper orientation within the top and bottom encasement  912 ,  914 , and the mattress encasement  912 ,  914  is fixed with fasteners to the patient support platform. 
     In one embodiment, the seat and foot sections of the alternating pressure mattress each have two zones, an A and B zone in the foot section, and a C and D zone in the seat section (see  FIG. 13 ). This allows for alternating bladders  913  in each of the seat and foot sections to be inflated and deflated providing therapeutic benefit to the patient. Accordingly, in the mattress of  FIG. 13  there are five zones for alternating pressure in the air bladders  913  of this mattress: one zone for the air bladders  913  in the head section, two zones for the air bladders  913  in the seat section and two zones for the air bladders  913  in the foot section. 
     In one embodiment, when the bed  10  has air bladders, and particularly air bladders for patient support surfaces, the bed  10  may include an air supply control box  180 ,  700  as shown in  FIG. 12 . Referring to  FIG. 12  there is shown an enclosure  702  that houses pumps  704 , a main manifold  706  and a plurality of valves  708 ,  710 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , two pumps  704  are provided in a preferred embodiment to provide additional volume of air for quicker inflation and deflation of the air bladders, however, in alternate embodiments only one pump is provided. Air from the pumps enters the manifold  706  at the input fitting  712  (see also  FIG. 14 ). The manifold has numerous outputs. As shown in  FIG. 14 , in one embodiment there are nine air bladder fitting  714  outputs. The nine outputs are for: (a) the air bladder zones in the head section (one zone), seat section (2 zones), foot section (2 zones)—which in total occupy 5 of the fittings  714 ; and, (b) the rotation bladders, including the first side seat rotation bladder  716 , second side seat rotation bladder  718 , first side head rotation bladder  720  and second side head rotation bladder  722  (see also  FIG. 11 )—which in total occupy 4 of the fittings  714 . Next to the air bladder fittings  714  are quick exhaust bladder fittings  724  which are utilized to assist in deflating air cells more quickly by passing air to be drawn out of a specific bladder to the CPR manifold  726  that has quick exhaust valves. Finally, the last output fitting  728  is for the low air loss aspect of the mattress which bleeds air within the encasement of the mattress to allow the air to escape for therapeutic purposes. The main manifold  706  may also have an air silencer  730 , which operates essentially as a muffler for air exhausting out of the manifold  706  that is not being quick released through the CPR manifold  726 . In one embodiment, each of the nine air bladder output fittings  714  and the quick release exhaust bladder fittings  724  have a separate first valve  708  associated therewith to allow for adjusting the air pressure in the specific bladder/cell by reducing the air pressure in that specific bladder/cell. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment there are ten first valves  708 . Additionally, each of the nine air bladder output fittings  714 , the quick release exhaust fittings  724  and the low air loss fitting  728  have a separate second valve  710  associated therewith to allow for adjusting the air pressure in the specific bladder/cell/low air loss area by increasing the air pressure to that specific bladder/cell/low air loss area. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment there are eleven second valves  710 . 
     The manifold  706  also has a mother board or PCB  732  (see  FIGS. 14 and 15 ), on which there are, among other things, pressure sensors  734  for each output fitting. The pressure in each specific bladder/cell/low air loss area is determined by sensing the pressure within each respective output tube connected to each respecting output fitting with a separate smaller diameter tube (not shown) being inside that output tube. The smaller tubes connect to separate connectors  736  inside the manifold  706  (see the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 15 ), which in turn are fluidly connected to the respective separate sensors  734  on the PCB  732 . 
     In addition to the main manifold  706 , in one embodiment a CPR manifold  726  is provided for rapidly dumping air from the various air bladders. Referring to  FIG. 16 , the CPR manifold  726  is provided in line between the main manifold  706  and the air mattress  22 . Accordingly, tubes connect the appropriate output fittings on the main manifold  706  with respective connectors  738  on the CPR manifold  726  (note that not all of the respective connectors  738  are shown in  FIG. 16 ). Further individual output fittings are then connected to the openings  740  on the top of the CPR manifold  726  to connect to each specific bladder/cell/low air loss area. The CPR manifold  726  also has a plurality of exhaust breath ways  742  to rapidly exhaust air out of any bladder/cell. 
     Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” as used herein are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. Further, the term “plurality” as used herein indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. 
     It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention.